Forms: 1–6, 9 dial. sum (9 dial. zum), 3–4 summ, 4–5, 6 Sc. sume, summe; 4 soumme, 5 soume, 5 (9 dial.) soom; 3–5, 7, 9 dial. som (4 zom, 7 dial. z’om), 5 somm, somp; 3–6 somme, 3– some (4, 9 dial. zome). [Common Teut.: OE. sum, = OFris. sum (NFris. som), MDu. som, zom (WFlem. som, zom), OS. sum (MLG. sum, som), OHG. and MHG. sum (G. dial. sum, som, söm), ON. sumr (Icel. sumur, Norw. sum; MSw. sum, som, Sw. somt neut., Da. somme pl.), Goth. sums; the stem is also found in Gr. ἁμο- (as ἁμόθεν from some place) and Skr. sama any, every. The word has had greater currency in English than in the other Teutonic languages, in some of which it is now restricted to dialect use, or represented only by derivatives or compounds, as WFris. sommige, somlike, Du. sommige (also somtiids, somwijlen sometimes), LG. sömige (G. dial. summige).]
A. indef. pron.
I. In singular uses.
† 1. One or other of a number of persons; someone, somebody. In later use also in phr. some or other. Obs.
(a) Beowulf, 1432. Sumne Geata leod of flanboʓan feores ʓetwæfde.
a. 1000. Riddles, xv. 15 (Gr.). Þonne ic winde sceal sincfaʓ swelʓan of sumes bosme.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 70. Summes kurteisie is noðeleas iturnd hire to vuele.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 131. In þis place sum is Þat wolde telle þe kinge fore, and maken him mi fo.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, V. x. Whan somme good cometh to somme, it ought not to be reffused.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXIII. (Percy Soc.), 107. Upon one hande some hath thombes twayne; And other also somtyme armes thre.
c. 1581. Lodge, Reply Gosson’s Sch. Abuse (Shaks. Soc.), 23. I feare me some will blushe that readeth this, if he be bitten.
1729. G. Adams, trans. Sophocl., Antig., III. i. II. 39. Therefore … despise he [Antigone], and suffer the Girl to marry some among the Dead.
(b) 1631. Heylin, Hist. St. George, 113. I wonder some or other hath not resolu’d the doubt.
1664. D. Fleming, in Extr. St. Papers rel. Friends (1912), III. 213. I am halfe of opinion, that some or other hath abused him in this Letter.
1682. Bunyan, Holy War (1905), 208. Word, by some or other, could not but be carried to the good King Shaddai.
† b. Const. of (or gen. pl.). Also of things. Obs.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xviii. § 2. He cyðde on sumre his boca ðætte þa ʓet Romana nama ne come ofer þa muntas.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xiii. 25. Þa com his feonda sum & ofer-seow hit mid coccele. Ibid., Mark viii. 28. Sume [secgað] sumne of þam witeʓum.
c. 1100. Twelfth Cent. Hom., 134. ʓif nu eower sum,… smeað hwæt god beo.
1340. Ayenb., 15. Vor onneaþe yualþ þet me ne ualþ in-to þe þrote of zome of þe zeue heauedes.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 46. The Cutteries … have six and thirty Casts among themselves, from some of which none of them but is descended.
1656. Sanderson, Serm. (1689), 405. All such sins being easily reducible to some of the former three.
c. In the phr. some of these (…) days, some day soon; before very long.
1831. in W. I. Knapp, Life G. Borrow (1899), I. 142. Young Simpson will be wanting an able assistant some of these days.
1848. J. H. Newman, Loss & Gain, I. xiv. ‘We shall have you a papist some of these fine days,’ said he.
1851. Borrow, Lavengro, III. vi. 94. I should not be surprised if he were to come back some of these days.
† 2. Some…, some, one…, another. (Cf. 7.)
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxiii. § 2. Þonne lufað sum ðæt, sum elles hwæt.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxv. 15. He sealde … sumum twa [pund], sumum an.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 6. Vor sum is strong, sum is unstrong.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 834. Sum was king, and sum kumeling.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 2173. He mot ben deed,… Som in his bed, som in the depe see.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 14. For som schal singe and som schal syke.
† 3. With ordinal numbers: One of (or with) a specified number. Obs.
For the use of the ordinal cf. G. selbdritte, -vierte, etc. In OE. the gen. plur. of the cardinal was employed, as syxa, eahta, twelfa sum: for the later history of this see -SOME2.
a. 1225. Juliana, 79. And te sea sencte him on his þrituðe sum ant þer to ȝet fowre.
13[?]. Sir Beues, 203. Him self was boute þe ferþe some Toward þat ferd.
c. 1320. Sir Tristrem, 817. He busked and made him ȝare Hi[m] fiftend som of kniȝt.
c. 1425. [see THIRDSOME].
4. A certain indeterminate part of something; a portion. († In early use freq. following a noun or pronoun, or predicative.) Also some…, some.
c. 900. O. E. Chron. (Parker MS.), an. 877. Þa … ʓefor se here on Miercna lond, & hit ʓedældon sum, & sum Ceolwulfe saldon.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke viii. 5. Þa he þæt seow, sum feoll wið þæne weʓ … And sum feoll ofer þæne stan.
c. 1275. Prov. Hendyng, 98. Ȝef thou hauest bred & ale,… Þou del hit sum aboute.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 98. He hadde þer to Scropssire som & aluendel of warewik ssire.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 151. Amazonia … is som in Asia, and som in Europa.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 484/1. Sum, or sumwhat, or a part of a nowmyr or a noþer thynge.
1572. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 162. Sum in Bowltes and sum by lb.
1588. Kyd, Househ. Phil., Wks. (1901), 245. Some was roste, some was backt.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., Epil. Bate me some, and I will pay you some.
1611. Bible, Luke viii. 6. And some fell vpon a rocke, and assoone as it was sprung vp, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
1796. C. Marshall, Gardening, xix. (1813), 371. As it is a small flower, pot some.
b. Const. of (the thing specified).
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 133. Sum of þe sede feol an uppe þe stane.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 101. Som of gloucestressire & of warewikssire al so.
1560. Bible (Geneva), Lev. iv. 7. The Priest also shal put some of the blood … vpon the hornes of ye altar.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., IV. iii. 96. Some of my shame, if you will know of me What man I am.
1639. J. Smyth, in Glouc. Gloss. (1890), 200. Ga’as zo’m of thuck bread.
1694. Congreve, Double-Dealer, V. v. Snuff some of my spirit of hartshorn.
1834–6. Encycl. Metrop. (1845), VII. 762/1. In the act of drying, some of the lac is generally brought to the surface.
1872. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 6. Some of it, much of it, has ceased to be alive for us now.
† c. (By) some and some, by little and little; by degrees; gradually. Obs. (Cf. 8 b.)
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XI. i. (Tollem. MS.). Vapoures, þat beþ gaderid sum and sum in þe erþe. Ibid., XVII. cxliii. (Bodl. MS.). Whan þe weþye is swiþe olde, þan he faileþ & roteþ somme and somme.
1602. J. Rhodes, Answ. Romish Rhyme, 8. Your doctrine…, which did creepe Into the Church, by some and some.
† d. Some and some, something in return for something. Obs.
1573. Gascoigne, Herbes, Wks. 1907, I. 353. Recompence the lyke agayne: For some and some is honest playe.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, T j. Thinke some and some is honest play.
II. In plural senses.
5. An indefinite or unspecified (but not large) number of persons (or animals); certain persons not named or enumerated. Also some or other.
Beowulf, 400. Sume þær bidon, heaðoreaf heoldon.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xi. § 1. Sume beoð swiðe æþele & widcuðe on heora ʓebyrdum.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., John vii. 44. Sumo … uilnadon ʓegrioppa hine.
1154. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1137. Sume hi diden in crucethus.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 3. Heo urnen on-ȝein him … and summe mid ufele þeonke.
c. 1205. Lay., 27376. Heo sculleð beon islaȝene and summe quic iulaȝene.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1648. Summe of þe scheules makeþ.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 14739. Amang þir men … War sume þat duues boght and sald.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VI. 440. Thai ourtuk sum at the last, And thame forout mercy can sla.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., II. 283. Summe hem kepe Thre nyght in molten donge.
1450. Paston Lett., I. 125. Soom sey he wrotte moche [thing].
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Sept., 152. Neuer was Woolfe seene, many nor some.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 117. Some there be that think how it was first founded by Amphitus.
1675. H. More, in R. Ward, Life (1710), 361. I do not wonder that some or other are now and then so strangely assaulted.
1747. Mrs. Glasse, Cookery, ix. 88. Some love scalded Gooseberries with them.
1816. J. Wilson, City of Plague, II. i. Some, my son, Would bid thee trust in time.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 121. It feeds on worms … and according to some, on roots.
1878. T. Hardy, Ret. Native, I. iii. (1890), 21. I shouldn’t have cared about the man, though some may say he’s good-looking.
b. Similarly of things.
c. 975. Rushw. Gosp., Matt. xiii. 4. And þa he seow, sume ʓefeollun bi wæʓe & cuomun fuʓlas heofun & frætun.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 28. Uor þe ten hesten þet ich ibroken habbe, summe oðer alle.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. xiii. 4. And the while he soweth, sum felden byside the weye.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 568. It … raynes doune stanys,… And some as hoge as þi hede fra þe heuyn fallis.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., III. xiv. 371. And so forth of manye othere staryng gouernauncis, semyng summe wijlde woode.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, Pref. Many obscure termes,… some & fewe beynge Araby wordes.
1588. Lambarde, Eirenarcha, IV. xix. 595. There be also certain matters … appropriated, some to any, and others to some one, of the generall Sessions.
1607. Sir J. Harington, in Nugæ Ant. (1804), II. 46–7. Manie bowlts were roved after him, and some spitefullie feather’d.
† c. With pronoun or sb. in apposition. (Cf. B. 7 b.) Obs.
c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., IV. vii[i]. 282. Þa sumu [v.r. sume] woe nu ʓemdon ʓeþeodan in þis user ciriclice stær.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John vi. 64. Ac sume ʓe ne ʓelyfað.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1101. Se cyng syððan scipa ut on sæ sende…, ac hi sume æft æt þære neode abruðon.
c. 1275. Passion our Lord, 43, in O. E. Misc., 38. Summe hi weren wyse, and duden al bi his rede.
1597. Shaks., Lover’s Compl., 148. Yet did I not, as some my equals did, Demaund of him. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., IV. v. 190 (Q.1). That I haue said to some my standers by.
d. In possessive form. Now rare.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Capio, Sommes consciences beganne to pricke them.
1597. Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 44. Somes lot it was to be torn in pieces.
1653. Bp. Webbe, Pract. Quiet., 253. Nor may I condemn all … for somes unquietness.
1675. E. W[ilson], Spadacrene Dunelm., 67. I fear I have spoken Ænigmatically and in the dark to somes understanding.
1823. Byron, Juan, XIII. xxx. Howsoe’er it shocks some’s Self-love, there’s safety in a crowd of coxcombs.
6. With of (persons or things).
c. 875. in O. E. Texts, 178. Ðæt he spræc to his liornæra sumum.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xxviii. 11. Summe of ðæm haldendum cwomun in ða ceastra.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 43. Summe of þan monne sare wepeð.
c. 1200. Ormin, 6574. Sume off ure little flocc Þatt lefeþþ uppo Criste.
c. 1275. Lay., 12001. Somme of þaie sipes wonde mid þan wedere.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 9997. Lo here a tale for of ȝou sum.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol., 193. Somme of hem synke in to the ground.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. viii. 185. God wrouȝte tho myraclis in summe of tho placis more and ofter than in othere placis like.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VIII. xxxiii. 323. Somme of them were sore hurte.
1537. Thersytes, 99, in Pollard, Mir. Plays (1890), 129. Some of the giauntes before Noes floud.
1588. Kyd, Househ. Phil., Wks. (1901), 267. A youth who … doth seme to write and mannedge some of their affaires.
1611. Bible, Rom. xi. 17. If some of the branches bee broken off.
1664. Pepys, Diary, 19 March. I spent the afternoon in paying some of the charges of the burial.
1748. Hartley, Observ. Man, I. i. 63. Some or other of those vibrations which are excited in it.
1779. Mirror, No. 31. 123. Some of our most celebrated historians have committed errors of the first sort.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xxxiii. Bring that rascal forward, some of you.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xvi. III. 715. Some of those who opposed the bill were duped by the fallacy of which they condescended to make use.
1891. E. Roper, By Track & Trail, xv. 217. Higher up … there are some of the most sublime scenes I have looked on anywhere.
7. Some…, some, = Some…, others. (Cf. 2.) † Formerly also in some … than some, some and some.
(a) c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxiii. § 5. Sume beorhtor sume unbyrhtor, swa swa steorran.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Mark xii. 5. Sume hi beoton, sume hi of-sloʓon.
1154. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1140. Sume helden mid te king & sume mid þemperice.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 101. Sume sitteð and sume ligeð and sume we stondeð.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 37. Summe þurh muchele ȝeouen…, summe þurh fearlac.
13[?]. K. Alis., 2517 (W.). To divers castles he heom sent:… Some to Libye, some to Rome.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 948. Of summe þay smyte of legges & armes, & of sum þe heuedes þay gerde.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1330. All at he slayn fyndez, He makes to grave, some in grete, some in gray marbyll.
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 64. Sum will me dulfully dicht, Sum dyng me to deid.
1523. Skelton, Garl. Laurel, 250. Some whispred, some rownyd, some spake, and some cryde.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 8. Some [fled] into Norway, and some into Denmarke, and some into one Countrie, and some into another.
1611. Bible, Ps. xx. 7. Some trust in charets, and some in horses.
1685. Temple, Misc., II. Gardens (1690), 11. Like Rover Shots, some nearer and some further off, but all at great Distance from the Mark.
1750. trans. Leonardus’ Mirr. Stones, 210. For some are Gold, some Silver, others Copper, and others Iron.
1837. P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 122. Some are annular, some are reticulated, some are dotted, and some akin to spirals.
1855. Kingsley, Westw. Ho! xxv. Some ran; some did not run.
(b) c. 1491. Chast. Goddes Chyld., ii. 7. Our lorde withdraweth him fro some more than fro some.
1526. Inv. Goods Dk. Richmond, in Camden Misc. (1855), 19. Item, Counterpoints of all sortes, some bygger than some.
1547. Bk. of Marchauntes, c vj b. My marchants, of whome truely some be wilier than some.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xli. Some are wiser than some,… and some are worse than some.
(c) 1522. Skelton, Why not to Court? 385. But there is some trauarse Bytwene some and some.
b. So Some…, others († other).
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Mark xii. 5. Sume ðurscun, oðero æc ofsloʓon.
1382. Wyclif, Mark xii. 5. Betynge summe, but sleynge othere.
1588. Kyd, Househ. Phil., Wks. (1901), 262. Some are naturally borne to commande, and others to obey.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 189. Some have a smacke of Christ, others of Mahomet, but those are very few.
1696. in 13th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. VI. 41. By impowering some, and neglecting others.
1746. P. Francis, trans. Horace, Art Poet., 491. IV. 301.
| Poems like Pictures are; some charm when nigh, | |
| Others at Distance more delight your Eye. |
1852. Miss Yonge, Cameos (1877), III. iii. 21. The burghers hurried out, some with the straight cross of France, others with the saltire of Burgundy.
† c. Also Some…, other some. Obs.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 52. For sum wald haiff þe Balleoll king;… And oþir sum nyt all þat cas.
1532. Hervet, Xenophon’s Treat. Househ. (1768), 74. For some haue gret plenty … and other some haue scantly so moche as they nede.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. xvi. 50 b. Cesternes…, supported some by vaultes, and othersom by … pillars.
1611. [see OTHER SOME].
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 141. Some place it in the circle of the Moone … other some vnder the Circle of the Moone.
1700. S. L., trans. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind., 121. Some of ’em are far better than other some.
† 8. a. Some after some, = next. Obs.–1
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus, Ann., IV. xvi. (1622), 115. Comming some after some, and dropping in by companies.
† b. Some and some, a few at a time, gradually. Obs. (Cf. 4 c.)
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 63. He put my Goods aboard, some and some, as he saw his Opportunity.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 501. They came dropping in some and some, not in two Bodies, and in Form…, but all in Heaps.
1769. G. White, Selborne, xxiii. Persons who assert that the swallow kind disappear some and some, gradually, as they come.
B. adj.
I. With singular nouns. (See also 9 c.)
† 1. a. Of persons or places: A certain. Obs.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., i. Þa was sum consul,… Boetius wæs ʓehaten.
971. Blickl. Hom., 15. Þa sæt þær sum blind þearfa be ðon weʓe.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John xi. 1. Sum seoc man wæs ʓenemned lazarus of bethania.
1382. Wyclif, Luke i. 5. Ther was sum prest, Zacharie by name, in the dayes of Eroude. Ibid., xviii. 2–3. Sum iuge was in sum citee…. Forsothe sum widowe was in that citee.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 87. Sum godlie man [sc. John Knox] was in the castell.
† b. = ONE pron. 2 b. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Acts xxv. 19. Thei hadden aȝens hym summe questiouns … of sum Jhesu deed, whom Poul affermyde for to lyue.
1764. T. Hutchinson, Hist. Col. Mass., i. (1765), 86. A quo warranto had been brought by some Sir John Banks, attorney-general [etc.].
2. One or other; an undetermined or unspecified.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxvii. § 2. Þæt mon hehð ænne heafodbeaʓ gyldenne æt sumes ærneweʓes ende.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xxxi. 651. Martinus … wolde for sumere neode wið hine spræcan.
c. 1200. Ormin, 228. Þeȝȝ wisstenn þatt himm wass þatt daȝȝ Summ unncuþ sihhþe shæwedd.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 811. Scheoteð forð sum word, & let us onswerien.
c. 1250. Owl & Night., 1265. Naueþ mon no sikerhede Þat he ne may … adrede Þat sum vnhap neih him beo.
a. 1300. Vox & Wolf, 125, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 62. For he thoute, mid soumme ginne, Him self houp [= up] bringe.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 101. Þat hul is ful hiȝe, so þat snowe lyeth all wey in som side of þat hille.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, II. 391. Thow Scot, abide, I trow thow be sum spy.
1528. Tindale, Obed. Chr. Man, 89. This worde … representeth allwaye some promise of God.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 360 b. They rest their handes upon some staffe shaking and tremblyng.
1634. Milton, Comus, 485. Som neighbour Wood-man, or at worst, Som roaving Robber.
1663. S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr. (1687), 171. I believe you are desirous to have some list of these Enemies.
1725. Pope, Odyss., VIII. 180. Some mean sea-farer in pursuit of gain.
1780. Mirror, No. 94. 370. Miss Sophia R. therefore keeps me right…, or covers my deviations with some apology.
1825. Scott, Talism., ii. They had even their knights, or some rank analogous.
1867. Trollope, Chron. Barset, I. xxi. 177. I am going to ask him to put his case into some lawyer’s hands.
1876. ‘Ouida,’ Winter City, vi. 128. A triptych of some old fogey of a painter.
b. In adverbial expressions of time and place, with or without a preposition.
See also SOMETIME, -WHERE, -WHILE.
(a) c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., I. i. 17. He sæde þæt he æt sumum cirre wolde fandian [etc.].
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 62. Þa becom se apostol æt sumum sæle to þære byriʓ Pergamum.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 185. Ðos feawe word seide ure drihten … at sume sele.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 43. David … seide et sume time þat heo was etstert him.
c. 1250. Owl & Night., 293. At sum syþe herde i telle hw Alured seyde on his spelle.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20981. He was sua stanid on sum dai, Vneths he bar lif a-way.
1382. Wyclif, Heb. ii. 6. Sum man witnesside in sum place.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 204. Supposand þaim in sum tyme for sothe to be knawen. Ibid. (MS. D.), 755*. He … stighillys hym in som stede a stable by hym one.
1616. B. Jonson, Forest, xiii. No lady, but at some time loves her glass.
(b) a. 900. O. E. Chron. (Parker MS.), an. 896. Þa sume dæʓe rad se cyng up be þære eæ.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 13185. Men mai yeitt se sum sted in france [etc.].
13[?]. Seuyn Sag. (W.), 2936. Bot wele in hert he hoped ay That he sold hir se sum day.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 956 (Trin.). I hete to sende hit ȝou sum tide.
1550. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 88. He hopis sum day to see his sone [etc.].
1822. Shelley, Chas. 1st, II. 451. His Grace … expects to enter the New Jerusalem some Palm Sunday in triumph.
1845. Browning, Home Thoughts fr. Abroad, 4. And whoever wakes in England Sees, some morning, unaware [etc.].
1865. Ruskin, Sesame, i. § 13. I see it is true; or if I do not now, I hope I shall, some day.
c. With the indefiniteness emphasized by the addition of or other (cf. OTHER B. 5 a), or another.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., I. ii. 95. By some deuise or other, The villaine is ore-wrought of all my monie.
1615. W. Bedwell, Arab. Trudg., K iiij. How oft … shal you not meet with some exoticke and strange terme or other?
1697. Dryden, Dedic. Æneis, a iij b. Yet all this while I have been Sailing with some side-wind or other toward the Point I propos’d in the beginning.
1736. Swift’s Lett. (1768), IV. 171. I received yours some day or other this week.
a. 1774. Goldsm., Surv. Exp. Philos. (1776), II. 14. Certain it is that air is impregnated with salts of some kind or another.
1845. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 9. An impulse which will vent itself in some form or other.
1881. Lucy B. Walford, Dick Netherby, xii. 144. He must write some day or other.
d. With adjs. used absolutely. rare.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., March, 74. [I] Might see the mouing of some quicke, Whose shape appeared not.
1725. Ramsay, Gentl. Sheph., III. ii. The man’s … possest With some nae good.
e. In suggestive or euphemistic use.
1725. Ramsay, Gentl. Sheph., V. iii. She’s baith a slee and a revengfu’ bitch, And that my some-place [= posteriors] finds.
† 3. Used with an indefinite or generalizing force similar to that of the plural (sense 7). Obs.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxiv. § 10. Sumes wuda eard bið on dunum.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 322. Sumum men he forʓifð wisdom and spræce, sumum god inʓehyd, sumum micelne ʓeleafan.
13[?]. Cursor M., 10226 (Gött.). For þan was sum man god dredand.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, II. 295. Sum man for eryness will trymbill, Quhen he assayit is sodanly.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xxviii. (Arb.), 68. The ape … is wyser in clergie than somme preest.
1535. Coverdale, Ecclus. vi. 9. And there is some frende that turneth to enemyte, and taketh parte agaynst the. Ibid., xx. 5. Some man kepeth sylence, and is founde wyse.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Alburnum, the fatte that is in some tree.
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 103. In some regard they tooke speciall notice of the difference of wits.
4. A certain (unspecified) amount, part, degree or extent of (something), freq. implying ‘not little, considerable.’ † In OE. also with the, his, etc.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxiv. § 4. Nis nan man þætte sumes eacan ne ðyrfe. Ibid. (c. 893), Oros., III. x. 140. He beæftan ʓebad mid sumum þæm fultume.
c. 920. O. E. Chron., an. 913. Sum his fultum worhte þa burʓ.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 25, in O. E. Hom., I. 161. Sendeð sum god bi-foren eow, þe hwile þet ȝe muȝen, to houene.
c. 1275. XI Pains of Hell, 290, in O. E. Misc., 220. Poul knelid adowne … And prayd … Fore þe soulis in hel sum ryst haue þer.
1375. in Horstmann, Altengl. Leg. (1878), 125/1. Bote rys, & go we eft wiþ mod For to seken vs sum fod.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. III. 128. Þat god wolde were ydo with-oute som deceite.
c. 1440[?]. Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1903), 246. Lord! sende me sum ‘amor’ sede.
1478. Paston Lett., III. 237. He praythe yow to sende hym sum mony.
1562. Child-Marriages, 189. He came thither to get somme threde.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., I. i. 244. And when this Haile some heat from Hermia felt, So he dissolu’d, and showres of oathes did melt.
1650. Earl Monm., trans. Senault’s Man bec. Guilty, 345. These wise men … mought have some cognizance of the truth.
1677. Marvell, Season. Argum., etc. Wks. (1776), II. 562. Where he feathered his nest to some purpose.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 100, ¶ 1. He immediately calls for some Posset-drink for him. Ibid., No. 106, ¶ 5. A Person of good Sense and some Learning.
1761–2. Hume, Hist. Eng. (1806), IV. lxi. 589. Some state was upheld, but with little expense.
1831. Scott, Cast. Dang., v. His master … had been a man of some reading.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xviii. IV. 191. In the neighbourhood of the little cluster of villages was some copsewood and some pasture land.
1890. Law Times Rep., LXIII. 767/1. There is some variation in the mode in which the custom is stated.
b. With partitive terms, as part, degree, etc.
See also SOMEDEAL, -PART, -WHAT.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13553. Iff ye haue ferkit any fode to þis frith now,… ges me som part.
c. 1470. Rauf Coilȝear, 56. For I trow … sum part salbe thyne.
1567. Allen, Def. Priesthood, 306. To geue pardon … is to release some parte, or all the enioyned penaunce.
1648. Hamilton Papers (Camden), 226. It is beliued that som parte of the caus is from Scotland.
1780. Mirror, No. 82. 326. But I can venture to assert, with some degree of confidence, that [etc.].
1826. Art of Brewing (ed. 2), 2. I admit this to be correct advice, in some measure.
1870. J. E. T. Rogers, Hist. Glean., Ser. II. 7. Some part of its authority was due to its prestige.
c. With terms of time or space.
(a) c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., V. xii. (1890), 432. Þa ic sume tid fram ðe ʓewat [etc.].
c. 1060. O. E. Chron. (MS. C), an. 1055. Hiʓ … wendan … ut on Wealas, & þær laʓon sume hwile.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 147, in O. E. Hom., I. 169. Hefð he ifonded [it] samme stunde, he wolde al seggen oðer.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 8. Constantin ferde … in to Fronclonde, & wunede summe hwile þear.
c. 1275. in O. E. Misc., 89. Þo heo stod ful vaste, and seoþþe sume stunde.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), III. viii. 55. Al be hit that for somtyme theyr lewd lyf displesid to them seluen.
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 33. He that can forbear speaking for some while, will remit much of his passion.
1658. J. Webb, Cleopatra, VIII. i. 147. [He] continued sometime in the designe.
1710. Addison, Spect., No. 12, ¶ 1. It was some time before I could settle my self in a House to my likeing.
1747. in E. H. Burton, Life Bp. Challoner (1909), I. xiv. 223. I sent the lessons some time ago to Paris.
1838. Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, I. 173. After lying some time among weedy rocks.
1845–6. Trench, Huls. Lect., Ser. I. i. 13. No doubt for some while the Church did exist with a canon not full formed.
1891. E. Peacock, N. Brendon, I. 315. Basil hesitated for some time.
(b) 1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., 4. An earthern vessel of some receipte.
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. i. 257. ’Twixt which Regions There is some space.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, III. xi. 380. At some distance, among these woods, stood a pavilion.
1820. Milner, Suppl. Mem. Eng. Cath., 313. These authors answered the challenge, each of them in a work of some length.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1877), I. App. 765. The old frontier lies some way to the north.
1869. Tozer, Highl. Turkey, I. 10. The town of Beyramitch … is a place of some size.
d. With adjs., as little, small, considerable, etc.
1382. Wyclif, Acts xv. 33. Sothli sum litil tyme maad there, thei weren dismittid … with pees of bretheren.
1592. Soliman & Pers., II. i. I haue some little replie, if neede require.
1602. Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 14. That you vouchsafe your rest heere in our Court Some little time.
1626. in Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., Var. Coll. (1907), IV. 171. The necessitie of useing some small quantitie of bay salt therein.
1716. B. Church, Hist. Philip’s War (1867), II. 53. Several of his men … was gone some considerable time.
1792. Gentl. Mag., 13/2. The bridge … is some little distance from the main street of Duffield.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, xxviii. Suppose him returning some brief time hence.
a. 1834. Coleridge, in Lit. Rem. (1836), II. 198. Perhaps, the influence of a princess … may be some little excuse for Albany’s weakness.
1902. Encycl. Brit., XXVIII. 407/1. Round fishes, such as cod and haddock, which swim some little distance above the actual sea-bed.
e. U.S. In predicative use: Of some account; deserving of consideration.
With quot. 1848 cf. the U.S. colloq. phrase some pumpkins s.v. PUMPKIN 2 b.
1848. Ruxton, Life in Far West (1849), 60. She’s ‘some’ now; that is a fact, and the biggest kind of punkin at that.
1849. N.-Y. Tribune, 15 May, in Bartlett, Dict. Amer. (1859), s.v., Which was admitted by the oldest inhabitant to be ‘some’ in the way of cold winters.
5. Some other (see OTHER a. 5 b).
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xvii. 12. Mið-ðy innfoerde sum oðer werc.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xxxi. 691. Se ylca sulpicius and sum oðer broðor.
c. 1200. Ormin, 7476. Þatt teȝȝ … sholldenn … farenn ham till here land All wiþþ summ oþerr weȝȝe.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 3470. As yn cherche to synge or rede, Or of sum oþer holy dede.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VIII. 34. Sette scolers to scole or to sum oþer craft.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., III. iv. 302. He which is ouerer … schulde louȝe him silf in sum other maner.
1560. Whitehorne, Ord. Souldiours (1588), 6. The residue of the men … may be placed some other where.
1596. Edward III., IV. vii. I 2. O that I were some other countryman.
1611. [see OTHER a. 5 b].
1640. trans. Verdere’s Rom. of Rom., II. 193. I will take the power to love some otherwhere.
1699. R. L’Estrange, Erasm. Colloq. (1725), 200. He concluded to take some other Priest with him.
1732. [see OTHER a. 5 b].
a. 1845. [see OTHERWHERE c].
1858. Hawthorne, Ancestral Footstep (1883), 514. The old Hospitaller must die in his bed, or some other how.
6. Followed by certain or one with limiting force (cf. ONE B. 7).
1561, 1591. [see CERTAIN A. 7 b].
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Vnus aliquis, some one man.
1655. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1687), 62/1. The Stars are globous instances consisting of Air full of Fire, respiring Flames at some certain part.
1746. Francis, trans. Horace, Epist., II. i. 53. IV. 185 Some certain Point should finish the Debate. Ibid., 76. In some one Excellence their Merit lies.
1865. Ruskin, Sesame, ii. § 72. She should … follow at least some one path of scientific attainment.
II. With plural nouns.
7. Certain (taken individually).
Also with limiting terms as certain, other: cf. 5 and 6.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxv. Þæt ælc ʓesceaft bið healdon locen wið hire ʓecynde,… buton monnum & sumum englum.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1119. Wæs mycel eorðbifung on suman steodan her on lande.
c. 1200. Ormin, 11214. Affterr þatt sume wise menn O lare itt unnderrstanndenn.
c. 1250. Owl & Night., 879. Þeyh summe men beon þurhut gode.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19550. Þof summen mai baptise Mai naman … Conferming giue, bot biscop hand.
1340. Ayenb., 196. Zom uolk byeþ þet onworþeþ þe poure.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 132. Sum Pryncis ther bene, that … takyn atte har talent trew men goodis.
c. 1491. Chast. Goddes Chyld., 53. In somm outwarde signes the prophecye of the deuyll may be knowen.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 6. Some persones … wyll muse or meruayle.
1562. Winȝet, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 23. The durris … wes calket also with sum notes of dishonour.
1596. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iv. 125. Some certaine dregges of conscience are yet within mee.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., IV. xlvi. 374. Some … bodies sink naturally downwards.
1696. [C. Leslie], Snake in Grass, 88. I wou’d advise some Friends to go to the Dancing-School, and learn a more Gentle and Graceful Mien.
1723. Dk. Wharton, True Briton, No. 24. I. 208. I have heard some People very large in their Exclamations against Creeds and Forms of Faith.
1776. Trial of Nundocomar, 23/1. Some days he has violent purgings, at other times he gets better.
1826. Art of Brewing (ed. 2), 15. Some gentlemen, however,… have studied the subject more particularly.
1855. J. Phillips, Man. Geol., 498. Oligoclase occurs in some granites.
1867. Ruskin, Time & Tide, i. § 3. Every nation is fitted … for some particular employments or manufactures.
† b. With article or pronoun accompanying the noun. (Cf. A. 5 c.) Obs.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., I. i. 18. Þa teð hie brohton sume þæm cyninge.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 448. ʓe maʓon ʓehyran sume his ðeawes.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. ix. 3. Ða cwædon hiʓ sume þa boceras him betwynan.
c. 1120. O. E. Chron., an. 1119. Sume þa castelas he mid strengðe ʓenam.
c. 1205. Lay., 12001. Summe þe scipen wunden forð mid þan wederen.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2718. So þat some þe messagers to kermerdin come.
c. Some … (other) some, some … other(s). † Also with than, and ellipt. for sometimes.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxiv. § 10. Sumra wyrta … eard bið on dunum,… sumra on merscum, sumra on morum.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 48. Sume lareowas sindon beteran ðonne sume.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 95. Þere somme bowes ben leued and somme bereth none.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, IX. xxxviii. L’Envoi, Some folke appayre, some dothe amende.
1551. [see OTHER SOME]
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., III. iii. 20. Sometimes her head on one side, some another.
1651–1875. [see OTHER SOME].
8. A certain number of; a few at least.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1048. Ða he wæs sume mila oððe mare beheonan Dofran, þa dyde he on his byrnan.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie (Arb.), 235. I know … Your some sweete smiles, your some, but louely lowrs.
1610. Shaks., Temp., I. ii. 145. They hurried vs a-boord a Barke, Bore vs some Leagues to Sea.
1617. Moryson, Itin., I. 208. Some flaggons of rich wine, some very white bisket, some pruines and raisins.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World, 30. To dig a small garden to sow some Lettices, and other sort of sallading.
1785. [Mrs. Grant of Laggan], Lett. (1807), II. 96. The house has no other inhabitant at present than an old Sybil … and some legions of rooks and daws.
1822. Scott, Nigel, x. It costs but … the journey of some brief days.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 95. The middle and hinder ones die after some weeks’ struggle for existence.
1887. Field, 12 Nov., 734/2. Displaying his science by some beautiful casts.
b. In adverbial expressions of time.
1382. Wyclif, Acts x. 48. Thanne thei preieden him, that he schulde dwelle with hem summe dayes.
1602. in J. Morris, Troubles Cath. Forefathers (1872), I. iv. 192. My abode … hath been for some years … in London.
1661. 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 6. Gervise Lucas served … as gentleman of his horse some years.
1709. Manley, Secr. Mem. (1736), I. 175. A comical Adventure happened to her some Nights ago.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 322, ¶ 2. Some Years ago it happened that [etc.].
1821. Moore, Mem. (1853), III. 273. Have not been very well these some days past.
1859. Geo. Eliot, A. Bede, II. IV. xxix. 277. We shall meet with better feelings some months hence.
1891. E. Peacock, N. Brendon, I. 119. He has been here some years.
c. With addition of few.
1582. Allen, Martyrdom Campion (1908), 36. This blessed man,… of whose life I thought good to set downe some few lines also.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 470. If some few Pertusions be made in the Pot.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., IV. xiv. (1848), 251. We … caught more in some few Minutes than we had taken in a whole hour before.
1820. Keats, Isabella, xxxiv. For some few gasping moments.
1847. Grote, Hist. Greece (1862), III. xxv. 7. They had some few towns.
9. Used with numbers to indicate an approximate amount or estimate, and passing into an adv. with the sense ‘about, nearly, approximately.’
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxviii. § 1. Þa wæron hi sume ten ʓear on þam ʓewinne.
a. 900. O. E. Chron. (Parker MS.), an. 896. Þær wurdon … sume feower cyninges þegnas ofslæʓene.
c. 1205. Lay., 28983. Þa wunede bi-ȝeonde þere Hunbre … drenches sume sixe.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 84 b. The floud Ganges hath Eles some 30 Foote long.
1582. in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford (1880), 424. Some three or fower acres of woode.
1632. Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, II. ii. They skip into my lord’s cast skins some twice a year.
1668. Dryden, Even. Love, II. i. I have some three hundred pistoles by me.
1787. Burns, Auld Farmer’s Salut., iv. It’s now some nine-an’-twenty year.
1836. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., I. 56. We expect John Carlyle in some ten days.
1865. Ruskin, Sesame, i. § 33. This collection … would probably have been some thousand or twelve hundred pounds.
1892. Photogr. Ann., II. 648. The club consists of some 40 members.
b. With numerals denoting the time of day.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iii. 189. I thinke ’tis now some seuen a clocke.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xxxii. At some ten o’clock the clinking of a sabre might have been heard.
c. Hence with singular nouns expressing time, distance, amount, etc.
(a) 1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., V. iii. 257. When I came (some Minute ere the time Of her awaking). Ibid. (1596), Merch. V., III. ii. 9. I would detaine you here some month or two.
1822. Southey, Lett. (1856), III. 348. A note from Murray some fortnight ago let me know [etc.].
1875. B. Meadows, Clin. Observ., 20. Face nearly well, though not so free as some week or two back.
(b) 1595. Drake’s Voy. (Hakl. Soc.), 7. We came to anchor some saker shott from a forte.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 86. Distant from the towne some halfe mile.
1617. Moryson, Itin., I. 191. Some halfe musket shot distance.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, I. iii. Which was distant some mile or so from the school.
1883. C. J. Wills, Mod. Persia, 203. Some mile and a half through the deserted streets.
(c) 1846. S. Wilberforce, Sp. Missions (1874), 98. In order that the English people might buy that luxury some penny a pound cheaper.
III. 10. With other, one, few, etc., used absolutely in sing. or plur.
(a) c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xiii. 4. Sum oðer ʓefeollon neh woeʓ. Ibid., Luke ix. 27. Sint sume oðera her stondað ðaðe [etc.].
1484. Caxton, Fables of Auian, v. The leche whiche wylle hele somme other, ought fyrste to hele hym self.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, VI. xv. 7. Sum wtheris better can thair causis pleid.
1592. Soliman & Pers., IV. ii. I would my maister had left some other to be his agent here.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 53. Some other in the meane time playing with his nose, and bobbing him in the face.
1760–2. Goldsm., Cit. W., xiv. ¶ 3. There is Seneca, and Bolingbroke, and some others.
(b) 1546. Supplic. Poore Commons (E.E.T.S.), 85. Perhappes some one of vs hathe hylded C. shepe.
1598–9. Hakluyt, Voy., II. I. 56. Most rich & precious stones, some one of which is of more value then a whole kingdome.
1886. C. E. Pascoe, London of To-day, xlii. (ed. 3), 366. To admire and covet, if not to buy, some one of its treasures.
(c) 1582. Allen, Martyrdom Campion (1908), 16. Meaning by the state … the welfare of some few … upholden by this new religion.
1621. Bp. Mountagu, Diatribæ, 526. Vnlesse some few, & Many in your language be all one.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Hen. VIII. (1649), 397. The use that may be made of some few, as two or three in every Shire.
1735. Gentl. Mag., Feb., 106/1. Some few were well dress’d.
1875. Helps, Soc. Press., ix. 124. We think—at least, some few of us do—that [etc.].
(d) 1601. Shaks., Jul. C., I. iii. 122. Some certaine of the Noblest minded Romans. Ibid. (1607), Cor., II. iii. 59. Some certaine of your Brethren.
C. adv. (See also B. 9.)
1. With comparatives: A little; slightly; somewhat. Chiefly Sc. and north.
a. 1560. Rolland, Crt. Venus, I. 662. Quhill time this corps be sum better applyit.
1636. Rutherford, Lett. (1862), I. 172. My Well-beloved is some kinder … than ordinary.
1667. O. Heywood, Heart-Treasure, xvi. (1825), II. 219. I am rich still, as rich as ever I was, and some richer.
1741. A. Monro, Anat. (ed. 3), 207. The superior bulbous Part of this Bone forms some less than the inferior Half of that … Cavity.
1785. Burns, To W. Simpson, Postscr. xiii. I hope we … ken some better.
1807. P. Gass, Jrnl., 219. Yesterday we gave him an Indian sweat, and he is some better to day.
1894. Heslop, Northumbld. Gloss., 669. She’s some better thi day.
2. With verbs: a. A certain amount; a little.
1699. O. Heywood, Diaries (1885), IV. 162. She bled some still.
1821. Joseph the Book-Man, 17. Joe in his day had travell’d some.
1822. Hogg, Tales & Sk. (1837), VI. 272. He spoke some to himself likewise, but it was only one short sentence.
1834. J. Hall, Kentucky, II. 40. I hunt some, and snake a little; and when I haint nothen else to do, I go a lizardin.
1842. Dickens, in Foster, Life, III. iv. He may walk some, perhaps—not much.
1909. Lady’s Realm, Feb., 468/2. He hunted some, and fished some.
b. U.S. To some extent; in some degree; somewhat.
The variations of American usage are very fully illustrated in Thornton’s Amer. Gloss. (1912), 827–9.
1825. in Thornton, Amer. Gloss., s.v., [You are] on the huffy order, some, to-night?
1843. J. G. Whittier, in Pickard, Life (1894), I. 281. I think some of attending the great anti-slavery convention.
1863. Lincoln, in Dicey, Federal St., I. 225. It used to amuse me some (sic) to find that the slaveholders wanted more territory [etc.].
1889. Anthony’s Photogr. Bulletin, II. 206. Having been troubled some of late to get clear results.
c. U.S. In emphatic use: Very much, very well, etc.
1866. Lowell, Biglow P., Ser. II. The Courtin’, xiii. Thet night, I tell ye, she looked some!
1894. ‘G. Egerton,’ Keynotes, 9. ‘How you love young things!’ she says. ‘Some.’
3. dial. and U.S. With adjs. (rarely with advs.): Somewhat.
1817. in Thornton, Amer. Gloss., s.v., His clothes were some bloody.
1839. Marryat, Diary Amer., Ser. I. II. 226. ‘Are you cold, miss?’ said I to a young lady…. ‘Some,’ was the reply.
1851. Sternberg, Northampt. Dial., s.v., It war some wet.
1858–61. E. B. Ramsay, Remin. (1870), p. xxi. The heat has made your skin some tender.
D. sb.1 An unspecified amount, person, thing, etc. rare.
1830. Galt, Lawrie T., II. v. I have myself obstinacious objections—a considerable some—against ’em here parley voos.
1850. L. Hunt, Autobiogr., xxiv. 381. Some whim, some enjoyment,… with a thousand other somes and probabilities.
