a. [f. STILL a. + BORN ppl. a.]
1. Born lifeless; dead at birth; abortive.
1607. R. C[arew], trans. Estienne’s World Wond., 348. Restoring children to life, which were stil borne.
1613. Bp. Hall, Farew. Serm. Pr. Henry, Wks. (1625), 462. If a childe were heard cry, it is a lawfull proofe of his liuing: else if hee be dead, we say he is still-borne.
1622–3. in Swayne, Churchw. Acc. Sarum (1896), 176. iiij still borne Children 4 d.
1773. Gentl. Mag., XLIII. 118. It is of importance that the still-born children, and those who die before baptism, should also be registered.
1855. Poultry Chron., II. 436. I have often revived apparently still-born ducklings with whisky and water.
1911. Act 1 & 2 Geo. V., c. 6 § 4. If any person … falsely pretends that any child born alive was still-born … he shall be guilty of a misdemeanour.
2. fig.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., I. iii. 64. Grant that our hopes (yet likely of faire byrth) Should be still-borne.
1648. Herrick, Hesper., Comf. Lady, 6. Winds have their time to rage; but when they cease, The leavie-trees nod in a still-born peace.
1679. Dryden, Tr. & Cr., I. ii. 4. I haue with mighty anguish of my Soul Just at the Birth stifled this still-born-sigh.
1709. Tatler, No. 110, ¶ 7. Authors in Prose and Verse. Those of them who had produced any still-born Work.
1827. Neele, Lit. Rem. (1829), 22. It is a very common error to suppose that it [‘Paradise Lost’] fell almost still-born from the press.
1830. Marryat, King’s Own, xxxv. Those still-born quotations of our messmate Price are most tryingly annoying.
1858. Greener, Gunnery, Pref. p. iii. The numerous patents taken out during the last few years, most of which have fallen still-born.
1894. Jeaffreson, Bk. Recoll., I. viii. 135. [His] works one and all fell still-born from the press.
