[Cf. OFris. sumersdey Midsummer day.] A day in summer: often put typically for a very long day.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 29. Hit was vpon a someres day.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 715. Als a shadu on þe somers day.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 11613. Vp on the glade somerys dayes.
a. 1536. Songs, Carols, etc. (E.E.T.S.), 117. Lyke a meyny of bullokkis … on a whot somers day, whan they be mad all.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., V. i. 14. Like stinging Bees in hottest Sommers day.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 449. To lament his fate In amorous dittyes all a Summers day.
1743. Blair, Grave, 107. Oh! then the longest summer’s day Seemed too too much in haste.
1853. M. Arnold, Scholar Gypsy, ii. All the live murmur of a summer’s day.
b. Phr. In († upon) a summer’s day, used in various commendatory phrases; some summer’s day, some day or other, ‘one of these fine days.’
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., I. ii. 89. A sweet-fac’d man, a proper man as one shall see in a summers day.
1594. Lyly, Mother Bombie, I. iii. As goodly a youth as one shall see in a Summers daie.
1697. H. Wanley, in Bodl. Q. Rec. (1915), Jan., 112. [The] Vice-Chancellor … with the other Curators, upon some Somers day, might call them all over.
1742. Fielding, J. Andrews, IV. xv. As fine a fat thriving Child as you shall see in a Summer’s Day.
1823. Byron, Juan, XIV. lxxxii. There’s another little thing … Which you should perpetrate some summer’s day.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xxxvii. You won’t see a prettier pair, I think, this summer’s day, sir.
