Forms: 5 supplye (6–7 pl. supplyes), 5–6 Sc. supple, 6–8 supplie, 7– supply. [f. SUPPLY v.1 (In early use mainly Sc.)]
I. The action of supplying, or condition of being supplied.
† 1. Assistance, succor, support, relief. Also predicated of a person or thing that is the means of assistance or support. Obs.
Phr. to make (a) supply, to give assistance.
1413. James I., Kingis Q., xv. Ryght as the schip that sailith stereles Vpon the rokkis most to harmes hye, For lak of It that suld bene hir supplye. Ibid., cxii. In this case sche [sc. Minerva] may be thy supplye.
c. 1480. Henryson, Fables, Fox, Wolf, & Cadger, xiv. Ȝe man tak trauell and mak vs sum supple.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. x. 105. I leis … all supple of our travale and pane.
1549. Compl. Scot., Ep. Queen 1. The langorius desolat & affligit pepil, quhilkis ar al mast disparit of mennis supple.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 46. Quhair I culd nocht the Law fulfill, My warkis maid me na supplie. Ibid., 162. Thow art … My hope, support, and haill supplie.
1587. Turberv., Trag. Tales (1837), 32. When he sawe Nastagio bent For her supplie, whom he would reave of life.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Phormio, I. iv. Heere will I lie in a bush to make a supply, if you shall faile in anything.
1602. Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 24. To expend your time with vs a-while, For the supply and profit of our Hope.
c. 1614. Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, I. 566. See how Penthesilea leads Her Amazonian trowpes to Troye’s supplie!
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 597. Apple Trees … Want no Supply, but stand secure alone.
2. The act of making up a deficiency, or of fulfilling a want or demand.
Phr. † To make (a) supply, to fill up a deficiency.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxviii. 35. Supportand faltis with ȝour supple.
1596. Bacon, Max. & Use Com. Law, II. (1635), 61. The maner of making supply when the part of the heire is not a full third.
1638. Quarles, Hieroglyphikes, I. Epigr. i. 3. Thy wants are far more safe then their supply.
1662. H. More, Philos. Writ., Pref. Gen. (1712), 17. I omitted to set down the Succession of the Pythagorick School … and therefore I will here make a supply out of Diogenes Laertius.
1768. Tucker, Lt. Nat., I. xxvii. 186. Why are usefull things good? because they minister to the supply of our wants and desires.
1824. L. Murray, Eng. Gram. (ed. 5), I. 317. The supply of the ellipsis … gives an uncouth appearance to these sentences.
1835. T. Mitchell, Acharn. of Aristoph., App. 245. A system, which drew … upon the purses of the tributary states for a supply of those pecuniary demands, which the native resources of Athens were unable to furnish.
† 3. The act of supplying something needed; the filling up of a place or position; the provision of a person or thing in the place of another; the substitution of a thing for something else. Obs.
1585. in Presbyt. Movem. Eliz. (Camden), 53. Mr. Tay … desired the brethren to helpe him … for the supplie of his place.
1607. Shaks., Timon, II. i. 27. My releefe Must not be tost and turn’d to me in words, But finde supply immediate.
1608. J. King, Serm. S. Mary’s, Oxf., 5 Two partes, first the cession or decease of the one, secondly the succession and supply of the other.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 736. The South-wind … all the Clouds together drove…; the Hills to their supplie Vapour … Sent up amain.
1673. Temple, United Prov., Wks. 1731, I. 34. This Course seems to have been instituted by way of Supply or Imitation of the Chamber of Mechlyn.
b. Now only in reference to persons: The act, or position, of supplying a vacancy, or officiating temporarily instead of another, esp. as a minister or preacher; on supply = acting in such a capacity.
1580. Campion, in Allen, Martyrdom Campion (1908), 23. Such as … are to be sent for supplie,… let them be well trained for the pulpit.
1896. ‘Ian Maclaren,’ Kate Carnegie, 248. A ‘probationer,’ who on Saturdays can be seen at any country junction, bag in hand, on his patient errand of ‘supply.’
1905. Daily Chron., 1 Sept., 1/6. Wanted, an Assistant Schoolmaster, on ‘Supply.’
1912. Universe, 16 Aug., 12/1. Southwark…. Father Hallett [stationed] on supply at Melior Street.
4. The provision or furnishing of a person, etc., with necessaries.
1782. Cowper, Charity, 251. These have an ear for his paternal call, Who makes some rich for the supply of all.
1805. Collingwood, 7 Oct., in Nicolas, Disp. Nelson (1846), VII. 83, note. The active part he takes in everything that relates to the supply of the Fleet.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xx. The Native then handed him separately, and with a decent interval between each supply, his wash-leather gloves, his thick stick, and his hat.
1876. Voyle & Stevenson, Milit. Dict. (ed. 3), s.v., In time of peace the method of supply is by contract for the principal articles of sustenance.
II. That which is supplied.
† 5. coll. sing. or pl. An additional body of persons, esp. reinforcements of troops. Obs.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, V. 87. Butleris men so stroyit war that tide, In to the stour he wald na langar bide. To get supple he socht on to the staill.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. i. 159. The Earle of Salisbury craueth supply. Ibid. (1597), 2 Hen. IV., IV. ii. 45. Though wee here fall downe, Wee haue Supplyes, to second our Attempt.
a. 1634. in Capt. J. Smith’s Virginia, III. vi. 59. There we found the last Supply [of colonists] were all sicke.
1633. T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., III. x. (1821), 335. The two thousand supplyes, that were now landed out of England.
1685. Stillingfl., Orig. Brit., v. 297. The Romans … sent them speedy Supplies.
17[?]. Outlaw Murray, xliii. in Child, Ballads, V. 196/1. Word is gane to Philiphaugh,… To meet him the morn wi some supply.
† 6. A substitute. Const. of. Obs. exc. as in b.
1567. Fenton, Trag. Disc., xiii. (1898), II. 279. Usinge the pointe of a sharppe bodkyn as a supplie of a steeled chezell.
b. One who supplies a vacancy or acts as substitute for another; esp. a minister or preacher who temporarily officiates in a vacant charge or pulpit.
1584. in Presbyt. Movem. Eliz. (Camden), 36. Mr. Newman moued whether he might get a standing supply for his place.
1697. in W. S. Perry, Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch. (1870), I. 10. To give notice what number of ministers was wanting, and earnestly to solicit for a suitable Supply.
1718. Bp. Robinson, Ibid., 200. I should be glad to hear from you what vacant Churches are in your parts, to the end I may … procure you a supply.
1888. Howells, Annie Kilburn, xxx. Supply after supply filled his pulpit.
1892. Pall Mall G., 8 Oct., 7/2. Some servants who know their business will only stay in situations for short periods, as they like constant change. These would make excellent supplies.
† 7. A supplement or appendix to a literary work.
1585. Banister, Chyrurg., Title-p., Encreased and enlightened with certaine Annotations, Resolutions, and Supplyes, not impertinent to this Treatise.
1596. Danett, trans. Comines (1614), 225 (heading), A Supply to the Historie of Philip de Commines from the death of King Lewis the XI.
1638. R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. III.), 1. A Supply to the Second part; or The Third Part of the Letters of M. de Balzac.
† b. gen. Something supplementary, additional or auxiliary; a supplement, adjunct. Obs.
1620. [G. Brydges], Horæ Subs., 21. To make himselfe the encreasing figure, whilst the rest serue but for supplyes.
1615. Burges, Pers. Tithes, 49. All these Defects are supplyed in this Statute of Edw. the 6. For, (passing ouer the supplies touching Prædiall Tithes) wee may finde these supplies for Personal Tithes.
a. 1626. Bp. Andrewes, 96 Serm., Holy Ghost (1661), 488. To do that was to be done, Christ was enough; needs no supply.
1752. Hume, Ess. & Treat. (1777), I. 197. Municipal laws are a supply to the wisdom of each individual.
8. A quantity or amount of something supplied or provided.
1607. Shaks., Timon, II. ii. 201. I am proud, say, that my occasions haue found time to vse ’em toward a supply of mony.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Wars, 241. The Queen of England … ordered a supply of mony to the King of France, together, with four thousand English Souldiers.
1703. Dampier, Voy., III. 16. Till … the greatest part of the Salt-water is congeal’d … or till a fresh Supply of it comes in again from the Sea.
1710–1. Atterbury, Serm., 1 Cor. x. 13 (1734), I. 102. What is Grace, but an Extraordinary Supply of Ability and Strength to resist Temptations?
1832. Ht. Martineau, Life in Wilds, ix. 117. The greatest possible supply of human labour.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., ii. The wine was passed, and a fresh supply ordered.
1846. J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4), I. 34. Certain crops … require a particular alkali; the vine, for example,… and sorrel,… must needs have supplies of potash.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 592. The duke had brought … but a scanty supply of pikes and muskets.
1898. G. B. Shaw, Plays, II. Candida, 95. Carrying … a handbag, and a supply of illustrated papers.
† b. spec. (absol.) A collection of materials to form the basis of an argument or treatise. Obs.
1662. More, Antid. Ath., II. xi. heading, A Supply from ordinary and known Examples as convictive … of a discerning Providence.
1714. Swift, Pres. St. Aff., Wks. 1755, II. I. 203. Systems, that … are supplies for pamphlets in the present age.
9. absol. (A) provision of funds or food; (a quantity of) money or provisions supplied or to be supplied: now chiefly spec. the food and other stores necessary for an armed force. a. sing. (Now rare, exc. as attrib. of b: see 12.)
1611. Bible, 2 Cor. viii. 14. That now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want.
1622. Fletcher, Span. Cur., I. i. When this is spent, Seek for supply from me.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), Supply, a fresh recruit of provisions or stores sent to a ship or fleet.
1825. P. Buchan, Gleanings, Willie Wallace, xi. If ye be a captain as good as ye look Ye’ll give a poor man some supplie.
1831. Scott, Ct. Robt., xx. Judging that it was full time to carry some supply to Count Robert, who had been left without food the whole day.
1836. W. Irving, Astoria, xlix. III. 107. The slaughter of so many buffaloes had provided the party with beef for the winter, in case they met with no further supply.
b. pl.
c. 1650[?]. Hist. Tom Thumb, III. in Hazl., E. P. P., II. 244. Finding all retir’d and gone, His hunger to suffice In cautious sort he moves along; Nature wants some Supplies.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Anat. (1691), 6. England … sent Money and other Supplies into Ireland.
1690. C. Nesse, Hist. & Myst. O. & N. Test., I. 26. After other losses … there may be found some supplys for repairing them.
1777. Robertson, Hist. Amer., V. (1783), II. 267. Notwithstanding the supplies which they received from the Tlascalans, they were often in want of provisions.
1875. Encycl. Brit., II. 582/1. The Surveyor-General of Ordnance, assisted by a director of supplies and transport, and a director of artillery and stores.
1881. Jowett, Thucyd., I. 169. The invaders remained until their supplies were exhausted.
10. coll. sing. or pl. A sum of money granted by a national legislature for expenses of government not provided for by the revenue.
1626. Sir J. Eliot, Sp. in Ho. Comm., in Apol. Socrates, etc. (Grosart), I. 152. Ye extraordinary resort to his sub[jec]ts for supplies.
1670. Hatton, Corr. (Camden), 57. Of this I suppose they waite the parlimt’s results for supplyes.
1689. Acts Parlt. Scotl. (1875), XII. 56/2. Þe collector of the supply in the schyre of Edinburgh.
1735. Bolingbroke, On Parties, 77. After these Invasions were over, They voted a Supply.
1817. Earl Grey, in Parl. Deb., 28. The supplies of last year were 35 millions, and the ways and means did not exceed 20 millions.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist., viii. (1876), II. 19. As the ordinary revenues might prove quite unequal to great exigencies, the constitution has provided another means … parliamentary supply.
1867. Chambers’ Encycl., IX. 218/1. All bills authorising the expenditure of public money must originate in the House of Commons, and be based on resolutions moved in a Committee of Supply.
1874. Green, Short Hist., viii. § 5. 517. The Commons declared that redress of grievances must precede the grant of supplies.
b. Commissioners of Supply: see quots. (Sc.)
a. 1768. Erskine, Inst. Law Scot., I. iv. § 31. The commissioners of supply are the persons appointed by parliament in their yearly acts of supply, to levy the land-tax within the county to which they are named.
1838. W. Bell, Dict. Law Scot., 184. Under the militia acts the commissioners of supply have also power to assess for failures to make up the quota for allowances to the families of militiamen.
11. Pol. Econ. The amount of any commodity actually produced and available for purchase: correlative to DEMAND sb. 4 b.
1776–1878. [see DEMAND sb. 4 b].
1878. Jevons, Prim. Pol. Econ., 103. The labour which is required to get more of a commodity governs the supply of it.
1900. Ld. Aldenham, Colloquy on Currency, 82. If the demand exceeds the supply the price will rise. If the supply exceeds the demand the price will fall.
III. 12. attrib. and Comb.: in sense 3 b supply teacher; in sense 9, esp. = having charge of or carrying the supplies of an army, as supply column, department, officer, train (of wagons), wagon; in sense 11, supply price. Also (partly from SUPPLY v.1) supply-boat, -shop; = supplying water or other substance to some mechanism, apparatus, etc., as supply-cistern, -dam, -pipe, -pump, -roller (supplying ink to other rollers in a printing-press).
1897. Outing (U.S.), XXX. 327/1. The steamers upon this route are *supply-boats.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 209. The *supply cistern … must be so placed that its bottom is not lower than the highest point of the pipes.
1899. Westm. Gaz., 9 Nov., 2/1. Every day the regimental transport replenishes its supplies from the Brigade *Supply column, which in its turn fills up from the Divisional Supply column.
1875. Encycl. Brit., II. 582/1. The Army Service Corps consists of 12 transport companies and 11 *supply companies, officered from the supply and transport sub-department.
1844. Stephens, Bk. Farm, II. 266. When water is the power, the sluice of the *supply-dam should be drawn up to the proper height.
1876. Voyle & Stevenson, Milit. Dict. (ed. 3), *Supply Department, a branch of the control department…, now … replaced by the commissariat department.
1899. Westm. Gaz., 15 Nov., 5/2. Our *supply officers.
1858. Lardner, Hand-bk. Nat. Phil., 150. The *supply pipe E E, descending from the upper reservoir, communicates with the top and bottom of the cylinder by the horizontal pipes F and G.
1890. A. Marshall, Princ. Econ., I. V. iii. 403. When the amount produced … is such that the demand price is greater than the *supply price.
1840. Civil Engin. & Arch. Jrnl., III. 77/2. The force or *supply-pump.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2455/1. *Supply-roller (Printing), an intermediate working-roller.
1898. Daily News, 4 May, 7/4. Meat … leaped up a halfpenny a pound yesterday in the supply shops just outside Smithfield Market.
1902. Daily Chron., 18 April, 3/2. It was agreed that *‘supply’ teachers … should be paid for the week’s holiday allowed on account of the Coronation.
1902. Words of Eye-witness, 228. A person unused to *supply-trains.
1894. H. Gardener, Unoff. Patriot, 275. Their *supply-wagons had not come up until long after the struggle.
b. Pl. supplies (sense 9 b) is occas. used attrib.
1898. Engin. Mag., XVI. 44. Adding foundry pay-roll total and supplies-cost total gives castings production cost.
1906. Daily Chron., 16 Oct., 5/5. The unbusinesslike methods of the Supplies Office at Pretoria.
