Forms: 4–5 sowple, suplie, 4–6 Sc. supple, suple, (6 Sc. supplee), 4–7 supplye, 5–7 supplie, (6 supploy(e), 6– supply. [a. OF. so(u)pleer, earlier soup(p)leier, -oier, later supplier, mod.F. suppléer, ad. (with change of conjugation) L. supplēre (whence also Pr. suplir, It. supplire, Sp. suplir, Pg. supprir), = SUB- 25 + -plēre to fill (plē-nus FULL).]
† 1. trans. To help, aid, assist; to succor, relieve; to support, maintain; occas. to deliver from.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XI. 627. rubric, How gud Iames of Douglass askit at king Robert the Bruce leiff to gang to supple erll Thomas Randall.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 165. Lat man do that in him is, and syne traist in Goddis help, and he sall supplee his gude rycht.
1464–5. Acts Parlt. Scotl. (1875), XII. 31/1. Þat he nothir supple support nor resett þe saide Alane in þe saide dedis.
1508. Dunbar, Poems, iv. 43. In medicyne the most practicianis … Thame self fra ded may not supple.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 340. He supplies king Henrie his gude father sair vexte with rebellis.
1630. Capt. J. Smith, Trav. & Adv., 18. The very Bulwarke and Rampire of a great part of Europe, most fit by all Christians to have beene supplyed and maintained.
17[?]. Duke of Athole’s Nurse, xiii. in Child, Ballads, IV. 154/2. O can you supply me? For she that was to meet me in friendship … Has sent nine men to slay me.
absol. c. 1550. Rolland, Crt. Venus, I. 637. O Cupid King … Attend thir wordis that ar sa pungitiue… Bot ȝe supple, I may not thame sustene.
† 2. To furnish with (additional) troops; to reinforce. Also absol. Obs.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VII. 1119. Agayne Wallace he prewit in mony press, With Inglismen suppleit thaim at his mycht.
1525. St. Papers Hen. VIII., IV. 412. To help fortefy and suple our confederat ye King of France.
1579–80. North, Plutarch (1895), III. 228. Supplying still with a few on either side, at the length they came to a maine battell.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 105. Where he left his most tired souldiers, and supplied his army with the people of that countrey.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, viii. These detachments … supplied by reinforcements which more than recruited their diminished numbers.
3. † a. To make up (a whole) by adding something; to fill up, complete. Obs.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xii. (Mathias), 356. Sa tuk þai hyme for þe twelf to be, Þe parfyt nowmyre for to suple. Ibid., xxxiii. (George), 539. His wikit wil ȝet to suple,… he … gert George til hyme be present.
1552. Huloet, Supploye or make vp the full nombre of hundreth souldiers that lacked of that nombre called centuria, subcenturio.
1579–80. North, Plutarch, Publicola (1595), 113. He supplyed vp the number of Senatours that were greatly decayed.
† b. To add to (something); to make up a deficiency in; to supplement. Obs.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xv. (Barnabas), 30. Dyscipilis … Þat Criste assignit for to be In helpe his warke to suple.
1591. Spenser, Teares Muses, 537. Shee wept and waild … And all the rest, her sorrow to supplie, Did throw forth shrieks and cries.
1615. Brathwait, Strappado (1878), 184. Nature is supplide in him by Art.
1671. trans. Palafox’s Conq. China, xv. 285. That by their valour they might supply the little intelligence they had in this way of fighting.
1730. A. Gordon, Maffei’s Amphith., 195. The Book … was altered and supplied by the hand of a Stranger.
c. To add (something that is wanting).
c. 1450. Capgrave, Life St. Aug. (1910), 41. Augustin supplied swech good werkis whech he coude not do him-selue.
1533. More, Apol., xlii. OO j b. The knowledge the party lacketh must be supplyed the more effectually by the iudges.
1546. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 56. Quhat wantis of the hale soum … to be supleit be thaim for payment of the hale soum.
1567. Sanders, Rocke of Chvrche, ii. 30. The Particle ὠν, is to be supplied to these woordes, ὁ μείζων.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., Ded. Having said what he thought convenient, he always left somewhat for the Imagination of his Readers to supply.
1824. L. Murray, Eng. Gram. (ed. 5), I. 430. Supply words that are wanting.
1861. Paley, Æschylus (ed. 2), Supplices, 591, note. Μὴ is to be supplied from the preceding negative clause.
1862. Spencer, First Princ., I. iv. § 24 (1875), 79. Another fundamental condition of thought, omitted by Sir W. Hamilton, and not supplied by Mr. Mansel.
4. To make up for, make good, compensate for (a defect, loss or void); to compensate for (the absence of something) by providing a substitute.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxii. (Justin), 207. I sal al his fawt supple.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VI. iv. (Bodl. MS.), lf. 36/1. So that þe vertu of þe norise be instede and suplie [ed. 1495 sowple] and fulfille þe defaute of þe child.
1491. Cartular. S. Nicholai Aberdon. (New Spalding Club), I. 255. Alss oft as he [a chaplain] falȝes in execucion of his office … he sal pay i d … to him þat suppleis yat falt.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 51. These … vertues … supplyeth ye defautes that be lefte in ye powers of the soule by synne.
1563–7. Buchanan, Reform. St. Andros, Wks. (S.T.S.), 12. Ane man of … sufficient doctrine to supple the regentis absens.
1600. E. Blount, trans. Conestaggio, 225. That which most supplied their want of experience.
1653. Holcroft, Procopius, Pref. A iv. The knowing Translator hath supplyed the defect out of the Latine copies.
1695. Ld. Lonsdale, in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1915), Jan., 91. That the intermission off my Storie for almost seven years should now in the time of my Leisure be supplied.
1709. Swift, Adv. Relig., Wks. 1755, II. I. 119. He, that would keep his house in repair, must attend every little breach or flaw, and supply it immediately.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 145. Yet still the loss of wealth is here supplied By arts.
1780. Cowper, Progr. Error, 172. Cards,… and the polish’d die, The yawning chasm of indolence supply!
1834–47. J. S. Macaulay, Field Fortif. (1851), 18. If defended by three ranks, two of them stand on the banquette; the first rank fires, the second loads, and the third rank supplies casualties.
1859. Once a Week, 2 July, 16. The tadpole needs his tail to swim with; and Nature kindly supplies any accident that may deprive him of it.
absol. 1673. R. Allestree, Ladies Calling, I. i. § 12. 10. There will not remain many Topics of Discourse, unless this be called into supply.
5. To fulfil, satisfy (a need or want) by furnishing what is wanted.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 18. Thy nychtbour lufe, and als supplie His neid.
1600. Chester Pl., Banes, 35. See these pagentes played to the beste of theire skill; wher to supply all wantes, shalbe noe wantes of good will.
1623. Milton, Ps. cxxxvi. 86. All living creatures he doth feed, And with full hand supplies their need.
1666. Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 189. Which is not from any want of ardor in the House to supply the publick necessityes.
1784. Cowper, Task, III. 798. Some private purse Supplies his need with an usurious loan.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, IV. v. II. 165. If [he] withheld the revenues and supplied not the exigencies of the state.
1901. Cordingley, Dict. Stock Exch. T., 56. When … there are not sufficient shares issued to supply the demands made.
6. To furnish, provide, afford (something needed, desired or used): orig. with personal subj.; later freq. and now usually with impersonal subj.
c. 1520. Skelton, Magnyf. (1908), 1663. That he knowe not but that I haue supplyed All that I can his matter for to spede.
1624. Wotton, Archit., 69. The reception of light … we must now supplie … by some open Forme of the Fabrique.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 221. Dodonian Oaks no more supply’d Their Mast. Ibid. (1700), Ovid’s Met., Baucis & Philemon, 148. What their tardy feet denied, The trusty staff (their better leg) supplied.
1704. Prior, Celia to Damon, 79. Nearer Care … supplies Sighs to my Breast, and Sorrow to my Eyes.
1713. Steele, Englishman, No. 7. 47. He will tell you, with his Eyes shut, what Province, what Mountain supplied the Liquor.
1816. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 387. All the tin used in England is supplied by the mines of Cornwall, which furnish 3000 tons annually.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., xvi. (1842), 401. A sound cork, perforated so as to form a ring…. Half a dozen of these will supply handles to most tubes.
1835. Newman, Lett. (1891), II. 109. By way of showing the hopelessness of any of us supplying your desideratum.
1857. Miller, Elem. Chem., Org., i. 46. In order to supply the hydrochloric ether, a mixture of hydrochloric acid and alcohol is placed in the retort.
1910. D. G. Hogarth, in Encycl. Brit., I. 248/2. The fresco-paintings … of Crete have supplied the clearest proof of it.
† b. To put or appoint as a substitute. (Cf. 9, 10, 11.) Obs. rare.
a. 1618. Raleigh, Maxims of State (1651), 72. [He] feared that David would supplie Benagit in his place.
7. To furnish (a thing) with what is necessary or desirable; in early use, without constr., to provide for the maintenance of, make provision for.
1529. Registr. Aberdon. (Maitland Cl.), I. 396. To sustene supple mentene apperall mend and uphald … þe brig forsaid.
1588. Kyd, Househ. Philos., Ind. 103. Entertainment of guests, how to be supplyed.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., I. i. 17. A hundred Almes-houses. right well supply’d.
1605. in Abstr. Protocols Town Clerks of Glasgow (1896), II. 116. Willing to set fordwart, manteine and supply thair guid and godlie purpois.
1607. Shaks., Timon, III. ii. 40. Requesting your Lordship to supply his instant vse with so many Talents. Ibid., IV. ii. 47. Nor ha’s he with him to supply his life.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 320. Feed him full and high: Indulge his Growth, and his gaunt Sides supply.
1707. Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 264. The Salts … contribute very much to the abundantly supplying the Plants with what is requisite.
1784. Cowper, Tiroc., 27. She … With flow’r and fruit the wilderness supplies.
1799. Han. More, Fem. Educ. (ed. 4), I. 135. To supply by individual kindness those cases of hardship which laws cannot reach.
1884. H. Gibbes, in Thompson, Tumours of Bladder, 59. The growth is well supplied with blood-vessels.
b. transf. To furnish with an occupant, tenant or contents; to fill. poet.
1607. Shaks., Cor., III. iii. 35. Keepe the Chaires of Iustice Supplied with worthy men. Ibid. (1607), Timon, III. i. 18. An empty box … which … I come to intreat your Honor to supply.
1715. Pope, Iliad, III. 64. Thy figure promised with a martial air, But ill thy soul supplies a form so fair.
c. Anat. and Phys. Of a nerve or blood-vessel: To furnish with energy or nourishment (the part or organ to which it is distributed).
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xxx. 397. The branch given off by the ulnar nerve to supply the little finger.
1899. L. Hill, Man. Hum. Physiol., xx. 181. The right and lett subclavian arteries supply respectively the right and left shoulder and arm.
8. To furnish or provide (a person) with something; in early use, without constr., to satisfy the wants of, provide for; now usually, to furnish with regular supplies of a commodity.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 8. Honour thy Elderis; and thame supplie, Geue that thair neid of the requyre.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., V. i. 212. This is the body That tooke away the march from Isabell, And did supply thee at thy garden-house In her Imagin’d person.
1646. J. Hall, Poems, I. 10. Feathers … Which might … stitch’t into a web, supply anew With annuary cloakes the wandring Jew.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 26. He could not subsist if they should refuse to supply him.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, I. i. They supplied me as fast as they could, showing … astonishment at my bulk and appetite.
1775. Burke, Lett., to R. Champion (1844), II. 31. I am sincerely thankful to you for your care, in supplying us with the earliest intelligence.
1827. Lytton, Pelham, lxxiii. Can Sir Reginald Glanville’s memory … supply him with no probable cause?
1878. Jevons, Prim. Pol. Econ., 30. China supplies us with vast quantities of tea.
Mod. (e.g., on a baker’s cart) Families supplied daily.
9. To fill (another’s place); esp. (now only) to occupy as a substitute.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xii. (Mathias), 318. Þat we stablyste ane in þe place, Þe quhyle to supple of Iudas.
1548. Elyot, s.v. Fungor, Fungi vice alicuius,… to be in an other mannes steede, to supply an other mannes roume.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., III. ii. 249. Lucentio, you shall supply the Bridegroomes place.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 834. A race of upstart Creatures, to supply Perhaps our vacant room.
1750. Gray, Elegy, 82. Their name, their years, spelt by th’ unletter’d muse, The place of fame and elegy supply.
1802. C. James, Milit. Dict., s.v., Covering serjeants supply the places of officers when they step out of the ranks, or are killed in action.
1831. G. P. R. James, Phil. Augustus, I. ii. The place of his casque was supplied by a large brown hood.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxiii. (1861), V. 103. She died; and, her place was supplied by a German princess.
† b. To serve (a turn). Obs. rare.
1602. R. Carew, Cornwall, 82. These poore instruments for want of better did supplie a turne.
† 10. To fulfil, discharge, perform (an office or function), esp. as a substitute for another. Obs.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), VII. 133. This Benedict made pope but symple in connynge, made an oþer pope under hym to supplye his office.
1533. Gau, Richt Vay, 104. Paul sais notht yat it is sufficient to ane bischoip to haiff ane prechour to supple his office.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. LXXVII. iii. My hart in office lame, My tongue as lamely fares, No part his part supplies.
1626. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 328. They may be removeable … and others chosen in his or their place … to supply the residue of the said yeere.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 1001. Let us seek Death, or hee not found, supply With our own hands his Office on our selves.
1680. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., xii. 203. The Joyners Mallet would supply the Office of this Tool.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. ii. 135. Mixed with wood-ashes, to supply the use of tallow.
11. To take the place of; to serve as, or furnish, a substitute for; to make up for the want of; to replace. Now rare or Obs.
c. 1606. Rowlands, Terrible Battle, D 3. [They] fall sicke; and die,… and others them supply.
1618. Bolton, Florus, To Rdr. (1636), A 7. The words which are here and there inserted … are … explanatory of the Author’s meaning, supplying marginall notes.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, To Rdr. Thou art worth ten thousand of us; if we dye, wee may be supplied.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 1078. A comfortable heat … Which might supply the Sun.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 8 March 1689. The Hearth Tax was remitted for ever, but what was intended to supply it … is not nam’d.
1770. Goldsm., Des. Vill., 56. A bold peasantry,… When once destroyed, can never be supplied.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), VI. 332. The Court has no power to strike out the word such; and if they did, what are they to supply it with?
1873. L. Wallace, Fair God, I. xii. Lamplight … ill supplying the perfect sunshine.
12. Of a preacher or minister: To occupy (a church, pulpit, etc.) as a substitute, or temporarily; to act as ‘supply’ for (another); also absol.
1719. Spotswood, in W. S. Perry, Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch. (1870), I. 202. When the Church he now supplies, became void by the death of the former incumbent.
1788. M. Cutler in Life, etc. (1888), I. 434. Mr. Dana preached here, who was supplied by Mr. D. Story.
1895. Cornh. Mag., Aug., 155. Gillespie was now called on to ‘supply the pulpits’ of ministers who left home.
1905. Johanna H. Harting, Hist. Sardinian Chapel, 30. For some years he [The Rev. Thomas Gabb] ‘supplied’ at Mrs. Langdale’s private Chapel on Sundays and Holidays.
