Take v.

Pa. t. took; pa. pple. taken. Forms: see below. [Late OE. tacan, tóc, *tacen, a. ON. taka, tók, tekinn (OSw. taka, Sw. taga, Da. tage), to grasp, grip, seize, lay hold of, take, which appears c. 1100, in late parts of the OE. Chron., first in MS. D, and then a. 1150 also in E, and elsewhere, but may have been in use in the Dane-law district a. 1000. In ME. it gradually superseded the OE. niman (see NIM v.), and has been, during the later ME. and the whole mod.Eng. period, the simplest and most direct word for the general notion expressed by Da. tage, Sw. taga, Ger. nehmen, Da. nemen, Fr. prendre, It. prendere, Sp., Pg. tomar, L. capĕre, sumĕre, Gr. λαμβάνειν, Russ. братъ, взятъ, Heb. lāqax, etc. ON. taka was app. cognate with MDu. and mod.EFris. tāken to lay hold of, grasp, seize, catch; it was also in ablaut-relation to Goth. têkan, taitôk, têkans to touch (with the hands, etc.). With the sense in Gothic cf. ON. taka á, late OE. tacan on to touch.]

  A.  Illustration of Forms and Inflexions.

  Take is, like shake, forsake, a strong vb. of the 6th ablaut series In northern ME. the k and following short vowel in take, takes, taken were often suppressed, leaving the forms ta, tas, tan, of which ta, tay, survives in Eng. dialects, tane in Sc. and many Eng. dialects, ta’en in Eng. poets. The reduction of the pa. t. to tō is obs., rare, and doubtful. A weak pa. t. taked occurs from 13th c., and is, with tayed, teaed, tade, still dialectal. For the pa. pple. taken, the pa. t. took has been common since 16th c. in vulgar speech and in dialects, which have also tooken, tooked. In the pa. pple. ton(e for the northern tan(e occasionally appears. See Eng. Dial. Dict.

  1.  Infin., and Pres. α. 2 tacan (tæcen), 3–5 taken, -yn; 4 tac, 4–5 (6– Sc.) tak, 5 taake, 6 taik(e, Sc. tack; 3– take.

c. 1100.  O. E. Chron., an. 1076 (MS. D). Ac se kynge … hine let syððan tacan. Ibid. (a. 1154), an. 1140. On þis ȝær wolde þe king Stephne tæcen Rodbert.

a. 1272.  Luue Ron, 64 in O. E. Misc., 95. Al deþ hit wile from him take.

13[?].  K. Alis., 1799 (Bodl. MS.). Þat he shulde of þe werlde & þee Taken tol.

13[?].  Cursor M., 563 (Cott.). Þe god to tak and leue þe ill. Ibid., 2812 (Gött.). His mohwes … þat suld his dohutris tac.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 367. Þai schal taake no þinge ellis.

c. 1400.  Lay Folks Mass Bk., Bidding Prayer ii. 64. Ensaumpil for to tak.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 485/2. Takyn, or receyvyn.

1538.  Kath. Bulkeley, in Lett. Suppress. Monasteries (Camden), 230. He … will not taike my answere.

1546.  Yorks. Chantry Surv. (Surtees), II. 454. No man will taik yt.

1562.  Winȝet, Cert. Tractatis, III. Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 34. That this tumult tak rest.

1573.  Tyrie, Refut., in Cath. Tractates (S.T.S.), 14. He culd nocht tack tent to sic trifflis.

1785.  Burns, To the Deil, xxi. O wad ye tak a thought an’ men’!

  β.  contr. 4 (5–6 Sc.) ta, taa, 4–6 (9 dial.) tay, tae, 5 tan.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 1250 (Gött.). Hugat þu sal ta [Cott. tak; Fairf., Trin. take] þi right way.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, X. 610. And thair abaid thair aynd to ta.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, iii. (Andreas), 11. Sanct Andrew his way can tay.

c. 1400.  Laud Troy Bk., 1742. Thelaman … nold her not to his spouse tan.

c. 1560.  A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), ii. 153. Quhen thay saw Sym sic curage ta.

1570.  in J. Redford, Mor. Play Wit & Sc., etc. (Shaks. Soc.), 91. Eche swete corde eche ere woolde tay.

1865.  Waugh, Besom Ben, vii. Wheer are yo beawn to tay mo too?

  2.  Imper. α. 3–4 tac, 4–5 (6– Sc.) tak, 4– take; pl. 3 takez, 4 -es, -is, 5 takeþ. β. contr. 4–6 ta, pl. tas (4 tatz).

c. 1200.  Ormin, 8355. Josæp, ris upp & tacc þe child & tacc þe childess moderr.

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 7. Tac þe to him treoweliche.

13[?].  Cursor M., 15233 (Cott.). Takes and etes o þis bred.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 735. Tatz to non ille, Ȝif I mele a lyttel more.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 413. Ta now þy grymme tole to þe. Ibid., 1396. Tas yow þere my cheuicaunce.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 77. Tak reward of þy value.

c. 1425.  Cursor M., 661 (Trin.). Beþ war & takeþ good entent.

a. 1510.  Douglas, King Hart, II. 149. First witnes thow me ta.

1816.  Scott, Old Mort., xliii. This is the way; follow me,… sir, but tak tent to your feet.

  3.  Pres. Indic. (special forms). a. 2nd pers. sing. α. 4 takes, 4–5 -is, 5 -yst, 5– takest. β. contr. 4 tas, 5 taas.

13[?].  Cursor M., 18358 (Cott.). Þou þat … fra þi folk þair sinnes takes [Gött. takis; c. 1425 Trin. takest, Laud takyst]. Ibid., 27132 (Cott.), Þou þi bising tas be oþer men.

c. 1430.  Christ’s own Compl., 464, in Pol. Rel., & L. Poems (1866), 197. No tent þou taas.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, II. 85. To quhom takis thow this thing?

  b.  3rd pers. sing. α. 2 tæcþ, 3–4 takeþ, -eð, 4–5 takith, 4–7 (8– arch.) taketh; 4– takes, 6 Sc. takis, tekis).

a. 1150.  MS. 303 Corp. Chr. Coll. Cambr., 178 (Napier). Swa hwæt swa hit on tæcþ.

c. 1275.  Lay., 3361. And takeþ hit his child.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 3193. Þe comli quen þan takeþ meliors by þe hande.

13[?].  Cursor M., 29274 (Cott.). On þam þis cursing stede first takes That [etc.].

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. x. 38. He that takith nat his crosse.

1484.  Caxton, Fables of Æsop, V. xiii. He is not wyse whiche … taketh debate or stryf.

1571.  Satir. Poems Reform., xxix. 41. The Duvill … tekis forme of Angell bryte.

  β.  contr. 4–5 tas (4 tath), 4–6 Sc. tais, 5 tase, tace.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xviii. (Egipciane), 270. Gret dowt in his hart he tais.

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 129. He therof his part ne tath.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 1666. He … Tas him to his tresory.

c. 1430.  Brut, 406. Thanne Vmfreuyle, his leue he tace [rhyme space].

a. 1450.  Le Morte Arth., 956. Sir Gawayne … to conselle he tase [rhymes was, case, has].

  c.  pl. α. 4 taken, 5 -yn; β. contr. 4 tas.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 566. Or hure tenful tach ȝe taken ensample.

1357.  Lay Folks Catech., 244. What thing so we gete, or tas.

  4.  Past Indic. (and Subj.). α.¹ ? 1 tóc, 2–3 toc, 3–4 tock, 3–5 tok, 3–6 toke, (4 toek, ? to), 5–7 tooke, 4– took. pl. ? 1 tócon, 2 tocan, 3–5 token, 4 tokene, tooken, 5 tokyn.

c. 1100.  O. E. Chron. (MS. D), an. 1075. He … tóc [MS. E nam] swilce ȝerihta swa he him ȝelaȝade.

c. 1200.  Ormin, Pref. 9. Crist toc dæþ o rodetre.

c. 1275.  Lay., 54. He … þane hilke boc tock us to bisne.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5864. As me him drinke tok. Ibid., 6651. Þis erl … toc hire þe castel of bruges.

13[?].  Cursor M., 13152 (Cott.). To þe bure sco tok hir pas. Ibid., 16454. Quen þai þe fine gold forsoke, And to [v.r. toke] þam to þe lede.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. (MS. Rawl.), XVI. 269 + 3. He softe ȝede, Þat he toek vs as tit. Ibid. (1393), C. IV. 47. Mede … took hym a noble For to be hure bedman.

c. 1420[?].  Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 421. She toke hym by the hande. Ibid., 1888. I … myn hert to me tooke.

1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 80. Lucilla … toke him by the hand.

1641.  Hinde, J. Bruen, xlviii. 156. A little before hee tooke his Chamber.

  c. 1100.  O. E. Chron. (MS. D), an. 1076. And [hi] tócon þær inne mycele æhta. Ibid. (1154) (MS. E), an. 1136. Þa tocan þa oðre & helden her castles aȝenes him.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 6492. Þeȝȝ tokenn nihhtess reste þær.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 3194. Alle ðe bones ðe he ðor token.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 3987. A lettre hii toke þe kinge.

13[?].  St. Erkenwolde, 57, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 267. Quen tithynges tokene to þe tone.

c. 1380.  Lay Folks Catech. (Lamb. MS.), 1211. Whan we tok cristyndom.

1382.  Wyclif, John i. 5. Derknessis tooken not it.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 4696. Þai … tokyn the tresure.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. ii. 145. To hem whiche token and helden tho ymagis to be her Goddis.

  α.² (Sc. and n. dial.) 4–9 tuk, 5–9 tuke, (5 twke, 6 twik, tuike), 6– tuik.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, i. (Petrus), 36. He hym tuk to be hym by In his transfiguracion.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, I. 78. King Eduuard than it tuk in gret greuance.

1533.  Gau, Richt Vay (S. T. S.), 32. The sone … twik apone hyme our natur.

c. 1560.  Rolland, Seven Sages (1837), A ij. I … tuke gude nicht.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. (S.T.S.), 100. He tuke thame, he eit thame rawe. Ibid., X. 320. His recreatioune he tuike in Caris hous.

Mod. Sc. We tuik them wi’ us.

  β.  3 takede, 5– taked. (See Eng. Dial. Dict.)

c. 1205.  Lay., 3333. Þe we swa takede him on.

1485.  Waterf. Arch., in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 318. That spoiled, robbed, or taked ony of the Kyngs liege men.

  5.  Past pple. α. 2–4 itaken, 4 ytakyn; 4– taken, (4–5 takin, -yn, 5 yne, -on, -un, 6 takne, taking; 7 taiken, Sc. taikin).

c. 1175.  Itaken [see B. 14].

c. 1205.  Itaken [see take on: 84 i].

c. 1320.  Cast. Love, 202. Þe blisse of lyf he haþ forsaken, And to deolful deþ him taken.

c. 1330.  Assump. Virg. (B.M. MS.), 625. When þi lord was ytakyn.

c. 1375.  Cursor M., 4875 (Fairf.). Qua-so ys takin wiþ stollyn þinge.

a. 1380.  S. Bernard, 612, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1878), 51/2. Wiþ seknesse stronge He was itaken.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 1512. His towne was takon.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., II. iv. 159. Weel takun of wise men.

1537.  Wriothesley, Chron. (Camden), I. 60. The sayd Halam was takne.

1552.  Lyndesay, Monarche, 5539. Quhilkis salbe taking, but warnyng.

1629.  Reg. Privy Council Scotl., Ser. II. III. 25. We … have taikin thame.

  β.  contr. 3–5 itake, 4–5 ytake; 4–7 take, 5 (6 pseudo-Sc.) tak.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6106. Nou adde heyemen of þe lond itake … His fader ostage god ynou.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 721. Ȝe schullen … offren to venus A ful derworþe douue on his den take.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 254. So is … pouerte or penaunce pacientlyche ytake.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VIII. 79. At Turon he was i-take wiþ a fevere.

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., cxciii. Sche hath me tak, hir humble creature.

c. 1425.  Cursor M., 928 (Trin.). Þat erþe þou were of take.

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., III. 906. To graffe a quynce is diuers tyme ytake.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 296. And his wif [was] also I-take.

1559.  Mirr. Mag. (1563), I j. Shortly after was Kyng Henry take, And put in pryson.

1605.  Take.  [see B. 49].

  γ.  contr. 4 y-tan; 4–5 tan, 4–8 tane, (4 tene, 4 (6 Sc.) tain, 4–5 tayn, 5–6 Sc. tayne, 6 taan, teyne, Sc. teine, 6–7 taine, 7 taen), 7–8 ta’ne, 9 (poet. and dial.) ta’en; (erron.) 5 ton, 5 (6 pseudo-Sc.) tone.

c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., 1000. Now haþ tristrem y tan Oȝain moraunt to fiȝt.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Tr. (1866), 1. Ihesu the Worde of God has tane manes kynde.

13[?].  Cursor M., 4896 (Cott.). Lok þai alle be tain [v.rr. tan, tane, take] and bonden. Ibid., 16058 (Cott.). Þai him had tene [v.rr. tane, taken] al wit tresun.

c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet, 2112. Þen sall þis rewel eft furth be ton [rhyme gon].

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, II. 400. Wallace … Apon the crag with his suerd has him tayne.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xlvi. 102. That he … nocht in the feindis net be tone [rhyme allone].

c. 1520.  Nisbet, N. T. in Scots, Acts i. 11. Quhilk is taan vp fra you into heuen.

c. 15[?].  Sir A. Barton, in Surtees Misc. (1888), 68. Where that Scoott hath teyne frome the a grootte.

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S. T. S.), I. 197. Gif he had teine it.

1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. v. 60. The Prince hath ta’ne it hence. Ibid. (1602), Ham., I. iii. 107. That you have tane his tenders for true pay.

a. 1631.  Drayton, Triumph David, 805. The sword taen from the giant’s side.

c. 1645.  Howell, Lett., v. 30. He hath taine such a habit of it.

1653.  Nissena, 43. From the time she had taen upon her the yoke of marriage.

1875.  Tennyson, Q. Mary, V. v. The Holy Father Has ta’en the legateship from our cousin Pole.

  δ.  6–7 tooke, 7–8 (9 dial. and illit.) took; 7–9 tooken.

1592.  Kyd, Sol. & Pers., III. i. 5. My brothers ghoasts … would now haue tooke their rest.

1610.  Donne, Pseudo-Martyr, 352–3. The Popes haue tooken order, not onley to insert the oath into the body of the Canon Lawe, but to enact thereby, [etc.].

1633.  P. Fletcher, Pisc. Ecl., V. ix. Thus many a Nymph is took.

a. 1667.  Jer. Taylor, Rev. to Altar, Wks. 1849, V. 323. God hath tooke seisure of it.

1790.  Cook’s Voy., V. 1808. Having took our departure from Prince William’s Sound.

1899.  Betram-Edwards, Lord of Harv., 155. Mr. Flindell … has took you up in his gig.

  ε.  6 taked.

1512.  Helyas, in Thoms, Prose Rom. (1828), III. 24. My sonne hath taked the quene Beatrice … to his wife.

1581.  Rich, Farew. Milit. Prof. (1846), 207. Till he had taked his firste fruites.

  B.  Signification.

  The earliest known use of this verb in the Germanic languages was app. to express the physical action ‘to put the hand on,’ ‘to touch’—the only known sense of Gothic têkan. By a natural advance, such as is seen in English in the use of ‘lay hands upon,’ the sense passed to ‘lay hold upon, lay hold of, grip, grasp, seize’—the essential meaning of Old Norse taka, of MDu. taken, and of the material senses of take in English. By the subordination of the notion of the instruments, and even of the physical action, to that of the result, take becomes in its essence ‘to transfer to oneself by one’s own action or volition (anything material or non-material).’ This becomes then the general or ordinary sense of the verb, which falls into two main divisions, take in the sense of ‘seize, grip,’ hence ‘appropriate,’ and take in the sense of ‘receive or accept what is handed to one.’ Subordinate to these are the non-material senses of ‘assume, adopt, apprehend, comprehend, comprise, contain.’ For the common element of all these notions take is the simple and proper term, for which no simpler can be substituted. It is one of the elemental words of the language, of which the only direct explanation is to show the thing or action to which they are applied.

  Take also enters into a great number of idiomatic phrases, which are often difficult to analyse. Many of these are parallel to, and influenced by French phrases with prendre: see F. H. Sykes, French Elements in Middle English, Oxford, 1899.

  General arrangement of senses: I. To touch. II. To seize, grip, catch. III. Ordinary current sense, i. with material obj.; ii. with non-material obj. IV. To choose, take for a purpose, into use. V. To derive, obtain from a source. VI. To receive, accept, admit, contain. VII. To apprehend mentally, comprehend. VIII. To undertake, perform, make. IX. To convey, conduct, deliver, apply or betake oneself, go. X. Idiomatic uses with special obj. XI. Intransitive uses with preposition. XII. Adverbial combinations = compound verbs. XIII. Idiomatic phrases, and Phrase-key.

  I.  † 1. To touch (intr. with on, also trans.: = ON. taka á, and taka). Obs.

a. 1150.  MS. 303 Corp. Chr. Coll. Cambr., 178 (Napier). Soðlice þæt ilce ele is swa mihtiȝ & swa strange þæt swa hwæt swa hit on tæcþ, þærrihtes hit eall forbærnð. Ibid., 179. Sona swa þæt ele toc on þæt wæter, þa aras þær upp swiðe mycel fyr.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 3456. Abute ðis munt ðu merke make, If erf or man ðor-one take, It dead ðolen.

c. 1250.  Old Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 31. Ure lord him seide and spredde his hond, and tok his lepre.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10969 (Cott.). I and mi wijf on ald tas.

1340.  Ayenb., 91. Be zyȝþe, be hyerþe, be smellinge, be zuelȝynge, and be takynge.

  II.  To seize, grasp, capture, catch, and related senses. * in literal and physical sense.

  2.  trans. To lay hold upon, get into one’s hands by force or artifice; to seize, capture, esp. in war; to make prisoner; hence, to get into one’s power, to win by conquest (a fort, town, country). Also, to apprehend (a person charged with an offence), to arrest; to seize (property) by legal process, as by distraint, etc. See also take by STORM.

c. 1100.  O. E. Chron., an. 1072 (MS. D). Se kyng nam heora scypa & wæpna,… & þa menn ealle he toc, & dyde of heom þæt he wolde. Ibid., an. 1076. Ac se kyngc … hine let syöðan tacan. Ibid. (1154), an. 1140 (Laud MS.). And te Lundenissce folc hire wolde tæcen.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 5948. & tatt he siþþenn takenn wass All gilltelæs & bundenn & naȝȝledd uppo rodetre.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4896. Lok þai alle be tain and bonden. Ibid., 18554. Als prisun þai him tok for-þi.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 5894. My modir is of gret prowesse: She hath tan many a fortresse.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 13. The Iuges made hir to be taken, and brought hir be-fore them.

c. 1460.  Brut, 524. Þei londed & come to Sandwych … & toke the town, & ryfled & dispoyled it.

1526.  Tindale, Matt. iv. 12. When Iesus had herde that Ihon was taken, he departed in to Galile.

1600.  E. Blount, trans. Conestaggio, 184. Hauing quietly taken the other two gallions, they entred within the Porte.

1658.  Cokaine, Trappolin, I. i. He is your brothers prisoner … That in the wars of Mantoa was took.

1736.  Lediard, Life Marlborough, I. 180. The English took about 200 Prisoners.

1803.  Pic Nic, II. No. 8. 61. I was taken into custody.

1854.  J. S. C. Abbott, Napoleon (1855), II. 372. I took two guns and retook two.

  b.  To catch, capture (a wild beast, bird, fish, etc.); also of an animal, to seize or catch (prey).

c. 1200.  Ormin, 13504. Rihht alls an hunnte takeþþ der Wiþþ hise ȝæpe racchess.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 3323. Ðor miȝte euerilc man fuȝeles taken.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), v. 15. Þai take wylde bestes riȝt wele.

1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., xxxi. (Percy Soc.), 154. Wo worth the beaute which toke me in snare.

1563.  B. Googe, Sonnets (Arb.), 82. By hydden hooke, the symple fole is tane.

1648.  Hunting of Fox, 23. They keep packs of dogs, or Beagles, on purpose to take them by hunting.

1801.  Strutt, Sports & Past., I. ii. 33. The present methods of taking fish.

1892.  Longm. Mag., Nov., 87. They are readily taken by nets.

1899.  Rider Haggard, Swallow, iii. The women and the little ones … were taken by wild beasts.

  c.  subj. in imprecations.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lvii. 192. Mahounde take his soule!

1600, 1749.  [see DEVIL sb. 17].

1850.  Tait’s Mag., XVII. 298/1. Here he comes again!—deuce take him.

1856.  Reade, Never Too Late, I. The devil take the hindmost.

1904.  Isabel F. Hapgood, trans. Tugenev’s Novels, X. The Jew, 12 Akh, devil take thee!

  d.  In various games, as chess, cards, etc.: To capture (an adversary’s piece, card, etc.) so as to put it out of play; also (Cards) to gain possession of (a trick): see TRICK sb. (Also said of the piece, card, etc., by which the taking is effected).

14[?].  Beryn, 1812. The next drauȝt aftir, he toke a roke for nauȝte.

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., xxi. 71 (Harl. MS.). Whenne he [the pawn at chess] goth aside, he takith anoþer.

1562.  Rowbothum, Play Cheasts, B iv b. Thou shalt take his knight with thy Quene.

1735.  Bertin, Chess, 55. The king takes the queen.

1840.  P. Parley’s Ann., I. 263. A pawn takes the enemy angularly.

  e.  Cricket. To catch (the ball) off the bat so as to put the batsman ‘out’ (also with the batsman as obj.); of the bowler, To ‘capture’ (a wicket) by striking it with the ball (or otherwise).

1882.  Daily Tel., 17 May. A minute or two later Walker was smartly taken at the wicket off Garrett. Ibid., 24 June. Lucas, who had been fielding at long-off, running at full speed, managed to take it [the ball]. 1883 Ibid., 15 May, 2/7. He was … taken at cover-point by Woof.

1890.  Field, 10 May, 672/2. Studd … was then beautifully taken at long-off.

  3.  To lay hold of, grasp (with the hand, arms, etc.); to seize and hold. To take in one’s arms, to embrace. Often const. by the hand, head, horns, tail, etc.: see HAND sb. 46, BULL sb.¹ 1 c. Cf. also take hold in Phrases below (69).

a. 1225.  Juliana, 70. He rende his claðes ant toc him scoluen bi þe top.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 2364 (Cott.). Ta loth þi broþer sun in hand, To chanaan ȝee most now drau.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 147. To my Crist, whos riȝt hond I haue i-take.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XXII. 170. Crist … took thomas by þe hand.

c. 1425.  Cursor M., 4357 (Trin.). She toke him aboute þe necke wiþ þis And profered hir mouþ to kis.

c. 1500[?].  in Joseph Arim., 30. He toke me by the hande and so ledde me in myn house.

1600.  W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 117. He tooke him by the sleeve, as they were in going over a stile.

1709.  Steele & Addison, Tatler, No. 114 ¶ 1. He took me by the Hand.

1825.  New Monthly Mag., XIV. 361. I took her hand and kissed her.

1890.  F. Barrett, Betw. Life & Death, III. 106. He took her in his arms.

  4.  intr. Of a hook, a mechanical device, etc.: To catch, engage: usually const. into.

c. 1435.  Torr. Portugal, 1608. Sith he pullith at his croke, So fast in to the flesh it toke.

1729.  Desaguliers, in Phil. Trans., XXXVI. 197. The Pall or Lever … does so communicate with the Catch, that … the Catch always takes.

1797.  Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), IX. 9. The teeth of these four wheels take alternately into the teeth of four racks.

1825.  J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 310. The next tooth of the pinion will take into the gap in the end of the rack. Ibid., 513. These pins take into holes in the plate, made exactly to fit them.

1856.  Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xxvi. 262. A floe, taking upon a tongue of ice…, began to swing upon it like a pivot.

  b.  trans. Of a mechanical appliance, etc.: To ‘lay hold of’; to act upon by contact, adhesion, or the like.

1659.  Leak, Waterwks., 25. So as the Saws may take the said peece again.

1849.  Pellatt, Curios. Glass Making, 94. The punty takes the flat end by adhesion.

1894.  Harper’s Mag., July, 191/2. The blades no longer take the water together.

  5.  trans. To strike, hit, impinge upon (a person, etc.), usually in, on (across, over, etc.) some part; also with the part as obj.; = CATCH v. 11.

  [The notion here seems to have been originally to catch or get at a person by means of the part named, which catches the blow that otherwise might have passed.]

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 8224. Ector turnet with tene, toke hym on þe hed.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, I. 403. Wallas with it [the poutstaff] fast on the cheik him tuk. Ibid., III. 175. As he glaid by, aukwart he couth hym ta.

1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., xl. (Percy Soc.), 202. Unto me than he came full softely, And with his staffe he toke me on the brest.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., I. iv. 159. Take him on the Costard, with the hiltes of thy Sword.

1670.  Cotton, Espernon, II. v. 201. He was … taken upon the head with a stone.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe (1840), I. iii. 52. The blow taking my side and breast, beat the breath, as it were, quite out of my body.

1748.  Anson’s Voy., I. x. 104. A mountainous … sea took us upon our starboard quarter.

1795.  Hist., in Ann. Reg., 70/1. A masked battery took them in flank.

1806–7.  J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), vi. Introd. The kick of a horse … took me across the ribs.

1891.  Blackw. Mag., CL. 651/2. When a sheep runs amuck, he is … a living catapult, that, if he took you fair, would knock the life out of you.

1893.  Chamb. Jrnl., 3 June, 350/1. The ball took him squarely between the eyes.

  b.  With double obj.: e.g., to take any one a blow.

1448.  Paston Lett. (1901), IV. 19. He … toke his master on the hepe suyche a stroke that … brake his hepe.

c. 1590.  Marlowe, Faust., vii. 96. Cursed be he that took Friar Sandelo a blow on the pate!

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., III. ii. 165. This mad-brain’d bridegroome tooke him such a cuffe. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., II. i. 189. If he tooke you a box o’th’eare.

1781.  C. Johnston, Hist. J. Juniper, II. 161. Taking him a blow full in the pit of his stomach.

1867.  J. Payn, Lights and Shadows of London Life, I. 230–1. A cricket-ball took me over the eye—here—at Eton, and they have given me great powers of Calculation ever since in consequence of the bump.

Mod. colloq. The ball took me an awful whack on the chest.

  6.  absol. or intr. a. Of a plant, seed, or graft: To ‘get hold’ of that on which it grows; to take root, ‘strike,’ germinate, begin to grow.

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., II. 153. In reed erthe ek a vyne is hard to take. Ibid., III. 576. But euery day me most hit delue & wete Vntil hit take.

1530.  Palsgr., 747/1. A yonge plante or sette begynneth to take whan it groweth up.

1661.  J. Childrey, Brit. Baconica, 14. Fruit fails in one countrey, and takes in another.

1712.  J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 184. The Oak being in its own Nature very difficult to take again.

1802.  Forsyth, Fruit Trees, i. (1824), 2. The cherry and plum will never take upon each other … but the apricot will take upon all sorts of plums.

1891.  Cosmopolitan, XII. 87/2. Patches where the seed has failed to take.

1892.  Field, 10 Dec., 883/3. We planted a thousand cedars of Lebanon, with shoots 6 in. high, and we have no doubt that they will take well.

  b.  Of ink, etc.: To adhere to the paper, parchment, etc.

1883.  R. Haldane, Workshop Receipts, Ser. II. 192/1. The use of ox-gall, which makes the ink ‘take,’ has also the disadvantage of making it frequently ‘run.’

  **  with either the action or the agent non-material.

  7.  trans. Of a disease, a pain, an injurious or destructive agency, natural or supernatural, magical, etc.; also of a notion, fancy, feeling, etc.: To affect, seize, lay hold of, attack. Also in imprecations, as ‘pest’ or ‘plague take him.’

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11823 (Cott.). Wit þe crache him tok the scurf [Trin. Þe ȝicche toke him sikerly].

a. 1325.  Prose Psalter, xlvii[i]. 5. Drede toke hem.

1450–80.  trans. Secreta Secret., 31. Than mayst thou ete … as thyn appetit takith the.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lvii. 194. For a colyke that hath taken me in the ryght syde.

a. 1553.  [see MISCHIEF 9 b].

a. 1566.  [see PLAGUE 3 d].

1581.  Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 12 b. Moued by some sodaine toie which taketh them in the head.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., IV. iv. 32. He blasts the tree, and takes the cattle.

1604.  E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, VII. xxiii. 565. Fire tooke the Temple.

1661.  Cowley, Disc. Govt. O. Cromwell, Wks. 1710, II. 664. Now the Freak takes him.

1707.  Mortimer, Husb., 173. No Beast will eat sour Grass till the Frost hath taken it.

1889.  Temple Bar Mag., Dec., 451. An intense weariness of life took him.

1892.  Cassell’s Fam. Mag., Aug., 515/2. What in the name of wonder has taken the girl?

1893.  National Observer, 7 Oct., 542/2. He admired as the humour took him.

  absol.  1602.  Shaks., Ham., I. i. 163. Then no planets strike, No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm.

  b.  pass. To be seized, attacked, or affected (with disease, a fit, fancy, etc.); to ‘have an attack’ of something.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 8915 (Cott.). Sco es wode and wit warlagh tan [Trin. wiþ fende Itake].

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 157. He was i-take with sikenesse and deyde.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 261/2. Infectyn … as menne take wythe pestylence.

1526.  Tindale, Matt. iv. 24. All sicke people, that were taken with diuers diseases and gripinges.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, xlviii. 162. He was taken in loue.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, 609. The astonied members, or limmes taken with colde.

1680.  Dryden, Spanish Friar, III. i. I am taken on the sudden with a grievous swimming in my Head.

1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., IV. xiii. Mrs. Boffin was then taken with a laughing fit of clapping her hands, and clapping her knees.

1888.  Florence Warden, Witch of Hills, I. xiii. 273. I was going to be taken with a fit.

  c.  pass. (ellipt.) To have a seizure or attack; to be seized with sudden illness, pain, disease, numbness, or other affection (physical or mental). ? Obs. exc. dial.

1450–1530.  Myrr. our Ladye, 29. Where the soule was take a non & sore tormented longe tyme togidre.

1568.  Turner, Herbal, III. 40. Good for membres that are num or taken.

1607.  Markham, Caval., VII. (1617), 11. A horse that is taken our common Farriers say to be planet strooke.

c. 1642.  Ld. Herbert, in Life (1770), 45. Others … standing stiff and stark … seem as if they were taken in their joynts.

  d.  pass. with complemental adj., as to be taken ill (formerly blind, hoarse, lame), to be seized or struck with illness, etc. Rarely in active: see quot. 13[?]. Also humorously (quot. 1838).

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A. 1157. No thyng myȝt me dere To fech me bar & take me halte.

1588.  Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China, 48. Whatsoeuer children be borne a creeple … or by sicknes be taken lame.

1657.  W. Rand, trans. Gassendi’s Life Peiresc, I. 64. Being soon after taken blind.

1662.  J. Wilson, Cheats, V. iii. Being taken very ill of a sudden.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 96, ¶ 2. Master Harry was taken very ill of a Fever.

1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. iv. 21. She was taken ill in the night.

1838.  Dickens, Nich. Nick., xxviii. ‘Oh, charming!’ interrupted Kate’s patroness, who was sometimes taken literary.

1891.  Harper’s Mag., April, 750/1. He was taken hoarse at the last moment.

  e.  intr. for pass., with compl., as to take ill = to be taken ill, to fall or become ill. Also humorously (quot. 1890²). colloq. and dial.

1674.  N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 131. A woman … who took with child in the very fit of a Third Ague.

1822.  J. Hodgson, in Raine, Mem. (1857), I. 400. My father-in-law took ill.

1890.  Healy, Insula Sanct., 317. He took sick and died in the island.

1890.  Illustr. Lond. News, 29 Nov., 686/3. Then, too, he took studious, and … pored over great tomes and learned things.

1903.  Trevelyan, in Independent Rev., Dec., 409. Mr. William Pitt … took ill and died after Austerlitz.

1922.  J. W. Whilt, Rhymes of the Rockies, 65.

  f.  intr. To catch, catch hold: esp. of fire, to seize upon combustible substances, to be kindled, begin burning; also of a condition, humor, fancy, etc. (cf. 10 c). Now rare.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. clviii. 192. All the base court was afyre, so that the fyre … toke into the couerynge of a great towre couered with rede.

1634–5.  Brereton, Trav. (Chetham Soc.), 43. The fire first took in rape-oil.

1639.  S. Du Verger, trans. Camus’ Admir. Events, 110. Rottennesse takes sooner in apples, which are bruised.

1700.  T. Brown, Amusem. Ser. & Com., 52. When any Humour Takes in London.

1803.  Ann. Rev., II. 189/1. The tinder was ready, and the spark took.

  8.  trans. To ‘catch’ or come upon (any one) in some action or situation; fig. to catch or detect in († with) a fault or error. To take tardy: see TARDY.

  The first two quotations connect this with sense 2.

[1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 227. Pomphilia … was I-take into [v.r. in] leccherie.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 6. Many popis han synnyd, and ben snybbid; and sum tan in heresy and deposid.]

1577.  Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1663), 85. By reasoning with this old Apelles, I took him with many falshoods.

1597.  Morley, Introd. Mus., 95. In which fault you haue beene nowe thrise taken.

1602.  Narcissus (1893), 91. What was that I tooke you all a gabling tother day?

1607.  R. Johnson, Pleas. Conceites Old Hobson (Percy Soc.), 15. His man seeing himselfe so taken napping, for a time stood amazed.

1652.  Gaule, Magastrom., 331. The poore astrologers, who had already been taken with so many lies.

1668.  Shadwell, Sullen Lovers, I. i. I am glad I’ve taken you within, I come on purpose to tell you the news, d’ye hear it?

1885.  Mrs. Harrison (‘Lucas Malet’), Col. Enderby’s Wife, VII. ii. The doctor was not easily taken off his guard.

  b.  To come upon suddenly, overtake, catch. Obs. or arch. exc. in certain phrases: see take SHORT, take by SURPRISE, take at UNAWARES.

[13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1811. Iche tolke mon do as he is tan, tas to non ille, ne pine.]

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, xlviii. 161. At last a wynd toke them whether they wolde or not.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 210. A tempest toke them on the sea, that put them so farre out of their course.

1611.  Bible, Ecclus. xxxvi. 26. A man that … lodgeth wheresoeuer the night taketh him.

1890.  Clark Russell, Occan Trag., II. xxi. 181. We were at breakfast when the first of the wind took us.

  9.  † a. To take to task; to reprehend, rebuke. Obs. b. To check, ‘pull up,’ interrupt. dial. (Cf. take up, 90 m, n.).

c. 1250.  Old Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 32. Þo a-ros up ure lord and tok þane wynd and þo [MS. to] see; and al-so raþe hit was stille.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, IV. (1622), 415. And therewith taking himself … said hee.

1637.  Rutherford, Lett., xcviii. (1862), I. 251. But this is my infirmity. By His grace I take myself in these ravings.

  10.  To catch the fancy or affection of; to excite a liking in; to captivate, delight, charm; to ‘fetch.’

1605.  [see TAKING ppl. a. 2].

1609.  B. Jonson, Sil. Wom., I. i. Such sweet neglect more taketh me, Than all th’ adulteries of art. Ibid. (1623), To the memory of Shaks., 76. Those flights vpon the bankes of Thames, That so did take Eliza, and our Iames!

1656.  Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini, Pol. Touchstone (1674), 289. With a readiness that much took all the Literati.

1686.  W. De Britaine, Hum. Prud., iv. (ed. 3), 15. Take the Vulgar by your Civilities.

1830.  Tennyson, To the Owl, II. i. Thy tuwhoos … Which upon the dark afloat, So took echo with delight.

1890.  F. Barrett, Betw. Life & Death, II. xxi. 78. You took the whole audience.

1891.  Galton, La Fenton, I. viii. 193. Scarcely the man to take the fancy of a very young girl.

  b.  pass. const. with, less usually by.

1535.  Coverdale, Prov. vi. 25. Lest thou be taken with hir fayre lokes.

1622.  Bacon, Hen. VII., 153. King James … taken by Perkins amiable and alluring behaviour … entertained him … as became the person of Richard Duke of Yorke.

1641.  W. Mountagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 286. The King and Queen seemed to be much taken with … the entertainment.

1798.  Charlotte Smith, Yng. Philos., IV. 110. I was quite taken with the spirit and beauty of the young gentlewoman.

1867.  Carlyle, Remin. (1881), II. 23. He was much taken with my little Jeannie, as he well might be.

  c.  absol. or intr. To take = to take the fancy, win favor, gain acceptance; esp. to win popular favor, become popular.

a. 1635.  Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 16. It took best with the people.

1654.  H. Vaughan, Silex Scint., Pref. (1900), 13. Nothing takes (as they rightly phrase it) like a Romance.

1762–71.  H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), I. 237. The whim took; he repeated the practice.

1817.  Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life (1870), II. i. 4. The new melodrame … takes mightily.

  d.  trans. To attract and hold, to ‘catch’ (a person’s eye or attention).

1754.  Richardson, Grandison (1781), V. i. 6. We … took the Bishop’s eye. He came to us.

1842.  Whewell, in Life (1881), 279. I am not surprised that your attention was taken by the examination papers.

1881.  Scribner’s Mag., XXI. 268/1. Some one took Horton’s attention for a moment.

1889.  Eng. Illustr. Mag., Dec., 268. My eye was taken by something bright.

  11.  intr. Of a plan, operation, etc.: To have the intended result; to succeed, be effective, take effect, ‘come off.’ Now rare. (See also 10 c.)

1622.  Bacon, Hen. VII., 63. The temporarie Fruit of the Parliament in their aide and aduice giucn for Britaine, tooke not, nor prospered not.

1625.  Massinger, New Way, V. i. It may be, Sweetheart, my project took.

1646.  H. Lawrence, Comm. Angells, 98. This temptation tooke.

1658.  Hist. Christina Queen Swedland, 287. This machine was full of fire-workes, which took very handsomly.

1701.  W. Wotton, Hist. Rome, 356. The design took and the Fellow got away.

1800–24.  Campbell, Ritter Bann, xxxi. The treachery took: she waited wild.

  † b.  In weakened or indefinite sense: To have a result of some kind; to turn out, eventuate. Obs.

a. 1625.  Fletcher, Hum. Lieutenant, III. vii. Did I not tell you how ’twould take?

1648.  C’tess Lindsey in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 309. My son Paston is in town about a match for his son; how it will take I know not.

  c.  Of a medicine, inoculation, etc.: To take hold, take effect, prove operative or effective.

1626.  B. Jonson, Staple of N., V. iii. If all succeed well, and my simples take.

1853.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XIV. I. 253. To see if the previous inoculation would still take.

1897.  S. L. Hinde, Congo Arabs, 61. The vaccine from Europe,—unfortunately none of it took.

  III.  Weakened sense of ‘seize,’ with elimination of the notion of force or art: the ordinary current sense. i. With a material object.

  *  with physical action distinct.

  12.  trans. To perform the voluntary physical act by which one gets (something) into one’s hand or hold; to transfer to oneself by one’s own physical act. (Now the main sense.)

  a.  with the instrumentality of the hand or hands explicitly or implicitly indicated.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 135. He toc hiss reclefatt onn hand, & ȝede innto þe temmple.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1374. Þou sal tak þis pepins thre, Þat I toke o þat appel tre. Ibid. (c. 1375), 21529 (Fairf.). Siþen he toke [Cott. & Gött. nam] a spade in hande.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 77. Anoon as he hadde i-take þe knyf all þe ymages gonne to grucche and to aryse.

c. 1391.  Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 29. Tak thanne thyn Astrolabie with bothe handes.

1450.  W. Lomner, in Four C. Eng. Lett. (1880), 4. And toke a rusty sword.

1471.  Caxton, Recuyell, I. Pref. [I] forthwith toke penne and ynke and began [etc.].

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lix. 207. Take thy vyall, and geue vs a songe.

1608.  Topsell, Serpents (1658), 595. If a man take a Snake or a Serpent into his handling.

1611.  Bible, John xxi. 13. Iesus then commeth, and taketh bread, and giueth them.

1799.  Wordsw., Lucy Gray, vi. He plied his work;—and Lucy took The lantern in her hand.

1833.  T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., I. ii. He could take his hat and go.

  b.  with the instrumentality not expressed or considered.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 1338. Þe preost … toc & snaþ þatt oþerr bucc Drihhtin þærwiþþ to lakenn.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 5646. Þar-for moyses was his nam, For he was o þe water tan.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XXI. v. 849. Syr Bedwere toke the kyng vpon his backe and so wente wyth hym to that water syde.

1584.  R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XII. xviii. (1886), 222. Take a cup of cold water, and let fall thereinto three drops of the same bloud.

1611.  Bible, Gen. ii. 22. The rib which the Lord God had taken from man, made hee a woman.

1685.  Boyle, Effects of Mot., Postscr. 155. Take … of the Arsenical Loadstone well pulverised two ounces.

1771.  Mrs. Haywood, New Present, 77. Take a quart of shrimps.

1882.  Southward, Pract. Print., xi. 444. While the roller [= pressman’s assistant] is taking ink, the pressman should employ the time in looking over the heap.

  † c.  To take and put (a garment) on one, wrap about one. Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 9746. Fader, i sal on me for-þi, O thral tak clething sothfastli. Ibid., 10419. Sco tok on hir cleþing o care.

1530.  Palsgr., 746/2. Take this mantell aboute you, affullez ce manteau.

a. 1604.  Song, in Shaks., Oth., II. iii. 99. And take thy awl’d Cloake about thee.

  13.  To receive into one’s body by one’s own act; to eat or drink, to swallow (food, drink, medicine, opium, etc.); to inhale (snuf, tobacco-smoke, etc.).

  (For tobacco, the ordinary expression is now to smoke.)

c. 1200.  Ormin, 7545. Þatt tokenn aȝȝ wiþþ mikell mæþ & aȝȝ unnorne fode.

13[?].  Cursor M., 16762 + 16. He tast it with tonge, Bot þer-of toke he noght.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 103. Þe meyt comendiþ vs not to God,… but frely it may be tan, & frely left.

1509.  Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 34. Wine ne ale hurteth no maner creature But sharpeth the wit if it be take in kinde.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, XX. iv. The best way to take it [the juice of the radish], is at the end of a meale with the last meat.

1617.  Moryson, Itin., II. 46. He tooke Tobacco abundantly,… which I thinke preserved him from sicknes.

1654–66.  Earl Orrery, Parthen. (1676), 683. My Soldiers having … taken a little refreshment.

1675.  Baxter, Cath. Theol., II. I. 298. It was then a crime with them to take Tobacco, and now it is none: thus custome changes the matter.

1732.  Berkeley, Alciphr., V. § 7. Those … who take his physic.

1771.  Foote, Maid of B., I. Wks. 1799, II. 210. Mr. Flint and I, most evenings take a whiff here.

1784.  Unfortunate Sensibility, II. 70. To take a good drink of raw brandy.

1807.  Southey, Espriella’s Lett., II. 219. We took an early breakfast.

1852.  Fitzgerald, Euphranor (1904), 73. No doubt he took his glass with the rest.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 429. He died by taking poison.

1879.  Morley, Milton, 108. He died at Spa, where he was taking the waters, in September 1653.

1891.  Murray’s Mag., April, 532. Inordinately given to taking snuff.

1893.  Times, 22 April, 7/5. The Queen … took tea at the Cabanon on the sea shore.

1917.  G. K. Chesterton, The Dregs of Puritanism, in Utopia of Usurers, etc., 198. He would do very good service if he would go among the rich aristocratic ladies and tell them not to take drugs in a chronic sense, as people take opium in China.

  b.  To expose oneself to (air) so as to inhale it or get the physical benefit of it; chiefly in phr. to take the air, to walk out in the open air (now rare or arch.): see AIR sb. 5. So to take a bath, to bathe, esp. in a place or vessel prepared for the purpose; but the phrase is also used in sense 52 (cf. BATH sb.¹ 6, 1).

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, VI. 304. The kyng … of his basnet than had tane, To tak the air, for he wes hate.

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 1078. His seruands … Bare him with oute to take þe ayre.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VII. xvii. 239. Eyther of hem vnlaced his helme, and toke the cold wynde.

1594.  Barnfield, Affect. Sheph., I. xx. Abroad into the fields to take fresh ayre.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 123, ¶ 1. As I was Yesterday taking the Air with my Friend Sir Roger.

1777.  Sheridan, Sch. Scand., II. ii. Lady Betty … was taking the dust in Hyde Park.

1837.  [see BATH sb.¹ 1].

1866.  Howells, Venet. Life, 295. When the faire Venetians go out in their gondolas to ‘take the air.’

1879.  Edna Lyall, Won by Waiting, xxxi. Her father … was to take a course of baths [in Germany].

1890.  Cornh. Mag., July, 7. The English people hurry forth to take the morning air.

  c.  Phr. Not to be taking any …: not to be in the mood for; to be disinclined for. slang.

1900.  Daily News, 10 March, 2/1. In the language of the hour, ‘nobody was taking any.’

1905.  Daily Chron., 20 Dec., 3/4. As one of her fellow countrywomen might have said, Frances was not ‘taking any’ pessimism just then.

1923.  George Goodchild, Trooper O’Neill, xi. 122. I’m not taking any sass.

  **  with physical action subordinated to the relation produced.

  14.  To bring, receive, or adopt (a person) into some relation to oneself (e.g., into one’s service, protection, tuition, care, companionship, favor). To take to (into) mercy: see MERCY sb. 5.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 27. Þesne mon ic habbe itaken to mine aȝene bihofþe.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 2792. ‘I haue,’ [loth] said, ‘doghtres tua, Tas and dos your will wit þaa. Ibid. (13[?]), 20106 (Gött.). Þan tok [Cott. name] þe apostel sone on-ane In-tille his keping, þat maidane.

1388.  Wyclif, Ps. xxvi[i]. 10. For my fadir and my modir han forsake me; but the Lord hath take me.

1428.  in Surtees Misc. (1888), 5. Þat tha tuke hym to þair grace.

c. 1477.  Caxton, Jason, 17 b. The fayr Myrro … toke Jason so in her good grace that into the deth she louyd him.

1531.  in Sel. Cas. Crt. Requests (1898), 34. The said abbott … was greaitly laborid to taike to service the said Roger.

1643.  Burroughes, Exp. Hosea (1652), 147. If God takes them to mercy we must be ready willingly to take them into brotherly society.

1654.  Earl Monm., trans. Bentivoglio’s Warrs of Flanders, 54. Being then tane into pay by the Princes.

1794.  in J. O. Payne, Old Eng. Cath. Missions (1889), 14. Took into the Church William Fawcett Grange.

1878.  Scribner’s Mag., XVI. 135/1. He would freely take them into his confidence.

1885.  Law Times, LXXX. 6/2. None were allowed to let their rooms or take lodgers.

1891.  E. Peacock, N. Brendon, I. 120. He took pupils to increase his income.

  b.  spec. in reference to marriage or cohabitation; often in phr. to take to wife, in marriage.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 19593. Þat tiss Herode King … haffde takenn all wiþþ woh Filippess wif hiss broþerr.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 12667. A man in mariage hir tok, Hight alpheus.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 590 (Harl MS.). If a neet-hurdes douȝter … be riche, sche may cheese of a þousand men which she wol take to hir housbonde.

a. 1400[?].  Punishm. Adultery, 63, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 369. He rouȝt not what woman he toke.

c. 1477.  Caxton, Jason, 97 b. That they shold take eche other by mariage.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 35 b. They bidde him take a Leman lest he attempt to defile honest women.

1687.  Burnet, Cont. Reply to Varillas, 77. He professed himself a Lutheran, and took a Wife.

1771.  Smollett, Humph. Cl., 18 July. A young lady … who agreed to take me for better or worse.

1891.  Cornh. Mag., Dec., 664. He took unto himself a village maid, and settled in Lyndhurst.

  15.  To transfer by one’s own direct act (a thing) into one’s possession or keeping; to appropriate; to enter into possession or use of. See also take in possession, s.v. POSSESSION sb. 1 c; take possession in Phrases below (71).

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 167. Þe deuel … þan toc his [Job’s] oȝen lichame and þer one brohte swo michel sicnesse.

c. 1300.  Harrow. Hell, 103. Heouene ant erþe tac to þe, Soules in helle lef þou me.

c. 1450.  Godstow Reg., 416. To entre the forsaid tenement and to take and hold all maner of goodes and catallis I-founde in the same.

1535.  Coverdale, Josh. xix. 47. And the children of Dan … toke it in possession, & dwelt therin.

1611.  Bible, John x. 17. I lay downe my life that I might take it againe.

1683.  Pennsylv. Archives, I. 55. I desire thee take the town of Salem into thy lott.

1795.  Fate of Sedley, I. 189. If he dare to take a bone which they had given to their dogs.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), IV. 378. The question was, whether the heirs of S. Morris took any estate under this appointment.

1883.  Law Times Rep., XLIX. 155/1. The undertakers … had power to take lands compulsorily.

  B.  absol. To take possession; spec. in Law, to enter into actual possession.

c. 1407.  Lydg., Reason & Sens., 6486. The hunger … gredy, and in-saturable Of wommen for to Acroche and take.

1642.  trans. Perkins’ Prof. Bk., i. § 52. 24. There is one named in the Lease who may take immediately.

1706.  E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 33. But if he gives, he takes too sometimes.

1803.  Wordsw., Rob Roy’s Grave, 39. The good old rule … the simple plan, That they should take, who have the power, And they should keep who can.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), VI. 298. The testator intended, that when Francis was dead without issue, the eldest son should take.

1894.  Daily News, 29 June, 5/2. The will of December, 1883, they find, was duly executed…. The Royal Academy therefore take.

  c.  To secure beforehand by payment or contract; e.g., to take a house, etc., to engage (a house or other place) for the purpose of occupying it.

1604.  E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. vi. 223. Many Spaniardes … came thither to take mines.

1670.  Lady Mary Bertie, in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 22. My brother Norreys tooke a box and carryed my Lady Rochester and his mistresse and all us to.

1693.  Humours Town, 8. I have within these few days taken a Lodging.

1743.  Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, 196. To take a House in the Country at our own Expence.

1803.  Pic Nic, No. 11 (1806), II. 143. She has now taken a thirty years lease of a house.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, xli. Colonel Crawley and his wife took a couple of places in the same old High-flyer coach.

1850.  Tait’s Mag., XVII. 719/1. When he took his farm, it was well cultivated.

1916.  Owen Seaman, From the Home Front (1918), 23, ‘It is the Cause,’ 1.

  d.  To get or procure regularly by payment (something offered to the public, as a periodical, a commodity). See also take in, 82 c.

1593.  Acct. Bk. W. Wray, in Antiquary, XXXII. 119. May the 28 we begun to take milke of Ann Smith for a halle penneworth of the day.

1808.  Eleanor Sleath, Bristol Heiress, III. 40. A morning paper, which Lady Harcourt constantly took.

1852.  De Morgan, in Graves, Life Sir W. R. Hamilton (1889), III. 426. You take the Philosophical Magazine, I think.

1897.  N. & Q., 8th Ser. XII. 354/1. In my boyhood I ‘took’ the Penny Magazine.

1911.  Ford Madox Ford, Memories and Impressions, xii. 271. In his prime he took the Times or the Morning Post, and that was all he had in the way of a paper.

  ii.  With a non-material object.

  *  To take to oneself, assume, an attribute, quality, character.

  16.  a. To assume (a form, nature, character, name, or other attribute); sometimes, to assume the part or character of. To take on oneself, to put on.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 85. He sende uss … Hiss Sune … To takenn ure mennisscleȝȝe.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 14464. Þai said þat crist suld ta manhede Of a maiden and of þair sede.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 1142, Dido. That Cupido … Hadde the liknesse of the child I-take.

c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, 57. At þe laste he tuke his spiritt vnto hym.

1546.  Langley, Pol. Verg. De Invent., II. xv. 61. God … toke on him the shape of Man as Abraham sawe him.

1548–9.  (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Collect Christmas Day. Almyghtye God, whiche haste geuen us thy onlye begotten sonne to take our nature upon hym.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., III. iv. 102. Take any shape but that, and my firme Nerues Shall neuer tremble.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 329. [They] take the Forms his Prescience did ordain.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 35, ¶ 4. An Impostor … who takes upon him the Name of this young Gentleman.

1810.  Scott, Lady of L., III. vii. The mountain mist took form and limb.

1844.  Fraser’s Mag., XXX. 532/2. Liddy was really taking the woman upon her in earnest, since she had attained the matronly age of seventeen.

1887.  Times (weekly ed.), 9 Dec., 16/2. France cannot take the offensive, but she can paralyse Germany and Italy.

  † b.  To adopt (a law or custom); to undertake or begin to follow or observe. Obs.

c. 1200.  Ormin, Ded. 7. Broþerr min … Þurth þatt witt hafenn takenn ba An reȝhellboc to follȝhenn.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 19540. Quen þe apostels þan hard sai Samaritans had tan þair wai [other MSS. lay]. Ibid. (c. 1375), 2700 (Fairf.). Abraham … was .v. skore bot ane þat day quen þai toke [Cott. vnder-fang] þe new lay.

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, II. i. 21. The peple of tarante toke for a custome that the dronken men shold be punysshyd.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, xlv. 151. He thretenethe to slee me by cause I wyll not take on me his law.

  c.  To assume, adopt (a symbol or badge, or something connected with and denoting a function): in phrases having specific meanings, as:

  To take the crown, the throne, to assume sovereignty; to take the habit, to become a monk; to take the gown, to become a clergyman; to take the ball (at cricket), to assume the position of bowler; to take an oar, to begin to row. See also CROSS sb. 4 c, SILK, VEIL sb.

c. 1330.  [see CROSS sb. 4 c].

a. 1380.  St. Bernard, 287, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1878), 46. Whon Bernard hed taken his abyt.

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 6620. Þe abyte he toke, as bede of him wryte.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 112. He had taken on him a little before the lyuery of the crosse.

1605.  Camden, Rem. (1637), 344. John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster … took a red Rose to his device.

1784.  J. Potter, Virtuous Villagers, II. 135. I have now taken the gown.

1855.  Browning, Protus, 39. John the Pannonian … Came, had a mind to take the crown.

1860.  All Year Round, No. 66. 384. ‘Take an oar, sir,’ said Philip.

1883.  Daily Tel., 15 May, 2/1. The champion took the ball, vice Penn.

  **  To charge oneself with, undertake, discharge.

  17.  To assume, charge oneself with, undertake (a function, responsibility, etc.). See also take charge (66 below), take in charge (CHARGE 13 b), take in or on hand (HAND 42); also 18 a, b.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 10896. Sannt Iohann … toc þatt wikenn þohh Þa siþþen, whanne he wisste [etc.].

13[?].  Cursor M., 12390. Trein beddes was he wont to make And þar-for his seruis to take. Ibid. (c. 1425), 4795 (Trin.). Lo I am al redy boun Oure aller nedes to take in place.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 3. This feende that toke this enterprise ne taried not.

1647.  Jer. Taylor, Lib. Proph., 193. That every man must take his adventure.

1847.  Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, xviii. I think … I would take it [the post] on trial.

1863.  Kinglake, Crimea, I. vi. 83. The plan of taking engagements upon possible eventualities.

1890.  Tout, Hist. Eng. from 1689, 133. Grenville refused to take office without Fox.

1890.  Lane-Poole, Barbary Corsairs, I. xii. 124. He took service as a boy in the Turkish fleet.

1892.  Speaker, 3 Sept., 279/1. Captain Mayer … was compelled by circumstances to take the responsibility.

  b.  To subject oneself to (an oath, vow, pledge, or the like): see also OATH sb. 1, DICK sb.⁵

1511–.  [see OATH sb. 1].

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, II. iii. 26. Ile take my oath on it.

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time, an. 1678. III. (1724), I. 435. A bill … requiring all members of either House … to take a test against Popery.

1803.  Pic Nic, No. 4 (1806), I. 140. She has taken the monastic Vow.

1897.  ‘Sarah Grand,’ Beth Bk., xlvi. (1898), 438. I’ll take my dick he’ll not trouble us with a bill for the next six months.

  † c.  To take it: to make oneself responsible for a statement; to affirm, asseverate. Const. on (one’s death, honor: see ON prep. 12). Obs.

1595.  Shaks., John, I. i. 116. Vpon his death-bed he … tooke it on his death That this my mothers sonne was none of his. Ibid. (1598), Merry W., II. ii. 12. I took’t vpon mine honour thou hadst it not.

1631.  Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 379. Guiltlesse of any offence … as he tooke it vpon his death.

  18.  To take on or upon oneself.

  a.  To charge oneself with, undertake (an office, duty, or responsibility); to make oneself responsible for. In quot. c. 1470 absol.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 20790. He wil noght tak þe cark [MS. F. charge] on him, Quar [F. queþer] þat it be sun soght or nai.

1432.  Paston Lett., I. 34. The said Erle hath take upon him the governance of the Kinges persone.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, VI. 355. Be caus we wait he is a gentill man, Cum in my grace, and I sall saiff him than, As for his lyff, I will apon me tak.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, xliii. 143. He wyll take on hym this bateyll ayenst the gyant.

1611.  Bible, Num. xvi. 7. Yee take too much vpon you [Cov. make to moch a doo], ye sonnes of Leui.

a. 1648.  Ld. Herbert, Hen. VIII. (1683), 253. That … he should persuade her to enter a Monastery, and take on her a Religious life.

1728.  in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 86. Occasioned by … Mr. Hughes’s taking upon him the office of Mayor.

1883.  Century Mag., XXVI. 608/1. Helen took the blame upon herself.

  b.  With inf. To undertake; to assume the right, presume, make bold (to do something).

c. 1275.  Passion of our Lord, 619, in O. E. Misc., 54. Vre louerd him tok on To schewen his apostles þet he wes god and mon.

1449.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 151/2. Daren not take uppon hem to labour ayenst suche Felons.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxii. 481. I shall take vpon me to make amendes for hym.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cclxxv. 411. To desyre him to take on him to be the Constable of France.

1648.  Thorpe, Charge at York Assizes (1649), 26. If any Person take upon him to be a Badger of Corn.

1724.  De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 234. I took upon me … to go to Leeds.

1837.  Hallam, Hist. Lit. (1847), I. I. i. § 90. 78. Some took on them to imitate what they read.

1885.  Ld. Coleridge, in Law Rep., 14 Q. B. Div. 825. The judgment, which the plaintiff has taken upon himself to sue out and to enter, is wrong.

  † c.  To profess, claim to do something; to assume, presume that … (with implication that the claim or assumption is unwarranted). Obs.

a. 1500[?].  Wycket (1828), p. viii. Hypocrites that take on them to make oure Lordes bodye.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 29 b. As thoughe I toke vpon me that I could not erre.

1653.  Gataker, Vind. Annot. Jer., 31. The time whereof both of them, contrary to our Saviors avouchment take upon them to determine.

  † d.  To affect, feign, pretend, make believe, to do something. Obs.

1571.  trans. Buchanan’s Detection, E j b. Though thay tuke upon tham as if thay regardit nat these thynges, yet sometyme the rumors … merely prickit them to the quick.

1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. ii. 123. How comes that, sayes he that takes vpon him not to conceiue. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., I. ii. 153. Shee takes vpon her to spie a white haire on his chinne.

  † e.  absol. or intr. To assume authority or importance; sometimes in good sense, to behave bravely or valiantly (quot. c. 1470), to put oneself forward, assert oneself (quot. 1720); usually in bad sense, = to take too much upon one, to behave presumptuously or haughtily, assume airs. Obs.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, V. 43. Wallace so weill apon him tuk that tide, Throw the gret preys he maid a way full wide.

1530.  Palsgr., 747/1. I take apon me, lyke a lord or mayster, je fais du grant.

1581.  Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., II. (1586), 109 b. It shalbe the part of a straunger, being in another mans house, not to take vpon him presumptuously.

1637.  T. Morton, New Eng. Canaan (1883), 306. This man … tooke upon him infinitely: and made warrants in his owne name.

1667.  Pepys, Diary, 3 June. But, Lord! to see how Duncomb do take upon him is an eyesore.

1720.  De Foe, Capt. Singleton, xiii. (1840), 233. I found it was time to take upon me a little.

  f.  trans. See 16.

  19.  a. To undertake and perform, conduct, or discharge (a part, function, duty, service, or the like). See also PART sb. 23.

1411.  Rolls of Parlt., III. 650/1. A Loveday taken bytwen the same parties by William Gascoigne Chief Justice of the forsaid Benche.

1596.  [see PART sb. 23 b].

1874.  Micklethwaite, Mod. Par. Churches, 60. Each priest … may take those parts of the service designed to him from time to time.

1885.  Mary Linskill, Lost Son, iv. 58. Will you favour us by taking the tenor?

1889.  Cornhill Mag., Dec., 623. The female parts in plays being taken by boys and men.

1890.  Pictorial World, 15 May, 616/1. She would take the grammar class at ten and the arithmetic class at eleven.

Mod. The assistant master who takes duty also takes preparation. The canon who was taking residence that day.

  b.  Phr. To take pains, take trouble (also formerly take labor, toil, etc.): to take upon oneself and exercise these activities and qualities; to exercise care and diligence: see also PAIN sb.¹ 5, 6, TROUBLE sb.

13[?].  Cursor M., 4789 (Gött.). Loke quilk of ȝu sal take on hand For vs all take þis trauaile.

1528.  Impeachm. Wolsey, in Furnivall, Ballads from MSS., I. 360. Whoo hathe þis matyr so playnly declaryd, or hathe the labowur Take.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxiii. 262. Ye shall not nede to take the laboure.

1600.  Tourneur, Transf. Metamorph., lv. But (Knight) belieue me, I have t’ane much toile.

1794.  Marq. Buckingham, in 14th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 489. I am sure you have taken every pains to do whatever you imagined might best forward my wishes.

1893.  Liddon, etc., Life Pusey, I. xviii. 420. His unlimited capacity for taking trouble.

  ***  To adopt or assume as one’s own.

  20.  To adopt as one’s own (a part or side in a contest, controversy, etc.), to range oneself on, ally oneself with (a side or party); see PART sb. 23 c, PARTY sb. SIDE sb.

c. 1420, etc.  [see PART sb. 23 c].

1530.  Palsgr., 750/1. I take ones parte, I holde with hym in a mater, je prens partye.

1606.  G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Iustine, XXXVI. 114. Shewed in derision to the people that had tooke part with him.

1751.  Eliza Heywood, Betsy Thoughtless, II. 199. To take the party, which would best become his honour and reputation.

1820.  L. Hunt, Indicator, No. 15 (1822), I. 118. No wonder that the Queen of France took part with the rebels against … her husband.

  b.  absol. or intr. in same sense: to take against, to oppose; to take for, to support, back up, side with. rare. (See also take with, 75 d.)

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 15312. And for Englische mennes sake, Ageyn þe oughte we to take.

1770.  Foote, Lame Lover, II. Wks. 1799, II. 70. A wise man should well weigh which party to take for.

1892.  Longm. Mag., March, 558. ‘You are not taking against me?’ he exclaimed suspiciously.

  21.  To assume as if one’s own, to appropriate or arrogate to oneself (credit, etc.); to assume as if granted, e.g., to take leave, liberty, etc.: see also LIBERTY sb. 5 b. To take for granted: see 48.

1525.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. xxi. 46. Wherfore this Kyng Iohan toke tytell to make warr.

1611.  Beaum. & Fl., Philaster, I. i. Kissing your white hand [Mistress] I take leave, To thank your royal father.

1625–.  [see LIBERTY sb. 5 b].

1627–77.  Feltham, Resolves, I. xxxi. 53. Hamans thirst was Honor: Achitophel took the glory of his Counsel.

1820.  Examiner, No. 612, 7/1. We would take leave to recommend … an alteration.

1850.  Tait’s Mag., XVII. 564/1. Voltaire took all sorts of liberties with his mother tongue.

1870.  Rogers, Hist. Gleanings, Ser. II. 93. He took credit to himself that … her son remained stanch.

  22.  Gram. Of a word, clause, or sentence: To have by right or usage, either as part of itself or with it in construction (a particular inflection, accent, case, mood, etc.) as the proper one.

1818.  Blomfield, trans. Matthiae’s Grk. Gram., I. 208. Verbs … which are derived from compound adjectives, take the augment at the beginning. Ibid., 472. The following verbs … take the genitive of the thing.

1860.  Goodwin, Grk. Moods & Tenses, 220. Causal sentences regularly take the Indicative.

1876.  Kennedy, Publ. Sch. Lat. Gram., § 20. All Declensions take the Ending m for Masc. and Fem. Nouns.

1881.  Chandler, Grk. Accentuation, § 767. The following take the accent on the penultimate.

  IV.  Pregnant senses related to III.; usually including a notion of choice, purpose, use, employment, treatment, or occupation.

  *  Connoting choice.

  23.  To pick out from a number: either by chance, at random; or with intention, to select, choose.

c. 1275.  Lay., 12176. Ten þusend cnihtes tock Gracien forþrihtes [c. 1205 he chæs … ten þusend cnihten].

1382.  Wyclif, 1 Sam. xiv. 42. Saul seith, Leyeth lot betwix me and Jonathan my sone. And Jonathas is taken.

1535.  Coverdale, ibid. Saul sayde: Cast the lot ouer me and my sonne Ionathas. So Ionathas was taken.

1612.  Two Noble K., II. iii. 70. [Peasant] Thou wilt not goe along? Arc. Not yet, sir. [P.] Well, sir, take your owne time.

1625.  Bacon, Ess., Ambition (Arb.), 225. Good Commanders in the Warres, must be taken, be they neuer so Ambitious.

1742.  Francis, trans. Hor. Sat., I. iv. 31. Take me a man, at venture, from the crowd.

1769.  Johnson, 29 Oct., in Boswell. I’ll take you five children from London, who shall cuff five Highland children.

  **  Connoting purpose, use, employment.

  24.  To adopt or choose in order to use in some way; to adopt in some capacity (const. as, for); hence, to employ for a purpose, to have recourse to, avail oneself of, proceed to use (a means or method); to seize (an opportunity, etc.). See also take day in Phrases below (67), ADVANTAGE sb. 5 b, MEASURE sb. 21, OCCASION sb.¹ 1.

13[?].  Cursor M., 29177. For a reule þis sal þou take.

1471.  Sir J. Paston, in P. Lett., III. 15. Thys next terme I hope to take on [= one] weye with hyr or other.

1483–4.  Act 1 Rich. III., c. 2 § 1. That suche exaccions … afore this tyme takyn be take for no example to make suche or any lyke charge … hereafter.

1561.  [see OCCASION sb.¹ 1].

1579.  Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 316. He taketh times and occasions at his pleasure.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., III. i. 23. We should haue else desir’d your good aduice … In this dayes Councell: but wee’le take to morrow.

1667.  Dryden, Sir Martin Mar-all, III. i. If thou wilt have a foolish word to lard thy lean discourse with, take an English one.

1686.  trans. Chardin’s Coronat. Solyman, 122. He know … how to take his Measures to the ruine of his Competitors.

1728.  Ramsay, Bonny Chirsty, iv. He wisely this white minute took, And flang his arms about her.

1729.  Bp. Waddington in Lardner’s Wks. (1838), I. p. lxiii. You have certainly took a very proper and christian way with him.

1758.  S. Hayward, Serm., Introd. 11. What special methods could be taken to stem the tide of immorality?

1789.  Triumphs Fortitude, I. 101. I shall take the first opportunity of sending the books I promised.

1820.  Examiner, No. 614. 39/1. That great genius is taken as the standard of perfection.

1867.  Howells, Ital. Journ., 118. We raised our sail, and took the gale that blew for Capri.

1890.  Blackw. Mag., CXLVIII. 442/2. Every possible means is now taken to conceal the truth.

1914.  Owen Johnson, The Salamander, xxiv. 358. Would he take this moment to make another overt advance, after these long weeks of acquiescence to her whims?

  b.  To take into use, to use, have recourse to (one’s hands, a tool, weapon, etc.) for doing something. To take a stick (etc.) to, to use it to beat (a person, etc.). (Sometimes with mixture of sense 12.)

1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1778), II. 25. I took both hands to it.

1871.  Susan Warner, Opportunities, viii. 224. I couldn’t take a switch to you, and that’s the only way [to teach her her place].

1888.  Stevenson, Black Arrow, IV. ii. 208. He had ta’en his belt to me, forsooth!

1889.  ‘Lewis Carroll,’ Sylvie & Bruno, iv. 53. ‘Take a stick to him!’ shouted the Vice-Warden.

  c.  esp. To take into use or employment, to have recourse to as a means of progression (a vehicle, ship, horse, one’s limbs, etc.); to enter or mount for a journey or voyage. Often without article, as to take boat, coach, ship, etc.: see also take to (74 b), take horse (70 a); HEEL sb.¹ 19, LEG sb. 2 b, WING sb. (Cf. 25.)

c. 1450.  [see 70 a].

1517.  Torkington, Pilgr. (1884), 46. We toke our assys at the Mownte Syon,… and rode the same nyght to Bethlem.

1530.  Palsgr., 751/1. I take shyppe or the see, je monte sur la mer.… Where toke they shyppyng, ou est ce quilz monterent sur la mer.

1576.  [see BOAT sb. 1 d].

1654.  trans. Scudery’s Curia Pol., 19. If the Duke of Guise … had speedily taken post, and fled from Blois.

1672.  Sir C. Lyttelton, in Hatton Corr. (Camden), 86. I am … just taking coach to give his R^ll Highnesse y^e paru bien after his late danger.

1721.  De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 199. I took the packet-boat, and came over to England.

1844.  Fraser’s Mag., XXX. 603/1. He takes ship for Ireland.

1885.  ‘F. Anstey,’ Tinted Venus, viii. 95. I’ve a good mind to take the tram to the Archway.

1892.  Monthly Packet, April, 444. They … took train to London.

  25.  To gain the aid or help of (a place) by betaking oneself to it; to gain, reach, repair to, go into, enter (esp. for refuge or safety); to get into or on to: = take to, 74 c. Often in special phrases: see FIELD, GROUND, INN, LAND, REFUGE, SANCTUARY, SEA, WALL, WATER, etc.

c. 1205.  Lay., 7976. He droh in ane hælue & toc þan [c. 1275 tock to] herberwe.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 5397. Hauene he tok at Porcestre.

c. 1400.  Laud Troy Bk., 10501. Thei token the toun with mychel spede … To saue her lyues.

1461.  Paston Lett., II. 52. The Duc of Excestre and th’erle of Pembrok are floon and taken the mounteyns.

1480.  Caxton, Chron. Eng., clxx. 155. They that myght take the bridge escaped. Ibid. (1485), Paris & V., 43. He took the ryuer wyth hys hors.

1512.  Act 4 Hen. VIII., c. 2 § 2. If any murderer … hadde taken any Church or Churchyerd or murder.

1565.  Stapleton, trans. Bede’s Hist. Ch. Eng., 169. Beinge vysited with syeknesse he toke his bedde.

1583.  Reg. Privy Council Scot., III. 600. Constraning him to tak his hous for the saifty of his lif.

1618.  Rowlands, Night Raven (1620), 12. A cruell Beare, which forc’d him take a tree.

1831.  Examiner, 443/2. Vipers occasionally take the water.

1852.  R. F. Burton, Falconry Valley Indus, v. 61, note. The first falcon … caused the quarry to take the air.

1868.  Stanley, Westm. Abbey, v. 364. But the right of asylum rendered the whole precinct a vast ‘cave of Adullam’ for all the distressed and discontented of the metropolis who desired, according to the phrase of the time, to ‘take Westminster.’

1880.  T. Stevenson, in Encycl. Brit., XI. 455. A harbour which may be easily taken and left in stormy weather.

  b.  To adopt and enter upon (a road, way, path, course, etc., lit. or fig.); to betake oneself to, begin to go along or by: sometimes with mixture of sense ‘to choose, select’ (23). See also COURSE sb. 11 b, 21, WAY sb.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 17643. To ierusalem he tok þe strete.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, II. 146. All him alane the way he tais.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 3152. Þus othere toke þat cors an haste.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VI. viii. 1. With all his speid fra thens he tuke the gait.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, xxi. 63. I counsell you to take the long way.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 10. So many pathes,… That which of them to take in diverse doubt they been.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 459. Pleas’d I am, no beaten Road to take.

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, VII. x. Which way must we take?

1827.  Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), I. iii. 115. Elizabeth had taken her line as to the Court of Rome.

1895.  Law Times Rep., LXXIII. 22/1. The court … left the parties to take their own course.

1916.  Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken, 18.

  c.  To take (a place or person) in (on) one’s way, to touch at or visit in one’s journey; to include in one’s route.

a. 1622.  R. Layne, in Capt. Smith, Virginia, I. 8. I … sent Pemissapan word I was going to Croatan, and tooke him in my way.

1676.  Wood, Life (O.H.S.), II. 342. Wee went home and took Pershore in the way.

1701.  W. Wotton, Hist. Rome, Marcus, vi. 85. He did not take Rome in his way.

1837.  Lockhart, Scott, xliv. Scott … asked me to walk home with him, taking Ballantyne’s printing office in our way.

  *** Connoting treatment.

  26.  To proceed or begin to deal with or treat in some way or do something to; hence, to ‘take in hand,’ ‘tackle,’ deal with, treat.

  See also take at advantage (ADVANTAGE sb. 5 c), take it easy (EASY B. 4), take in turns (TURN sb.). (In quot. 1671, to settle, adjust, make up: = take up, 90 u.)

1523.  [see ADVANTAGE sb. 5 c].

1596.  Harington, Metam. Ajax (1814), 12. He will take a weak man at the vantage.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 418. This disease…, if it be taken in any time, it is easie to be holpen.

1671.  H. M., trans. Erasm. Colloq., 62. They themselves will better take this difference among themselves.

1720.  Mrs. Manley, Power of Love (1741), 281. Being taken at such disadvantage; his Valour would have signify’d little.

1734.  Pope, Ess. Man, IV. 227. Men in their loose unguarded hours they take, Not that themselves are wise, but others weak.

1737.  Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1756), I. 169. The Business is to take the Distemper in its first Stage.

1812.  T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 176. To fight two enemies at a time, rather than to take them by succession.

1896.  Law Times, C. 438/2. Admiralty Appeals with Assessors will be taken in Appeal Court I on Wednesday.

1896.  Daily News, 30 May, 8/4. I shall not take physiology next year, but I shall give some teaching on the subject in the way of object lessons in hygiene.

  b.  To use, deal with, or treat (a name or word) in some way. To take in IDLE, in VAIN.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 4402. Þatt tu ne take nohht wiþþ skarn, Wiþþ hæþinng, ne wiþþ idell Þe name off ure Laferrd Crist.

c. 1315.  Shoreham, III. 91. Honury þou schelt enne god … Take nauȝt hys name in ydelschepe.

c. 1386.  [see IDLE B. 1 b].

  6.  To proceed to deal with mentally; to consider; to reckon. So to take into or under consideration, to proceed to consider (see CONSIDERATION 2 c). See also take together, 89 c.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 325. Tacc nu þiss streon þatt tuss wass sibb Wiþþ preostess & wiþþ kingess. Ibid., 335, 339.

1589.  Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xix. (Arb.), 236. For example ye may take these verses.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., I. ii. 197. He was a man, take him for all in all: I shall not look vpon his like againe.

a. 1635.  Sibbes, Confer. Christ & Mary (1656), 66. Take a good Christian at the worst, he is better than another at the best.

1747.  W. Horsley, Fool (1748), II. 319. Take one Man with another now in Prison.

1820.  Examiner, No. 615. 51/1. If the Chamber were to take the petitions into its consideration.

1836.  Brande, Chem. (1841), 138. Let us take a fresh-water lake as an example.

1892.  Cassell’s Fam. Mag., Aug., 516/1. This, taken with his secretaryship,… left him but little leisure.

1910.  Norman Duncan, With That Measure of Love, in Harper’s Mag., CXXI. Sept., 582/1. You take a good woman, Rowl, an’ if she’s been well fetched up an’ careful of herself, she’ll be clever at that, as well as useful in other ways.

  **** Connoting occupation.

  27.  To proceed to occupy, enter on the occupation of (a place or position, lit. or fig.). See also CHAIR sb.¹ 9, FLOOR sb.¹ 4, GROUND sb. 11 c, PLACE sb. 13 b, 27, POST sb.³ 2, PRECEDENCE 3, 4, SEAT, STAND, etc.

c. 1205.  Lay., 7976. He droh in ane hælue & toc þan herberwe.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11443. Þai toke þair gesting in þe tun.

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 293. This yonge Prince, as seith the bok, With hem his herbergage tok.

1430–40.  Lydg., Bochas, IX. xxxi. (Bodl. MS. 263), lf. 432/2. The ground Itake of wilful pouerte.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, III. vi. 38. Thou robed man of justice, take thy place.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 165, ¶ 5. They took Post behind a great Morass.

1750.  Gray, Long Story, 111. She curtsies, as she takes her chair.

1807–8.  W. Irving, Salmag., iv. (1811), I. 71. The latter has taken his winter quarters … in the corner room, opposite mine.

1883.  Fargus, Cardinal Sin, xii. It was soon her turn to take the stage.

1883.  Scottish Leader, 27 July, 6/7. I took the chair at a meeting to promote the candidature of a Radical as a member for Parliament.

  † b.  intr. ? ellipt. for take place, to occur. rare.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 1534 (1562). And yf so be þat pes her-after take As alday happeþ after anger game.

  28.  To use, occupy, use up, consume (so much material, space, time, energy, activity, etc.): = take up, 90 w (b). Sometimes nearly = ‘need’ or ‘require.’ Hence (colloq.) to require (a person or thing of so much capacity or ability) to do something.

  To take (one’s) time: to allow oneself sufficient time (to do something); hence (sarcastically), to be ‘quite long enough,’ i.e., too long: to loiter.

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 251. This scheip … tuik so mekill timber that scho waistit all the wodis in Fyfe.

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., I. i. 83. Take time to pause.

c. 1710.  Celia Fiennes, Diary (1888), 239. At ye ffeete of the bed that tooke ye Length of the roome.

1713.  Berkeley, Hylas & Phil., i. Wks. 1871, I. 284. I will take time to solve your difficulty.

1753.  Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v. Lime, Lime-stone generally takes sixty hours in burning.

1858.  Glenny, Gard. Every-day Bk., 134/1. They take less room on than off.

1890.  Field, 8 March, 364/1. Any ignoramus can construct a straight line, but it takes an engineer to make a curve.

1893.  Nat. Observer, 7 Oct., 511/2. The remainder of the Life will take two more volumes.

1920.  Mrs. H. Ward, Harvest, xiv. 314. Take time to think—but—all the same—don’t keep me too long waiting!

  b.  A person is said to take a particular size in gloves, boots, collars, etc., implying that that is the size which fits.

1897.  Flo. Marryat, Blood Vampire, ii. [She] informed me the other day that her Mamma took nines in gloves.

1920.  Thomas Moult, Snow over Elden, x. 104. That hand takes size six.

  29.  To begin or start afresh after leaving off, or after some one else; to resume; = take up, 90 r, s. (Also absol.) To take the word, to begin to speak, esp. after or instead of some one else: see WORD sb.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 747. Now turne to our tale, take þere we lefte.

1500.  [see WORD].

a. 1547.  Surrey, Æneid, IV. 144. Quene Juno then thus tooke her tale againe.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 219. I must forsake This Task; for others afterwards to take.

1825.  Scott, Betrothed, xix. Eveline remained silent. The abbess took the word.

  V.  To obtain from a source, to derive.

  30.  To get, obtain, or derive by one’s own act from some source (something material or non-material); to adopt, copy, ‘borrow’ (also absol., quot. 1493); to take example of, ‘get’ or ‘learn’ from some one (quot. 1544). See also ENSAMPLE sb. 2 b, EXAMPLE sb. 6 c.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 14470. Ȝiff þu bisne takenn willt Off þise tweȝȝenn breþre.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 5273. Þre þousand pound ylka ȝer … or alle þe lond gedered & tan.

13[?].  Cursor M., 17288 + 175, Cott. (insert.). To haf mercy of synful men Ensaumple at him he toke.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Wife’s Prol., 183. Rede it in his Almageste and take it there.

c. 1460.  Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., x. (1885), 131. Þat we now serch how the kyng mey haue such livelod; but ffirst, off what comodites it mey best be take.

1493.  Festivall (1515), 145 b. [Luke] loked what Marke and Mathewe had wryten, and so toke at them.

1544.  Bale, Chron. Sir J. Oldcastell, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), I. 269. Of them [Annas & Caiaphas] onely haue ye taken it to iudge Chrystes members, as ye do.

1606.  G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Ivstine, xxx. 101. Schollers which from him as their tuter had tane theyr practise.

1732.  Berkeley, Alciphr., III. § 9. The proportions of the three Grecian orders were taken from the human body.

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar W., xvii. All the ladies of the continent would come over to take pattern from ours.

1878.  H. H. Gibbs, Ombre, 8. The Frontispiece … is taken from Seymour’s ‘Compleat Gamester.’

1890.  W. James, Princ. Psychol., I. 272. To show that the question of reality being extra-mental or not is not likely to arise in the absence of repeated experiences of the same, take the example of an altogether unprecedented experience, such as a new taste in the throat.

  b.  spec. To obtain from its natural source (e.g., stone from a quarry), to get; to pluck, gather (plants, a crop). Now rare.

c. 1477.  Caxton, Jason, 121 b. And thenne she was … borne into alle the Regyons of the world where she gadred and toke many herbes of dyuerce facons and condicions.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. xi. 46. Mines whereof are taken great quantity of stone.

1844.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., V. I. 174. In taking the crop reaping is universal.

  31.  To derive, ‘draw’ (origin, name, character, or some attribute or quality) from some source. Const. from, in, of.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 16340. Adam … Off whamm I toc mi bodiȝlich.

c. 1205.  Lay., 29410. Brutaine hit wes ihaten of Bruttin nom taken.

13[?].  Cursor M., 36. Ilk a frouit … takes fra þe rote his kinde. Ibid., 20085. He þat toke of hir his fless … hang a tre þar nailed to.

1432–50.  trans. Higden (Rolls), II. 255. Men of Assiria toke theire name of Assur, men of Hebrewe of Heber.

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, III. i. (1883), 77. We were first formed and toke our begynnyng of the erthe.

1586.  W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie (Arb.), 56. Ryme, taken from the Greeke worde Ρυθμος.

1660.  Bloome, Archit., A j. The … Columnes called Dorica, taking beginning of Dorus, Prince of Achaia and Peloponnesus.

1772.  Sir W. Jones, Ess., i. Poems, etc. (1777), 186. The Turks … took their numbers, and their taste for poetry from the Persians.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxii. IV. 776. No English title had ever before been taken from a place of battle lying within a foreign territory.

1894.  ‘Mark Twain,’ In Defence of Harriet Shelley, in N. Amer. Rev., CLIX. 109. The negroes have a name for this grave deportment-tournament; a name taken from the prize contended for. They call it a Cake-Walk.

  † b.  To infer, deduce; to obtain as a result.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 343. But hou shulde men take of þis to roune wiþ prestis & þus to be assoiled?

c. 1391.  Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 25. Adde thanne thilke declinacion to the altitude of the sonne at noon and tak ther the heuedes of aries & libra & thin Equinoxial.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., 54. Of which … text thei taken that whoeuer is a persoon of Saluacioun schal soone understonde the trewe meenyng of Holi Scripture.

  32.  To get as a result or product by some special process. a. To get (information, evidence, etc.), or ascertain (a fact), by inquiry, questioning, examination, or the like; also transf. to perform or carry on (an examination or the like) in order to ascertain something (cf. 52).

1460.  Rolls of Parlt., V. 388/1. By Inquisitions tane uppon ychone of the same Wyrtes.

1511–2.  Act 3 Hen. VIII., c. 21. Preamble, An untrue Inquysicion taken before your Eschetoure in the seid Countie.

1583.  Stocker, Civ. Warres Love C., I. 68 b. Information which was taken by the Inquisitours here aboutes.

1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., IV. i. 133. Let vs take a muster speedily.

1600.  in Shaks. Cent. Praise (1879), 35. The examination of S^r Gelly merick Knyght taken the xvij^th of Februarij, 1600.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 626. Himself their Herdsman, on the middle Mount, Takes of his muster’d Flocks a just Account.

1705.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4139/5. The King … took a Review of the Forces.

1768.  Blackstone, Comm., III. iv. 59. A commission of assise, directed to the judges and clerk of assise, to take assises; that is, to take the verdict of a peculiar species of jury called an assise. Ibid., vii. 101. [The judge] takes information by hearing advocates on both sides, and thereupon forms his interlocutory decree or definitive sentence at his own discretion.

1817.  Mar. Edgeworth, Harrington, ii. (1832), 21. He hastened down to the country to take the sense of his constituents.

1863.  H. Cox, Instit., III. vii. 698. He never disposes of any important preferments without taking the pleasure of the Crown.

1890.  Cornhill Mag., Sept., 276. Tests are taken to see if the cable has sustained any damage.

1893.  National Observer, 7 Oct., 524/1. A Bill on which it dare not take the country’s opinion.

  b.  To get or ascertain by measurement or scientific observation; also transf. to make, perform (a measurement, an observation). See also MEASURE sb. 2 c, 3 a.

c. 1430.  [see MEASURE sb. 2 c].

c. 1470.  Henryson, Mor. Fab., X. (Fox & Wolf), v. Bot Astrolab, Quadrant, and Almanak,… The mouing of the heuin this Tod can tak.

1579.  Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 38. The height of Heauen is taken by the staffe.

1598.  W. Phillip, trans. Linschoten, I. xciii. 170/1. Taking the hight of the Sunne, we found ourselues to be under 37 degrees.

1622.  Massinger, Virg. Mart., III. iii. Misery taking the length of my foot, it boots not me to sue for life.

1663.  Butler, Hud., I. I. 122. For he by Geometrick Scale Could take the Size of Pots of Ale.

1697.  Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., I. (1703), 111. The Taylor should take measure of their quality as well as of their limbs.

1847.  Tennyson, Princ., III. 153. That afternoon the Princess rode to take The dip of certain strata to the North.

1887.  Westall, Capt. Trafalgar, xviii. 236. Isn’t it about time for taking the sun?… it is four days since we knew our position.

1900.  Lückes, Gen. Nursing, xii. (ed. 2), 147. The temperature has to be taken every hour.

1916.  Gilbert Cannan, Three Sons & a Mother, xxxii. 381. They’ve got to take the mood of the people they have to do their tricks before, and they’re all tired people.

Mod.  The weather was too cloudy to take any observations.

  † c.  To measure off (a length or distance). Obs.

1660.  Barrow, Euclid, I. ii. Schol., The line AG might be taken with a pair of compasses.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. ii. 32. Take with your Compasses the Line C.

1831.  Brewster, Optics, iv. 38. From a scale on which hm is 1·500, take in the compasses ‘1.’

  33.  a. To obtain in writing, write down, make (notes, a copy, etc.); to write down (spoken words), report in writing (a speech, etc.).

1591–1875.  [see NOTE sb.² 13 b].

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, IV. iii. 130. His confession is taken, and it shall bee read to his face.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xv. 48. Taking an inventory of this prize.

1708.  in Burton’s Diary (1828), III. 93. His Majesty sent for Mr. Rushworth, the Clerk, whom he observed to take his speech in character.

1712.  F. T., Meth. Short-Hand, p. vi. ’Tis by Short-Hand that all Speeches, Homilies, Tryals, Sermons, &c. are … taken.

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time, ann. 1672 (1823), I. 538. He would not let me take a copy of it.

1732.  Berkeley, Alciphr., V. § 1. To stand by,… and take notes of all that passeth.

1776.  Trial of Nundocomar, 22/1. The Monshy took the copy by my directions.

1883.  M. D. Chalmers, Local Govt., iii. 41. Minutes of the meeting must be taken.

1901.  S. Paget, Mem. Sir J. Paget, iii. (ed. 2), 61. He had no clinical clerks, and his cases were not taken.

1922.  Jane L. Mesick, The English Traveller in America, 1785–1835, i. 16. Inveterate observers and travellers like Isaac Candler or Francis Baily took notes on ‘those things which attracted attention either by their novelty or importance,’ notes which were published later for their intrinsic value.

  b.  To obtain by drawing, delineating, etc.; to make, execute (a figure or picture, now esp. a photograph, of some object); also transf. to obtain or make a figure or picture of, to portray; now esp. to photograph. Also (colloq.) intr. for pass. (with qualifying adv.) of a person: To be a (good or bad) subject for photographing.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 757. Another picture … which he tooke by another of these Cats in the possession of the Duke of Saxony.

1664.  Wood, Life, etc. (O. H. S.), II. 20. I went to the castle [Bampton] … and took the ruins thereof.

1751.  T. Hollis, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 379. A Scheme for taking and publishing the Antiquities existing at Athens.

1766.  Goldsm., Vic. W., xvi. A limner, who travelled the country, and took likenesses for fifteen shillings a head.

1789.  Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, I. 150. Her portrait … will not be found difficult to take.

1859.  Reeve, Brittany, 48. Mr. Taylor took the view three times before he quite satisfied himself as to the quality of the negative.

1889.  Mallock, Enchanted Isl., 230. I took a photograph of their church.

1889.  Blanche Howard, Open Door, ix. 145. The photographers … say a woman ‘takes’ better standing.

1899.  F. V. Kirby, Sport E. C. Africa, xxviii. 310. I wished for my camera, for never was there a better chance of ‘taking’ one of these animals.

1922.  Henry E. Patton, Fifty Years of Disestablishment, vi. 98. He instinctively disliked being photographed. An artist once applied for leave to take his likeness, but the Bishop [FitzGerald] sent him word that he was ‘not disposed to show him such a countenance.’

Mod.  A snap-shot taken by an amateur.

  VI.  To take something given or offered; to receive, accept, exact, and related senses.

  *  To receive what is given or bestowed.

  34.  To receive, get (something given, bestowed, or administered); to have conferred upon one (spec. a sacrament, office, order of merit, degree, etc.); to win, or receive as won (a prize, reward); to gain, acquire (experience, etc.; see also to take success, s.v. SUCCESS). Also absol.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 5378. Forr to takenn hæle att himm Off iwhillc unntrummnesse.

13[?].  Cursor M., 12755 (Gött.). In water baptist he alle þa Þat come til him baptim to ta. Ibid. (c. 1375), 19531 (Fairf.). Simon … toke þe sacrement of hali kirk.

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. vii. 8. Eche that axith, takith. Ibid., 1 Cor. xi. 24. For the Lord Ihesu … took breed … and brak, and seide, Take ȝe and ete ȝe.

c. 1435.  Torr. Portugal, 2168. And ye now will liston a stound How he toke armes of kyng Calomond. [Cf. ARM sb.² 15.]

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 5412. Þar he toke tonsure brade.

c. 1450.  trans. De Imitatione, III. lix. 250. It is more blessyd to gyue than take.

1617.  Moryson, Itin., I. 29. In the house where the Doctors, and other Graduates take their degrees.

1689.  T. R., View Govt. Europe, 74. The Nations round about submitted and took Laws from him.

1766.  Entick, London, IV. 31. The will is to be proved, and administration is to be taken.

1805.  Scott, Last Minstr., IV. xxvi. Knighthood he took of Douglas’ sword.

1888.  Mrs. H. Ward, R. Elsmere, iv. 50. I don’t feel as if I should ever take orders.

  b.  To receive (something inflicted); to have (something) done to one; to suffer, undergo, submit to.

c. 1200.  Ormin, Pref. 90. Þatt he toc dæþ o rode.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 12626. God graunte vs grace,… for oure synne swyche penaunce [to] take, Þat we be neuer more a-teynt.

13[?].  [see PENANCE sb. 2]

a. 1425.  Cursor M., 16290 (Trin.). Wiþ his hond a buffet he ȝaf ihesus ful sore … ‘take þat to teche þe lore.’

1485.  Caxton, Chas. Gt., 220. To the ende that they shold not take deth that day.

1581.  Rich, Farewell (Shaks. Soc.), 212. I will not see her take a manifest wrong.

1663.  Butler, Hud., I. II. 947. He took the Blow upon his Arm.

1748.  G. White, Serm. (MS.). He had much rather take, than do, wrong.

1869.  Freeman, Norm. Conq., III. xii. 162. The mere senseless love of giving and taking blows without an object.

1879.  Miss Yonge, Cameos, Ser. IV. iii. 39. He professed himself ready to take his trial.

  c.  To receive (something said to one); to receive information of, to hear; in imper. often = ‘let me tell you.’ Somewhat arch.

1595.  Shaks., John, I. i. 21. Then take my Kings defiance from my mouth. Ibid. (1596), Tam. Shr. II. i. 191. Take this of me, Kate of my consolation,… My selfe am moou’d to woo thee for my wife.

1609.  Heywood, Brit. Troy, XII. lxiv. After they had tooke and given the Time of Day.

1671.  Milton, Samson, 1570. Then take the worst in brief, Samson is dead.

1805.  Scott, Last Minstr., IV. xxvi. Take our defiance loud and high.

1846.  W. E. Forster, in Reid, Life, I. vi. 186. The fact is, they will soon wear nothing. There; take that!

  35.  To enter into the enjoyment of (pleasure, recreation, rest, or the like). See also EASE sb. 2, NAP sb.² b. (Cf. 13.)

13[?].  Cursor M., 6317 (Gött.). Þat niht he ȝede and tok his rest.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 2488. [Þei] hiȝed hem homward fast … & token redli here rest.

1530.  Palsgr., 749/2. I take my rest.

1549.  Latimer, Serm. Ploughers (Arb.), 38. In the meane tyme the Prelates take theyr pleasures.

1597.  Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 328. Before any other should take tast thereof.

1752.  Mrs. Lennox, Fem. Quix., I. i. Sometimes he took the diversion of hunting.

1779.  Mirror, No. 60. One of the company proposed that they should take a game at cards.

1897.  Mrs. Rayner, Type-writer Girl, x. 108. So perforce I took holiday.

  ** To receive what is due or owing; to exact.

  36.  To receive or get in payment, as wages, etc., or by way of charge or exaction as a fine, tribute; sometimes with connotation ‘accept’ (cf. 39), or charge, exact, demand’ (cf. 37, 38).

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 16485. ‘Tas,’ he said, ‘your penis here A felun folk er yee.’ Ibid. (13[?]), 28405. Agains will i lent my thing, And quilum tok þar-for okeryng.

1427–8.  Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 68. Also for a carpenter iiij dayes … takyng vj d & his mete a day.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, ix. 216. Straunge knyghtes that were come vnto hym to take wages.

1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 133. This olde miser asking of Aristippus what he woulde take to teache and bring vp his sonne.

1684.  Contempl. State Man, I. vi. (1699), 64. What would he now take for all the Honours of this World.

1708.  in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 83. For takeing greater interest … than by law is allow’d.

1842.  Browning, Pied Piper, ix. A thousand guilders! Come, take fifty!

1896.  Act 59 & 60 Vict., c. 59 § 2 (b). Provided always … that no money for admission be taken at the doors.

  37.  To exact (satisfaction or reparation) for an offence; hence, to execute, inflict (vengeance, revenge; † punishment, † justice). Const. on, † of.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 5862. Þat sucrd apon hus tak na wrak. Ibid., 6094. O þam mi wengeance sal i take.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 202. Whan God took wreche of Kaymes synne.

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, II. v. (1883), 68. I wold take vengeance and turmente the.

1533.  Bellenden, Livy, I. ix. (S.T.S.), 52. Þat he mycht Iustlie tak punycioun of all þe Albane pepill.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 127. His fellowes take punishment of him, and fall on him, biting and rending his skin.

1633.  [see REVENGE sb. 4].

a. 1774.  Goldsm., trans. Scarron’s Com. Romance (1775), II. 118. The counsellor … had need of all his good sense to prevent him from taking immediate justice on a man, who sought to injure him so capitally.

1779.  Forrest, N. Guinea, 313. To take satisfaction … for the death of Fakymolano’s brother at Ramis.

  † 38.  To receive, exact, or accept (a promise, engagement, oath, or the like); hence, to administer or witness (an oath). To take an oath of, To take (any one) sworn: see OATH sb. 1, SWORN ppl. a.

c. 1450, 1593, 1599.  [see OATH sb. 1].

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 55 b. Then began he to take stipulation of them.

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time, an. 1672 (1823), I. 538. He took a solemn engagement of her, that, if scruples should arise in her mind, she would let him know them.

1833.  Act 3 & 4 Will. IV., c. 74 § 82. [He] shall be competent to take the acknowledgment of any married woman wheresoever she may reside.

1873.  Act 36 & 37 Vict., c. 66 § 84. Commissioners to take oaths and affidavits in the Supreme Court.

  ***  To accept.

  39.  To receive (something offered), not to refuse or reject; to receive willingly; to accept.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 4828. Ȝiff þatt we takenn bliþeliȝ Att Godd all þatt iss sellþe.

c. 1330.  Amis & Amil., 1112. Y schal for the take bataile.

c. 1400.  Prymer (1895), 50. Take oure preier, & late þe merci of þi pitee assoile hem þat ben boundun wiþ þe cheyne of synnes.

a. 1500.  in C. Trice-Martin, Chanc. Proc. 15th C. (1904), 3. To thentent that she shuld not be taken to bayle, but kept still in prisone.

1534.  More, Treat. Passion, Wks., 1281/1. Such as wil take the benefite.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., III. i. 100. Take no repulse, what euer she doth say.

1697.  in N. & Q., 10th Ser. (1908), IX. 378/2. There was not one of the House of Commons but … would take a bribe.

1837.  Dickens, Pickw., ii. Gentleman says he’ll not detain you a moment, sir, but he can take no denial.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, xxii. She held out her hand with so frank and winning a grace, that Osborne could not but take it.

1904.  Stanley Weyman, Abbess of Vlaye, iii. There’s a party ringing at the gate, my lord, and—and won’t take no!

  b.  Of a female animal: To admit (the male). See also take horse in Phrases, 70 c.

1577.  [see 70 c].

1759.  Brown, Compl. Farmer, 65. Neither can they suckle their young, till they have taken buck.

1845.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., VI. II. 363. I … set down … the Ewes as they take the ram. Ibid. (1864), XXV. I. 254. The number of hours during which they take the bull varies from 24 to 48.

  c.  Of fish (with mixture of sense 2 b): To seize (the bait). Also absol.

1863.  W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, vi. 205. They take admirably, but we have only crooked pins for hooks, and cannot catch many.

1867.  F. Francis, Angling, v. (1880), 162. Sometimes fish rise quickly and take quickly.

1889.  Mrs. E. Kennard, Landing a Prize, III. i. 6. Fish always take best after rain.

  40.  To accept (a wager, or the person who offers to lay the wager). So also in reference to a proposal, etc.: see also to take any one at his WORD.

1602.  Rowlands, Greene’s Ghost, 49. I take you, sayd one or two, and the wager being layd, awaie they went.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. xiii. 268. I was for taking him at that proposal.

1850.  Tait’s Mag., XVII. 678/2. I’ll take ten to one on it.

1890.  Field, 24 May, 757/1. 800 to 100 was taken about him.

1890.  Clark Russell, Ocean Trag., I. vi. 123. He bet me a sovereign…. I took him.

  b.  To take one’s death (upon a thing): to stake one’s life upon it.

1553.  Becon, Reliques Rome (1563), 59. He tooke hys death thereon, that he was neuer giltye.

1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., II. iii. 90. I will take my death, I neuer meant him any ill.

  41.  To accept and act upon (advice, a hint, warning, etc.).

c. 1300.  St. Margarete, 136. Þ^t maide … seide … goþ fram me anon; Anoþer consail ich haue itake, ich forsake ȝou echon.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 12869. The troiens full tite token his rede.

1605.  [see ADVICE 5].

1610.  Shaks., Temp., II. i. 288. They’l take suggestion, as a Cat laps milke.

1611.  [see HINT sb. 1].

1718.  Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to Lady Rich, 10 Oct. They … took the first hint of their dress from a fair sheep newly ruddled.

1877.  Miss Yonge, Cameos, Ser. III. xxxiv. 363. Would that France had taken to itself the teaching!

1892.  Punch, 29 Oct., 196/2. [He] begged others to take warning by his fate.

1899.  Tit-Bits, 28 Oct., 109/2. ’Come along, dear, take your call,’ said he, pulling back the heavy curtains.

  b.  To accept as true or correct; to believe (something told to one). (Cf. 34 c.) Also, to accept mistakenly as trustworthy, to be deceived by (quot. 1728): cf. take in, 82 o.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 2824. Forr þatt tu toc wiþþ trowwþe Þatt word.

1587.  in W. M. Williams, Ann. Founders’ Co. (1867), 69. He givinge his fayth promyse to Mr. Alderman…. Mr. Alderman tooke his worde, and rose, and went his ways.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, IV. vi. 144. I would not take this from report.

1622.  Massinger, Virg. Mart., II. i. We have not been idle, take it upon my word.

1728.  Eliza Heywood, trans. Mme. de Gomez’s Belle A. (1732), II. 142. The King seeing that they had took the Feint, said at Night,… Ghent is invested, and we must go anon to raise the Siege.

1889.  Philips & Wills, Fatal Phryne, II. iii. 76. You may take it from me that the pot means what it says.

  42.  To accept with the mind or will in some specified way (well, ill, in earnest, etc.). See also to take to heart (HEART sb. 44), take in good (etc.) part (PART sb. 26 b), take in SCORN, take in SNUFF.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 7390. Biforenn þa þatt tĕkenn all Onn hæþinng þatt we spellenn.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4619. Nai, sir, tas noght in despite. Ibid., 16396. Quen [Pilate] sagh þat al his soigne þai tok it al to ill.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Wife’s T., 342. To hym that taketh it in pacience.

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 1049. Þir wordes cuthbert wysely toke.

1530.  Palsgr., 747/1. I take a thyng a mysse, je mesprens.

1553.  Latimer, Serm., on Twelfth Day (1635), 293 b. There is a common saying amongst us…, Every thing is (say they) as it is taken, which indeed is not so: for every thing is as it is, howsoever it be taken.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., IV. (1586), 182 b. They take it ill, and presently leaue working.

1579.  W. Wilkinson, Confut. Family of Loue, B ij. Take this brief … aunswere … in good part.

1671.  Lady Mary Bertie, in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 22. I take it very ill that none of my nephews would drawe mee.

1728.  Morgan, Algiers, I. Pref. 26. Multitudes of People … would take it in excessive Dudgeon to be thought unfashionable.

1758.  Johnson, Lett. to Miss Porter, 1 March. I shall take it very kindly if you write to me.

1872.  Black, Adv. Phaeton, x. 145. The Lieutenant took the matter very coolly.

1888.  Mrs. J. K. Spender, Kept Secret, III. i. 15. I did not mean you to take me in earnest.

1911.  Masefield, Multitude & Solitude, i. 14. Fear lest they should misunderstand his insult, and perhaps take it as a compliment, restrained him in the end, even more than the thought of what his wife would say.

  b.  To accept without objection, opposition, or resentment; to be content with; to put up with, tolerate, ‘stand.’

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XX. vi. 805. Ye shalle take the wo with the wele, and take hit in pacyence, and thanke god of hit.

1535.  Coverdale, 2 Kings xiv. 10. Take the prayse, and byde at home.

1595.  Maynarde, Drake’s Voy. (Hakl. Soc.), 18. He resolved to departe, and to take the winde as God sent it.

c. 1779.  R. Cumberland, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 410. I take events as they fall without murmur or complaint.

1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, V. i. ¶ 38. I had the good sense to take things as I found them.

1896.  Wills, in Law Times Rep., LXXIII. 689/1. If he does not conform to their law, he must take the consequences.

  43.  To face and attempt to get over, through, up, etc. (something that presents itself in one’s way), or actually to do so; to clear (an obstacle, as a fence, ditch, wave, space, etc.); to mount (a slope), get round (a corner), clear (the points on a railway line), etc.

1579.  Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 912/2. To take hedge and ditch, and go on forwards through brambles and briers.

1632.  Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, IV. i. I look about, and neigh, take hedge and ditch.

1838.  Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., I. 139/2. The tendency to … friction in passing round curves, and the difficulty of taking the points.

1843.  R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xxxi. 428. He … is able to run up, taking two of the large stone stair-steps at each spring.

1859.  Geo. Eliot, A. Bede, xii. Nothing like ‘taking’ a few bushes and ditches for exorcising a demon.

1864.  Good Words, 628/1. His pony ‘takes timber’ without asking a question.

1892.  Graphic, 9 April, 467/1. The proper course to steer is for Craven Cottage Point, which can be taken rather closely.

1915.  A. Stringer, Hand of Peril, iii. 154. It was all done so quickly that the driver of the taxi himself was quite ignorant of that intrusion as the car gathered speed and took the turn at the next corner.

  ****  To admit, absorb, include.

  44.  a. To admit, let in; to receive something fitted into it (quot. 1793): = take in, 82 a.

1674.  trans. Martiniere’s Voy. Northern C., 27. A small hole in the Keel, which took a little water.

1793.  Smeaton, Edystone L., 244. The cavities cut on the under side … to take the upper half of each cube.

1890.  Temple Bar Mag., March, 371. The Anonyma … several times took more water than we liked.

  b.  To absorb or become impregnated with (something detrimental, as moisture); to be affected injuriously by; to contract (disease, infection, injury, etc.); to fall into (a fit or trance). See also AIR sb. 11, COLD sb. 4 a, b, WIND.

13[?].  Cursor M., 23039 (Gött.). Of nakedhede quen i toke [Cott. drogh) harm Ȝe gaf me clething wid to warm.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 109. Þat þe water … takeþ no defoul, but is clene i-now [etc.].

1513.  Act 5 Hen. VIII., c. 4 § 1 (3). If the same Worsted … taketh any Wet, incontinent it will shew spotty and foul.

1530.  Palsgr., 747/2. I take colde, je me morfons.

1547.  Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 78. Personis that … takis seikness in our Soverane Ladyis army.

1555.  Eden, Decades, 16. The vytayles corrupted by taking water.

1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. i. 85. As men take diseases, one of another.

1639.  N. N., trans. Du Bosq’s Compl. Woman, II. 22. That lampe of the Romans, which … went out as soon as it tooke Aire.

1712.  Hearne, Collect. (O. H. S.), III. 301. The Book hath taken wet, and the Letters … are hardly visible.

1864.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XXV. II. 559. Both sheep took the disease.

1885.  Mrs. Lynn Linton, Chr. Kirkl., III. x. 309. A man who takes all the epidemics afloat.

  c.  To absorb, contract, become impregnated with (a dye, color, quality, salt, etc.); to receive, become affected by (an impression, a polish, or the like).

1592.  Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 354. His tendrer cheeke receiues her soft hands print, As apt as new falne snow takes any dint.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, XXXV. vi. It will take colour and be marked verie well.

a. 1642.  Sir W. Monson, Naval Tracts, II. (1704), 264/1. No Flesh in the Indies will take Salt.

1697.  Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., II. (1703), 122. To see the cheeks take the dye of the passions thus naturally.

1727.  A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. xxii. 260. The Flesh was not so savoury … nor would it take Salt kindly.

1865.  Reader, 1 April, 371/2. It takes dyes admirably—much better than cotton.

1877.  W. R. Cooper, Egypt. Obelisks, i. (1878), 3. A granite, or hard sandstone, capable of … taking a high polish.

  d.  absol. or intr. To become affected in the required or desired way: in various applications, as: to catch fire, kindle; to become coated or impregnated with something; to become inoculated; to become frozen; to catch the wind.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., II. i. 55. I can take, and Pistols cocke is vp, And flashing fire will follow.

1683.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, xxiv. ¶ 10. He trys if his Balls will Take, that is…: If he finds the Inck sticks to it equally all about…, it Takes.

1793.  Regal Rambler, or, Devil in Lond., 40. Our hero laid in a large cargo of fresh fuel, ready to touch and take like phosphorus.

1846.  Dickens, Cricket on Hearth, 30. Vaccinated just six weeks ago-o! Took very fine-ly!

1890.  Whitelegge, Hygiene, xii. 264. Many [people] ‘take’ readily within five years [of vaccination].

1907.  Amer. Printer, XLVI. 68. Exhibit A on the common paper, takes the ink readily, being full, deep and of a solid tone.

  † 45.  trans. To include, comprise; to contain: = take in, 82 k. Obs.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 15076. Þa fetless tokenn, seȝȝþ Goddspell, Twinne mett, oþerr þrinne.

a. 1637.  B. Jonson, Hymn on Nativity, ii. He whom the whole world could not take,… Was now laid in a manger.

  b.  Of water: To take (one) up to (the ankles, knees, shoulders), over (the head), to submerge (one) to that depth. Now Sc.

1654.  Z. Coke, Logick, To Reader. Truths that before delug’d you, will now take you but up to the Ancles.

1818.  Scott, Rob Roy, xxx. Mountain torrents, some of which took the soldiers up to the knees.

1878.  Saxon, Gallovedian Gossip, 15. The sea took him abune the knees.

Mod. Sc. There’s a deep hole there, that will take a man over the head.

  VII.  Senses related to VI, denoting intellectual action.

  *  To apprehend mentally, to conceive, understand, consider.

  46.  To receive and hold with the intellect; to grasp mentally, apprehend, comprehend, understand: = take in, 82 l. (Now only in reference to the meaning of words.)

1382.  Wyclif, John i. 5. And the liȝt schyneth in derknessis, and derknessis tooken [1388 comprehendiden] not it.

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 4656. Goddis wisdome þat none may take [L. incomprehensibilis].

1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, II. (1895), 214. Thys kynde of learnynge … they toke so muche the souner.

1666.  Pepys, Diary, 30 July. The girl do take musick mighty readily.

1737.  Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1757), II. 278. The Reader will easily take the Meaning.

1860.  Thackeray, Round. Papers, i. (1899), 170. You take the allegory? Novels are sweets.

1893.  National Observer, 11 March, 413/2. An audience … quick to take his points.

  b.  transf. To apprehend the meaning of, understand (a person, i.e., what he says).

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, I. Prol. 318. Quha takis me nocht, go quhair thai haue ado.

1622.  Bacon, Holy War, Wks. 1879, I. 525/2. You take me right, Eupolis.

1707.  J. Stevens, trans. Quevedo’s Com. Wks. (1799), 350. Do you take me Sir?

1810.  Crabbe, Borough, X. iii. Wks. 1834, III. 180. I spoke my thought—you take me—what I think.

1882.  Stevenson, New Arab. Nts. (1884), 219. I am not in this affair for him. You take me?

1906.  L. F. Austin, Points of View, ix. 73. Do you take my drift?

  47.  a. With adv. or advb. phr. To understand or apprehend in a specified way. Also with person as obj. In quot. a. 1300, ‘to understand to be meant’: cf. 48 b.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1379. [God] Þe fader in cedre þou sal take, A tre of heght, þat has na make. Ibid. (13[?]), 28974. Chastiyng o flex[e]s foure fald to tak In praier, fasting, wand, and wak.

c. 1460.  R. Ros, La Belle Dame, 582. And so must he be take in every place.

1552.  Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion (ad fin.). Leste yet the same kneelyng myghte be thought or taken otherwyse.

1642.  trans. Perkins’ Prof. Bk., viii. § 522. So was the law taken in Anno 4. H. 3.

1665.  Bunyan, Holy Citie, 164. I the rather take it thus,… Because [etc.].

1721.  Bradley, Philos. Acc. Wks. Nat., 155. If we take the Story of it right.

  † b.  With simple compl. To understand as, suppose to be, consider as: = take for, 48; also, to understand to mean: = 48 b. Obs.

13[?].  Cursor M., 28121 (Cott.). And titter wald i lesyng make Þan man my worde vn-treu to take.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 35. Þo hous of God her is tane þe congregacoun of feiþful men.

1538.  Treat. Bps. Rome Supremacy, i. In times past the Bishop of Constantinople tooke himself highest of all bishops.

1660.  Milton, Free Commw., Wks. 1851, V. 421. They took themselves not bound by the Light of Nature or Religion to any former Covnant.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 19, ¶ 9. I take my self obliged in Honour to go on.

  c.  With dependent clause: To suppose, apprehend, assume as a fact, be of opinion (that …). Usually take it.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 460. Cristenmen taken ouer þat petre was cristis viker, & suyde hym in maner of lif.

1429.  Rolls of Parlt., IV. 346/1. So take that the saide Cominaltes been no Cominaltes corporat.

1538.  Audley, in Lett. Suppress. Monasteries (Camden), 240. I take it that your lordshypp ys at appoynt for me to have it.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., I. i. 63. I take it your own busines calls on you. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., IV. ii. 110. As I take it, it is almost day.

1642.  trans. Perkins’ Prof. Bk., v. § 354. It is commonly taken, that if a wife run away from her husband … shee shall loose her dower.

1709.  Steele & Addison, Tatler, No. 93, ¶ 4. Within this Height I take it, that all the fighting Men of Great Britain are comprehended.

1842.  Tennyson, Edwin Morris, 43. I take it, God made the woman for the man, And for the good and increase of the world.

1885.  Law Times, LXXX. 118/2. The learned counsel might take it that this court overruled the objection.

  d.  With inf. To understand, consider, suppose, imagine, assume (to be or to do something).

1548.  Udall, Erasm. Par. John, 16 b. Men toke him to be mine inferiour.

1663.  Butler, Hud., I. II. 889. For Men he [the Bear] always took to be His Friends, and Dogs the Enemy.

a. 1677.  Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1716, III. 72. He that taketh himself to have enough, what doth he need?

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. vi. 151. I take that man to be a … penitent.

1878.  Huxley, Physiogr., 63. It may be taken roughly to represent one inch of rain.

  48.  To take … for. a. To suppose to be, consider as; often, with implication of error, to suppose to be (what it is not), to mistake for; also † to esteem or repute as (obs.: cf. 49); to assume to be. Take for granted: see GRANTED 2 b.

c. 1435.  Torr. Portugal, 1333. Gret lordys … for a doughty knyght hym tase.

c. 1515.  Cocke Lorell’s B., 3. A man wolde take hym for a shrewe I trowe.

1579.  Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 65. I am not so childishe to take euery bushe for a monster.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 388. We will take it for granted that it pertaineth not to that rank or order.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., IX. 396. An Eagle taking his bald pate for a white rocke, let a shell-fish fall on it.

1693.  Tate, Juvenal, xv. 178. So soft his Tresses … You’d doubt his Sex, and take him for a Girl.

1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 289, ¶ 1. I have been sometimes taken … for a Parish Sexton.

1889.  Stevenson, Master of B., x. 267. Do you take me for a fool?

1910.  Louise Mack, Theodora’s Husband, xxxii. 240. She told herself contentedly that no one would take her for a lady of fashion now.

  b.  To understand to mean, to interpret as. Now rare or Obs. † In quots. c. 1200, 1340 in converse sense: To reckon or count as, to include in the meaning of (obs.).

c. 1200.  Ormin, 19029. Tacc nu þe sawle forr þatt mann Þatt cumeþþ her to manne.

1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 2818. Alle þir four stedes … for helle þai may alle be tane, Of whilk four purgatory es ane.

1596.  Harington, Metam. Ajax (1814), 24. Which word many of the simple hearers and readers take for a precious stone.

1684.  J. P., trans. Frambresarius’ Art Physic, iii. 95. Generally the Word Aposteme is taken for any Tumor which is preternatural.

1697.  Evelyn, Architects, Misc. Writ. (1825), 379. Otherwhiles it [the astragal] again is taken for the hoop, cincture or collar next the hypotrachelium.

  49.  To regard, consider, hold, esteem (as); to estimate, reckon (at so much).

1531–2.  Act 23 Hen. VIII., c. 3. That any Utlarie … pleded or alleged … shalbe taken but as voide plee.

1534.  Whitinton, Tullyes Offices, I. (1540), 49. He was take as a gret and a famous man.

1605.  Camden, Rem., 36. This is to be take as a granted veritie.

1820.  Examiner, No. 620. 130/2. We are to take the word liberal … as a piece of irony.

1893.  Eng. Illustr. Mag., X. 310/2. An average length of stroke may be taken at about six yards.

  † b.  pa. pple. (with qualifying adv.) Reputed, esteemed. Obs.

1518.  in Ld. Berners, Froiss. (1812), Pref. 17. Sir John Style … well beloued and well takyn in theis partes.

1526.  Tindale, Rom. xvi. 7. Andronicus and Junia my cosyns … which are wele taken amonge the apostles.

1535.  Coverdale, Judith xvi. 21. Iudith was … right honorably taken in all the londe of Israel.

1597–8.  Bacon, Ess., Followers & Fr. (Arb.), 34. A thing ciuile, and well taken euen in Monarchies.

  **  To conceive and exercise.

  50.  To begin to have or be affected by (a feeling or state of mind); to conceive; hence, to experience, entertain, feel (delight, pleasure, pride, etc.).

  See also DELIGHT sb. 1 b, FRIGHT sb. 1, HUFF sb. 2 b, INTEREST sb. 7. OFFENCE sb. 5 c, PET sb.², PLEASURE sb. 5 f, PRIDE sb.¹ 4, UMBRAGE, etc.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 19558. Þatt tatt Farisewisshe follc Strang wraþþe takenn haffde.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 448. Agains him [God] be tok a pride.

1390–.  [see OFFENCE sb. 5 c].

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 100. Wherof the king gret hevynesse Hath take.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, IV. i. 119. Take none heuynesse, said Merlyn. Ibid., VI. xv. 207. She took suche sorou that shee dyed.

1535.  Coverdale, Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Ye shal take displeasure at youre owne selues, by reason of youre synnes and abhominacions.

a. 1553.  [see GRIEF sb. 4 b].

1694.  Acc. Sev. Late Voy., Introd. 6. Upon some disgust taken at his Master.

1773.  Life N. Frowde, 15. Persons to whom I had taken so much Dislike.

1888.  Lester, Hartas Maturin, III. ii. 41. Women do take prejudices.

  b.  absol. or intr. To take a fancy or liking: cf. take to, 74 g, take with, 75 c.

1600.  Dymmock, Treat. Irel. (1841), 6. They are quicke and capable, kind harted where they take.

1874.  Hardy, Madding Crowd, xviii. Mistress and man were engaged in the operation of making a lamb ‘take,’ which is performed whenever a ewe has lost her own offspring, one of the twins of another ewe being given her as a substitute.

  † c.  To take on oneself: to become distressed or disturbed in mind: = take on, 84 j. Obs.

1632.  J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 121. The Prince,… because he found him not, tooke on him like a mad man.

  51.  trans. a. To conceive and adopt with the will (a parpose, resolution, etc.), or with the intellect (an estimate, view, etc.); to form and hold in the mind. See also PURPOSE sb. 2 b, REDE sb.¹ 2 b.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11151. He … tok his redd al for to fle, Priuelik and latt hir be.

1375–.  [see PURPOSE sb. 2 b].

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, V. i. 10. The Troianis in thare breistis tuk ane ges Quharfor it was.

1652.  Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 37. A conclusion [was] taken to refer all to their several Princes.

1660.  Barrow, Euclid, Pref. (1714), 2. I took a Resolution to make use of most of the Schemes of the said Book.

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, VII. ii. Having taken a resolution to leave the Country.

1891.  Law Times, XC. 462/2. We do not take the alarmnist view of our correspondent.

  b.  To conceive and exercise (courage, heart, etc.; † mercy (obs.), pity, etc.); to form in the mind and exhibit in action. (Sometimes nearly coinciding with sense 16 a, to assume: cf. also branch VIII.) See also COURAGE sb. 4 d, HEART sb. 49, HEART OF GRACE, PITY sb. 2.

13[?].  Guy Warw. (A), 4656. Now, sir, take þerof pite.

13[?], 1530.  [see HEART sb. 49].

13[?].  Cursor M., 27136. Quen þou tas to þe baldhede O gretter mans sinful dede.

1483.  Caxton, G. de la Tour, A viij. Wherfore God took mercy on them.

c. 1490–1841.  [see COURAGE sb. 4 d].

1530–1890.  [see HEART OF GRACE].

1593.  Abp. Bancroft, Daung. Posit., II. vii. 54. They have taken greater boldnesse, and growen more rebellious.

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time, an. 1672 (1823), I. 538. No popish priest had ever taken the confidence to speak to her of those matters.

1883.  Times (weekly ed.), 18 May, 3/4. The Arabs would have taken fresh heart.

  c.  To exercise with the mind, in thought (note, notice, † intent, etc.), or with the mind and will, in action (care, heed, † diligence, etc.). Cf. branches VIII., IX. See also CARE sb. 3 c, HEED sb. 1 b, INTENT sb. 2, KEEP sb. 1, 2, NOTE sb.² 20 b, NOTICE sb. 6, 7, REGARD sb. 6 b, TENT sb.², THOUGHT sb.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 1379. Þe deore Drihtin areaw us, & toc read to ure alde dusischipes.

a. 1300–.  [see KEEP sb. 1, 2].

c. 1305–.  [see HEED sb. 1 b].

13[?].  Cursor M., 27228. Ilk man þat will ta ȝeme.

c. 1368.  Chaucer, Compl. Pite, 82. But ye the rather take cure To breke that perilouse alliaunce.

c. 1375.  Cursor M., 12592 (Fairf.). Hamward þai went & to ihesu toke nane entent. Ibid. (c. 1425), 7937 (Trin.). Son he seide take good gome Ȝyuen þou hast þin owne dome.

c. 1475.  Songs & Carols 15th c. (Percy Soc.). 54. To here song then tok I intent.

1564–5.  Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 320. Quhairunto hir Hienes and hir Counsall mon tak ee and regard.

1588–.  [see CARE sb. 3 c].

1592–.  [see NOTICE sb. 6, 7).

1596–.  [see NOTE sb.² 20 b].

1784.  R. Bage, Barham Downs, I. 230. I took no concern about any of them.

  VIII.  Various senses, nearly = make, do, perform (some action). (See also senses 19, 37, 51 b, c)

  52.  To perform, make, do (an act, action, movement, etc.): usually with some notion of undertaking or taking upon one, and carrying out or carrying on; sometimes with that of getting.

  Often it forms with the object merely a periphrastic equivalent of the cognate vb.: e.g., to take a leap = to leap (once), to take a look = to look (once), to take one’s departure = to depart. (See also take aim in Phrases, 64; ACTION 7, JOURNEY sb. 3, STEP sb., TURN sb., WALK sb.)

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumbras, 4029. To-morwe let ous our iorne take, Hamward aȝen to ryde.

c. 1412.  Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 3400. The kyng took a laghtre, and wente his way.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., 156. At which men mowe lawȝe and take bourde for her symplenes.

1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 1. I determyned me to take that voyage.

1483.  Caxton, Cato, C vj b. Thou oughtest not to stryue ne take noyse wyth them that ben ful of superfluous wordes. Ibid. (c. 1489), Sonnes of Aymon, xiv. 341. Thei toke grete debate for me wyth Charlemagn wythin his pavylion.

1491.  Churchw. Acc. St. Dunstan’s, Canterb. They took an axion ageynst the executores of Wyllyam Belser.

1556.  Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden), 13. Thys yere the kynge … toke his viage towarde Normandy.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., III. xi. 42. Like a winged horse he [Neptune] tooke his flight.

1617.  Acc. Bk. W. Wray, in Antiquary, XXXII. 214. King James … tooke his progresse towards Scotland.

1678.  Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 43. How many steps have I took in vain.