verb. (old: colloquial).—To wanton: hence RAGERIE = wantonness; skittishness: cf. RAG, subs. 10.

1

  1383.  CHAUCER, The Canterbury Tales, ‘The Miller’s Tale,’ l. 87.

        That on a day this hende Nicholas
Fil with this yonge wyf to RAGE and pleye.
    Ibid., ‘The Merchant’s Tale,’ l. 603.
He was al coltish, ful of RAGERYE.

2

  1393.  GOWER, Confessio Amantis, i.

        And she bygan to plaie and RAGE,
As who saith, I am well enough.

3

  c. 1440.  Reliquiæ Antiquæ, i. 29.

        When sche seyth galantys revell yn hall,
  Yn here hert she thynkys owtrage,
  Desyrynge with them to pley and RAGE,
And stelyth fro yow full prevely.

4

  THE RAGE (or ALL THE RAGE), phr. (colloquial).—The fashion; the vogue; THE GO (q.v.).

5

  1785.  The New Rosciad, 37. ’Tis THE RAGE in this great raging Nation, Who wou’d live and not be in the fashion?

6

  1857.  A. TROLLOPE, The Three Clerks, xxxv. You don’t know how charming it is, and it will be ALL THE RAGE.

7

  1868.  SPENCER, Social Statics, 178. In our day THE RAGE for accumulation has apotheosized work.

8

  1885.  Daily Chronicle, 16 Sept. Criterion was ALL THE RAGE.

9