To finish highly, to polish; to cleanse, to purify, to brighten, to embellish; to render or make clear, bright or brilliant, elegant or beautiful.

Upon the right hand went old Egeus,
And on that other side Duk Theseus,
With vessels in hire hond of gold ful fine,
All full of hony, milk, and blood, and wine.

Chaucer. The Knightes Tale, v. 2909. Margarite is ingendered by heauenly dewe, and sheweth in it self by fineness of colour, whether the engendrure were maked on morowe or on eue.-Id. Test. of Loue, b. ii.

[Gold] is assayed by the fire to thintente it may thenceforth bee had in so muche the more price as it is the more exactly fyned much more will God haue your faith, wherunto so high honour of duetie belongeth, to be tried with sondry experimentes, to thintent that whan it shal glister out of these flames of sorowes and afflictions, and being farre more pure and more glittering than any golde though it be neuer so fyne, it may be precious in the sight of God, &c. Udal. 1 Peter, c. 1.

Binde your fillets fast
And gird in your waste,
For more fineness, with a tawdrie lace.

Spenser. Shepheard's Calendar. April.
What they in largeness have, that bear themselves so high,
In my most perfect form, and delicacy, I
For greatness of my grain and fineness of my grass;
This isle hath scarce a vale, that Ringdale doth surpass.
Drayton. Poly-Olbion, s. 21.
The beech serves for various uses of the house-wife-not
to omit even the very shavings for the fining of wines.
Evelyn. Silva, c. 5.

Methinks I see thee, spruce and fine,
With coat embroider'd richly shine,
And dazzle all the idol faces

As through the hall thy worship paces.
Swift. Horace, b. ii. Ode 1.

Poor I, a savage bred and born,
By you instructed every morn,
Already have improv'd so well
That I have almost learnt to spell !
The neighbours who come here to dine,
Admire to hear me speak so fine.

Id. A Panegyrick on the Dean. Here is the Majesty of the heroic finely mixed with the venom of the other; and raising the delight which otherwise would be flat and vulgar, by the sublimity of the expression.-Dryden. Origin and Progress of Satire.

Let him declaim as wittily and sharply as he pleases, yet still the nicest and most delicate touches of satire consist in fine raillery.-Id. Dedication to Juvenal.

The fine original of Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk with the staves of Earl Marshall and Lord Treasurer, from whence the print is taken, is at Leicester-house.

Walpole. Anecdotes of Painting, vol. i. c. 4. The character of his Majesty's bluff hautiness (by Hans Holbein) is well represented, and all the heads are finely executed.-Id. Ib.

I therefore must beg of you to procure me some Irish linen to make me four dozen of shirts, much about the same fineness and price of the last which you got me.

Chesterfield. Miscell. vol. iv. Let. 69. Savage nations being passionately fond of show and finery, and having no object but their naked bodies, on which to exercise this disposition, have in all times painted, or cut their skins, according to their ideas of ornament.

Burke. Abridgement of English History, b. i. c. 11.

Should I be thought in some places to have run on too fine-spun argumentations or in others drawn too strongcoloured figures, for any body's liking: let him be good natured enough to suppose, that were we to discourse over this subject in private, and he would let me know his taste, I should endeavour to conform myself thereto.

Search. Light of Nature, vol. ii. pt. iii. c. 30.

FINE, v. Lat. Finis. Spelman (after enuFINE, n. merating the various legal usages FI'NABLE. of the word) says, "In none of these significations was the word known to our countrymen ante seculum Normanicum." See the first quotation from Rastall; and Finis in Du Cange.

Any thing (as a sum of money) paid at the end, to make an end, termination or conclusion of a suit, of a prosecution; a mulct or penalty.

If one bee found dead in a street or house, the master of the house, or the parish, must find out the murtherer; otherwise he himself shall be accused of it, and the whole contado shall be fined, and likewise in case of robberie.

Purchas. Pilgrimage, b. iii. c. 10. s. 1. Make him high, let him rule,

He'll be playing the fool,
And transgress, then we'll squeeze
Him for fines, and for fees.-Brome. Royalist's Answer.

So, two years after, Tracy's heirs sued him for it, and he was turned out of his office of chancellor, and fined in four hundred pound.-Burnet. Hist. of Reformation, an. 1534.

But that also at length they unwillingly yielded unto: styling him in their submission by the title of "Protector and supreme Head of the English Church," and paying a lusty fine.-Strype. Memorials. Hen. VIII. an. 1532.

But in the case propounded by me, where it is possible in that special manner, the jury may find against the direction of the Court in matter of Law, it will not follow they are therefore finable.-State Trials. E. Bushell, an. 1670.

He ridiculed the three rights to fine the subordinate Princes that Mr. Hastings had, in his defence, laid claim to. Fox. Speeches, June 13, 1786. Some landlords, instead of raising the rent, take a fine for the renewal of the lease. This practice is, in most cases, the expedient of a spendthrift, who for a sum of ready money sells a future revenue of much greater value. Smith. Wealth of Nations, b. v. c. 2.

FINE'SSE. 1 Fr. Finesse; It. Finezza. See FINE'SSING, n. S FINE. Fine-ness or re-fine-ment,-nicety, polish, policy, to an excess; and thus, guile or wiliness, cunning, subtilty.

These thinges he wrought with great sleyght and fynesse of wytte in suche sorte that he minished not any parte of his honour, estate, or reputacion.

Brende. Quintus Curtius, fol. 3. Ever. (Aside to Meer.) You'll mar all with your fineness. B. Jonson. The Devil is an Ass, Act iii. sc. 1. This is the artificialest piece of finesse to perswade men to be slaves, that the wit of court could have invented. Milton. Answer to Eikon Basilikè. Brevity and succinctness of speech, is that, which in philosophy or speculation we call maxim or first principle: in the counsels and resolves of practical wisdom, and the deep mysteries of religion, oracle; and lastly, in matters of wit, and finenesses of imagination, epigram.-South, vol. ii. Ser.4.

With no reason on earth to go out of his way,

He [Garrick] turned and he varied full ten times a day; Though secure of our hearts, yet confoundedly sick,If they were not his own by finessing and trick. Goldsmith. Retaliation. And lest the colourable reasons, offered in argument against this Parliamentary procedure, should be mistaken for the real motives of their conduct, all the advantage of privilege, all the arts and finesses of pleading, and great sums of public money were lavished, to prevent any decision upon those practices in the Courts of Justice.

Burke. On a late State of the Nation.

Scipio and Sertorius made some other God to be their council of war, to encourage their soldiers in dangerous enterprises, but the mask only deceived the ignorant. The more intelligent discerned the finesse of their politic contrivance.-Bates. The Existence of God, c. 5.

FINGER, v. A. S. Finger; Ger. Finger; FINGER, n. Dut. Vinger; from A. S. FenFINGERING, n. gan; Ger. Fangen; Dut. Vingeren, capere, prehendere. Finger, quod prehendit; that which fangs, seizes, catches.

To fang,-take or catch, to hold or handle, to touch (with the finger;) to take or touch. On alle hure fyve fyngres. rycheliche yrynged And ther on rede rubies and othr riche stones. Piers Plouhman, p. 24.

She lette no morsel from hire lippes falle,
Ne wette hire fingres in hire sauce depe.
Chaucer. The Prologue, v. 129.

My word, my workes, is knit so in your bod
That as an harp obeyeth to the hond
And make it soune after his fingering,
Right so mowe ye out of mine hart bring
Such voice, right as you list, to laugh or pain.

Id. The Legend of Good Women, Prol.
What should I stand vpon the rest
or other partes depaint :
As little hand with fingers long?

my wits are all to faint.-Turbervile. Praise of a Lady.

Or els the minstrelsye of lutes, pypes, harpes, and all other that standeth by such nyce, fine minakin fingeringe is farre more fitte for the womanishness of it to dwel in the courte among ladyes, than for any greate thinge in it, which should help good and sad studye to abide in the university among scholers.-Ascham. The Schole of Shooting.

For so should every man's house equally feele the societie and part of that benefit, and the hands of idle persones remaining at home in the town, greedie now of rifling, and who would be fingring of pillage, should not pluck from the hardie warriors their due rewards.-Holland. Livies, p. 193.

That there was not a nymph to jollity inclin'd
Or of the woody brood, or of the watʼry kind,
But at their fingers' ends, thy Ribble's song could say.
Drayton. Poly-Olbion, s. 21.
[So] the weak child, that from the mother's wing
Is taught the lute's delicious fingering:
At ev'ry string's soft touch is mov'd with fear,
Noting his master's curious list'ning ear,
Whose trembling hand at ev'ry strain bewrays
In what doubt he his new-set lesson plays.

Id. Mrs. Shore to King Edward IV.

A certain minstrell or musician had plaid before him on a time as he sate at supper, and the King would seem to correct him in some points, yea, and begin to reason and enter into sad disputation with him about the stroke and true fingering of certain instruments: now God forbid (quoth he) O King, that you should come to so low an ebbe and hard fortune as to be more skilfull in these matters then I am. Holland. Plutarch, p. 338.

The goods and chattles of Colleges and Chantries, in considerable proportions, came into his hands for the King's use; which, it may be presumed, he having the fingering cf Where unnecessary fynesse wanteth accept true meaning might convert some part thereof to his owne use. playnesse. Udal. Prol. to the Ephesians. Strype. Memorials. Edw. IV. an. 1551. Hard as it was, beginning to relent,

FINISH. See FINE.
FIPPLE. Lat. Fibula, a clasp or fastener.
A stopper, (sc.) of a wind instrument.

Note again that some kind of wind instruments are blown at a small hole in the side, which straitneth the breath of the first entrance; the rather, in respect of their traverse, and stop above the hole, which performeth the fipple's part; as it is seen in flutes, and fifes, which will not give sound, by a blast at the end, as recorders, &c.

Bacon. Naturall Historie, s. 116.

FIR. A.S. Fuhr-wudu; Lat. Pinus, a pine tree. Somner, Skinner, and Junius, Abies; Dut. VueSkinner says, Perhaps from Fire, (Dut. Vyr;) wood which may easily be set on fire.

ren.

But how the fire was maked up on highte,
And eke the names how the trees highte,

As oak, fir, birch, &c.-Chaucer. Knightes Tale, v. 2923.

A huge horse made, hye raised like a hill,

By the diuine science of Minerua:

Of clouen firre compacted were his ribbs. Surrey. Virgile. Eneis, b. ii. And there wyll I cut downe the hye cedre trees & the fayrest fyre trees.-Bible, 1551. Of Esaye, c. 38.

There is great ods betweene fir trees, in regard of diverse
Countres and nations, where they grow. The best are those
of the Aipes and Apennine hils.
Holland. Plinie, b. xvi. c. 39.

With cord and canvass, from rich Hamburgh sent,
His navy's molted wings he imps once more:
Tall Norway fir, their masts in battle spent,
And English oak, sprung leaks and planks restore.
Dryden. Annus Mirabilis.

On Lebanon the sacred cedar waves
And spiry fir-tree, where the stork conceals

Her clam'rous young.

Hart, Ps. 104.

A. S. Fir, fyr; Dut. Vuyr, vier; Ger. Feuer; Gr. Пup, a Phrygian word, according to Plato. "Consider, says Socrates, whether this name, up, is not of Barbaric origin; for it is by no means easy to adapt this to the Greek

tongue; and it is manifest, that the Phrygians thus denominate fire, with a certain trifling deviation," (Plato, in Cratylo, by Taylor.) It is difficult to suppose that our northern progenitors had no name for the element of fire, until they borrowed it from the Greeks; it is more probable that there was some common origin for both the Greek and Saxon in the northern languages.

FIRE, v.

FIRE, n.

FIRELESS.
FIRER.
FIRING, n.
FIERY.

FIERINESS.

To ignite, to kindle, to burn; (met.) to warm, to heat, to inflame, to animate.

Fire, n. (met.) that which warms, inflames, heats, animates, inspirits; gives or causes life, Vivacity, or liveliness, ardour, fervour, vigour. Fire-new,-new from the fire or forge. Fire is much used prefixed.

Seththe the luther emperour hadde in his herte joie, To thenche on fyur, that was in the bataile of Troie, Tho me barnde gret townes & courtes day & nygt, And thogte yt was mury joie, to se so fair alygt. R. Gloucester, p. 69. In which enetid [evening-tide] appered in the west ii. sterres of fuyry colour, on lite that other gret. Id. p. 484. Note.

Wilde fire thei kast, the kyng to confound.

R. Brunne, p. 170. And then falleth the fur. on false menne houses. Piers Plouhman, p. 43. He that seith, fool, schal be gilty unto the fire of helle. Wiclif. Matt. c. 5. But whosoeuer sayeth thou foole, shall be in daunger of hell fyre.-Bible, 1551. Ib.

And so I saygh horsis in visioun, and thei that saaten on hem hadden firi harburiouns.-Wiclif. Apocalips, c. 9.

And thus I sawe the horses in a vysyon and them that sate on them, hauyng fyry habergions.-Bible, 1551. Ib.

If both the herts love hath fired
Joy and wo they shal depart
And take euenly ech his part.-Chaucer. Rom, of the R.
She was so ful of turment and of rage,
That wilfully into the fire she sterte,
And brent hireselven with a stedfast herte.

Id. The Nonnes Preestes Tale, v. 15,373.

And with hire fire-brond in hire hond aboute Danceth before the bride and all the rout.

Id. The Marchantes Tale, v. 9602.

Som sayd it was long on the fire-making;
Som sayd nay, it was long on the blowing.

Id. The Chanones Yemannes Tale, v. 16,390.
A sompnour was ther with us in that place,
That hadde a fire-red cherubinnes face.
Id. The Prologue, v. 626.

And over all this, to slen me utterly,
Love hath his firy dart so brenningly
Ystiked thurgh my trewe careful hert,
That shapen was my deth erst than my shert.
Id. The Knightes Tale, v. 1566.
Symon, which was made their espie
Within Troie, as was conspired,
Whan tyme was, a token fired.-Gower. Con. A. b. i.
And for to wissen hem by nyght
A firie piller hem alight.

Id. Ib. b. v. Their heads aboue the streame they hold, their fierred manes they shake,

The salt sea waues before them fast they shouen, and after trailes Their vgly backes.-Phaer. Virgill. Eneidos, b. ii.

Besides the wasting of our fields, the driving away of booties, as well of people as cattell, the firing of vilages, the ruine and havocke they made; and in euerie place nothing but fire and sword.-Holland. Livivs, p. 269.

Or by collision of two bodies grinde
The air attrite to fire, as late the clouds
Justling or pusht with winds rude in the shock
Tine the slant lightning, whose thwart flame, driv'n down,
Kindles the gummie bark of fir and pine,
And sends a comfortable heat from farr,
Which might supply the sun: such fire to use,
And what may else be remedie or cure

To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought,

He will instruct us praying.-Milton. Par. Lost, b. x.

Tho' I've no bags, that are with child with gold,
And though my fireless chimneys catch the cold,
For want of great revenues, yet I find
I've what's as good as all, a sated mind.

Brome. Epistle to his Friend Mr. J. B
Legions of Loves with little wings did flie:
Darting their deadly arrowes fiery bright.

Spenser, son. 16. The Governor of Scotland hearing of the Protector's approach, and having no sufficient army ready to resist him, sent his heralds abroad into all parts of the realm, and commanded the fire-cross to be carried, (an ancient custom in cases of importance,) which was two fire-brands set in fashion of a cross, and pitched upon the point of a spear; and therewith proclamation to be made that all above 16 years of age, and under 60, should resort forthwith to Musselborough, and bring convenient provisions of victuals with them.-Baker. Chronicles. Edw. VI. an. 1547.

But Peidloe was so impatient that he would not hear him, and then he did the fact, which was, that he put a fire-ball at the end of a long pole, and lighting it with a piece of match he put it in at a window, and staid till he saw the house in a flame.

State Trials. Chas. II. Firing of London, an. 1666. Fired at the sound, my genius spreads her wing, And flies where Britain courts the western Spring; Where lawns extend that scorn Arcadian pride, And brighter streams than fam'd Hydaspes glide. Goldsmith. The Traveller. The cruel laws of Scotland's realm decree That every maid of high or low degree, Accus'd of yielding to the luring fire Of lawless love in torment shall expire.

Hoole. Orlando Furioso, b. iv. God bids a plague Kindle a fiery boil upon the skin, And putrefy the breath of blooming health.

Cowper. Task.

FIRK. Skinner refers to-to fig; but adds, that it may be from the Lat. Fericare, a frequentative of ferire, as fodicare of fodere. The It. Feza, or sferza, a rod or whip, Menage 'derives from

Mr. Steevens truly says, that this word is so variously used by the old writers, that it is almost impossible to ascertain its precise meaning.

In the mean time I will firk your father whether you see or no.-Chapman. All Fools, Act iii. sc. 1.

She shall have bail.

Dash. And a firking writ

Of false imprisonment, she shall be sure

Of twelve pence damage, and five and twenty pound For suits in law.-Barry. Ram Alley, Act iv. sc. 1.

Just. Tutch. On on, I say.

Throate. Justice, the law shall firk you.-Id. Ib.

A privilege [was] given to Athemeus, the Archbishop [of Cyprus] in that age, to subscribe his name to all publick acts in red letters, which was an honour above that of any patriarch, who writes his name or firm in black characters. Rycaut. State of the Greek Church, p. 90. So, earely, ere the grosse Earthes gryesy shade Was all disperst out of the firmament, They tooke their steeds, and forth upon thire journey Spenser. Faerie Queene, b. iii. c. 1. What if all

went.

Her stores were open'd, and this firmament
Of hell should spout her cataracts of fire?
Impendant horrors, threatning hideous fall
One day upon our heads.-Milton. Par. Lost, b. ii.

The lion's royal whelp does not at first
For blood of Basan bulls or tigers thirst,
In timorous deer he hansels his young paws,
And leaves the rugged bear for firmer claws.
Cowley. The Davideis, b. iii.

For if you speak of an acquired, rational, discursive faith, certainly these reasons which make the object seem credible, must be the cause of it, and consequently the strength and firmity of my assent must rise and fall, together with the apparent credibility of the object. Chillingworth. Rel. of Prot. Ch. pt. i. c. 6.

It is Jehovah that is merciful; and as Jehovah signifies firmitude of being, and is therefore compared to a rock, &c., so these his mercies are lik'ned to things of longest duration, to those things which to us men are such in our account. Goodwin. Works, vol. iv. p. 31.

His breast-plate first, that was of substance pure,
Before his noble hart he firmely bound,
That mought his life from yron death assure,
And ward his gentle corps from cruel wound.
Spenser. Muiopotmos.
In pure and fruitfull water we may see
Your mind from darknesse cleare, in bounty free:
And in the steddy resting of the ground.
Your noble firmenesse to your friend is found:
For you are still the same, and where you love
No absence can your constant mind remove.
Beaumont. To the Prince.

O thou, who freest me from my doubtful state
Long lost and wilder'd in the maze of fate!
Be present still: oh Goddess! in our aid:
Proceed, and firm those omens thou hast made.
Pope. Statius. Thebaid, b. i.

Genius of Britain, spare thy fears,
For know, within, our sovereign wears
The surest guard; the best defence;
A firm untainted innocence.

Pitt. On his Majesty's Playing with a Tiger. An hollow crystal pyramid he takes,

In firmamental waters dipt above; Of it a broad extinguisher he makes,

And hoods the flames that to their quarry drove. Dryden. Annus Mirabilis.

Howe'er, I gave his wise proposal way,
Nay, urg'd him to go on; the shallow fraud
Will ruin him for ever with my enemies,
And make him firmly mine, spite of his fears,
And natural inconstancy.

Rowe. The Ambitious Step-mother, Act i.
Such heavenly beauty on thy face shall bloom,
As shall almost excuse the villain's crime;
But yet that firmness, that unshaken virtue,
As still shall make the monster more detested.

Smith. Phædra & Hippolitus, Act v.

O Fortitude! divinely bright,
O Virtue's child, and Man's delight!
Descend an amicable guest,

And with thy firmness steel my breast.

Blacklock. An Hymn to Fortitude.

A. S. First; Dut. Veurst; Ger. Erst. First, says Skinner, dicitur quasi forest, (i.e. fore-est,) from fore, ante:

O! then be firm-in this, my friends, remain
Our dearest hopes, all other hopes are vain!
Like us the foes have but two hands to wield,
One soul to fire them, and one life to yield.

Hoole. Orlando Furioso, b. xviii.
Incessant rains had drenched the floated ground,
And clouds o'ercast the firmament around.

Fawkes. Descrip. of Winter. From G. Douglas. These wind, by subtle sap, their secret way, Pernicious pioneers! while those invest, More firmly daring in the face of heaven, And win by regular approach, the cane.

Granger. The Sugar Cane, b. ii.

1

The fyrste age & tyme was from our firste fader Adam
To Noe, & seththe tho other from Noe to Abraham.
R. Gloucester, p. 9.

Uttred in his firste gere messengers he sent
For kynges & barons vntille his parlement,
In stede ther he it sette, thei wist what it ment.
R. Brunne, p. 8.
Hit was the furste frut. that the fader of hevene blessede.
Piers Plouhman, p. 309.
And the clennest creature. creatour ferste knowe
In kynges court and knyghtes.-Id. Ib.

And he sat and clepide the twelve, and seyde to him if ony mon wil be the firste among you he schal be the laste of alle, and the mynystre of all.-Wiclif. Mark, c. 9.

And he sat downe and called the twelue vnto hym, and sayde to them: yf anye man desyre to be fyrst, the same shal be laste of all, and seruaunt vnto all.-Bible, 1551. Io. All the first-borne of thy sonnes thou muste nedes redeme. Id. Exodus, c. 31. The first of the first-fruites of thy lande, thou shalte brynge vnto the house of the Lord thy God.-Id. Ib.

So that in election Christ held the primacy, the first-hood; as in dignity, so in order; that we were ordained for him. Goodwin. Works, vol. i. Ser. 6. We are all, my lord, The sons of Fortune, she hath sent us forth To thrive by the red sweat of our own merits: And since after the rage of many a tempest, Our fates have cast us upon Britain's bounds, We offer you the first-fruits of our wounds. Middleton. The Mayor of Quinborough, Act ii. sc. 1.

A shepherd next, More meek, came with the firstlings of his flock Choicest and best; then sacrificing, laid The inwards and their fat, with incence strew'd On the cleft wood, and all due rits perform'd. Millon. Paradise Lost, b. xi. And thus, readers, by the example which he hath set me, I have given ye two or three notes of him out of his titlepage, by which his firstlings fear not to guess boldly at his whole lump, for that guess will not fail ye.

Id. An Apology for Smectymnuus. All the firstling males that come to thy herd, and of thy flock, thou shalt sanctify unto the Lord thy God. Deuteronomy, xv. 19. When I give, (as he acknowledges) a firstness of precedency and presidency to the Pope, he tells me, he is confident I know not how much more is allowed him by the universal consent of all Catholicks, as of divine institution, whatever I may have read in particular authors. Hammond. Works, vol. ii. p. 163.

I did yesterday complain to Mr. Secretary St. John, that Mr. Harley had not yet got the letter from the Queen to confirm the grant of the first-fruits; that I had lost reputation by it; and that I took it very ill of them both; and that their excuses of Parliament business, and grief for the loss in Spain, were what I would bear no longer. Swift. Letter to Dr. King. And often have you brought the wily fox To suffer for the firstlings of the flocks; Chas'd ev'n amid the folds; and made to bleed, Like felons, where they did the murderous deed. Dryden, Epistle 13.

To me more dear, congenial to my heart,
One native charm, than all the gloss of Art,
Spontaneous joys, where Nature has its play,
The soul adopts, and owns their first-born sway.
Goldsmith. The Deserted Village.
For him our yearly wakes, and feasts, we hold,
And choose the fairest firstlings from the fold.

Philips, Pastoral 2