▪ I. succeeding, vbl. n.
(səkˈsiːdɪŋ)
[-ing1.]
1. Successful issue, success.
| c 1450 tr. De Imitatione iii. xxxv. 104 Lest þou be lifte up in succedyng of þi desire [orig. in bono successu]. 1671 Milton P.R. ii. 143 Lest confidence Of my success with Eve in Paradise Deceive ye to perswasion over-sure Of like succeeding here. 1730 A. Gordon Maffei's Amphith. 80 For the better succeeding in the important Undertaking he has in hand. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 137 Their succeeding throws no obstacle against his success. 1847 G. Harris Life Hardwicke II. vii. 129 Failure in such a case, where all the qualifications for succeeding were possessed. |
† 2. Succession. Obs.
| c 1460 Oseney Reg. 204 Last that the trowth of this thyng by succedyng of tyme myȝght be callyd in-to dowte. 1482 Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 70 They..begunne to goo fro ful bittyr peynys to wars and so by succeding of her peynys dayly her tormentys besyly encresyn. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. 58 Heir now, be a commoune vse of succeiding, thay entir at thair awne hand without ony mair. 1679 [see succedent A. 2]. |
† 3. Consequence, result. Obs.
| 1601 Shakes. All's Well ii. iii. 199 Is it not a Language I speake? Par. A most harsh one, and not to bee vnderstoode without bloudie succeeding. |
† 4. The act of following in the place of something. Obs.
| 1644 Digby Bodies viii. 55 A violent succeeding of ayre in the roome of the fire. |
▪ II. sucˈceeding, ppl. a.
[-ing2.]
That succeeds.
1. Following in a line of rulers or heirs, in the course of time or events, in the process of development, etc.; coming after or later; subsequent.
| 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. 13 The orderly succeding course of daies and nightes. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, i. iii. 20 My King, and his succeeding issue. 1594 ― Rich. III, iii. i. 71 He did..begin that place, Which since, succeeding Ages haue re-edify'd. 1600 W. Watson Decacordon 264 The succeeding occasions of erronious conceipts, hath been our owne faultes. 1624 Quarles Job Milit. Med. iii. 24 Hath Heauen..Nipt thy succeeding Blossoms? a 1700 Evelyn Diary 17 Jan. 1653, This was the beginning of all the succeeding gardens, walks,..and plantations there. 1767 Young Farmer's Lett. to People 212 So much succeeding bad weather came, that the crops were..damaged. 1769 E. Bancroft Guiana 27 The pistil..contains the embryo of the succeeding berry. 1781 Cowper Expost. 308 Successive loads succeeding broils impose. 1807 T. Thomson Chem. (ed. 3) II. 468 These compounds shall be the subject of the five succeeding Chapters. 1854 Poultry Chron. I. 524 At each succeeding show, there is manifest improvement in these birds. 1884 Athenæum 19 Jan. 88/2 This index has served as a model to many succeeding librarians. 1906 Lit. World 15 Nov. 518/2 Each succeeding page is the prelude to new adventures. |
† b. Coming, to come, future. Obs.
| 1676 Marvell Mr. Smirke Wks. (Grosart) IV. 5 They are the succeeding hope of our church, the youth of our clergy. 1676 Hale Contempl. ii. (1677) 177 These I shall carry with me into the succeeding World. 1763 Churchill Confer. Poems 281 May to succeeding times..my crimes Stand blazing forth. |
† 2. Astrol. = succedent A. 2. Obs.
| 1594 Blundevil Exerc. iv. xxxvi. (1636) 493 Those that do follow next any of these principall Angles, are called succeeding houses. 1653 R. Sanders Physiogn. 220 Of these houses, some are Cardinal, some are succeeding, some cadent. |
3. Following in immediate succession; immediately following; next following.
| [c 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. xlix. v, Loe, the first succeeding light perceaves The just installed in the great mans steed. 1685 H. More Paralip. Prophet. ix. 62 To place the Epocha of Herod's Reign in his immediate succeeding Hyrcanus. 1905 Act 5 Edw. VII, c. 6 §2 At any period not later than the next succeeding quarter to that in which the money was borrowed.] |
| 1639 in Shropsh. Par. Doc. (1903) 30 The said parishioners may yearely and without molestac'on of him or the succeedinge incumbent freely enjoy the liberty thereof. 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. viii. 220 The succeeding four months in which we continued at sea. a 1771 Gray Dante 58 All that whole Day, or the succeeding Night. 1911 Act 1 & 2 Geo. V. c. 16 §2 The income which that person may reasonably expect to receive during the succeeding year in cash. |
b. Coming next in order.
| 1838 Bell Dict. Law Scot. 953 First, descendants; failing them, collaterals; and, last of all, ascendants succeeding. |
† 4. Following one after another; successive; consecutive. Obs.
| 1602 Churchyard & Robinson (title) A True Discovrse Historicall of the svcceeding Governovrs in the Netherlands. 1670 Pettus Fodinæ Reg. 12 Most of which Laws are agreeable to the Grants and Powers of our succeeding Kings. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 99 That while the Turf lies open..Succeeding Suns may bake the Mellow Ground. a 1718 Prior Knowledge 271 Poems (1905) 271 See daily Show'rs..bless the flow'ry Buds succeeding Birth. 1763 Churchill Apol. Poems (1767) I. 72 Waller, whose praise succeeding bards rehearse. |
† 5. a. With prefixed adv.: Having a (happy or unhappy) issue. Obs.
| 1561 Norton & Sackv. Gorboduc i. ii. 31 As the blame of yll succedyng thinges Shall light on you. a 1586 Sidney Ps. i. ii, All the things whereto that man doth bend Shall prosper still with well succeeding end. |
† b. Successful. Obs.
| 1595–9 Daniel Civ. Wars v. lxxvii, Frends, opinion, & succeeding chaunce, Which wrought the weak to yeld. 1654 Fuller Two Serm. 25 God..sometimes is delighted to offer to himselfe the fattest Malefactors, fed in the state of succeeding wickednesse. |
Hence † sucˈceedingly adv., successively, consecutively.
| 1600 W. Watson Decacordon (1602) 291 Iustinus Martyr, Athenagoras, and Tertullian, succeedingly did write diuers discourses. 1624 Capt. J. Smith Virginia vi. 205 To continue the History succeedingly as neere with the day and yeere as may bee. |