▪ I. note, n.1 Obs. exc. north. dial.
Forms: 1 notu, (1) 2–5, 9 note, 5 noote; 4–5 not, 4 notte, 5 nott; 5 noytt, 5, 7 noyt, 9 noit.
[OE. notu fem. = MDu. note (cf. MDu. not, ON. not neut.), f. the weak grade of the series neut-, naut-, nut-: see nait n. and v.1, neat n., and nowt.
In later ME. the word is most common in alliterative verse; in the Wars Alex. it occurs at least a score of times in a variety of senses. In some passages it appears to have no very definite meaning.]
1. Use, usefulness, profit, advantage.
| c 893 K. ælfred Oros. i. x. 48 Hit ær þiosan ᵹenoᵹ æmittiᵹ læᵹ.., & ᵹe his nane note ne hæfdon. c 960 Rule St. Benet (Schröer) 11 He bið ᵹewitnod swa swa ᵹymeleas hyrde, ᵹif se hyredes ealdor..to lytele note & nytwyrðnesse on his heorde anᵹyt. a 1250 Owl & Night. 557 Is in þe eni oþer note, Bute þu hauest schille þrote? c 1290 St. Katherine 51 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 93 We schulle betere i-leue alle men, and more it wole beo note. 13.. Seuyn Sag. (W.) 992 For here bolt is sone i-schote, More to harm than to note. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 169 God gif þam grace to spede, With douhty fo, to note, whan þei com to dede. a 1425 Cursor M. 22883 (Trin.), Owe we here of to fecche resoun How he doþ alle þinge to note [v.r. nait]. a 1450 Myrc 1484 Hast þow ouer-holde corne or ote, Or oþer þynge þat come neuer to note? |
b. (One's) good, benefit, or profit.
| a 1240 Ureisun in O.E. Hom. I. 195 Ihesu cristes blode, Þet for ure note was i-sched oðere rode. a 1250 Owl & Night. 330 Ich do god mid mine þrote, And warni men to hore note. c 1300 Cursor M. 21772 Sco þat fand quar it was hid,..And til vr note nu has it broght. 1340 Ayenb. 159 Huanne þe man zekþ his oȝene note in al þet he deþ. |
c. to do note, to do good.
| 13.. Coer de Lion 2651 Stones that deden never note, Grounde they never whete, no grote. c 1325 Chron. Eng. 434 in Ritson Metr. Rom. II. 288 Ethelwolf..dude ys lond lute note. c 1425 Cast. Persev. 2730 Þou mayst purchase þer-with bothe ponde & parke, & do þer-with mekyl note. c 1440 Jacob's Well 197 Þin handyl is all to schort, þi schouyl is noȝt worthe. Þou doost no note. |
d. in note, in use.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 792 Ho raught hym a ring with a riche stone,..Eneas it name & in note hade. c 1440 York Myst. xxxvi. 383 A graue..Þat neuer was in noote, it is newe. |
e. dial. The milk given by a cow; the period of giving milk; the condition of a cow when giving, or beginning to give, milk after calving.
| a 1728 Kennett in MS. Lansd. 1033 fol. 272 b, Noyt, a cow's milk for one year. W.R. Yorksh. where they hire out a cow for a summer at so much a Noyt. 1847 in Halliw., Note,..the time during which a cow is in milk. North. 1875 in Antrim & Down Gloss. (1880) 73 A Kerry cow,..at her note in May. 1880– in dial. glossaries (Cumb., Yks., Lanc., Chesh.). |
2. Office; employment, occupation, or work, as properly pertaining or assigned to a person. Also, way of acting, practice.
| c 960 Rule St. Benet (Schröer) 63 Ne ræden ᵹebroðru, ne ne singen..ac ða syn ᵹecorene to ðære note. c 1000 ælfric Gen. xl. 13 æfter þam Pharao..ᵹeset þe to þære ylcan note. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 963 Y swore..Þat y wlde nat..halewe þys day of my note. c 1386 Chaucer Reeve's T. 148 This meller goth agayn, and no word seyde, But doth his note,..Til that her corn was fair and wel i-grounde. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 8056 Þarfore prior turgote Þe bischope preferd to þis note. 1513 Douglas æneis vi. iv. 26 Vtheris, quhilk wer ordanit for sic notis, The warme new blude keppit in coup and peis. |
b. Work, as occupying one for or at a particular time; temporary occupation or employment.
| c 1325 Metr. Hom. 61 Of thair not yet standes merk, In Babilony the tour yet standes. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1233 Ȝet nolde neuer nabugo þis ilke note leue, Er he hade tuyred þis toun & torne hit to grounde. c 1400 Destr. Troy 284 Mony noble for þe nonest to þe note yode,..To this Journey with Jason. c 1460 How the Goode Wif 103 Hazl. E.P.P. I. 187 Loke what note is moste nede for to done. |
| 1883 Almondbury Gloss. 92 ‘What noit are ye at?’ = ‘What are you doing?’ |
c. Work of a specified kind.
| c 1400 Sege Jerus. 800 Myche of masonus note þey marden þat tyme. 1419 Surtees Misc. (1890) 15 The wryght note of a gutter betwix the newe house..and the hall. |
d. A piece of work.
| 13.. St. Erkenwolde 38 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 267 Þe temple..was..A noble note for þe nones & new werke hit hatte. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 921 In Iudee hit is þat noble note [sc. Jerusalem]. |
3. A matter, affair, or circumstance; a thing.
| a 1350 St. Lucy 199 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 19 One of his men wightly ȝode To venge his lord of þis lang note. a 1375 Lay Folks Mass Bk. App. iv. 551 Hit is a nedful note to neuen. a 1400–50 Alexander 125 As many Besandis on his bake as he bere miȝt, And oþire necessari notis as nedis to his craftis. c 1470 Gol. & Gaw. 506 ‘Quhat nedis’, said Spinagrus, ‘sic notis to nevin’? |
| 1883 Almondbury Gloss. 92 ‘We sud be at the same noit as before,’ i.e. in the same position, or difficulty. |
b. In phrase
new note(s).
| 13.. Evang. Nicod. 77 in Herrig Archiv. LIII. 393 Vs noyes gretely þir notes new. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 155 Þenne nwe note me com on honde Þat meued my mynde ay more & more. c 1400 Rowland & O. 49 Now come tham newe note one hande And wondirfull hasty tythande. c 1470 Gol. & Gaw. 501 Thoght I suld fynd thame new notis for this ix yeir. |
4. The tenor or purport
of a letter.
rare—1.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 1719 Now sall I neuen vs here next þe note of his lettir. |
▪ II. note, n.2 (
nəʊt)
Also 3–4 (6
Sc.)
not (7
Sc. notte), 4
noot, 5
noote,
Sc. noyt, 6
Sc. noit, 6–7
noate, 7
noat.
[a. OF. note (12th c.), ad. L. nota, a mark. Cf. It., Sp., Pg. nota.] I. 1. a. A written character or sign, expressing the pitch and duration of a musical sound.
| c 1300 Learning Music in Rel. Ant. I. 292 Summe notes arn shorte and somme a long noke, Somme kroken a-weyward als a fleshoke. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 359/1 Noote, of songe yn a boke, nota. 1597 T. Morley Introd. Mus. 11 Euery small note of a Ligature descending being a square note is a long. 1609 Douland Ornith. Microl. 6 Now Notes is that by which the highnes, or lownes of a Song is expressed. 1662 Playford Skill Mus. i. x, This swifter Triple Time is sometimes prick'd in Black Notes, which Black Note is of the same Measure with the Minim. 1716 Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) V. 277 He hath got an old MS. with Musical Notes. 1762–71 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) II. 206 His own portrait done by himself with a pallet and pencils in his hand, and musical notes on a scrip of paper. 1848 Rimbault Pianoforte 11 Two notes are obtained without the assistance of ledger-lines, by merely placing one below and the other above the staff. 1893 Duff Early Printed Bks. 139 Higden's Polycronicon, the first English book containing musical notes. |
b. A key of a pianoforte or similar instrument.
| 1848 Rimbault Pianoforte 67 One is kept in motion by repeatedly striking the same note. 1884 F. M. Crawford Rom. Singer I. 6 Two of the notes are dumb. |
| fig. 1899 J. Smith Chr. Charac. 172 Instinctively we discern in others a dumb note,..a moral insensitiveness, which awakens a sense of alarm. |
2. a. A single tone of definite pitch, such as is produced by a musical instrument or by the human voice in singing.
| c 1300 Learning Music in Rel. Ant. I. 292 Thu holdest nowt a note, by God! in riht ton... Thu tuchest nowt the notes, thu bites hem on sonder. 1340 Ayenb. 105 Ine þise zonge byeþ zeue notes. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 90 Nou scharpe notes and nou softe, Nou hihe notes and nou lowe, As be the gamme a man mai knowe. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 158 Not clipping the syllables,..not chauntyng nor brekynge your notes. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. v. i. 405 First rehearse this song by roate To each word a warbling note. 1611 Bible Wisd. xix. 18 As in a Psaltery notes change the name of the tune, and yet are alwayes sounds. 1662 Playford Skill Mus. i. i, Those below Gam-ut are called double Notes. 1753 Hogarth Anal. Beauty ii. 16 The ear is as much offended with one even continued note. 1762 Franklin Exp. Electr. (1769) 30 It often happens that two [glasses] of the same size differ a note or half a note in tone. 1824 W. Irving T. Trav. I. 47 She even hummed an air, and did not make a single false note. 1887 Bowen Virg. æneid vi. 646 Their Thracian priest..Chants them the air with the seven sweet notes of his musical scales. |
| fig. 1885 Harper's Mag. Apr. 696/2 The gardens and orchards..strike..joyous notes of color. |
b. With reference to the song, or other musical utterance, of birds. (
Cf. 3 b.)
| 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xi. 65 Vnder lynde in a launde lenede ich a stounde, To lithen here laies and here loueliche notes. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 157 The yelwe swan..Ageyn his dethe melodyously syngyng His fatal notys. c 1450 Holland Howlat 716 Thar notis anone..War of Mary the myld. 1570 Satir. Poems Reform. xv. 35 Thow luifsum Lark & gay Goldspink,..Lat be ȝour heuinly noitis. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. v. iv. 5 Here can I..to the Nightingales complaining Notes Tune my distresses. 1613–16 W. Browne Brit. Past. i. iv. 72 Or to the groues, where birds..Sit sweetly tuning of their noates together. 1738 Gentl. Mag. VIII. 596/2 Happy Bird,..You alone her heart could move With sweetest Notes of tender Love. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) V. 324 A region where the birds excel rather in the beauty of their plumage than the sweetness of their notes. 1810 Scott Lady of L. iii. ii, In answer coo'd the cushat dove Her notes of peace, and rest, and love. 1875 Newton in Encycl. Brit. III. 770/2 The notes to which we have..hearkened with rapt admiration are changed to a guttural croak. |
3. a. A strain of music, a melody, a tune, a song. In later use only
poet.| c 1275 Lay. 6999 Blaþgabarat was king ihote Of alle manere note. a 1300 Cursor M. 7407 Dauid cuth on sere-kin note; Bath he cuth on harpe and rote. c 1305 St. Dunstan 165 in E.E.P. (1862) 39 Kirieleyson, christeleyson, was þe murie note and song. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 39 He song, that he the bestes wilde Made of his note tame and milde. 1493 Festivall (W. de W. 1515) 90 b, Two yonge men began masse w{supt} a solempne note. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 233 He made it also in metre, & set a note to it verye consonant to the argument. 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. iv. i, I made this ditty, and the note to it. 1635 E. Pagitt Christianogr. i. iii. (1636) 131 If it be some high or Festivall day:..‘We praise thee O God’, is sung with a more solemne and curious note. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 683 Celestial voices..responsive each to others note Singing thir great Creator. 1750 Gray Elegy 40 Through the long-drawn aisle and fretted vault The pealing anthem swells the note of praise. |
b. The musical song or call of a bird. (
Cf. 2 b.)
| c 1330 Amis & Amil. 536 She herd the foules gret and smale, The swete note of the nightingale. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xxii. 17 The pyet with hir pretty cot Fenȝeis to sing the nychtingalis not. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. iii. i. 135 The plainsong Cuckow gray; Whose note full many a man doth marke. 1667 Milton P.L. iii. 40 The wakeful Bird..in shadiest Covert hid Tunes her nocturnal Note. 1742 Gray On Spring i, The Attic warbler pours her throat, Responsive to the cuckoo's note. 1800–24 Campbell Poems, Field Flowers ii, The deep mellow crush of the wood⁓pigeon's note. 1846 Dickens Cricket on Hearth i, A Cuckoo looked out of a trap-door in the Palace, and gave note six times. |
† c. In
phr. to say, sing, etc., by note.
Obs.| 1436 E.E. Wills (1882) 106, xx s' to sey be note the dirige. c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 1223 Ower servyse be note lett vs syng. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 82 b, The sayd lorde Cardinal sang an high and solempne masse by note before the two kynges and quenes. 1762 Churchill Rosciad Poems 1767 I. 46 And, in six months, my dog shall howl by note. |
4. A cry, call, or sound,
esp. that made by a bird or fowl.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 22467 Childer in moder wamb to lij, Witin þair wambs sal þai cri, Wit hei not and lude steuen. 1573 Satir. Poems Reform. xxxix. 144, I saw thame fane To cry ‘Peccaui’ with the waithman noit. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iii. ii. 40 Came he right now to sing a Rauens Note, Whose dismall tune bereft my Vitall powres. a 1682 Sir T. Browne Tracts (1683) 105 From the proper note it is called an Hoopebird with us. 1693 J. Warder True Amazons (1713) 63 With a piteous and discontented Note, searching for their Queen. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 53 Fowls of many Sorts,..crying every one according to his usual Note. 1782 Cowper Jackdaw i, There is a bird who..by the hoarseness of his note Might be suppos'd a crow. 1845 P. Parley's Ann. VI. 36 [The bullfinch] has a wild hooping note. 1866 C. W. Hatfield Notices Doncaster I. 86 The note of the carrion crow.., a note-call of danger. |
5. a. In transferred applications.
| 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour (1868) 183 She wold neuer here ne understand the noote and wordes of none, sauf one tyme that a knyghte prayd her. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iv. Prol. 14 The Armourers.., With busie Hammers closing Riuets vp, Giue dreadfull note of preparation. 1702 C. Mather Magn. Chr. iii. iii. (1853) I. 306 The gentry at the table were at their old notes. 1839 Carlyle Chartism (1842) 49 The terror and horror they inspire is but the note of preparation for the truth they are to teach. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iv. I. 492 Roger Lestrange..sounded the note of war in the Observator. 1877 ‘H. A. Page’ De Quincey I. viii. 151 We can catch clearly enough the note of extreme, almost austere self-dependence. |
b. to change (one's) note: To alter (one's) way of speaking or thinking. (
Cf. F.
changer de note.)
| 1633 G. Herbert Temple, Joseph's Coat 3 Sorrow hath chang'd its note. 1680 Obs. on ‘Curse Ye Meroz’ 7 Do you imagine such a Fool would not think it high time to change Note and Coat? 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. III. vii. 449 Finding that the more he declined the command the more they pressed him to accept it, he changed his note. 1778 Sheridan Camp. i. i, Here he comes.—Now you'll change your note. 1873 Dixon Two Queens xv. vi. III. 161 Tournay won, these Spanish allies had begun to change their note. |
c. In perfumery, one of the basic components of the fragrance of a perfume which give it its character.
| 1905 F. W. Burbidge Bk. of Scented Garden 34 Dr Piesse goes so far as to say that one false note amongst odours will destroy the whole harmony of the chord, just as in music or in colour. 1945 E. Sagarin Science & Art of Perfumery xii. 145 The odors were like sounds..and a scale could be created going from the first or lowest note, the heavy smell, to the last or highest note, the sharp smell. 1954 A. J. Krajkeman tr. Jellinek's Pract. Mod. Perfumery iv. 180 Honey-like odours, combining a sweet-floral with an animal note. 1960 A. Ellis Essence of Beauty xii. 142 The characteristic a discerning and discriminating user looks for in a perfume..is what the perfumer calls ‘the soft odour note’. 1970 Daily Tel. 16 Dec. 11/6 The top notes are the lightest and most volatile. 1973 E. Maple Magic of Perfume vi. 51 There has long existed in perfumers' language a system of ‘musical notation’ in which the constituents of perfume are accorded ‘top notes’, ‘middle notes’ and ‘bass notes’. |
II. † 6. A name or distinctive appellation.
Obs.| 1390 Gower Conf. II. 16 A knave child..which was after hote Paphus, of whom yit hath the note A certein yle, which Paphos Men clepe. |
7. a. A mark, sign, token, or indication
of some quality, condition, or fact, or from which something may be inferred; a characteristic or distinguishing feature.
Common from
c 1575 to 1690, and again in recent use (from
c 1865).
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. v. met. iii. (1868) 159 Wherfore eschaufiþ it so..to fynden þilke notes of soþe y-couered. 1547–64 Bauldwin Mor. Philos. (Palfr.) 111 Patience & perseuerance are two proper notes; whereby Gods children are truly known from hypocrites. a 1568 R. Ascham Scholem. (Arb.) 37 The most speciall notes of a good witte for learning in a childe [etc.]. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 435 Both kindes haue vnder their tailes a double note of passage. 1628 T. Spencer Logick 288 That Axiome is probable which seemes so to all..by certaine frequent notes, and cleerenes. 1696 Whiston The. Earth iv. (1722) 346 'Tis a plain Note of the Vileness of our present State. 1738 Warburton Div. Legat. I. Ded. p. xxxii, To shew how certain Notes they are of the Temper of Mind I charge upon you. 1794 Paley Evid. ii. vii. (1817) 185 Between the letters..of St. Paul..and his history in the Acts of the Apostles, there exist many notes of correspondency. 1846 Keble Lyra Innoc. (1873) 12 The welcome notes of fatherhood. 1891 Speaker 2 May 532/2 These are the notes of the ‘Neo-paganism’, which began a good hundred years ago. |
b. Theol. One of certain characteristics by which the true Church may be known; a sign or proof of genuine origin, authority, and practice.
| 1555 L. Saunders in Coverdale Lett. Martyrs (1564) 187 Besydes these outward notes and tokens declaryng y{supt} we be the true church. 1563 Homilies ii. xvi. (1859) 462 The true Church..hath always three notes or marks whereby it is known; pure and sound doctrine, the Sacraments ministered according to Christ's holy institution, and the right use of ecclesiastical discipline. 1656 Bramhall Replic. i. 3 Other notes of the Church which did not please us so well, as Antiquity, and Uniuersality, and Splendour. 1749 Wesley Wks. (1872) X. 88 How comes subjection to the Pope to be..an essential note of the Church? 1841 J. H. Newman Lett. (1891) II. 354 Many persons are doubtful whether we have the notes of the true Church upon us. 1864 ― Apol. v. 198, I do not wish it supposed, that I considered the note of Catholicity really to belong to Rome [etc.]. |
| transf. 1871 R. H. Hutton Ess. I. 337 To have a compact statement of the whole gist of Christianity is the principal ‘note’ of the Common-Sense Church. |
8. a. A stigma, reproach. Const.
of.
In common use from
c 1570 to 1650; now
rare.
| 1531 Elyot Gov. (1580) 80 Augustus,..only for playing at dice,..sustaineth in hystories a note of reproche. 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 323 Whatsoever note of infamie we heeretofore may have contracted. 1635 R. N. tr. Camden's Hist. Eliz. i. 17 Amongst all men he underwent the note of cruelty. 1669 Dryden Tyrannic Love Pref., My outward Conversation..shall never be justly tax'd with the Note of Atheism or Prophaneness. |
| 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 568 A crime on which divine and human laws have justly set a peculiar note of infamy. 1865 Pusey Truth Eng. Ch. 130 To leave those who disbelieved it free from the note of heresy. |
b. The mark of censure used by the Roman censors.
| 1614 Raleigh Hist. World v. iii. §13. 422 Neither was the note of the Censors at this time (as otherwise it had used to be) hurtful onely in reputation. |
† c. An object of censure.
Obs. rare—1.
| 1563 Foxe A. & M. 59/2 Better it were to sustaine pouerty with praise, than in greate promotions to be a common note to al men. |
9. An objective sign, or visible token, which serves to identify or distinguish some person or thing, or to denote some circumstance or fact in connexion therewith.
Pretty common from
c 1580 to 1680; now
rare.
| 1577–87 Holinshed Scot. Chron. (1806) II. 148 A red lion (the peculiar note of the kingdom of Scotland). 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 110 So the other notes of apparell..may make a difference, and distinguish them from others of the laitie abroad. 1618 Bolton Florus i. xviii. (1636) 54 Having first cast away his ensignes or notes of a King. 1683 Ray Corr. (1848) 134 Those notes of having flat feet..argue it to belong to the genus of Colymbi. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 865 The ‘note’ of scabies is the burrow; and in this the parasite must be sought. |
10. a. A sign or character (other than a letter) used in writing or printing; a mark
of interrogation, etc. (Also
fig.)
note of interrogation: see
interrogation 2 b.
| 1529 More Dyaloge iv. Wks. 286/1, I haue laid you the places ready with ryshes betwene the leaues and notes marked in the margentes where the matter is touched. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. v. ii. 12 The changes I perceiued in the King, and Camillo, were very Notes of admiration. 1636 B. Jonson Eng. Gram. Wks. 1816 IX. 345 If a sentence be with an interrogation, we use this note (?). 1668 Wilkins Real Char. iii. xi. 365 There should be some Note or Mark to express when a Vowel is to be used long. 1748 J. Mason Elocution 23 There are four more Notes or Distinctions of Pause, viz. a Parenthesis [etc.]. 1795 L. Murray Eng. Gram. 169 A note of interrogation is used at the end of an interrogative sentence. 1859 [see admiration 5]. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 775 Bald patches with note of exclamation hairs. Ibid. 856 The short hairs..are shaped like a note of exclamation (!). |
† b. A mark on a flower or leaf.
Obs. rare.
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens 206 These be not those Hyacinthes wherein the notes or mourning markes are printed. 1691 Ray Creation (1714) 113 The signatures of Plants or the Notes impressed upon them as indices of their vertues. |
† 11. A (Hebrew) particle.
Obs. rare.
| 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 339 The Hebrew notes cannot admit such a version or exposition. c 1620 A. Hume Brit. Tongue ii. v, This difference we declyne, not as doth the latines and greekes, be terminationes, but with noates, after the maner of the hebrues, quhilk they cal particles. a 1653 Gouge Comm. Heb. ii. 9 The passage may be brought in with discretive notes,..‘though’..‘yet’. |
III. 12. Law.
a. An abstract of essential particulars relating to transfer of land by process of
fine, which was engrossed and placed on record.
| 1483 Act 1 Rich. III, c. 7 §1 Notes and Fines levied in the King's Courts..should be openly and solemnly read. 1581 Act 23 Eliz. c. 3 §1 The Concord, Note and Foot of every such Fine. 1594 West 2nd Pt. Symbol. §58 The notes of all writs whereupon fines are to be levied. 1670 Blount Law Dict. s.v., Note of a fine..is a Brief of a Fine made by the Chirographer, before it be engrossed. 1766 Blackstone Comm. II. xxi. 351 The note of a fine: which is only..an abstract of the writ of covenant, and the concord; naming the parties, the parcels of land, and the agreement. |
b. In
Sc. Law applied to various forms of legal records and memoranda.
| 1560 Rolland Crt. Venus iv. 292 Scho..thairupon tuik notis and Instrumentis. 1825 Act 6 Geo. IV, c. 120 §9 A short and concise Note, drawn and signed by Counsel, of the Pleas in Law on which the Action or Defence is to be maintained. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 679 The term note is also applied to various incidental applications, the occasions for which it would be difficult to enumerate. 1868–88 [see reclaiming vbl. n. b]. |
13. a. A brief record or abstract of facts written down for the purpose of assisting the memory, or to serve as a basis for a more complete or full statement; also
transf., a recollection or mental impression of something. (Usually
pl.)
| 1548 Patten Exped. Scotl. Peroration P ij b, The which indede I had not so perfitly written in my notes. 1595 Shakes. John v. ii. 5 That..they and we, perusing ore these notes May know wherefore we tooke the Sacrament. 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 287, I find in my notes that at Lasagna I changed a silver crowne for eight and twenty batzen. 1695 Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth i. (1723) 4 And 'tis out of these Notes that my Observations are compiled. 1817 W. Selwyn Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4) II. 798 Where the agreement is to be performed upon a contingency,..there a note in writing is not necessary. 1854 Chr. Wordsw. Misc. (1879) I. 95 A brief account of my impression was published anonymously under the title of ‘Notes at Paris’. 1885 Law Rep. 29 Chanc. Div. 543 There is merely a short note of what he decided. |
b. In
phr. to make, or take, a note or notes.
| 1548 Patten Exped. Scotl. Ded., Hauying in these last warres againste Scotlande..made notes of actes thear done. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. ii. vii. 84 Goe with me to my chamber To take a note of what I stand in need of. 1641 Sir S. D'Ewes in Forster Gr. Remonstr. 124, I drew out again my pen and ink, and took notes. 1726 Swift Gulliver ii. vi, The King heard the whole.., frequently taking Notes of what I spoke. 1789 Burns Capt. Grose i, A chield's amang you taking notes. 1837 Southey Lett. (1856) IV. 538 He has only his memory to trust to, never having made any notes. 1848 Dickens Dombey xv, When found, make a note of. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 234, I took notes.., which I afterwards filled up at leisure. |
c. to compare notes: see
compare v.
1 2 b.
d. A brief memorandum made to serve as a help in discoursing on any subject. (Chiefly
pl.)
| 1693 Humours Town 19 'Tis as necessary as Notes to the Parson in the Pulpit. 1719 Swift Lett. to Young Clergym. Wks. 1751 V. 15 My frequent hearing of Foreigners, who never make Use of Notes, may have added to my Disgust. 1796 Pegge Anonym. (1809) 139 They call a Clergyman's Sermon, what he preaches from, his Notes; because formerly it was written in characters, or short-hand, usually called Notes. 1872 Froude Short Stud. I. 2 He spoke for more than an hour without a note. |
14. a. An explanatory or critical annotation or comment appended to a passage in a writing or book.
| 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 40 b, This writing dyd Luther translate into the vulgare toungue, & set to his notes in the margente. 1618 Bolton Florus To Rdr., The words..are for the most part explanatory of the Authors meaning, supplying marginall notes. 1653 Milton Hirelings Wks. 1851 V. 369 The entire Scripture translated into English with plenty of Notes. 1714 in Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 8 A new edition of Homer's Odyssey,..with Gronovius' notes. 1771 Luckombe Hist. Printing 260 The Parallel is another Sign which serves for a Reference, and is fit to be used either for side or bottom Notes. 1809 Lamb Let. to Coleridge 7 June, I found two other volumes.., the Arcadia, and Daniel, enriched with manuscript notes. 1841– [see footnote]. 1878 R. Holt Ormulum I. p. v, In this new edition the Editor..has revised, and added somewhat to, the Notes. |
† b. An observation deserving of notice or remembrance; an interesting or noteworthy remark.
| 1577 Googe Heresbach's Husb. (1586) 24 b, There is also another necessarie note, to have the seede from strange grounde, and from the woorse to the better. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. iii. iv. 168 A good note, that keepes you from the blow of y⊇ Law. 1642–4 Vicars God in Mount 203 To give thee but one note more concerning this fight. |
15. A brief statement of particulars or of some fact;
† a bill or account.
| 1587 Galway Arch. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. V. 444 A trewe noate and bill of accompt. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. iv. i. 27 Here's a note How much your Chaine weighs to the vtmost charect. 1597 ― 2 Hen. IV, v. i. 19 Heere is now the Smithes note, for Shooing, And Plough-Irons. 1602 Dekker Satirom. Wks. 1873 I. 188 Flash, where's the note of the guestes you have invited? 1660 F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 48 Then I produced the..notes, that witnessed the discharging of the excises and customes. 1715 Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) V. 128 This Morning preached..Dr. Potter... Mr. Taylor of X{supt}. Ch. was put in the Note, there having been a Mistake in delivering the Moneo. 1732 Acc. Workhouses 175 Keep the tradesmen's notes upon a file. 1895 19th Cent. Aug. 337 That little document is a note of the box-office receipts for the evening. |
16. a. A short letter or written communication of an informal kind.
| 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, v. iii. 41 Giue him from me, this most needfull Note. 1603 ― Meas. for M. iv. ii. 106 My Lord has sent you this note, And by mee this further charge. 1624 in Cosin's Corr. (Surtees) I. 37, I received your note from Fetherston. I thank you for your pains. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. d, I shall Answer, Sir, in as few words as I can, the Note you did me the Honour to write to me. 1776 Trial of Nundocomar 61/2 Did you send a verbal or a written message? I wrote a note. 1796–7 Jane Austen Pride & Prej. xxvi. (1813) 130 Not a note, not a line did I receive in the mean time. 1846 Dickens Battle of Life i, He sent them on, with a pencilled note to me. 1891 A. H. Craufurd Gen. Craufurd's Light Div. 6 Six little notes addressed to the brothers Craufurd. |
| ellipt. 1892 Phot. Ann. II. 62 Get a piece of stiff paper (thick note does well), twist it into a sugar-loaf shape. |
b. A formal diplomatic communication.
| 1796 Burke Regic. Peace i. Wks. VIII. 120 Nothing can be more proper or more manly than the state publication called a note on this proceeding. 1848 W. K. Kelly tr. Blanc's Hist. Ten Yrs. I. 473 M. de Talleyrand..warmly adopted the project, and promised to present a note to the British government in its favour. 1863 Kinglake Crimea (1876) I. iii. 50 The Porte..acknowledged the validity of the Latin claims in a formal note. |
17. † a. A signed receipt or voucher.
Obs. rare.
| a 1700 Evelyn Diary 21 Apr. 1644, Two reasonable faire publiq Libraries whence one may borrow a booke to one's chamber, giving but a note under hand. 1722 De Foe Col. Jack (1840) 60 When he had paid in all the money..he..stayed..to take notes..for what he had paid. 1739 Lady M. W. Montagu Lett. III. 9 The Borromean library, where all strangers have..liberty, on giving a note for it, to take any printed book home with them. |
b. A written promise to pay a certain sum at a specified time. (
Cf. next.)
| 1683 Lond. Gaz. No. 1862/8 A Note under the Hand of John Swettaple, Goldsmith,..for Ninety nine Pounds Ten Shillings, paid to Edward Callender or Bearer. 1712 Arbuthnot John Bull i. xvi, His Note will go farther than my Bond. 1798 W. Hutton Life 33, I..paid one hundred guineas down, and gave my note six months after date, for the remainder. 1806 T. S. Surr Winter in Lond. III. 152, I shall give her a note at a month after date for fifty or a hundred pounds. 1879 Pentecost Vol. of Bk. vi. (1882) 43 A man's note is only current..because the man is good. |
c. More fully
note of hand. (
Cf. promissory a.)
| 1727–38 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Note, In which sense we say, a promissory note, a note under hand,..&c. 1766 Blackstone Comm. II. xxx. 467 Promissory notes, or notes of hand, are a plain and direct engagement in writing, to pay a sum specified at the time therein limited to a person therein named, or sometimes to his order, or often to the bearer at large. 1809 R. Langford Introd. Trade 12 Notes of Hand under one pound are void. 1867 Trollope Chron. Barset xxxvii, She can have my note-of-hand for it all at fourteen days. |
18. a. A bank-note, or similar promissory note passing current as money.
| 1696 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) IV. 79 The said bank have resolved to take for subscriptions the bank of England's notes. 1728 Swift Intelligencer No. 19 He gave notes instead of money (from twopence to twenty shillings) which passed current in all shops where meat or drink was sold. 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) iv. xiii, You have involuntarily confided your..uncounted cash and notes to the care of the public. 1834 Marryat P. Simple ii, Change for a one-pound note. 1856 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. II. 302 The five-pound note I sent you. |
b. Australia (and
Sc.). A bank-note worth {pstlg}1; the amount of a pound sterling.
| 1864 J. Rogers New Rush ii. 28 A note's so very trifling, it's no sooner changed than gone; For it is but twenty shillings. 1875 Wood & Lapham Waiting for Mail 39 Even at half fifty notes a week You ought to have made a pile. |
IV. 19. a. Distinction, mark, importance; reputation, fame. Esp. in
phr. of (good, bad, etc.) note.
| 1538 Bale Thre Lawes 293 Thynges of slendre note. 1601 Shakes. All's Well v. iii. 14 The yong Lord Did to his Maiesty..Offence of mighty note. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 463 A towne of good note in these dayes for making of clothes. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 92 Their Windows, except some few of the highest Note, are usually folding Doors. 1708 J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. i. i. iii. (1710) 5 It contains..12 Market-Towns: The chief in note are Reading,..Abington [etc.]. 1745 P. Thomas Jrnl. Anson's Voy. 5 note, The same..is the frequent Repast even of those of better Note. 1788 Priestley Lect. Hist. iv. xxi. 172 Polybius..was of the first note in his age as a soldier, statesman, and philosopher. 1838 Macaulay Let. to Napier 22 July, As if he were a young writer struggling into note. 1873 Dixon Two Queens i. ii. I. 11 Had he died at sixty years of age, he might have left behind him an obscure and blameless note. |
b. of note, of distinction or eminence; notable.
| 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. iii. i. 25 These betraie nice wenches.., and make them men of note. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. ¶2 As oft as we do anything of note or consequence. 1667 Primatt City & C. Build. 94 A Platform for a House in a high Street, or Lane of Note. 1710 Steele Tatler No. 135 ¶1 All the Philosophers of Note in Greece. 1780 Harris Philol. Enq. Wks. (1841) 390 Among the Romans, the first critic of note was Cicero. 1840 Dickens Barn. Rudge xlviii, The fluttering of a banner caught the eye, and became a circumstance of note. 1877 Mrs. Oliphant Makers Flor. x. 254 Five noble citizens of Florence, all men of note and weight. |
20. a. Notice, regard, or attention.
| 1598 Bacon Ess., Of Ceremonies (Arb.) 24 Smal matters winne great commendation: because they are continually in vse and in note. a 1635 Naunton Fragm. Reg. (Arb.) 56 The factions of the Court, which were all his times strong, and in every mans note. a 1641 Sir J. Finett For. Ambass. 10 The Ambassador..kept himselfe all this while quiet without..thrusting for publique Note. 1789 Cowper Tiroc. 641 To..commend, With designation of the finger's end, Its various parts to his attentive note. c 1810 Hogg May of Moril Glen l, The virgin cast on him a look,..As on some things below her note. 1886 Law Q. Rev. Oct. 484 The manner in which these statutes were interpreted is worthy of note. |
b. In
phr. to take note of.
| 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. v. i. 120 Giue order to my seruants, that they take No note at all of our being absent hence. 1601 ― All's Well i. iii. 195 My loue hath in't a bond Where of the world takes note. 1852 Thackeray Esmond ii. xi, No one took note of me. 1863 E. V. Neale Anal. Th. & Nat. 15 We select from the multitude what we want.., and take no note of the rest. |
c. Knowledge, information; intimation.
rare.
| 1598 Bacon Ess., of Suitors (Arb.) 44 If intelligence of the matter coulde not otherwise haue beene had but by him, aduantage be not taken of the note. 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. iv. i. 43 Rouse him, and giue him note of our approach. 1610 ― Temp. ii. i. 248 She that from Naples Can haue no note, vnlesse the Sun were post. |
| 1835 W. Irving Tour Prairies vii, A streaming flight of wild geese..gave note of the waning year. |
V. 21. attrib. and
Comb., as (sense 1)
note-head,
note-value; (sense 2)
note-singing;
note-spinning vbl. n. and
ppl. adj.; (sense 13)
note-block,
note-gatherer,
note-maker,
note-pad,
note-taker,
note-writer;
note-taking; (sense 16)
note-sized adj.,
note-wise adv.,
note-writing (also as
adj.); (sense 18)
note-case,
note-issue,
note-palming;
note-broker U.S., a broker who deals in promissory notes and bills of exchange;
note-cluster, several neighbouring notes played simultaneously;
notehead paper, business notepaper having a printed heading;
note-holder, a holder of notes (sense 17) issued by a business company or the like for temporary financing;
note-layer (sense 18), a petty thief who operates a short-change swindle;
note-row,
-series = tone-row (
tone n. 11).
| 1927 R. A. Freeman Certain Dr. Thorndyke ii. xiv. 207 Jotting down on a *note-block a few brief memoranda. |
| 1870 W. W. Fowler 10 Yrs. Wall St. 226 This man..is an English Jew, who has gone into the business of a *note broker. 1929 Encycl. Brit. IV. 233/1 Bill-brokers are practically unknown in the United States; their general analogue is the note-broker. |
| 1838 Dickens O. Twist ix, Placing a snuff-box in one pocket of his trousers, a *note-case in the other. |
| 1934 C. Lambert Music Ho! v. 330 Van Dieren's attitude towards harmony is more indicative of future developments than the ‘*note clusters’ of Henry Cowell. 1965 New Statesman 24 Sept. 458/3 A younger composer like Peter Sculthorpe attempts to enter the heart of the Australian experience by way of a static technique of cumulative ostinati and note-clusters that is more Asiatic than occidental. |
| 1637 Dow Answ. to Burton 120 His *note-gatherers in the gallery. |
| 1946 H. Foss in A. L. Bacharach Brit. Mus. of our Time iv. 78 Warlock wrote with exquisite precision:..the shape of the *note⁓heads, the uprights, the binds and ties, were of enormous interest to him. 1974 G. Read Music Notation v. 63 The note-head..is somewhat oval in shape, and is either open (or ‘white’..) or closed (‘black’..). |
| 1909 Westm. Gaz. 20 May 7/2 The..*notehead paper of a London firm of stock, share, and bond dealers. |
| 1927 Daily Tel. 21 June 2/3 Shareholders were prepared for unfavourable figures by the necessity for an arrangement regarding..the rights of the *note-holders. 1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 13 Jan. B. 1/2 Fraudulent financial statements and a false prospectus were means used..to defraud 8,500 noteholders of Prudential Finance Corp. Ltd. of $20-million. |
| 1893 Times 27 Apr. 9/5 The privilege of *note issue enjoyed by the Scotch banks. |
| 1928 *Note-layer [see creep n. 1 d]. 1938 D. Castle Do Your Own Time viii. 83 They boast of having been knock-off gees, gow peddlers,..note layers, and torpedo men. 1950 H. E. Goldin Dict. Amer. Underworld Lingo 146/1 The note⁓layer usually works with an accomplice. |
| 1638 Baker tr. Balzac's Lett. (vol. II.) 61 Erecting as it were Trophees of like passages, after the fashion of our *Note-Makers now adayes. 1738 Gentl. Mag. VIII. 634 Any Critick or Note-maker. |
| 1922 A. Bennett Lilian i. iv. 41 She repeated the number, even writing it on her *note pad. 1961 Encounter Apr. 29/2 He asked me for one of my notepads. 1975 D. Bagley Snow Tiger xi. 95 Smithers consulted his note-pad. |
| 1900 S. Weyman Sophia iii, Until you are away from here I'll answer there shall be no *note palming. |
| 1955 Oxf. Compan. Mus. (ed. 9) 698/1 *Note-row... This is a rigid method of composition introduced by Schönberg... All the twelve notes of the octave are employed in every composition, and all the notes are treated in such a way as to enjoy an equal footing. 1961 Listener 12 Oct. 578/3 He spoke of his contrapuntal technique, of note rows, their combinations and inversions. |
| 1947 Penguin Music Mag. Dec. 20 ‘Twelve-tone technique’, in which the twelve notes of the chromatic scale are used in an order known as a ‘*note-series’, which remains the same throughout the work. 1962 Times 19 Oct. 18/6 The American group admit to working from a note-series. |
| 1896 Musical Herald 1 Feb. 41/1 Thousands of teachers waste time in *note-singing practice. 1908 E. M. Sneyd-Kynnersley H.M.I. xxiv. 288 The clergy encouraged note-singing for the sake of their choirs. |
| 1870 Routledge's Every Boy's Ann. June Suppl. 12 A small *note-sized envelope. |
| 1946 H. Foss in A. L. Bacharach Brit. Music of our Time iv. 67 He [sc. ‘Peter Warlock’] was no devotee of *note-spinning, of blowing up frog-ideas into bull-like proportions. 1961 Listener 20 Apr. 717/3 The ideas in the other two movements are of an altogether lower standard and there is some tiresome note-spinning. 1970 Times (Sat. Suppl.) 18 Apr. p. iii/5, I confess to finding it rather like late, not very strongly motivated, note-spinning Schumann. |
| 1886 T. Hardy Mayor Casterbr. xxviii, Henchard being no *note⁓taker himself. 1935 Essays & Studies XX. 123 All these matters can be conscientiously taught to the plodding note-taker and be redelivered at examinations. 1961 Sunday Express 29 Jan. 9/6 Police note-takers filled four foolscap pages. |
| 1496–7 Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1904) 224 Furst, paid at the *Note takyng of the Endentour of comnandes, ij d. 1862 Thornbury Turner II. 134 That vast tenacious memory, which no note-taking habits could weaken. 1954 J. Masters Bhowani Junction ii. xii. 107 They didn't want me for any more note-taking. 1955 H. Roth Sleeper xi. 92 The stilted feeling that note-taking causes in some interviewees. 1975 Times 5 July 2/5 Jurors..were often required to perform fantastic feats of attention and memory..without the aid of note-taking. |
| 1915 Musical Quarterly I. 191 An Indian [sc. North American Indian] can give short *note-values corresponding to eighth or sixteenth notes with perfect distinctness. 1917 H. James Middle Years iv. 46 Whereas the smartness and newness beyond the sea supposedly disavowed the low, they did so but thinly and vainly, falling markedly short of the high; which the little boxed and boiled Albany attained to some effect of,..just by having its so thoroughly appreciable note-value in a scheme of manners. 1944 W. Apel Harvard Dict. Mus. 497/2 The illustration shows the note values with their American terminology. 1955 G. Abraham in H. van Thal Fanfare for E. Newman ii. 10 The first two bars were originally written as four, in double note-values. 1963 Listener 17 Jan. 141/2 It [sc. the basic five-note figure] is repeated eight times in succession, with progressively lengthening note-values. |
| 1703 Rules of Civility 177 If we be desir'd to..write *Notewise, that is to say, without Sir, and the great Space at the top [of the letter], we must comply. |
| 1836–48 B. D. Walsh Aristoph. 394 note, Some of the Greek *note-writers call him a composer of tragedies. |
| 1814 Jane Austen Mansf. Park II. xiii. 291 Quite unpractised in such sort of *note-writing. 1826 Miss Mitford Village Ser. ii. (1863) 274 The closetings, the note-writings, the whisperings. 1967 G. Kelly in Coast to Coast 1965–66 101 He became the victim of their gum-chewing, note-writing, hair-combing inattention. |
▪ III. † note, n.3 Obs. (Prob.
var. of
nut n., here applied to the uropygial gland.)
| 1486 Bk. St. Albans a vj, Youre hawke..fetcheth moystour like oyle at hir taill,..and strikyth the federis of hir wynges throw her beke, and it is calde the note, than as she fetchis the oyle. [Hence Guillim (1632) and Holme (1688).] |
▪ IV. note obs. f. nut;
dial. variant of
nowt.
▪ V. † note, a. Obs. rare.
(Meaning doubtful.)
Perh. properly an attributive use of
note n.1, employed mainly for alliteration. L.
nōtus has also been suggested.
| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 2092 Now nar ȝe not fer fro þat note place. a 1400–50 Alexander 1227 Arystes..noyed of þare note-men at þe nete kepid. Ibid. 4870 Fra þens oure note men be northe nymes þaim þe way. |
▪ VI. † note, v.1 Obs. Forms: α. 1
notian, 3
notien, 4
notye. β. 3
noten, 4
notun (6
Sc. noyt,
noit,
not), 4–5 (6
Sc.),
note.
[OE. notian, f. notu note n.1 Cf. Icel. nota.] 1. trans. To use, to make use of (something).
| α c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. xviii. §1 Eall moncynn & ealle netenu ne notiᵹað nawer neah feorðan dæles þisse eorðan. c 960 Rule St. Benet (Schröer) 52 Ᵹif he furðon þurh þa ᵹebedu ᵹehæled ne bið, notiᵹe þonne se abbod cyrfes. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 189 Hereð nu to wiche fihte we oȝen þis strengðe notien. a 1250 Owl & Night. 1033 Þar men habbeþ milde mod, Ich noti mid hom mine þrote. c 1315 Shoreham Poems i. 2198 In fourme of bred and eke of wyn, Þat we hyt notye scholde. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xviii. 101 Tyliers..tolden here maystres By þe seed þat þei sewe what þei shoulde notye. |
| β a 1000 Colloq. ælfric in Wr.-Wülcker 100 Se treow-wyrhta seᵹð, hwilc eower ne notaþ cræfte minon. c 1200 Ormin 12228 Swa þatt tu nohht ne notesst itt At naness kinness nede. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3144 So mikil hird so it noten mai. 13.. Cursor M. 23763 (Gött.), If we will note on þaim vr might, Certes þai er feld in flight. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 2403 Folyly hold we þis meyne þus, Þat mykel þyng al day notes. c 1400 Destr. Troy 402 Of nygramansi ynogh to note when she liket. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 359/2 Notun, or vsyn, utor. 1513 Douglas æneis xiii. vi. 64 The agit Drances with curage hoit Begowth the first hys toung for to noit. c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) i. 221 Noblest natour, nurice to nurtour, not This dull indyte. |
2. intr. To make use
of (something).
rare—1.
| c 1220 Bestiary 612 No golsipe is hem minde, til he noten of a gres, ðe name is mandragores. |
▪ VII. note, v.2 (
nəʊt)
Also 3
notien, 3, 6–7
noat(e, 4 (6
Sc.)
not, 6
notte,
noth (
Sc. noit).
[ad. OF. noter, notter, ad. L. notāre, f. nota note n.1] I. 1. a. trans. To observe or mark carefully; to give heed or attention to; to notice closely.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 158 Her beoð, in þeos wordes, two eadie wordes to noten. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxviii. (Adrian) 43 Þe king..notyt wel..þe ansuere þat ilkane mad. a 1400–50 Alexander 5655 Now sall I neuyn ȝow þe names, note ȝe þe wordis. 1483 Caxton Cato g j, Euery man ought to note and reteyne them in their mynde and wytte. a 1533 Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) L viij b, It is a thyng well to be noted, howe all good and yll heartes are applied. 1596 Drayton Legends ii. 400 My Paths by Spyes he diligently noted. 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 144 Of both these Forces of horse and foot of France, you are to note this which followeth. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 162 His Age and Courage weigh: Nor those alone, But note his Father's Virtues and his own. 1774 Burke Corr. (1844) I. 516, I received your lordship's letter, and as the merchants say, note the contents. 1791 Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest ii, I took special care to note how the trees stood. 1850 M{supc}Cosh Div. Govt. ii. ii. (1874) 162 This is a circumstance worthy of being noted. 1878 Huxley Physiogr. 79 It may be well to note the characters of the two constituents. |
| absol. 1605 B. Jonson Volpone ii. i, I haue some generall notions; I do loue To note, and to obserue. |
b. To take notice of; to observe, perceive.
| c 1315 Shoreham i. 60 Þat he so wel yþeawed be, Þat alle men hit noteþe. c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶336 If ther hadde be no synne in clothing, Crist wolde not so soone have notid and spoke of the clothing of thilke riche man in the gospel. c 1400 Love Bonavent. Mirr. xxxiii. (B.N.C. MS.) lf. 73 In þis processe of þe gospelle..we mowe noten and vnderstonde many faire þinges. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 11 b, In the whiche mercyfull liberalite, I note the superaboundant goodnes of god. 1582 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 68, I noted on suddeyn the goast of verye Creüsa. 1632 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 19 The slave noting his master all alone, presented himselfe before him. 1658 Jer. Taylor in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. V. 5 If ever you have noted or heard of any overtures of unkindnesse betweene them. 1712 Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) III. 373, I told him I had noted it before. 1821–22 Shelley Chas. I, ii. 456 Have you not noted that the Fool of late Has lost his careless mirth? 1874 Green Short Hist. iv. §4. 192 Such severances as we note in the thirteenth century of the cloth-merchant from the tailor. |
2. To mention separately or specially among other items or matters committed to writing.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 345 Poul notiþ first þis word. Ibid., Poul notiþ, as trewe men shulden, ech variynge of Goddis word. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 172 Nereïdes that thei ben hote, The Nimphes whiche that thei note To regne upon the stremes salte. c 1450 Godstow Reg. (1905) 273 The forsaid acre of lond, with all the mede and xviij. d. of yerely rent afore-noted. 1563 Fulke Meteors (1640) 16 Generally it is noted of all Historiographers, that after the appearing of Comets, most commonly follow great..calamities. 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. iii. 185 Which thing the Evangelist notes as one of the criticall passages of his Passion. 1692 Ray Creation i. (1704) 150 They not being able, as I noted before, to see them at that distance. 1721 De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 123, I shall only note this. 1873 Helps Anim. & Mast. i. (1875) 11, I must just note that Bastiah's censure does not apply to England as much as to France. |
3. a. To set down in writing; to put down as a memorandum;
† to write, indite.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 2795 To Nostanda on next þus notis he a lettir. 1535 Coverdale Isa. xxx. 8 Write them this in their tables, and note it in a booke. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. iv. 101 Ile note you in my Booke of Memorie. 1663 Gerbier Counsel 25 He ought also to note in his book the materials. 1697 C'tess D'Aunoy's Trav. (1706) 114, I contented myself to note only on my Table-Book these Lines. 1806 Pike Sources Mississ. (1810) App. 51 Lieut. Wilkinson..carries with him a..sketch of the route, noting the streams, hills, &c. that we crossed. 1834 Sir H. Taylor Artevelde i. i. ix, 'Twere well to note him on your list. 1868 Morris Earthly Par. (1870) I. i. 342 At the King's command A clerk that day did note it every whit. |
b. So with
down.
| 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag. iv. xvii. 205 If there be any Current, you may..allow for it, and note it down. 1695–6 T. Smith in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 239 Additions and alterations..which I have noted down. 1754 Sherlock Disc. (1759) I. vii. 225 Things noted down in God's Book. 1784 Cowper Task vi. 899 Thy prophets..noting down The features of the last degen'rate times. 1836–7 Dickens Sk. Boz, Scenes viii, A hard-featured old man..was intently perusing a lengthy will..and slily noting down some brief memorandum of the bequests contained in it. |
† 4. To set down as having a certain (good or bad) character.
Obs.| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 65 Or els bycause they wolde be noted outwardly religyous. 1533 Cranmer Misc. Writ. (Parker Soc.) 250 If I had not, or would not so have done, I might right well have been noted negligent. 1573 L. Lloyd Marrow of Hist. (1653) 105 In divers autheurs and places, this prince is noted a glutton and drunkard. |
II. † 5. a. To denote, or signify (something).
Obs.| a 1300 Cursor M. 25204 Wit þis word ‘in heuen’, us es Noted sothfast buxumnes. 1399 Langl. Rich. Redeles iv. 54 Þan satte summe as siphre doth in awgrym, Þat noteth a place and no þing availith. 1559 Mirr. Mag. (1563) X viij, Both sence and names do note them very nere. 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 38 A woman..hauing one hande in his pocket as noting hir theft. 1644 Bulwer Chirol. 168 The coyners of the Hieroglyphiques introduce this gesture to note Taciturnity. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 442 The Shepherd knows it well; and calls by Name Hippomanes, to note the Mother's Flame. 1755 Johnson s.v. Ling, The termination notes commonly diminution; as Kitling [etc.]. |
† b. To point at, indicate by pointing.
Obs.| 1517 R. Torkington Pilgr. (1884) 3 The Fynger of Seynt John Baptiste whych he notyd or shewyd crist Jhu whanne he seyd Ecce Agnus Dei. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 249 Doth he herein not note you excellently (Osorius) and (as it were) poynt at you with the finger? |
c. To indicate;
† to point
out, set or show
forth.
| 1521 Warham in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. iii. I. 242 My lorde of London to note out..all other suche names of writers..as they perceyve to be erroneous. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus Pref., I haue thought it good by examples to note vnto them, what fruit & commodity they may take therof. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 63 The Turks use in their greatest feasts..to roast or seethe an Ox whole,..to note forth their plenty. 1646 P. Bulkeley Gospel Covt. iv. 337 To note out the property and nature of that faith. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 252 Distinguish all betimes, with branding Fire; To note the Tribe, the Lineage, and the Sire. 1812 Woodhouse Astron. ix. 61 A sidereal clock will note that time. 1813 Shelley Q. Mab iv. 67 Black ashes note where their proud city stood. |
6. a. To mark (a book, words, etc.) with a musical score.
rare. Also
absol.| c 1440 Lydg. Hors, Shepe & G. 184 Men plukke stalkes out of my weengis tweyn, Somme to portraye, somme to noote & write. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 359/2 Notun songe, noto. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. iv. v. 122, I will carie no Crochets, Ile Re you, Ile Fa you, do you note me? Mus. And you Re vs, and Fa vs, you Note vs. 1755 Johnson, Note, to set down the notes of a tune. 1850 Helmore Accomp. Harmonies to Hymnal Noted Pref. 2 The English Words Noted, for the use of all who sing. 1866 Rogers Agric. & Prices I. xv. 285 The payments made at Oxford in the year 1308 for noting an antiphonary. 1897 Musical Herald 1 June 189/1 They organise vocal music competitions, but they have no sight-singing, and no noting music by ear. |
† b. To mark; to distinguish by a mark.
Obs.| 1490 Caxton Eneydos vi. 24 The fenyces fonde to note wyth rede colour or ynke firste the sayd lettres. 1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 129 Draw arkes in every of the divisions,..and note the hiest Arke next with G.H. a 1568 R. Ascham Scholem. (Arb.) 152 Whan Varros name..was brought in a schedule vnto him, to be noted to death, he tooke his penne and wrote his warrant of sauegard. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies vi. xxvi. 488 Every order of these Knightes had his lodging in the pallace noted with their markes. 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. i. 71 It is sufficient to note these things with an obeliske. 1725 Watts Logic (ed. 2) 75 What Remarks you find there worthy of your riper Observation, you may note them with a marginal Star. |
c. to note a bill (see
quots.).
| 1727–38 Chambers Cycl. s.v., To note a bill, is when a public notary goes as a witness, or takes notice, that a merchant will not accept or pay it. 1809 R. Langford Introd. Trade 133 Noting a bill, the customary form executed by a notary when a bill is not honoured. 1835 Penny Cycl. IV. 403/1 Inland bills..are merely noted for non-acceptance, which itself also is a useless form. |
d. To annotate; to write notes in.
| 1809 Lamb Let. to Coleridge 7 June, I wish every book I have were so noted. 1844 Disraeli Coningsby iv. v, Nibbing their pens, noting their memorandum-books. 1885 Law Times LXXVIII. 356/1 Decided cases bearing upon the matter..have been..noted where a note seemed necessary. |
† 7. a. To affix to (one) the stigma or accusation
of some fault, etc.
Obs.| 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy ii. vi, I might..merked be And noted eke of wilfull nycetye To folylye to voyde away my grace. 1513 Douglas æneis xiii. iii. 135 Bot thai sal nocht behald the with sik lak.., Ne note the of na cowardys in thar mynd. 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 125 If the mother be noted of incontinencie, or the father of vice. 1653 Ashwell Fides Apost. 244 None have either denied the Author, or defamed the Creed, but such whom the Church hath noted of Heresy. 1680 Dryden Ovid's Epist. Ess. (Ker) I. 232 The Julias who were both noted of incontinency. |
† b. To mark or brand
with some disgrace or defect.
Obs.| 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Aspergo, To be in suspicion, and noted with infamy. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 739 Lest he peraduenture should be noted with the spot of Nigardship. 1615 Walsal Life Christ (1622) B 2 Can wee once imagine, that Christs bodie..was euer..enfeebled with infirmitie, or noted with deformitie? 1652 Gaule Magastrom. 265 The children marry publikly, and by the law are noted with no reproach for it. |
† c. To stigmatize for some reason.
Obs.| 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 279 Notyng Sylla, that the same had purchaced y⊇ said office by gevyng greate giftes. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. v. 43 No man shall note her as an aduoutresse. 1575 Fenton Gold. Epist. (1582) 62 Also you note me, that in saying of service, I am very long. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. iv. iii. 2 You haue condemn'd, and noted Lucius Pella For taking Bribes heere of the Sardians. |
III. 8. intr. To produce musical notes; to practise singing (
cf. record v. 2).
rare.
| 1430–40 Lydg. Daunce Machabre, Bochas (1554) 224/2 O thou minstrall that can so note and pipe Vnto folke for to done pleasaunce. |
| 1906 Westm. Gaz. 27 Mar. 2/1 The thrush and the blackbird fluted in the wood, noting for their coming songs. |
▪ VIII. † note, n'ote, no'te, v.3 ‘could not’, a misuse of
note not v. ‘know(s) not’.
Obs.| 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. vii. 39 Mammon was much dis⁓pleasd, yet no'te he chuse But bear the rigour. ? 1630 Quarles Hymn to God Wks. (Grosart) II. 27 And euery minute's time ten ages were, To chaunt forth all thy praise it no'te auaile. 1642 H. More Song of Soul i. iii. 22 The fiercest but of Ram no'te make them fall. |
▪ IX. † note variant of
nort nurt v.
| 1674 Ray N.C. Words 34 To Note: to push, strike or goar with the horn as a Bull or Ram. |