▪ I. conclude, v.
(kənˈkluːd)
[ad. L. conclūd-ĕre to shut up closely, close, end, f. con- + claudĕre to close, shut.]
I. To shut up, enclose, include.
† 1. (in physical sense). Obs. or arch.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 423 [There] be ij waters, oon of whom concludethe an yle moved to and fro with the wynde. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1673) 92 It is usual to conclude them in Parks. 1794 G. Adams Nat. & Exp. Philos. I. xi. 449 When an animal is concluded in a limited quantity of..air, it dies as soon as the air is vitiated. 1859 Tennyson Merlin & V. 510, I dreamt Of some vast charm concluded in that star. |
| b. fig. 1388 Wyclif Gal. iii. 22 But scripture hath concludid [1382 enclosyde] alle thingis vndir synne. 1611 Bible Rom. xi. 32 God hath concluded [Gr. συνέκλεισε, Revised shut up] them all in vnbeliefe, that he might haue mercy vpon all. 1865 Bushnell Vicar. Sacr. iii. v. 358 Whom he has first arrested and concluded in sin. |
† 2. To include, comprehend, comprise, sum up.
| c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 500 And schortly to concluden al his wo, So moche sorwe had never creature. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §160 There be...x.commaundementes..but they be all concluded and comprehended in two. 1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. lvi. (1651) 162 That..the written Laws were wholly concluded into the Norman tongue. 1674 Playford Skill Mus. iii. 11 In the simple Concord I conclude all his compounds. 1709 Stanhope Paraphr. IV. 53 Each Member of the City or Borough is concluded as a Citizen. 1828 C. Wordsworth King Chas. I, 154 It appears..in a nutshell, contained and concluded almost wholly under that single word ‘however’. |
† b. To shut up or comprehend within definite limits; to restrict, confine. (Also with up.) Obs.
| 1548 Gest Pr. Masse 118 Whereas Christ saieth God is in heaven, he doth not by y{supt} his so saieng conclud and hemen him ther. 1642 Declar. Lords & Com. 6 June 6 Much lesse can the Power of Parliament be concluded by his Majesties command. 1646 J. Gregory Notes & Observ. (1650) 72 The Faithful Church of that time, concluded up in the family of Seth. 1679 Penn Addr. Prot. ii. ii. (1692) 68 Those that chuse to be concluded by the Letter and Text of Christ's Testament. |
c. To confine, or shut up to.
| 1646 H. Lawrence Comm. & Warre with Angels Aa 3 b, The saints not so concluded to one Angell, as not to injoy oftentimes the service of many. |
† 3. a. To shut up from a course of action, etc.; to preclude, debar, restrain, ‘estop’. Obs.
| 1382 Wyclif 2 Sam. xviii. 28 Blessid be the Lord thi God, that hath concludid the men, that rereden her hoondis ayens my lord the kyng. 1483 Act 1 Rich. III, c. 6 §1 The said..Defendants be not concluded thereby, but..may answer and plead to the Action. 1621 H. Elsing Debates Ho. Lords (1870) 85 The protestacion to be entred ther..but not to conclude us from judginge of Flood. 1705 Stanhope Paraphr. III. 176 Suffer Lazarus to go and warn my Relations who are not yet thus finally concluded by Death. |
b. To shut up to a course of action, etc.; to bind, oblige. Still in legal use.
| 1393 Gower Conf. I. 185 This open thing..Concludeth him by suche a way, That he the feith mo nede obey. 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII, c. 36 §1 Fynes with proclamacions..shuld be a fynal ende and conclud aswel pryuies as strangers to the same. 1671 H. Stubbe Reply 24 The Theologicians did not hold themselves concluded by the Sentiments of the Canonists. 1690 Locke Govt. ii. viii. (Rtldg.) 98 The consent of the majority shall..conclude every individual. 1883 Law Rep. 11 Q. Bench 575 In settling the value of a copyhold fine the tenant is not concluded by the amount of rent..reserved on the premises. |
† 4. To overcome in argument; to confute, ‘shut up’; to convince. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 14713 (Cott.) Wit wordes suilk war þai Wit scil concluded and ouercummin. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints, Catharina 256 A madyne..Þat throw gret wit & sutelte Concludis all my mene & me. 1401 Pol. Poems (1859) II. 86 By verre contradiccion thou concludist thi silf. 1407 Exam. W. Thorpe in Arb. Garner VI. 53 In all those temptations, Christ concluded the Fiend. 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 459/2 When they be confuted and concluded openly therin. 1704 Hearne Duct. Hist. (1714) I. 283 Though the Scythians had better Arguments to offer..they would not be concluded by them. [1858 Bushnell Serm. New Life 92 The mere seeing of any wonder never concludes the mind of the spectator.] |
† b. To refute (a statement). Obs. rare.
| 1388 Wyclif Prol. 36 Job argueth aȝens hise enemyes..and concludith many errouris that suen of hire false bileeue. |
II. To close any transaction; to end.
5. trans. To bring to a close or end; to wind up, finish, close. (Said of a person, or of a final act, etc.)
| 1430 Lydg. Chron. Troy i. vi, For my beheste with deathe I shall conclude. 1580 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 417 In euery triangle..three lines, the first beginneth, the seconde augmenteth, the third concludeth it a figure. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. iii. i. 190 His fault concludes, but what the law should end, The life of Tybalt. 1592 Earl of Essex in Ellis Orig. Lett. ii. 237 III. 164 My Lady Walsingham..doth now conclude all sutes with one request. 1660 T. Willsford Scales Comm. 113 Saturday concluding both moneth and year, and Sunday beginning the year 1660. 1797 Mrs. Radcliffe Italian (1824) 697 She would have concluded her days within the walls of San Stefano. Mod. This concluded the proceedings of the meeting. |
| absol. 1847 Tennyson Princ. ii. 429 A solemn grace Concluded. |
† b. To put an end to, ‘do for’ (a person). (Now humorous.)
| 1606 G. W[oodcocke] tr. Ivstine 118 a, The stratigem that concluded the Father. 1612 Shelton Quix. I. i. iv. 24 Pay him instantly or else..I will conclude thee, and annihilate thee. 1862 E. Lear Nonsense Bk., He jumped over the cliff, Which concluded that person of Cromer. |
† c. Const. inf. with to. Obs.
| 1533 Elyot Cast. Helthe (1541) H v a, And here I conclude to speake of exercise. 1541 ― Gov. ii. vii, And here I conclude to write any more at this tyme of mercy. |
6. absol. To make an end of an action, e.g. speech or writing; to end, finish, close (with or by).
| 1514 Barclay Cyt. & Uplondyshm. p. xlix, Concluding with this clause. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 303 The bysshops concludynge answered and sayd, We haue no kynge but Cesar. 1541 Barnes Wks. (1573) 222/2 After much communication, hee concluded wyth mee, & sayd, how that I was but a foole. 1605 Shakes. Macb. i. ii. 57 And to conclude, The Victorie fell on vs. 1716–8 Lady M. W. Montague Lett. I. x. 37 By this time, you are ready to fear I shall never conclude at all. 1812 Byron Ch. Har. ii. lxiii, In bloodier acts conclude those who with blood began. 1840 Hood Up Rhine 55 My paper being filled..I must conclude with kind regards to Emily. |
7. intr. Of things: To come to a close or end; to close, end, finish, terminate.
| 1592 Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 839 Her heavy anthem still concludes in woe. 1616 Brent tr. Sarpi's Hist. Counc. Trent (1676) 392 To avoid all negotiation, because it would conclude with the dishonour of the Pope. 1752 Johnson Rambler No. 207 ¶12 Nothing is ended with honour, which does not conclude better than it began. 1885 Law Rep. 29 Chanc. Div. 457 The report..concluded as follows. |
† b. To end, issue, or result in; = end v. 5 b.
| a 1639 Spottiswood Hist. Ch. Scot. vi. (1677) 465 It must..at last conclude either in Popery or Atheism. 1663 J. Spencer Prodigies (1665) 336 All pious frauds have ever concluded at last in Superstition or Atheism, or the ruine of that..Party that used them. |
III. To come to a conclusion, infer, prove.
8. To arrive by reasoning at a judgement or opinion; to come to a conclusion, draw an inference, infer, deduce. a. with subord. clause.
| c 1386 Chaucer Frankl. T. 694, I wol conclude that it is bet for me To sleen myself. 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. 172 The Pope concluded that he regned nevyr but be strength and violens. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 163 b, Rosell, Angelus, and other doctours determyneth and concludeth that, etc. 1611 Bible Rom. iii. 28 Therefore wee conclude, that a man is iustified by faith. 1668 Hale Pref. Rolle's Abridgm. 7 It were a vain thing to conclude it is irrational, because not to be demonstrated..by Syllogismes. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. xvi, By his way of speaking, I concluded there were six. 1818 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. iv. iv. 129 Concluding that his life was in danger. |
b. with obj. and inf. compl. (to be often omitted).
| c 1532 G. Du Wes Introd. Fr. in Palsgr. 1071 Ye have concluded you a phisycion. 1538 Starkey England i. iv. 138 Reson concludyth bothe necessary and expedyent to be, to have al lawys in the vulgare tong. 1628 Ford Lover's Mel. i. iii, Then you conclude me proud? 1664 Power Exp. Philos. Pref. 17 We cannot but conclude such Prognostics to be within the circle of possibilities. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones vii. xiv, Some concluded him dead. 1756 Burke Vind. Nat. Soc. Wks. 1842 I. 12 The greatest part of the governments..must be concluded tyrannies. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §262 We concluded it unsafe to anchor. |
c. with simple obj.: To infer.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. iv. iv. 125 Yif I haue concluded soþe of þe vnselynesse of shrewednesse. c 1400 Rom. Rose 7470 Shaltow never of apparence Seene conclude good consequence. 1583 Babington Commandm. i. (1637) 4 That we might conclude liberty thereon to sinne at our pleasure?.. No, no. 1639 Fuller Holy War vi, To conclude the finenesse of the cloth from the largenesse of the measure. 1671 Milton P.R. ii. 317 What conclud'st thou hence? 1729 Franklin Ess. Wks. 1840 II. 36 All this is inferred and concluded from, etc. 1864 Bowen Logic vii. 201 From EA in the Second, we may conclude not only E, but O. |
d. absol. or with preps. (Chiefly as to manner.)
| 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. x. vii, To conclude truely. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. 11 Not to conclude or dogmatize vpon this or that peremptorily. 1701 Jer. Collier tr. M. Aurelius 82–3 Don't you conclude upon any real damage; for there's no such thing. 1759 Johnson Rasselas xxviii, You..conclude too hastily from the infelicity of marriage against its institution. 1834 Fonblanque Eng. under 7 Admin. (1837) III. 19 Our own experience certainly concludes unfavourably to the use of the wig. 1869 J. Martineau Ess. ii. 164 From the omnipresence of geometry, Oersted thus concludes to a universal beauty of form. |
† 9. trans. To lead to the conclusion; to demonstrate, prove. (Said of a person, an argument, etc.) Const. obj. and compl., or subord. clause. Obs.
| 1549 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Ordering of Priests, Nothyng..but that..may be concluded, and proued by the scripture. 1623 Massinger Dk. Milan i. i, The success Concludes the victor innocent. 1687 H. More App. Antid. x. §7. 207 That our arguments are sophistical because they..conclude that there is an incorporeal substance in beasts. 1719 De Foe Crusoe (1840) II. xii. 257, I..concluded to the commanders that they had done what they..should have been ashamed of. a 1797 Burke Tracts Popery Laws Wks. 1842 II. 434 This mode of conviction..concludes the party has failed in his expurgatory proof. |
† 10. intr. To lead to a conclusion, be conclusive. Obs.
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 98 Thy reason in this case concludeth not. a 1619 M. Fotherby Atheom. i. viii. §3 (1622) 58 No part of his Obiection concludeth for pure Atheists. 1653 Ashwell Fides Apost. 155 This is but a negative argument, and concludeth not. 1713 Berkeley Hylas & Phil. iii, This objection concludes equally against a creation in any sense. 1714 J. Fortescue-Aland Pref. to Fortescue's Abs. & Lim. Mon. 7 The Argument will equally conclude to both. |
IV. To bring or come to a decision, settle, decide, determine.
11. trans. To bring (a matter) to a decision or settlement; to decide, determine (a point, a case at law). b. To settle, arrange finally (a treaty, peace, etc.).
| 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cxl. 169 They wolde bring thyder their lorde the Erle of Flanders, and there to conclude vp the maryage. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 736 The French king..determined to conclude a truce. 1586 J. Hooker Girald. Irel. in Holinshed II. 127/2 Such orders as are concluded, and established in parlement. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, v. iv. 107 Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace? 1652 Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 3 Five Commissaries..who should treat of the differences and should have power to conclude them. 1792 Anecd. W. Pitt I. viii. 187 He had concluded a treaty with Spain. 1885 Sir J. C. Mathew Law Rep. 14 Q. Bench Div. 465 The case is concluded practically by the decision in Read v. Anderson. |
12. To come to the conclusion or decision (to do a thing), to decide (on a course of action), determine, resolve. Const. inf. or subord. clause.
| c 1430 Lydg. Bochas i. viii. (1558) 11 b/1 This stepmother..concluded hath in her entencion Him to destroy. c 1490 Caxton Blanchardyn 205 They concluded with in them selfe, that they sholde lye al nyghte in their harneys. c 1532 Ld. Berners Huon xlix. 165 He..concludyd to send for all his men of warre. 1593 Shakes. Lucr. 1850 They did conclude to beare dead Lucrece thence. 1611 Bible Acts xxi. 25. 1639 Fuller Holy War ii. xxix. (1647) 81 The Emperour and the King of France concluded to besiege Damascus. 1707 W. Funnell Voy. (1729) 153 Finding a loss in boiling our meat we concluded to eat it raw. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §262 We concluded to drop an anchor as soon as we got into clean ground. 1827 Hallam Const. Hist. (1842) I. 623 It was concluded to bring him to trial. 1832 De Quincey Cæsars Wks. 1862 IX. 85. 1853 C. M. Yonge Heir of Redclyffe vii, She..concluded that she would wait. 1858 Hawthorne Fr. & It. Jrnls. I. 79 My wife concluded to hire a balcony. 186. Conington Misc. Writ. (1872) I. 126. 1876 L. Stephen Hist. Eng. Thought I. 422 He..concludes to express his sentiments. |
† b. pass. (Cf. to be determined, resolved.) Obs.
| 1452 Dk. York in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. I. 13, I..am fully concluded to proceed in all haste against him. 1470–85 Malory Arthur i. xi, At the last they were concluded that Merlyn shold goo with a token of kyng Ban. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Certus, I am concluded to do it. 1643 [Angier] Lanc. Vall. Achor 3 We are all unanimously concluded to be ayding and assisting. |
† 13. intr. To come to a decision, make an arrangement or agreement, resolve, determine. a. of, on, upon (a question, a thing to be done, etc.).
| 1475 Caxton Jason 48 b, Jason..hering the fayr Myrro so ordeyne and conclude of their sodayn departing. 1490 ― Eneydos xl. (1890) 131 Whan..they had concluded togyder of ther besines. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cliv. 185 To conclude on another maner of peace. 1599 Hakluyt Voy. II. ii. 41 The Negros and we soone concluded of price. 1666 Pepys Diary (1879) IV. 97 We judged a third man is necessary, and concluded on Sir W. Warren. 1725 De Foe Voy. round W. (1840) 30 They might..conclude upon the measures they intended to pursue. 1727 Philip Quarll (1816) 34 This being concluded on by all parties. 1796 E. Parsons Myst. Warning iii. 183 Peace has been concluded upon. |
† b. with (a person, etc.): To agree, come to an arrangement, make terms. Obs.
| 1462 Edw. IV. in Ellis Orig. Lett. ii. 41 I. 127 [They] have conspired, accorded, concluded, and determined with owr outward enemyes as well of Fraunce and of Scotland. 1586 Warner Alb. Eng. i. vi. (1612) 20 Concluding with his companie how to conuay her thence. 1591 Lambarde Arch. (1635) 213 Howsoever they should conclude amongst themselves. 1680 C'tess Manchester in Hatton Corr. (1878) 217 My Lord hath concluded w{supt}{suph} him to travell w{supt}{suph} my son. |
† c. To close with (an opinion). Obs.
| 1586 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1589) 259 Concluding with their opinion who persuaded to fight. |
† 14. trans. To decide or determine upon. Obs.
| c 1532 Ld. Berners Huon lxv. 223 These .ii. traytours deuysyd and concludyd the deth of Huon. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 1372 His death was concluded one evening, and..should have been put in execution the next day. |
15. intr. Sc. Law. In a summons (now, only in the Court of Session): To state formally, in a clause called the ‘conclusion’, the object or objects sought for. See conclusion 14.
| 1826 in P. Shaw Cases IV. 310, I am now satisfied that it is not necessary to conclude for expenses. 1868 Act 31–2 Vict. c. 101 §59 It shall be lawful to libel and conclude and decern for general adjudication. |
▪ II. † conclude, n. Obs.—1.
[f. prec.]
Conclusion.
| 1643 J. Sherley in W. Bradford Plymouth Plant. (Mass. Hist. Soc.) 406, I shall write this generall leter..hoping it will be a good conclude of a..costly and tedious bussines. |