introduce, v.
(ɪntrəʊˈdjuːs)
Also 5–6 -duyse.
[ad. L. intrōdūcĕ-re to lead or bring in, bring forward, institute, originate, f. intrō within + dūcĕre to lead, bring. Cf. F. introduire (13th c. in Littré).]
General Sense: To lead or bring in (a person or thing) into a place, position, state, condition, or relation to something, or into a circle or series of persons or things; to cause, by any kind of direct action, (a person or thing) to enter or be included or comprised within any sphere or circle; to insert, interpose, etc. Hence, to bring (a person) into the circle of the knowledge, acquaintance, or recognition of another or others.
1. trans. To lead or bring into a place, or into the inside or midst of something; to bring in, conduct inwards. (In quots. 1698 with double obj.)
| 1639 T. Brugis tr. Camus' Mor. Relat. 216 He used such meanes that he introduced himselfe into this Castle. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 151 We were introduced the Vice-Roys Presence. Ibid. 398 Alighting they are introduced the Guest-Chamber. 1756 P. Browne Jamaica 231 This shrub has been but lately introduced to, or cultivated in Jamaica. 1834 Medwin Angler in Wales I. 25 Byron gave orders to Tita to introduce the monkey and bulldog. 1873 Tristram Moab i. 4 The Adwân..whose inability to introduce any one into the Highlands of Moab I had experienced. |
b. To put or place in from without, to insert.
| 1695 Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth (1702) 20 Sparry and Flinty Matter being then soft, or in..solution..when it was thus introduced into these shelly-Moulds. 1807 T. Thomson Chem. (ed. 3) II. 379 He..reduced it to powder, and introduced it while yet warm into a retort. 1869 Tyndall Notes Lect. Light 44 If two or more metals be introduced into the flame at the same time. |
c. To usher or bring (a person) into a society or body; also, † into a state or condition (obs.).
| 1532 More Confut. Tindale Pref., Wks. 341/2 Then haue ye his introduccion into Sayncte Poules pistle, with whiche he introduceth and bringeth his reders into a false vnderstanding of saynt Poule. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xvi, This was considered by us all as an indication of his desire to be introduced into the family. 1844 Macaulay Ess., Earl of Chatham (1887) 824 On the same day..Bute was not only sworn of the Privy Council, but introduced into the Cabinet. |
2. To bring (a thing) into some sphere of action or thought; to bring in in the course of some action or in a literary or artistic composition; to add or insert as a feature or element. Sometimes with the notion of bringing in for the first time or as a new feature.
| 1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 82 The Poets in their tragedies, introduce persons comming out from under th' earth and call that place Hell. 1647–8 Sir C. Cotterell Davila's Hist. Fr. (1678) 31 Abuses that were introduced into the Government. 1661 Bramhall Just Vind. ii. 11 They introduced unlawful rites into the Liturgies of the Church. 1676 tr. Guillatiere's Voy. Athens 268 In the action of those heroick parts it is impossible the Comœdian should introduce that baseness of Gesture. 1783 Blair Rhet. II. xxx. 130 If that thought..does not anticipate any thing that is afterwards to be introduced in a more proper place. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 583 Amendments were introduced which greatly mitigated the severity of the bill. 1883 C. J. Wills Mod. Persia 288 The gentle⁓man on the mention of the word..would instantly introduce the quotation. |
3. To bring into use or practice; to bring into vogue or fashion; to institute (a law, custom, etc.).
| 1603 Florio Montaigne iii. i. (1897) V. 18 Witoldus Prince of Lituania, introduced an order with that nation..that the party condemned to die, should with his owne handes make himselfe away. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 171 Upon the Twelfth day, they rebaptize yearely;..a custome introduced not past a hundred yeares since. 1775 Johnson Journ. West. Isl., Ostig 243 The principle upon which extemporary prayer was originally introduced, is no longer admitted. 1805 Edin. Rev. VI. 82 note, Hudson..introduced..these anglicised botanic names. 1868 Lockyer Elem. Astron. v. (1879) 205 The Julian calendar was introduced in the year 44 b.c. 1874 Parker Goth. Archit. i. iii. 32 The Norman style was introduced into England in the time of Edward the Confessor. |
† 4. To bring on, bring about, give rise to, occasion, induce. Obs.
| 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. xx. §11 Introducing such an health of mind, as was that health of body of which Aristotle speaketh of Herodicus. 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. ii. 102 Grace of Regeneration..introduceth gracious habits of sweetnesse, peace and love. 1651 Hobbes Govt. & Soc. iii. §11. 45 To hurt another without reason introduces a warre. 1692 Locke Educ. (J.), Whatsoever introduces habits in children deserves the care and attention of their governors. |
5. To usher in (a time, action, matter, etc.); to bring forward with preliminary or preparatory matter; to start, open, begin.
| 1667 Milton P.L. iii. 368 With Præamble sweet Of charming symphonie they introduce Thir sacred Song. 1708 Tatler No. 116 ¶3 To introduce the second argument, they begged leave to read a petition of the rope-makers. 1727 A. Hamilton New Acc. E. Ind. II. xliv. 140 Tornadoes, or Squalls of Wind and Rain, introduced with much Thunder and Lightning. 1816 Scott Antiq. xxxv, This discussion served to introduce the young soldier's experiences. 1824 L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 5) I. 291 When adverbs are emphatical, they may introduce a sentence. |
† 6. To bring (a person) into the knowledge of something; to initiate; to teach, instruct. Obs.
| 1475 Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 79 And over this that they be lerned and introduced in the drede of God. c 1477 Caxton Jason 67 b, He introduced the archadyens for to liue honestly. c 1500 Melusine 37 Wel I wote that wel ye haue hold alle that I introduysed, or taught you of. |
7. To bring into personal acquaintance; to make known to a person or to a circle. a. orig. to introduce into or to the acquaintance of; hence, to introduce to: to make known in person, esp. in a formal manner, with announcement of name, title, or other identification.
| 1659 Evelyn Mem. 26 Nov. (1857) I. 352, I was introduced into the acquaintance of divers learned and worthy persons. 1739 W. Richardson in Swift's Lett. (1768) IV. 227, I will endeavour to introduce Mr. Swift to the acquaintance of some persons before I leave this. 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. iii, I begged the landlord would introduce me to a stranger of so much charity as he described. 1768 Sterne Sent. Journ. (1778) I. 70 (In the Street) He introduced himself to my acquaintance. 1786 S. Haswell Victoria I. 80 Give me leave to introduce you the amiable Lady C—ne. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vi. II. 48 He had been introduced to Charles and James..as a man fit and ready for the infamous service of assassinating the Protector. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 159 Let me introduce some countrymen of mine, I said. 1889 Ruskin Præterita III. ii. 92 He prayed permission to introduce his mother and sister to us. 1900 Corresp. The English rule is that the (conventionally) inferior is introduced to the superior (not the superior to the inferior). |
b. To conduct formally into a person's presence; to present formally, as at court, or in an assembly, as the House of Lords or Commons, a society, etc.
| 1685 Wood Life 25 Mar. (O.H.S.) III. 136 Cambridge presented verses to the King. Their Chancellor (Albemarle) would not introduce them. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 69 When he gives Audience, it being their part also to introduce others into the Princes presence. 1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to C'tess [Bristol] 12 Sept., The Chevalier..with great civility, begged to introduce us at court. 1817 Parl. Deb. 3 July 1750 Lord Colchester was introduced by Lords Redesdale and Dynevor, and took the oaths and his seat. 1891 Law Times XCII. 124/2 When a new representative Peer of Ireland has been elected, he is not introduced, but simply takes and subscribes the oath. |
c. To bring out into society; spec., in modern use, to bring (a young lady) ‘out’.
| 1708 Steele Tatler No. 127 ¶ 7 He is always promising..to introduce every man he converses with into the world. 1814 Jane Austen Mansf. Park i, Give a girl an education, and introduce her properly into the world, and ten to one but she has the means of settling well. 1828 Light & Shades II. 307–8 We have daughters to introduce. 1888 F. Hume Mad. Midas i. i, Curtis introduced her to society. |
d. To bring to the knowledge of, or make acquainted with, a thing, by actual contact, by experience, description, representation, etc. Const. to.
| 1741 E. Erskine Serm. Wks. 1871 III. 1, I shall not consume time in introducing myself to these words. 1834 Medwin Angler in Wales II. 167, I name Shelley first..I will introduce you to them [Shelley and Byron] presently. 1849 James Woodman iv, I must now introduce the reader to a scene then very common in England. |
8. † a. To present (an address or the like) formally. Obs.
| 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 338 At hand to introduce all Addresses that concern his Office to represent. |
b. To bring to the notice or cognisance of a person, etc.; to bring a bill or measure before parliament, etc.
| 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. viii, To have an opportunity of introducing to the company a ballad. 1817 Parl. Deb. 911 It was his wish that the bills should proceed through the House, pari passu. Only the two he had now introduced were yet ready. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 70/2 Finely chopped turnips, meal, etc., which it soon begins to relish if they are properly introduced to its notice. |
Hence introˈduced ppl. a.; introˈducing vbl. n.; also attrib., as † introducing house Obs. exc. Hist. (see quots.).
| 1657 Divine Lover 13 Expulsion of Vicious Habits and inclinations, and an answerable introducing of vertuousnesse. a 1711 Ken Serm. Wks. (1838) 166 The introducing of the images of saints and martyrs into churches. 1846 Swell's Night Guide 41 French introducing houses. These accommodation cribs have become so numerous, that it requires some tact and nous to discover them. 1857 W. Acton Prostitution vii. 97 The establishments of certain procuresses..vulgarly called ‘introducing houses’..are worth notice as the leading centres of the more select circles of prostitution here. 1861 Mayhew Lond. Labour (1862) Extra vol. 214/1 Under this head [sc. brothels] we must include introducing houses, where the women do not reside, but merely use the house as a place of resort in the daytime. 1877 W. S. Gilbert Foggerty's Fairy (1892) 223 The introduced scene with the guinea-pig and the hair-oil. 1884 D. Morris Rep. in Moloney Forestry W. Afr. (1887) 8 Indigenous and introduced trees. 1955 C. Pearl Girl with Swansdown Seat ii. 36 The Victorian ‘introducing house’ where the pleasant ceremony of introducing wealthy amateurs to willing girls was carried out with dignity and delicacy. |