an-ˈend, phr. arch.
[see an prep., and end.]
† 1. At last, in the end, in fine. Obs.
| c 1320 Cast. Loue 1224 And hou he hit ouer-com an ende. |
2. To the end, right through; straight on, constantly; continuously, consecutively. arch.
| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. iv. 138 Hele hem light: eke weede hem ofte anende. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. iv. iv. 66 A slaue, that still an end, turnes me to shame. 1624 Quarles Job Milit. (1717) 181 Some lag, whilst others gallop on before; All go an-end, some faster, and some slower. 1748 Richardson Clarissa VII. 220 [He] would ride an hundred miles an end to enjoy it. 1785 Mrs. Thrale in Johnsoniana (1845) I. 75 He would follow the hounds fifty miles an end. |
† 3. most an end: almost uninterruptedly, almost always, mostly, for the most part. Obs.
| 1570–87 Holinshed Scot. Chron. (1806) II. 257 An armie..which lay must an end at Douglasse. 1658 J. R. Mouffet's Theat. Ins. 1074 In Europe they are most an end black ones. 1678 Bunyan Pilgr. ii. 115 Knew him! I was a great Companion of his, I was with him most an end. 1691 Clandest. Marr. in Harl. Misc. I. 372 But, most an end, they are not ministers of parishes, but indigent curates. |
4. On end, in an upright position. arch.
| 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iii. ii. 318 Mine haire be fixt an end, as one distract. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 149 The whole number of Boards are set an end. 1817 Coleridge Zapolya iv. i, His steed, which proudly rears an-end. c 1850 Rudim. Nav. (Weale) 92 The topmasts are said to be an-end when they are hoisted up to their usual stations. |
5. In the direction of the length; directly ahead. Chiefly Naut.
| 1601 Deacon & Walker Spirits & Diuels 68 You must not be haled hedlong an end with an inueterate opinion. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1789), Avoir vent de bout, to have the wind right an-end, or a-head. 1801 Adml. Hyde Parker Let. 15 Apr. in Ann. Reg. 1801 (1802) Chron. 82/1 They were riding with two cables an end. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. s.v., To strike a spar or plank an-end is to drive it in the direction of its length. Ibid., Every rope an end, the order to coil down the running rigging, or braces or bowlines, after tacking, or other evolution. Also, the order, when about to perform an evolution, to see that every rope is clear for running. |