fallen, ppl. a.
(ˈfɔːl(ə)n)
For forms see fall v.
1. a. That has come down or dropped from a high position.
| c 1400 Rom. Rose 1214 White as snowe falle newe. 1776 Withering Brit. Plants IV. 154 Two distinct species grow..on the fallen branches of trees. 1849 Sk. Nat. Hist., Mammalia IV. 27 Fallen acorns constitute the food of the dormouse. |
b. fallen-stars Sc.: (see quot.).
| 1808 Jamieson, Fallen stars..Tremella Nostoc, Linn.; a gelatinous plant, found in pastures &c. after rain. Ibid. s.v., Sea Fallen Stars..an animal thrown on the sea-shore in summer and autumn; Medusa æquorea, Linn. |
2. Of the sun: Having set. rare.
| 1892 Tennyson Foresters i. iii, The long bright day is done, And darkness rises from the fallen sun. |
3. Of flesh, etc.: Shrunken, emaciated. fallen fleece: see quot. 1892. fallen arch: see arch n. 4 b; so fallen instep.
| 1722 De Foe Col. Jack (1840) 281 Her fallen flesh plumped up. 1748 Richardson Clarissa VI. xxx. 98 The old lines appearing strong in the..fallen cheeks. 1892 Labour Commission Gloss. No. 8 Fallen Fleeces. Fleece, wool, or mohair, taken from the dead carcases of sheep, &c., and, therefore, diseased. 1926 M. D. Post Man Hunters 292 (caption) Flat foot or a fallen arch. 1948 A. Baron From City from Plough 11 All the other ranks 'll have fallen arches or double ruptures. 1954 L. MacNeice Autumn Sequel ix. 59 A life of fallen insteps and surplus fat. |
4. That has been laid low, or brought to the ground. Also absol. of men. lit. and fig. spec., of those who have died in battle.
| a 1631 Donne Epigr. (1652) 93 Falne Okes the Axe doth into Timber hew. 1765 H. Blair Crit. Diss. (ed. 2) 70 He professedly delights in strife and blood. He insults over the fallen. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) I. 283 The branches of the fallen forest. 1819 Mrs. Hemans Abencerrage 56 There bleed the fallen, there contend the brave. 1825 G. R. Gleig Subaltern vii. 109 Desiring..a fellow..to keep guard near one of his fallen comrades. ‘I don't care for living men,’ said the soldier; ‘but..don't keep me beside him.’ a 1835 ― Marius 82 Midst fallen palaces she sits alone. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. xvii. 34 The estates of the fallen King [Harold]..were..forfeited. Ibid. 62 The fallen gonfanon of Harold. 1878 J. P. Hopps Jesus v. 21 His delight was, to lift up the fallen. 1914 W. D. Newton War xi. 119 The corpses of the fallen were trodden and ground beneath stumbling heedless soles. 1914 New Republic 5 Dec. 14/2 Mr. Shaw referred to the miserable pensions that are being paid to the widows of fallen soldiers. 1917 L. Binyon (title) For the Fallen and other poems. 1919 Times 12 Nov. 16/5 The majority of the citizens willingly consented to pay a tribute to the memory of the fallen. |
5. fig. a. In a moral sense: That has lost purity or innocence; ruined. a fallen woman: one who has surrendered her chastity. b. With reference to rank, fortune, or dignity: That has come down from high estate.
| a 1628 F. Greville Poems, Hum. Learning xix, Yea of our falne estate the fatall staine Is such, as [etc.]. 1645 Milton Tetrach. Wks. 1738 I. 230 God..would..not [have] sent word by Malachi in a sudden fal'n stile. 1682 Lond. Gaz. No. 1711/4 It was contrived by some Discontented Antimonarchical Fallen-Angel. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 276 ¶1 Your Papers with regard to the fallen Part of the Fair Sex. 1751 Jortin Serm. (1771) I. ii. 21 The Messiah was to restore fallen man. 1820 Byron Mar. Fal. ii. i, The once fall'n woman must for ever fall. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 482 The fallen dynasty and the fallen hierarchy were restored. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 71 Philosophy, even in her fallen estate, has a dignity of her own. |
6. Comb. fallen-in (cf. fall v. 88). fallen-off: (see fall v. 92).
| 1611 Shakes. Cymb. iii. vii. 6 The Legions now in Gallia, are Full weake to vndertake our Warres against The falne⁓off Britaines. 1806 T. S. Surr Winter in Lond. (ed. 3) I. 188 He is..a fallen-off branch from the good old English tree. 1900 Westm. Gaz. 14 Feb. 6/3 Inrush of snow and sleet through the fallen-in roof. 1938 E. Bowen Death of Heart i. ii. 47 Thomas sits so fallen-in, waiting for Anna, that his clock makes the only sound in his room. |