▪ I. ride, n.1
(raɪd)
[f. ride v.
ME. rĭde (only in Gen. & Ex. 3950) is app. to be taken as a derivative from the stem rī̆d-: cf. Du. rit, MLG. rid, rit, G. ritt, Da. ridt.]
1. a. An excursion or journey in some vehicle or conveyance, now esp. a public one; † a drive.
| 1759 J. Wesley Jrnl. 13 Aug. (1764) 74 Monday, 13. I took a little ride to Croydon. 1779 Mrs. Harris in Priv. Lett. Ld. Malmesb. (1870) I. 433 Your father and I intend driving every day to the camp. 'Tis a fine ride. 1800 H. Wells Constantia Neville II. 15 Taking a ride with the nurse and child. 1808 E. Sleath Bristol Heiress I. 54 Miss Williams should..take a ride thither in Lady Harcourt's carriage. 1840 Thackeray Catherine vii, A ride in a 'bus to Richmond. 1894 S. Fiske Holiday Stories (1900) 30 To..enjoy his company during my car-ride up town. |
b. A turn or spell of riding. Also
esp. in
colloq. phr. to have (or give) a rough (easy, etc.) ride.
| 1815 Scott Guy M. ix, He had often promised the child a ride upon his galloway. 1859 Tennyson Elaine 827 ‘Alas,’ he said, ‘your ride hath wearied you. Rest must you have’. 1898 F. Montgomery Tony 10 A few hours' bicycle ride in the country. 1969 S. Hyland Top Bloody Secret ii. 234 Judging by what he said on the phone, he won't give you an easy ride. 1969 Times 11 July 8/8 The new ‘town managers’ seem to be having a rough ride in London. 1974 Times 5 Nov. 15/1 President Giscard d'Estaing has had a fairly quiet ride until now. 1976 Eastern Even. News (Norwich) 9 Dec. 10/4 It seems to me that he is being given an unnecessarily rough ride. 1978 Times 17 Jan. 19/5 Union officials..met the new Leyland chief... He was given a rough ride. |
c. One of the districts into which a coast is divided for purposes of excise. Also
ride-officer.
| 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Ride-officer, an exciseman. 1885 Civilian 3 Jan. 133/1 The breaking of Rides and Divisions affects no grade in the Service to the same extent as Assistants. |
d. (See
quot.)
| 1851 Mayhew Lond. Labour I. 175/2 The trotting butcher is..not likely to be succeeded by any in the same line, or—as I heard it called—‘ride’ of business. |
e. U.S. (See
quot.)
| 1859 Bartlett Dict. Amer. (ed. 2) 365 A stream is said to be ‘out of ride’ when it is past fording [on horseback]. |
f. to take for a ride and
varr. (
orig. U.S.): (
a)
colloq., to tease; to mislead deliberately, to hoax, to cheat; (
b)
slang, to take on a car journey with the intention of murdering or kidnapping.
| (a) 1925 Dialect Notes V. 344 Take for a ride, jolly; josh. 1929 J. P. McEvoy Hollywood Girl vii. 109 What was the name of that girl he was crazy about?.. Dugan. But Jack isn't bragging about it. She certainly took him for a ride. 1931 E. Linklater Juan in Amer. iv. ii. 283 ‘Do you mean that?’ asked Mr. Adelaide nervously. ‘Nonsense,’ said Mr. Boles. ‘He's taking you for a ride.’ 1956 A. Wilson Anglo-Saxon Att. ii. i. 203 But for Vin, there were winks and the tongue stuck in the cheek, the wide boy who wasn't to be taken for a ride by anyone. 1962 John o' London's 25 Jan. 94/3 A young American teacher who goes to Persia and gets taken for quite a few rides. 1973 ‘D. Jordan’ Nile Green ix. 43 She said, quickly, ‘..Are you an expert?’..I said, ‘Not at all... You could take me for a ride any day you chose.’ 1976 J. I. M. Stewart Memorial Service xvi. 271 The provost had taken me on a ride to Otby in more senses than one. |
| (b) 1927 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Nov. 132/3 ‘Taking him for a ride’ is underworld for enticing a person to death. 1929 Sun (Baltimore) 15 Mar. 2/6 Possibility that Joseph Drell, wealthy cigar store owner, may have been ‘taken for a ride’ by underworld enemies, tonight was engaging the attention of detectives investigating his kidnapping. 1931 F. L. Allen Only Yesterday x. 261 Another favourite method was to take the victim ‘for a ride’: in other words, to lure him into a supposedly friendly car, shoot him at leisure, [etc.]. 1933 Wodehouse Heavy Weather i. 12 Perhaps some Duke who doesn't want to see himself in the ‘Peers I Have Been Thrown Out Of Public Houses With’ chapter has been threatening to take him for a ride. 1935 ‘J. Guthrie’ Little Country ix. 166 When they shoot a man [in America] they call it sending him for a ride. 1941 Strand Mag. Aug. 332/1 You're not only being taken for a sail, Mrs. de Courcy, but also for a ride. Your passage-money back to Singapore is just five thousand pounds. 1944 E. S. Gardner D.A. calls Turn vii. 64 These persons whispered that some day Carr would mysteriously disappear, and no one would ever know whether he had quietly faded into voluntary oblivion or had been ‘taken for a ride’. 1979 T. Barling Olympic Sleeper ix. 103 Not Costas driving... They must be dumping the cab. Or taking Costas for a ride. |
g. slang. An act of sexual intercourse.
Cf. ride v. 3 and 16.
| 1937 Partridge Dict. Slang 696/2 Ride,..an act of coïtion. 1977 J. B. Hilton Dead-Nettle xviii. 155 I'd slipped in once or twice while Frank was out. She deserved a slow ride in-between times with that big old oaf. 1981 ‘J. Sturrock’ Suicide most Foul i. 25 He reckons to have a ride on her..even if he has to marry her to get it. |
h. for the ride: for fun; as an observer only.
colloq.| 1960 Wentworth & Flexner Dict. Amer. Slang 427/1 Ride, go along for the, to join in passively, usually for the fun of it, without making an active contribution. 1963 ‘J. Melville’ Burning is Substitute for Loving ii. 41 Everyone went to the supermarket for the ride. It was fun. 1968 Economist 12 Oct. 99/1 The pension funds could keep buying equities for the ride. 1971 M. Babson Cover-up Story xi. 122 They're a little nervous about getting a courtroom full of fans just along for the ride. 1977 J. Wainwright Nest of Rats ii. iv. 167, I wouldn't know—I am along strictly for the ride. |
i. spec. in
Surfing.
| 1968 Surfer Mag. Jan. 48/2 I'd try and get long rides. 1971 Times 9 Aug. 5/2 You compulsively turn and start paddling your board out to sea for ‘just one more ride’. 1975 Oxf. Compan. Sports & Games 1005/2 For a straight-wave ride, the surfer stands with flexed joints in a relaxed stance with one foot either side of the lateral and longitudinal centre line. |
2. a. A road or way made for riding on horseback,
esp. through a wood; a riding.
b. spec. The riding-course in Hyde Park, London.
| a. 1805 Trans. Soc. Arts XXIII. 139 Each separate division of the wood,..including fences, rides, and bog. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rural Sports i. i. vii. 64/1 In flying,..they may always be seen to take the same ride or break in the trees. 1864 J. Payn Sir Massingberd 14 Coming slowly along a long, broad ‘ride’,..was a youth of seventeen. 1898 Hewlett Forest Lovers xvi, She..crossed open rides in fear what either vista might set bare. |
| b. 1814 Sporting Mag. XLIII. 220 The ride being intended for the recreation of Noblemen, Gentlemen, &c. 1869 M. Arnold Epil. Lessing's Laocoön, We..reach'd the ride Where gaily flows the human tide. |
3. A batch of mounted recruits.
| 1833 Regul. & Instr. Cavalry i. 51 The Ride moves forward, preserving the dressing. 1896 Daily News 17 Jan. 3/3 The primary object of Lord Wolseley's visit was to inspect the ‘rides’. Ibid., Four selected rides of first-class recruits, who negotiated the jumps..with their arms folded. |
4. a. A saddle-horse; a mount. Freq. with qualifying
adj.| 1787 W. Marshall Rur. Econ. Norf. (1795) II. 386 Gloss., A Ride, a common name for a saddle-horse. 1904 County Gentleman 16 July 2096/3 Messrs. Ward's Stella, who in her day was a beautiful ride. 1949 ‘J. Tey’ Brat Farrar xiv. 123 He's a lovely ride. And he can jump anything you can see the sky over. 1963 A. Duggan Story of Crusades iv. 39 The warhorse was usually a stallion, which made it a nuisance in camp and an uncomfortable ride. 1977 Horse & Hound 10 June 36/1 (Advt.), Brown gelding... A great ride, would be ideal for Master. |
b. A motor vehicle.
N. Amer. slang.| 1930 Amer. Speech VI. 134 Ride, n., automobile. 1972 C. Milner Black Players v. 136 With his unspectacular conservative suits and modest ‘ride’ (a Toyota station wagon). |
c. A roundabout or other device on which one rides at an amusement park or fair. Chiefly
U.S.| 1934 in Webster. 1953 Amer. Speech XXVIII. 117 Kiddie rides, n., general term for the merry-go-round and other rides which attract children's patronage. 1966 T. Pynchon Crying of Lot 49 v. 121 Down at the city beach, long after the pizza stands and rides had closed, she walked unmolested. 1968 D. Braithwaite Fairground Archit. 103 In 1927 Joseph and Robert Lusse of Philadelphia produced an accomplished design. Since that time, ‘Dodg'ems’ have been the most consistently popular ride on the fairground. 1977 H. Fast Immigrants ii. 138 He'd go on all the rides with me. |
5. transf. a. A surging motion.
| 1822 Ainslie Land of Burns 207 The rack an' the ride o' the restless tide. |
b. Jazz slang. A swinging rhythm; also, an improvised passage in such a rhythm.
| 1936 Delineator Nov. 49/2 Ride, easy-going rhythm. 1952 B. Ulanov Hist. Jazz. in Amer. (1958) xi. 122 In that famous record he gave the chords of the tonic and the dominant a noisy ride. 1956 E. Hunter Second Ending i. 75 You give him all the hot rides. 1970 P. Oliver Savannah Syncopators 37 The ‘ride’ of a New Orleans jazz band, the ‘slow and easy’ slow-drag of a country blues band, have no counterpart in the forceful thrust of the multilineal drum rhythms. 1973 J. Wainwright Pride of Pigs 175 The washboard player tapped the off-beats..lifting the rhythm and giving it ride. |
6. a. The characteristic motion of a motor vehicle or other means of transport in respect of passenger comfort, smoothness, etc.
| 1937 [see ride-control below]. 1947 [see ride comfort below]. 1962 Which? Car Suppl. Oct. 126/2 The Sunbeam Rapier's ride was choppy. 1974 Country Life 21 Feb. 378/3 The ride is very comfortable, with normal road shocks eliminated before reaching the occupants. 1980 Times 29 Feb. 23 Ride is on the firm side, but acceptably so, and the same can be said of the seats. |
b. The quality of a horse's gait when being ridden.
| 1955 H. Smith Horseman through Six Reigns xix. 189 Most of the Irish hunters are shown fairly green... Their ride can either improve or deteriorate..after two or three years in England. 1955 Times 10 June 4/2 Mr. Deptford's grey Valeta..stood second, and Miss Wainwright's chestnut Lovely Boy third. With hacks nearly everything is in the ride. |
7. attrib. and
Comb., as (sense 1 a)
ride-sharing; (sense 1 f)
ride job,
ride killing; (sense 2 a)
ride-gate,
ride-path,
ride-side; (sense 5 b)
ride solo,
ride tempo; (sense 6 a)
ride characteristic,
ride comfort,
ride control,
ride height,
ride luxury;
ride cymbal, a cymbal used by jazz drummers for keeping up a continuous rhythm (
opp. to a
crash cymbal used mainly for single ‘crashes’).
| 1961 Which? Reports on Cars 14 Ride characteristics for driver and passenger are assessed subjectively and, where possible, measured by instruments. |
| 1947 Ride comfort [see gust effect s.v. gust n.1 3]. 1977 Lancashire Life Mar. 118/3, I..was impressed with its ride comfort over rough mountain roads. |
| 1937 Times 13 Apr. (Brit. Motor Suppl.) p. xxxviii/2 The chassis specification includes a 21-h.p. 6-cylinder engine..; ride-control hydraulic shock-absorbers front and rear. |
| 1956 M. Stearns Story of Jazz (1957) xviii. 234 Clarke made the single right-hand ‘ride’ or ‘top’ or ‘front’ cymbal the rhythmic center. 1965 Crescendo Oct. 10/1 The ride cymbal with snare/bass drum independence..is a free lesson for any student of jazz drumming. 1977 New Yorker 9 May 51/1 He had a ride cymbal, and he played it..four beats to the bar. |
| 1919 J. Masefield Reynard i. 53 A jam of horses in the spinney, Close to the ride-gate. |
| 1971 E. Afr. Standard (Nairobi) 10 Apr. 8/6 Suspension is fully independent all round, incorporating automatic ride-height control. 1978 Hot Car June 91/2 The ride-height of cars used for towing caravans and trailers. |
| 1955 People (Austral.) 5 Oct. 5/2 No policeman would have to risk being mistaken for a mobster doing a gangland ride job. |
| 1935 A. J. Pollock Underworld Speaks 96/2 Ride killing, when assassins take the victim for a ride in an automobile and slay him. |
| 1979 Jrnl. R. Soc. Arts Dec. 38/2, I shall always remember the impression of ride luxury when we first interconnected that Alvis. |
| 1892 B. Potter Jrnl. 25 Oct. (1966) 293 There were rights-of-way, ridepaths over the hills, notably by the Spittal. |
| 1973 Sunday Bull. (Philadelphia) 7 Oct. (Parade Suppl.) 14/3 The Minnesota Highway Department has set up a state employees' ride-sharing operation. 1977 Chicago Tribune 2 Oct. xiii. 3/2 For a considerable number of motorists polled, it would take $2 gasoline to push them into sacrificing pleasure driving or switching to..ride⁓sharing to get to their jobs. |
| 1943 J. W. Day Farming Adventure xvii. 187 For two miles we rode through half⁓grown timber, the ride-sides choked with thistles, blue- and red-headed, tangled with long grasses and tall flowering weeds. |
| 1949 Ebony June 41 When Willie plays a ride solo, he is better received than anyone else in the band. |
| 1940 Swing Jan. 25 The other side is Bugle Call Rag at ride tempo. |
▪ II. ride, n.2 dial. (
raɪd)
[Perh. f. ride v.: see sense 10.] The band or strap of a hinge for a door, gate, etc., fitting on to the hook.
| 1522 MS. Acc. St. John's Hosp., Canterb., Paied for a lytyll ryde for a hanse. 1591–2 in Archæol. Cantiana XVI. 186 For makinge a newe doore..the rydes, nayles and Woork. 1703 T. N. City & C. Purchaser 245, 10 pair of Hooks and Rides for Doors. 1838 Holloway Prov. Dict., Rides, the iron hinges fixed on a gate by means of which the gate is hung on the hooks in the post. 1853–87 in dial. glossaries (Kent, Surrey, Sussex). |
▪ III. ride, n.3 dial. [See wride n.] (See
quot. 1669.)
| 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agric. 275 A Ride of Hazel, or such like Wood, is a whole plump of Sprigs or Frith, growing out of the same Root. 1890– in dial. glossaries (Yks., Glouc., E. Anglia). |
▪ IV. ride obs. f. reed;
var. rithe, stream.
▪ V. † ride, a.1 Obs. rare.
Also
ryde.
[Of obscure origin: poss. for unride, but cf. also MLG. ryde violent (Theutonista).] Of blows: Violent, severe.
In
Bruce vi. 288 the
Edinb. MS. has
roid by mistake for
ride. It is doubtful whether
rydde men in the alliterative
Morte Arthur 4117 belongs here.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce xii. 557 Ther men mycht se..mony a riall rymmyll ryde Be roucht thair apon athir syde. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 9271 Then myȝt men se strokes ride, Gregeis feld on eche a syde. c 1470 Gol. & Gaw. 500 Yit sal I..reve thame thair rentis, with routis full ride. |
▪ VI. † ride, a.2 Obs.—1.
[f. by substitution of not for un- in unride.] Small, slight.
| c 1462 Wright's Chaste Wife 524 As he cam by hys hows syde He herd noyse that was nott ryde. |
▪ VII. ride, v. (
raɪd)
[Common Teutonic: OE. r{iacu}dan (rád, ridon, ᵹeriden), = OFris. rîda (mod.Fris. ride), MDu. rīden (Du. rijden), OS. -rîdan (MLG. rîden, ryden), OHG. rîtan, rîten (G. reiten), ON. r{iacu}ða (Norw. and Sw. rida, Da. ride). The pre-Teut. stem reidh- is represented by OIr. riadaim I travel, riad journey, Old Gaulish rēda chariot. OF. rider, ryder (Godef.) is prob. from Flemish.] A. Inflexional forms.
1. a. inf. (and
pres.) 1
r{iacu}dan, 2–4
riden, 3–5
ryden, 5
rydyn; 3–7
ryde (4
ryede), 5–7
Sc. ryd (6
rid), 3–
ride.
| c 900 tr. Bæda's Hist. iv. iii, Heht hine Theodor biscop ridan. a 1000 Riddles lxxx. 7 (Gr.), Hwilum ic on wloncum wicᵹe ride. c 1205 Lay. 432 Þa lette he riden vnirimed folc. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace 14818 An hauene hit is, schipes in to ryde. c 1350 Ipom. 1164 Where thou shalte goo or ryede. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 53 On his hunting as he cam ride. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 433/2 Rydyn, equito. 1483 Cath. Angl. 307/2 To Ryde, equitare. 1533 Gau Richt Vay 36 He sal rid apone ane ass. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. viii, Camels..they doe..lade, and ryde vppon. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. iii. iv. 318 Marry Ile ride your horse as well as I ride you. 1639 Sc. Acts Parl. (1814) V. 249 To ryde solemnlie to Parliament. |
b. 3
sing. pres. ind. 1–5
rit, 4–5
rytt, 4
ritt.
| c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. xxxiv. §7 Nan mon forðy ne rit [etc.]. c 1000 ælfric Gram. v. (Z.) 10 Hwa rit into ðam port? a 1225 Hali Meid. 18 Þe deofle..rit ham. 13.. Sir Beues (A.) 1260 In is wei forþ a rit. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. i. 186 Wher he ryt oþer rest. c 1400 [see B. 4]. |
2. pa. tense. α. 1
rád, 2–5
rad (3
ræd), 3–
rade, 5–
raid (5–6, 9
red, 6
rayde, 9
rayd,
raidd,
reayde,
reead,
ryad, etc.).
After 1300 these forms are only northern and Scottish.
| a 900 tr. Bæda's Hist. iii. ix, Sum mon rad be þære stowe. c 1123 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1123, Se king rad in his der fald. c 1205 Lay. 19516 Octa him ut ræd. a 1300 Cursor M. 11425 Quer þai rade [v.r. rad] or yode. 1375 Barbour Bruce xiv. 329 Toward Odymsy syne thai rayde. c 1440 Alph. Tales 310 He rade his ways. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 533 He raid ouir all Scotland. 1594 in Dalziel Scot. Poems 16th C. II. 347 Back w{supt} him I red. 1615 Sir W. Mure Misc. Poems xiv. 4 Quhill he liued, to Pluto [he] raid post. 1785 Burns Mauchline Lady, Where'er I gaed, where'er I rade. 1816 Scott Old Mort. xxvii, They..rade through the country, couping and selling a' that they gat. |
(
β) 3–8 (9
dial.)
rod, 4–5
rood, 6
roode,
rodde, 6–7
road(e, 4–
rode (9
dial. raud,
rwode).
| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 89 Ure helende rod þerone. c 1275 in O.E. Misc. 39 He..rod vppe on asse. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 202 He tok his hors and rod anon. c 1420 Sir Amadace (Camden) vi, Amadace..Rode furthe opon his way. 1536 Wriothesley Chron. (Camden) I. 51 Then she roode to Hunsdone agayne. 1565 Cooper Thes. s.v. Alcoranum, The asse, that Jesus rodde on. 1570–6 Lambarde Kent (1826) 359 He roade to London. 1653 Holcroft Procopius, Goth. Wars ii. 51 As the Romans rod back. a 1700 Ken Hymnoth. Poet. Wks. 1721 III. 42 On a pale Horse lean as himself, he rod. 1761 Gray Odin 3 Down the yawning steep he rode. 1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting 324 We rode a weary way. |
(
γ)
pl. 1
ridon(e,
rid-,
riod-,
reodan, 3
reoden, 3–5
riden, 4
rydden; (also
sing.) 5–6
ryd(de, 7
rydd, 6–7
ridde, 6–
rid; 6
rydyde.
| Beowulf 3170 Þa ymbe hlæw riodan hildedeore. c 900 O.E. Chron. (Parker MS.) an. 871, Þæs ymb iii. niht ridon ii. eorlas up. c 1127 ― (Laud MS.) an. 1127, Hi ridone on swarte hors. c 1205 Lay. 5507 Þat Romanisce floc riden [c 1275 reoden] heom bi-hinden. 13.. Coer de L. (W.) 4025 These rydden in the vawmewarde. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus i. 473 Wher-so men wente or riden. c 1489 Caxton Blanchardyn 83 So longe rydde blanchardyn. 1523 Ld. Berners Froissart I. xii. 12 And so [they] ryd forth on theyr iourneis. 1599 Hakluyt Voy. II. i. 15 His troopes..rid backe vpon the spurre. 1627 Lisander & Cal. ii. 33 The same footman..also ridde. 1714 Steele Lover No. 11 He rid an Hour and a half. 1823 Byron Juan xiii. xxiii, Henry rid Well, like most Englishmen. 1852 Thackeray Esmond ii. v, He rid to the end of the village. |
3. pa. pple. α. 3 (
h)iriden, 4–5
riden (5
-in,
-yn), 5
rydin,
-yn,
reden,
-yn(e,
-yng; 5
Sc. ryddin, 6
rydden,
Sc. ridne, 6–7
Sc. riddin(e, 5–
ridden (9
dial. rudden).
| c 1205 Lay. 24855 Heo beoð hider iriden. 1375 Barbour Bruce xiv. 326 Scottis men..in the forest War ryddin. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) 3, I hafe many tymes..riden it. 1461 Paston Lett. II. 4 My brother is redyn to Yarmowth. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 328 We haue ridden so nere. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. x. 406 Four myl scho had not ȝit ridne. 1639 Sc. Acts Parl. (1814) V. 254 These who..have..riddine before him. 1649 Milton Eikon. 5 A natural sottishness fit to be abus'd and ridd'n. 1741 Berkeley in Fraser Life (1871) 274 To be ridden and hood winked by the Pope. 1839 F. A. Kemble Resid. Georgia (1863) 265, I have ridden..over it in every direction. |
(
β) 4
i-ride,
y-ride, 5
i-ryde; 4
ride, 4–6
ryde; 4, 6–7
ridde, 4–6
ryd, 7–
rid (9
dial. red).
| c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 3093 (Kölbing), Þei he fer hadde yride. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 181 This Consul..was into the feldes ride. c 1400 Solomon's Bk. Wisdom 250 So fer to haue iryde. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 306 They had not ryd halfe a league. 1664 H. More Exp. 7 Epist. 130 They have not rid upon white Horses. 1703 Farquhar Inconstant i. i, We have rid a swinging pace. 1798 Jane Austen Northang. Abb. x, He has rid out this morning with my father. |
(
γ) 6–
rode, 7 (9
dial.)
rod.
| 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, v. iii. 98 Helter skelter haue I rode to thee. a 1699 A. Halkett Autobiog. (Camden) 10 And had Rod up and downe that part of the country. 1788 Trifler No. 18 We might in a few years behold a sweepstakes rode by women. 1835 Moore Mem. (1856) VII. 92 Tom having rode thither direct. 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits, Result, The swarms which.. have sailed, and rode, and traded. |
B. Signification.
I. intr. 1. a. To sit upon, and be carried by, a horse or other animal; to move about, make one's way, or journey upon horseback (or, in
mod. use, on a cycle).
Freq.
const. on,
upon,
† of, the horse, etc., and with prepositional or adverbial complements, as
at,
against,
over,
to;
away,
forth,
on,
out,
up, etc.
| Beowulf 1893 Landweard..him toᵹeanes rad. a 900 tr. Baeda's Hist. iii. xxviii, Nalæs ridende on horse, ac..on his fotum gangende. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxi. 5 Þin cyning..rit uppan tamre assene. 1154 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1137, Ᵹif twa men oþer iii. coman ridend to an tun. c 1200 Ormin 6966 Þatt follc rideþþ onn a der Þatt iss Dromeluss nemmnedd. c 1250 Gen. & Exod. 3953 Ðus rideð forð ðis man for-loren. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 179 Þo rouland to hem rade, Oȝain him gun þai ride. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 1548 Alday þai riden & noȝt ne aliȝt. c 1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 129 What knight is yon That rideth of Gwynanes stede? 1470–85 Malory Arthur ix. xxviii. 382 He rydeth wel that neuer fylle. 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. (1562) 72 And so ridde awaie, as faste as his horse could cary him. a 1599 Spenser F.Q. vii. vii. 43 Lastly came cold February, sitting In an old wagon, for he could not ride. 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 240 We..rode over the place of burial of the Turks. 1658 Franck North. Mem. (1821) 146 He carelessly rid along to view the country. 1722 De Foe Hist. Plague (1754) 181 The Aldermen in Person, and on Horseback frequently rid to such Houses. 1782 Cowper J. Gilpin 251 And, when he next doth ride abroad, May I be there to see! 1825 Scott Talism. i, The long steel-headed lance,..which, as he rode, projected backwards. 1850 R. G. Cumming Hunter's Life S. Afr. (ed. 2) I. 98 At which time they can easily be ridden into. 1894 A. Morrison M. Hewitt iii, Osmond, I believe, was better than any man riding now. |
| fig. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. iii. 184 And ich my-self cyuyle and symonye my felawe Wollen ryden vp-on rectours. 1529 Skelton Bouge of Court 472, I hate these wayes..: Were I as you, I wolde ryde them full nere. 1581 Burne Disput. 156 Ye Ministeris in Scotland ryd als neir thame [the Anabaptists] as ye may. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 216 Riding on quite through the Alphabet. c 1742 Gray Hymn to Ignorance 28 She [Ignorance] rode triumphant o'er the vanquish'd world. 1803 J. Porter Thaddeus xxii, A young guardsman, who had just rode into her heart. 1869 Hughes Alfred 160 A desire to ride off on side issues. |
b. In
pa. pple. with
is,
was, etc. Now
arch. or
Obs.| c 1205 Lay. 19495 Alle heo..þat hider beoð iridenen. 1375 Barbour Bruce xix. 596 His men..War rydyn in-till a randoune. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 181 This Consul..was into the feldes ride. 1461 Paston Lett. II. 4 My brother is redyn to Yarmowth. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iv. iii. 2 The King himselfe is rode to view their Battaile. 1633 Ford Love's Sacrifice ii. ii, Now when the duke is rid abroad. 1742 Richardson Pamela III. 308 My Brother..and Mr. H. are all rid out together. 1761 F. Sheridan S. Bidulph II. 296 One of the gentlemen is rid off for a surgeon. 1778 F. Burney Evelina lxiii, Is he rode out this morning? |
c. With
ns. denoting the rate of progress, as
to ride a (good) pace,
gallop, etc.
Also
to ride whip and spur: see
whip n.| 13.. Coer de L. 2773 Our men..gunnen to ryde swythe gret randoun. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus v. 60 Forth she rit..a pas. a 1425 Cursor M. 11657 (Trin.), Marie folewed ridyng good paas. 1470–85 Malory Arthur i. xxii. 69 He rode a grete wallop tyll he cam to the fontayne. 1523 Ld. Berners Froissart I. 228 He..rode forthe a gret galoppe. 1549– [see post adv.]. 1617 [see gallop n. 3 a]. 1703 Farquhar Inconstant i. i, We have rid a swinging pace from Nemours. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones xi. ii, He..rode a full gallop. 1788 C. Reeve Exiles II. 3 Adam..rode full speed up to the house. |
d. With other complements, as
to ride bodkin,
ride booty,
ride pillion, etc.
to ride for a fall, to ride recklessly, so as to be liable to a fall;
usu. fig. to ride grub: (see
grub n. 3 b).
| 1631 Shirley Love's Cruelty iii. ii, Would you durst no better ride booty at the horse match! 1654 Whitlock Zootomia 424 If Fortune had been one of the Jockeys, and rid booty, the three to one hath lost the Prize. 1760 Sterne Tr. Shandy iv. xvi, To have so many jarring elements..riding triumph in every corner of a gentleman's house. 1861 Pycroft Agony Point I. xix. 294 Her maid by special agreement riding bodkin all the way. 1884 E. W. Hamilton Diary 16 Jan. (1972) II. 544 He [sc. Goschen] believes that C. [sc. Chamberlain] is ‘riding for a fall’ and has doubts as to his loyalty towards Mr. G. 1895 Pall Mall Mag. Mar. 520 Roy Branton, who rode pillion, had an opportunity of studying his pilot's pretty hair. 1898 Allbutt's Syst. Med. V. 910 Her husband..has ridden for his falls. 1904 G. B. Shaw Let. 31 Dec. (1972) II. 479, I conclude that on turning it over you have concluded that you had better ride for a fall than face the economies that would be needed to allow the shop to clear itself. 1951 J. D. Salinger Catcher in Rye xxiv. 242, I have a feeling that you're riding for some kind of a terrible, terrible fall. 1963 Review & Herald 31 Jan. 7/3 People who spread their physical favors around over all the available members of the opposite sex are riding for a fall in the realm of final, lasting happiness with any one person. |
e. To serve in a cavalry regiment.
| 1711 Steele Spect. 152 ¶3, I remember two young Fellows who rid in the same Squadron of a Troop of Horse. 1796 Grose's Dict. Vulgar T. s.v. Ride, He rode private, i.e. was a private trooper. 1806 M. Noble Hist. Eng. III. 314 Wishing to have a commission he rode as a private in the guards. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. ix. II. 516 The military ardour which he had felt twenty-eight years before, when he rode in the Life Guards. |
f. Of persons: To weigh when mounted.
| 1836 Sir G. Stephen Search of Horse i, Be it known, then, that I ride rather more than twelve stone. 1857 G. Lawrence Guy Liv. iii, He rode little under fourteen stone. |
g. To sit on and manage a horse properly.
| 1881 M. E. Braddon Asph. I. 167 He can stick in his saddle somehow,..but he can't ride. |
h. to ride herd on (rarely, over): to guard and control (a herd of cattle) by riding on its perimeter; also
transf., to keep guard over, be in charge of, keep in check; to boss, subject to discipline.
N. Amer.| 1897 A. H. Lewis Wolfville xviii. 235 The way them pore darkened drunkards rides herd on each other..is as good as sermons. 1902 ― Wolfville Nights xviii. 266 I'm romancin' leesurly along the street when I encounters a party who's ridin' herd on one of these yere telescopes. 1906 H. Green At Actors' Boarding House 367 Buck was riding herd on all the Dutch ovens in camp, filled with baking bannocks. 1940 Variety 3 Apr. 39 The name bands are come on for the record jockeys who ride herd over not only Decca records but all the others. 1944 Sun (Baltimore) 17 Nov. 8/6 Her mother-in-law..and a cousin of her husband..arrived in Albany to-day to ride herd on the Dewey small fry. 1955 R. P. Hobson Nothing too Good for Cowboy vi. 51 Some of the horses would be night horses for riding herd on the cattle. 1973 Whig-Standard (Kingston, Ontario) 11 Aug. 7/1, I was riding herd on a hundred head of beeves. 1977 ‘E. McBain’ Long Time no See xi. 172 Two men who should be taking care of people getting robbed or mugged, go to waste our time instead riding herd on a bunch of street hoodlums. |
i. Jazz slang. To play with an easy or easily flowing rhythm.
| 1929 T. Waller (record title) Ridin' but walkin'. 1933 Melody Maker 23 Dec. 7/1 Ellington..never played the sort of music to cause Sonny Green to ‘ride’ in the Sidney-Mansie manner. 1938 Metronome Feb. 25 When they ride, you can't help getting a lift. 1977 J. Wainwright Do Nothin' xi. 184 When Ellington opens on an eight-bar piano intro..you know that..when the full outfit starts leaning back and riding, you are going to be lifted cloud-high. |
j. ―
rides again: someone or something makes a reappearance,
usu. under different or unexpected circumstances or in modified form.
| 1939 (film title) Destry rides again. 1941 Pleasures of Publishing (Columbia Univ. Press) 3 Feb., Our good friend Helen Bower of the Detroit Free Press sends us a circular which..is headed, ‘Blackstone Rides Again’, and is an announcement for a new edition of Blackstone's Commentaries. 1961 C. Willock Death in Covert xii. 203 One headline said: Regency Rakes Ride Again. 1972 J. Wainwright Requiem for Loser iv. 72 The publisher said: ‘A sequel?’..He [sc. the author] said: ‘What d'you think we should call it? Drover Rides Again, or Son of Drover?’ 1977 I. Shaw Beggarman, Thief iii. iv. 240 Willie Abbott rides again. |
k. to ride work: to exercise a racehorse.
| 1950 Landfall IV. 19 Gordon, did you know I ride work now in the mornings? 1959 M. Gee in C. K. Stead N.Z. Short Stories (1966) 271 He'd ridden work on the horse and knew her well. 1979 D. Francis Whip Hand vi. 74 A work jockey is a lad who rides work on the gallops. Ibid. xiv. 174 My girl assistant says she saw you riding work on the Heath. |
l. spec. in
Surfing.
| 1963 Observer 13 Oct. 15/4 Riding a wave gives me a feeling of control. I know when I'm riding well and when I'm not. 1975 Oxf. Compan. Sports & Games 1005/2 A surfer who prefers to ride with his right foot forward is called a ‘goofy footer’. |
m. to ride shotgun: to travel as an (armed) guard in the seat next to the driver of a vehicle. Hence
transf. and
fig., to act as a protector; to ride in the passenger seat of a motor vehicle. Chiefly
U.S.| 1963 B. S. Johnson Travelling People v. 107 And if you want anyone to ride shotgun for you, just you let Henry know. 1966 National Observer (U.S.) 26 Dec. 1/2 The gunships ‘ride shotgun’ on the highly vulnerable, more lightly armed transports. 1971 M. Tak Truck Talk 131 Ride shotgun, to ride in the passenger seat of the tractor. 1972 National Observer (U.S.) 27 May 1/1 Bob Earle was riding shotgun when suddenly my car skidded hard, its rear whipping out to the right. 1972 J. Wambaugh Blue Knight (1973) xv. 284 On nightwatch it's comforting sometimes to have someone riding shotgun or walking beside you. 1976 Wymondham & Attleborough Express 3 Dec. 2 He offered to ride shotgun for me. 1980 Times 21 Jan. 5/2 It was quite by chance that The Times found itself riding shotgun for the Red Army. |
2. spec. To go on horseback upon a warlike expedition; to go upon, take part in, a raid or foray. In later use
Sc. and now
arch.| c 1205 Lay. 432 Þa lette he riden vnirimed folc. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 2583 Þou may haue hit..To ride ȝyf þat þou wile bygynne. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 45 Fro the tyme that he first bigan To riden out, he loued chiualrie. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy i. 603 Alysaundre..Rood in his conqueste..With al his hooste. c 1420 Brut (E.E.T.S.) 321 Þe Frensshe men breken þe pees.., ryding on the Kinges ground. 1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel 196 Theis people..ryde and rinne from Carlyll to Kente. 1550 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 86 That nane of thame tak upoun hand to ryde in Ingland or to mak ony perturbatioun thairintill. 1561 Ibid. 186 Gif it be thocht expedient..that ony persone..be riddin on and invadit be fyre and swerd. a 1639 Earl of Monmouth Mem. (1759) 119 Not so few as two hundred..that were ever ready to ride with them to all actions. 1802 Scott Border Minstrelsy (1869) 249 The rapacity of this clan, and of their allies, the Elliots, occasioned the popular saying, ‘Elliots and Armstrongs ride thieves all’. 1824 ― Redgauntlet let. xi, As if a tenant could have helped riding with the Laird. 1897 E. W. Hamilton Outl. Marches 7 Others of the Scots rode into England. |
b. To go in procession on horseback. In later use
Sc. (
cf. 13 b).
| 1466 Cal. Rec. Dublin (1889) I. 324 For procession and pylgrymage, and hors for rydyng at Corpus Christi. 1495–6 in Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. IV. 212 All they of the xxxiiij that hath be maire shall ride in scarlett ayenste the Kynge. 1530 Ibid. 216 Mr. Mayer and all his brethren shall ride on Seynt Osmundy's evyn..in maner folowyng. 1606 Sc. Acts Parl. (1814) IV. 279 The haill Estaittis of Parliament will convene and ryd with thair honouris with crowne, sword, and sceptour. 1637–50 Row Hist. Kirk (Wodrow) 223 Mr. David Lindesay..and Mr. Johne Spotiswood..did ryde in Parliament as commissioners fra the Kirk. Ibid., At Perth the Parliament did not ryde. |
3. To mount the female; to copulate. (
Cf. 16.)
Now only in low and indecent language.
| a 1250 Owl & Night. 494 He ne rekþ of clennesse,..Ac euerich vp oþer rideþ. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xi. 329 As whan þei hadde ryde in rotey tyme. 1393 Ibid. C. xiv. 154 Man and hus make..out of reson..ryde. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §37 He maye suffre his rammes to goo with his ewes..to blyssomme or ryde whan they wyll. a 1659 Osborn Charac. Wks. (1673) 664 In case any ride double, he proclaims them Man and Wife. 1719 D'Urfey Pills IV. 141, I will..find out a Russet-coat Wench and a Hay-cock, And there I will ride Tan-tivee. |
4. a. To be conveyed, to travel or journey,
in a wheeled or other vehicle. (
Cf. ride n.1 1 a.)
Now chiefly of travelling in public vehicles: see
drive v.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 4657 To ride ai quar in kinges char. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. iv. 27 On a wayn witti and wisdame I-feere Folweden hem..And Riden faste. c 1400 Mandeville (1839) 241 He rytt in a Charett with 4 Wheles. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 238 b, Her Grace..alyghted out of her Chariot in the whych she had rydden all her long iourney. 1634 Milton Comus 135 Stay thy cloudy Ebon chair, Wherin thou rid'st with Hecat’, and befriend Us thy vow'd priests. 1667 Pepys Diary 13 Feb., I rid with my sword drawn in the coach. 1746 H. Walpole Lett. (1846) II. 132 The Duke has given Brigadier Mordaunt the Pretender's coach, on condition he rode up to London in it. 1788 A. Hughes Henry & Isabella IV. 165, I am going to send the coach to town.., and..you may ride in it. 1810 Splendid Follies II. 19, I never rode with such a disagreeable driver in my life. 1844 S. R. Maitland Dark Ages 307 Gerard..always rode in a carriage, reading his own books. 1886 Elworthy W. Somerset Wordbk. s.v., You can jump in the train and ride so var's [= far as] Norton. |
b. To be carried or drawn about (
on or
† in a cart, hurdle, rail, etc.) as a punishment. (
Cf. cart v. 2.)
| 1556 Chron. Grey Friars (Camden) 70 A tayler of Fletstret & hys syster rydde in a carte abowte London..for avouttre. 1632 Massinger City Madam iii. i, I'll hang you both, you rascals! I can but ride! 1777 Sheridan Sch. Scand. ii. i, Ah! many a wretch has rid on a hurdle who has done less mischief. 1872 Schele de Vere Americanisms 194 Riding on a rail..is a savage punishment inflicted by an excited crowd upon a person who has exasperated a community by some real or fancied outrage. |
c. Mining. (See
quots.)
| 1860 Eng. & Foreign Mining Gloss. (ed. 2) 61 Ride, to ascend up the pit. 1883 Gresley Gloss. Coal-mining, Ride, to be in a cage or bowk whilst descending or ascending a pit-shaft. |
5. To sit or be carried
on or
upon something after the manner of one on horseback;
† to hang
on the gallows,
in a rope, etc.
| Beowulf (Z.) 2446 Swa bið ᵹeomorlic gomelum ceorle to ᵹebidanne þæt his byre ride ᵹiong on galᵹan. c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. xxxvi. §6 Ða cild ridað on hiora stafum. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xxxv. 34 Jonet the weido on ane bussome rydand. a 1585 Montgomerie Flyting 96 Goe ride in a raipe for this noble new ȝeir. 1596 [see fiddlestick 1]. 1605 Shakes. Macb. iv. i. 138 Infected be the Ayre whereon they ride. 1610 ― Temp. ii. i. 115, I saw him beate the surges vnder him, And ride vpon their backes. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 663 The Night-Hag, when call'd In secret, riding through the Air she comes. 1697 Dryden Virg. Geog. ii. 212 Nor in so vast a length our Serpents glide, Or rais'd on such a spiry Volume ride. 1834 Mudie Brit. Birds (1841) I. 109 The bird rides lightly on the wind. 1892 Rider Haggard Nada 7 She carried my little sister Baleka riding on her hip. |
| fig. 1601 Shakes. All's Well iii. ii. 112 O you leaden messengers, That ride vpon the violent speede of fire. 1784 Cowper Task i. 369 Constant rotation of th'unwearied wheel That nature rides upon. 1812 Byron Ch. Har. i. xxxviii, Death rides upon the sulphury Siroc. 1816 Ibid. iii. xliv, Their breath is agitation, and their life A storm whereon they ride. |
6. a. Of horses, etc.: To admit of being ridden; to carry a rider; to ‘go’.
| 1470–85 Malory Arthur ii. vi. 82 Thenne he..was ware of a damoysel that came ryde ful fast as the hors myghte ryde. 1598 Rous Thule O 3, The horse whose back the tamer oft bestrides, At length with easie pace full gently rides. 1632 Lithgow Trav. vi. 298 The Dromidory..will ride aboue 80. miles in the day. 1692 Lond. Gaz. No. 2792/4 A Chestnut Gelding,..rideth gracefully, paceth a little. 1714 Ibid. No. 5195/4 Commonly Rides with her Tongue out of her Mouth. 1805 Spirit Publ. Jrnls. IX. 352 Can you get me a nag That will ride very quiet? |
b. Of a stream: To allow of crossing on horseback.
Sc.| 17.. Jock o' the Side xxvii, Honest man, will the water ride? 1890–1 in Eng. Dial. Dict. |
c. Of land: To be of a specified character for riding upon; to bear riding upon.
| 1864 M. J. Higgins Ess. (1875) 200 Its soil..rode quite as clean and sound as the Nottinghamshire dukeries ride. 1889 Crommelin & Brown V. Vyvian III. xii. 207 Rain..made the ground ride soft. 1931 Daily Express 21 Sept. 15/4 The course rode dead, and was not in favour of weight-carrying. 1974 Country Life 3 Oct. 925/3 While there were refusals in plenty, most of them due to rider-failure, the course rode well. |
d. Of a motor vehicle: to admit of being driven, in respect of passenger comfort, etc.
Cf. ride n.1 6 a.
| 1973 Milestones Winter 27/3 The car rode quite well, handling bad surfaces with aplomb. |
II. 7. a. Of vessels: To lie
at (or
† on) anchor; also
to (or
† at)
an anchor.
| Beowulf 1882 Sægenga bad aᵹendfrean, se þe on ancre rad. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 197 This grete Schip on Anker rod. 14.. Sailing Directions (Hakl. Soc.) 15 A man that ridith in the way of odierene at an ankre. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 175 He the shypmen preyid hertyly..To rydyn on ankyr a whyl ther by. 1598 [see anchor n.1 6 a]. 1624 Capt. Smith Virginia (1629) 56 Long they shot, we still ryding at an anchor without there reatch. 1698 Froger Voy. 4 The next day we likewise rode at anchor. 1745 P. Thomas Jrnl. Anson's Voy. 276 We rid fast at an Anchor. 1812 J. Wilson Isle of Palms ii. 185 He sees a stately vessel ride At anchor in a bay. 1894 Hall Caine Manxman iii. x. 160 A schooner riding to an anchor in the bay. |
| fig. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet ch. iii, This..snug little road-stead, where I thought to ride at anchor for life. |
b. ellipt. in the same sense. Also with
compl., as
to ride across,
ride a-peak,
ride hawse-full, etc. (see these words).
| a 1300 K. Horn 146 Bi þe se side Hi leten þat schup ride. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 968 Dido, But forth they gon & lafte his schepis ryde. 14.. Sailing Directions (Hakl. Soc.) 13 Yif ye be bounde to Caleis haven and Ride in the Doowns. 1497 Naval Accts. Hen. VII (1896) 252 In Portesmouth haven..the seid Ship rode betwyxt the Towre & the dokke. 1555 Eden Decades (Arb.) 381 In the rode yow shall ryde in .xiij. or .xiiij. fadomes, good owes & sande. 1627 Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. ix. 45 To ride betwixt wind and tide, is when the wind and tide are contrary and of equall power. 1668 Lond. Gaz. No. 286/4 Sir Thomas Allen with his squadron is still riding at Spitthead. 1712 W. Rogers Voy. (1718) 244 Capt. Dampier..never rode where we did, which is the best and only good road in the island. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §148 The Buss had rode perfectly easy in the gale of wind. 1832 Marryat N. Forster xiii, The shipping..with a heavy strain on their cables were riding to the S.E. gale. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 39 Ground which is suitable..for ships to ride in safety upon. |
| fig. 1666 Third Advice to a Painter 27 Well George, in spite of them thou safe dost ride. |
† c. In
phr. to ride admiral.
Obs.| 1660 Hickeringill Jamaica viewed (1661) 72 He's unfit to ride Admiral of a Fleet, that cannot carry the Flag at home. 1697 Phil. Trans. XIX. 597 The Ambassador was Complemented by Sir Jeremy Smith, then riding Admiral. |
| fig. 1689 Shadwell Bury Fair i. i, What lady rides Admiral here at Bury. 1713 M. Henry Admonit. Drunkards Wks. 1853 I. 95/2 When reason is sunk and drowned, rage and passion will ride admiral. |
8. To float or move upon the water; to sail,
esp. in a buoyant manner.
| a 1000 Genesis (Gr.) 1392 He þæt scip beleac. Siððan wide rad wolcnum under ofer holmes hrincg hof seleste. a 1300 Cursor M. 1843 On þe streme þat arche can ride. 13.. Propr. Sanct. (Vernon MS.) in Herrig's Archiv LXXXI. 112/82 Whil crist in þat hul abod, Þe schip a-midde þe see rod. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxii. 102 Fra þis citee may men ride in schippe or in bate by þat riuer. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 3486 [They] reden hamewarde fast w{supt} seylle & hore. 1555 Eden Decades (Arb.) 66 Saylinge by the coastes of Iohanna..he rode lyttell lesse then eyght hundreth miles. 1643 Jrnl. Ho. Comm. 13 Apr., To appoint a Ship to ride Northward, for the Relief of Berwick. 1688 Prior Ode Exodus iii, ii, Yet cease to hope thy short-liv'd Bark shall ride Down spreading Fate's unnavigable Tide. 1757 Gray Bard 72 While proudly riding o'er the azure realm, In gallant trim the gilded vessel goes. 1839 Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. II. 450/2 This is effected by what is called riding on the wave. 1850 Thackeray Pendennis l[i]x, It has been prosperous, and you are riding into port. 1887 Bowen Virg. æneid v. 862 Not less safely and swiftly the fleet rides over the wave. |
9. a. Of things: To move in any way, to be carried or supported, after the manner of one riding.
In
fig. uses hardly distinct from sense 5.
| a 1586 Montgomerie Misc. Poems xxviii. 41 The busteous blast..Quhilk ramping ouer his rigging ryds. 1600 Surflet Countrie Farme iii. liii. 553 A droppe of oile dropped vpon your hand, if there be any moisture,..it will swim and ride aloft vpon the same. 1674 Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 196 None of those rayes of other atoms..come riding or drilling through both. 1771 Luckombe Hist. Print. 322 That the Carriage may ride so far out, as that the irons of the Tympan may just rise free. 1840 Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. III. 5/2 The eccentrics are then brought into the position shown in the drawing, riding clear of the rails. 1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 2466 By means of the straps..[they] can be carried on the shoulders, where they ride the lightest. |
| fig. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iii. iii. 18 But let thy dauntlesse minde still ride in triumph, Ouer all mischance. 1605 ― Lear i. ii. 198 On whose foolish honestie My practises ride easie. 1679 Dryden Troil. & Cress. iv. ii, Hinder us not,..My blood rides high as his. 1770 Jenner Placid Man i. iv, Philosophy and love for his brother had so long rode triumphant. 1848 Mrs. Gaskell Mary Barton ix, The distress which was riding..among the people. |
b. Of the heavenly bodies: To appear to float in space. Freq. with
high.
| 1632 Milton Penseroso 68 To behold the wandring Moon, Riding neer her highest noon. 1667 ― P.L. i. 769 In spring time, when the Sun with Taurus rides. 1727 Dyer Grongar Hill 11 While Phœbus, riding high, Gives lustre to the land and sky. 1825 Scott Talism. xii, The moon rode clear and high in heaven. 1871 C. Kingsley At Last i, To see Sirius..riding high in a December heaven. |
| fig. 1821 Shelley Hellas 273 The lamp of our dominion still rides high. |
c. To pursue a course without intervention; to rest without further elaboration; to pass without comment; chiefly in
phr. to let (something) ride, to leave alone; to allow to take its natural course.
| 1921 S. Ford Inez & Trilby May iii. 52 If I'd been brought up in a pawn shop I might describe 'em better, but, being no gem expert, I'll have to let it ride at that. 1933 H. L. Ickes Diary 14 Nov. (1953) I. 121, I was assured through Marx that the thing would be allowed to ride. 1938 ‘R. Hyde’ Nor Years Condemn 171 Ah, let her ride and see what happens. 1944 R. Chandler Lady in Lake xi. 63 ‘Kind of smelly work, to my notion.’ I let that ride. 1959 H. Holt Wreath for Lady xi. 68 ‘We'll let it ride like that for the present,’ said the detective. 1961 J. Wade Back to Life vi. 56, I let it ride. I couldn't be bothered to reply. 1975 J. Symons Three Pipe Problem xvi. 158 You think you can just let it ride? |
10. a. To rest or turn
on or
upon something of the nature of a pivot, axle, or protuberance. Also
fig.| 1597 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, v. ii. 84 If life did ride vpon a Dials point. 1606 ― Tr. & Cr. i. iii. 67 Strong as the Axletree In which the Heauens ride. 1665 Phil. Trans. I. 10 Between the Fore-leggs and the Hinder-leggs was a great Stone on which the Calf rid. 1683 Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing xvi, He..tries whether or not the Lyner ride upon the part that was extuberant. 1805 Dickson Pract. Agric. I. Pl. xi, An Improved Harrow, with running bulls: By this contrivance the harrows are prevented from riding on each other. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm I. 170 Try by a searching motion of the legs and feet whether any of the stones ride upon others. 1956 B. Holiday Lady sings Blues (1973) viii. 76, I knew that night I had the future of the whole band riding on me. 1964 G. B. Schaller Year of Gorilla (1965) iv. 87 They had tried to raise pigs and failed, and their luck now rode on a crop of turnips. 1972 Village Voice (N.Y.) 1 June 70/4 Basically, however, the election will ride on Lowenstein. 1976 National Observer (U.S.) 25 Sept. 10/2 A lot was riding on grapes, but the quality of the white wine made from the postwar harvest was poor. |
b. To extend or project
over something.
| 1601 Holland Pliny II. 594 To bind the stones wel, they ought in alternatiue course to ride and reach one ouer another halfe. 1634 T. Johnson Parey's Chirurg. xv. viii. (1678) 332 You must have a care [in fracture] that the bones ride not one over another. 1880 Huxley Crayfish 98 The pleura..even ride over the posterior edges of the branchiostegites. |
c. ellipt. in previous senses. Also
Naut. of a rope (see
quot. 1769).
| 1683 Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing xvi, To know which of them it is that Rides, or is extuberant, he uses the Liner. 1741 Phil. Trans. XLI. 564 In oblique Fractures of the Thigh, where the Bones are apt to ride. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780) s.v. Riding, A rope is said to ride, when one of the turns by which it is wound about the capstern or windlass lies over another, so as to interrupt the operation of heaving. 1784 J. Barry in Lect. on Art (1848) 141 Their toes are even pressed close together, and ride, as is seen in the feet of those that have been accustomed to wear tight shoes. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm I. 170 When the stones ride, they have not been properly bedded in mortar. 1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 2799 It prevents the chain from riding, in paying out or heaving in. 1888 Jacobi Printer's Voc. s.v., When leads are pieced in wide measures they sometimes shift and overlap each other. They are then said to ‘ride’. |
11. a. dial. (See
quot.)
| 1736 Pegge Alph. Kent (E.D.S.) 43 The raddishes ‘ride’, i.e. rise upon the stomach. 1887–93 in Kent and Surrey glossaries. |
b. Of a dress, etc.: To work
up so as to form folds or creases; to ruck.
| 1854 A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss. s.v., A badly made gown rides up more in one place than another. 1881 Mrs. P. O'Donoghue Ladies on Horseback 253 Short-skirted hunting-habits frequently ride up. 1890 Dialect Notes I. 19 Your collar rides up behind. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 528 The scanty, daringly short skirt, riding up at the knee to show a peep of white pantelette, is a potent weapon. 1951 Sunday Times 28 Oct. 11/4 ‘Ski pyjamas’ with deeply-ribbed ankles and wrist-bands that won't ride up. 1971 Guardian 24 Aug. 9/1 The pantie..holds the blouse from riding up. |
III. trans. 12. To traverse on horseback; to ride over, along, or through:
a. a certain distance. Also with cognate accusative, as
to ride a race,
course,
circuit,
match, etc.
| c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 49/80 He ne rod bote wel luyte wei, are he feol to grounde. a 1300 Cursor M. 11385 Elles moght not kinges thre Haf raght to ride sa ferre wai. c 1420 Avow. Arth. xxxii, Gawan hase my rawunsun made For a course that he rode. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iii. iii. 222 [We] haue thirtie miles to ride yet ere dinner time. 1599 in Fowler Hist. C.C.C. (O.H.S.) 352 The Fellows whom the rest appoint for the time to ride the circuit with the President. 1617 Sir E. Mountagu in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 251 My brother..rid in two days a hundred miles. 1736 Pegge Alph. Kent (E.D.S.) 43 To ride tythe,..to ride about for that purpose [of collecting tithes]. 1778 Foote Cozeners 1, But were you to see him on the turf, at Newmarket,..Why, he has rid matches. 1782 Cowper Gilpin 115 He rides a race! 'Tis for a thousand pound! 1808 Scott Marm. i. xxii, We can neither hunt, nor ride A foray on the Scottish side. 1853 G. J. Cayley Las Alforjas II. 152 These poor wretches, who have to ride three or four hundred miles on end without stoppage of more than two hours. |
b. a road or way, a street, a stretch of ground or country, etc.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. iv. 42 Þanne resoun rode faste þe riȝte heiȝe gate. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 52 Whene he thys rewmes hade redyne and rewlyde the popule. 1464 Paston Lett. II. 145 It is seid that the Kyng wold ride Sussex, Kent, Essex, Suffolk, and Norffolk, and so to the Parlement. 1525 Ld. Berners Froissart II. 181 The duke rode the fronters of Galyce. 1592 Marlowe Massacre Paris i. iv, The Lord High Admiral, Riding the streets, was traitorously shot. 1648 Lanc. Tracts Civil War (Chetham Soc.) 263 Twelve miles of such ground as I never rod in all my life. 1706 E. Baynard Cold Baths ii. 376, I rode, quoth he, the cold Hills every Morning. 1787 ‘G. Gambado’ Acad. Horsem. (1809) 43 In riding the road, observe [etc.]. 1850 Mrs. Browning Duchess May lxv, May the sweet Heavens hear thee plead If he rides the castle-wall. 1876 Morris Sigurd iv. 309 Three days they ride that country. |
c. a boundary, etc., for the purpose of maintaining or reviving a clear knowledge of it. (See also
quot. 1877.)
| 1421 Cov. Leet-bk. 33 Hit is ordenyd that the fraunches of this Cite be Ryden this yere within the monyth of May. 1476 Rental-bk. Cupar-Angus (1875) I. 204 He sal kep and defend our marchis as tha war redyng at the last ridyng. 1572 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford (1880) 341 The francheses of this Cytie shalbe ryd according to auncient custom. 1733 W. Crawford Man. agst. Infid. (1836) 106 To ride the marches between good and evil. 1798 Statist. Acc. Scot., Dunkeld XX. 441 It is customary to ride the marches, occasionally, so as to preserve in the memory of the people the limits of their property. 1816 in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. (1886) II. 316 The day on which the Liberties were rode. 1877 N. Linc. Gloss. s.v., The surveyor of the court of sewers is said to ride the drains when he goes to overlook them. |
d. a river or water. Also in
fig. use.
| 1501 Douglas Pal. Hon. ii. xxxix, We raid the swift riuer Sparthiades. a 1670 Spalding Troub. Chas. I (1850) I. 198 They could not ride the water, it being great. 1774 D. Jones Jrnl. (1865) 18 Several ferries are kept on it, tho' it may frequently be rode in the summer season. 1790 Scott Let. 6 Aug. in Lockhart, The servant was waiting there with our horses, as we were to ride the water. 1896 E. Durh. Gloss., He's not safe to ride the water with. |
13. a. To pursue, proceed upon (one's way, etc.) on horseback.
In
OE. with genitive, as
þonne rideð ælc his weᵹes (ælfred
Oros. i. i. 21).
| a 1300 Cursor M. 11427 Þir kinges rides forth þair rade. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 94 Ryd thanne forth thi wey. c 1450 Merlin 202 Thei rode so her iournes till thei com to Tarsaide. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xxxv. (Percy Soc.) 184, I..made me ready for to ride my waye. 1642 Sir H. Slingsby Diary (1836) 83 He rode up..and shot a townsman on y⊇ neck.., and so rid his ways. |
b. Sc. and
north. To open (Parliament, a fair) by a procession (
cf. 2 b). Now only
Hist.| [a 1557 Diurnal Occurrents 13 Vpoun the xvj day of Maij (1529), thair was ane greit conventione..and raid all the Parliament to the tolbuith.] 1604 Reg. Privy Council Scot. VII. 2 Act ordaining the Estates to attend the Earle of Montrose, Commissioner, for ryding the Parliament. a 1670 Spalding Troub. Chas. I (1850) I. 40 The Parliament wes riddin agane by the King and his thrie estaitis. 1826 Hone Every-day Bk. II. 1655 A procession moves from the principal alehouse for the purpose of riding the fair, as they call it. 1838 A. Shortreed Let. in Lockhart Scott vi, The honest burghers of Jedburgh..have suffered the ancient privilege of ‘riding the Fair’, as it was called.., to fall into disuse. |
14. a. to ride out. Of a ship: To sustain (a gale or storm) without great damage or dragging anchor.
| 1529 [implied in b]. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (J.), The sea was grown so rough, that the admiral was not able longer to ride it out with his gallies. a 1674 Clarendon Hist. Reb. xv. §53 That Fleet had rode out all the Winter Storms before Cadiz. 1748 Anson's Voy. iii. ii. 318 The wind blew..with such fury, that we..despaired of riding out the storm. 1790 Beatson Nav. & Mil. Mem. I. 183 His Majesty's ship, the Rippon, alone rode out the gale. 1840 R. H. Dana Bef. Mast xiii. 31 The ship Lagoda..rode out the gale in safety. 1854 G. B. Richardson Univ. Code v. (ed. 12) 58 Ride it out if possible. |
b. In
fig. contexts. Also, to endure or sustain successfully, to last to the end of,
† to spend,
pass.| 1529 More Dyaloge ii. Wks. 195/1 [He] went ouer the sea..to se flaunders, & France, and ryde out one somer in those countrees. 1597 Sir W. Slingsby in Sir H. Slingsby Diary (1836) 251, I thank God my brother and myself ride it out at an anker. 1622 Malynes Anc. Law-Merch. 99 If this man will not ride out (as they say) the time of the payment of the Bills. 1646 H. P. Medit. Seige 4 He that rides out a Seige, and gives his Enemy the check, beares away the greatest honour. a 1676 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. (1677) 86 It could not be, for then he could never have ridden out an eternal period. 1710 Palmer Proverbs 64 A courtier should..foresee a storm, know whether he is able to ride it out [etc.]. 1808 Jefferson Writ. (1830) IV. 112 We shall have safely rode out the storm. 1877 Spurgeon Serm. XXIII. 254 That our faith may ride out every storm of doubt. |
c. With ellipsis of
out.
| 1718 Steele Fish Pool 165 She..rid the storm, and our trusty pilot jumped into the river and took her up. 1799 Hull Advt. 17 Aug. 4/2 The ship was riding flood, and the wind from the southward. 1885 Western Mail 23 Feb. 3/5 A large sailing vessel was sighted dismasted, riding the storm. |
| transf. 1814 Scott Wav. lxvi, He will of course repair to the Duchran without loss of time, there to ride quarantine for a few weeks. 1974 State (Columbia, S. Carolina) 3 Mar. 1-d/3 Clemson pulled ahead midway the second half and rode the fine play of Terrell Suit to a 71-58 triumph over Georgia Tech. 1976 Southern Even. Echo (Southampton) 15 Nov. 13/2 Vinazzani appeared to ride a tackle from Earles and then fall over his own feet. |
IV. trans. 15. a. To sit or be carried upon, to go or travel upon (a horse, or other animal of burden); to manage or control while seated on.
| a 1225 Hali Meid. 13 Þa ilke sari wrecches..becð þe deueles eaueres, þat rit ham & spiureð ham to don al þat he wile. c 1440 Ipomydon 1005 The whiche, I say,..Will..many an hors ryde to dede. Or I come there, þat me most nede. c 1440 Alph. Tales 510 Som tyme a man had ane ass, & he rade hur. 1508 Dunbar Tua mariit wemen 331, I wald haif ridden him to Rome. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 230 By his ieoperdyng to ride the vnbroken horse Bucephalus. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 221 The Sarmatians..prepare their horses two daies before,..and thus they will ride them gallop 150 miles an end. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. iii. viii, Upon the taking up his Horses from Grass, and giving them Oats before they were to be Ridden a Journey. 1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to Mrs. Thistlethwayte 1 April, I never rid a horse so much at my command in my life. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1862) I. i. i. 252 They are rid generally in a snaffle, without spurs. 1863 Kingsley Water-Bab. 10 Grimes rode the donkey in front. 1872 Tennyson Holy Grail 642 He dash'd across me—mad, And maddening what he rode. |
| fig. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. v. i. 119 Lys[ander]. He hath rid his Prologue, like a rough Colt. 1610 ― Wint. T. i. ii. 94 Our prayses are our Wages. You may ride 's With one soft Kisse a thousand Furlongs. 1647 Ward Simp. Cobler 36 There is a set of Bishops..Will ride the Devill off his legs, and break his wind. 1700 T. Brown tr. Fresny's Amusem. 52 When any Humour Takes in London, they Ride it to Death before they leave it. 1804 G. Rose Diaries (1860) II. 111 Mr. Hiley Addington rode him hard with fulsome eulogiums. 1887 Spectator 9 Apr. 491/2 The dangers of such a method when ridden to death by inferior imitators. |
b. Racing. To urge (a horse) to excessive speed; to ‘squeeze’.
| 1863 Sat. Rev. 23 May 657 When Fordham had charge of Buckstone in the St. Leger, it was said that he began to ‘ride’ his horse too soon. 1888 Pall Mall G. 2 July 5/2 He will pretend to be ‘riding’ (that is squeezing) his horse. |
c. to ride a hobby: to pursue a favourite occupation or subject to an excessive degree.
Cf. hobby n.1 5.
| 1823, 1874 [see hobby n.1 5]. 1875 N. Amer. Rev. CXX. 189 He must of course be naturally of a rather attitudinizing turn, fond of brooding and spouting and riding a theological hobby. 1876 J. Fergusson Hist. Indian & Eastern Archit. vi. ii. 425 It may look like riding a hobby to death, but I cannot help suspecting a wooden origin for it. |
d. to ride (the) gain (Broadcasting): to reduce or increase the gain when the input signal becomes too large or too small, in order to keep the output within the limits of succeeding equipment.
colloq.| 1937 Printers' Ink Monthly May 40/3 Ride gain, to compress the volume range of a program electrically in order to transmit it over lines and equipment within proper limits. 1962 A. Nisbett Technique Sound Studio v. 100 Overmodulation on music must be avoided not by ‘riding the gain’ but by careful preparation—gradually pulling back on the gain control for half a minute or so before the peak is due. |
e. to ride the clutch: in driving a motor vehicle, to keep one's foot too long on the clutch pedal, depressing it slightly.
| 1965 Priestley & Wisdom Good Driving iii. 30 The second common fault is ‘riding the clutch’. 1968 Practical Motorist Feb. 622/4 Unless you are moving off, changing gear, or braking keep your foot away from the clutch pedal. ‘Riding’ the clutch is the fastest possible way of wearing out the friction lining. |
16. To mount or cover (the female). (
Cf. 3.)
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xxxii. 6 Syne till his breist did hir imbrace, And wald haif riddin hir lyk ane rame. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 473 Partitions wherein..they may easily abide alone.., and especially that one may not ride another. 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 173 These..in shallow plashes croak and ride one another outragiously. 1694 Motteux Rabelais v. (1737) 222 They will not be ridden, tupp'd, and ramm'd. 1808 Compl. Grazier (ed. 3) 16 It not unfrequently happens that cows (after taking the bull) will ride each other. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 762 That blackguard-looking fellow with the fine eyes peeling a switch attack me in the dark and ride me up against the wall without a word. 1978 S. Allan Inside Job iii. 41 She mounted him and rode him..until they climaxed together. |
17. a. Of the nightmare, witches, etc.: To sit upon (a person); to use (one) as a horse.
| 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, ii. i. 83, I will haue some of it out againe, or I will ride thee o' Nights, like the Mare. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 283 The black grains..help those that be ridden with the night-mare. 1649 in Campbell Balmerino (1899) 386 Margaret Boyd..declares that hir good⁓man..went to deathe with it, that Elspeth Seith and other two did ryde him to deathe. 1693 C. Mather Wond. Invis. World (1862) 169 The Men they commonly laid asleep at the place, whereto they rode them. 1880 [see nightmare n. 1]. 1865 Tylor Early Hist. Man. 7 Such expressions as being ridden by a hag, or by the devil. |
| fig. 1775 Burke Sp. Concil. Amer. Wks. 1842 I. 195 All the while, Wales rid this kingdom like an incubus; it was an unprofitable and oppressive burthen. |
b. To have the mastery of (one); to manage at will; to oppress or harass; to tyrannize over; to dominate completely.
Partly
transf. from
prec., and partly from sense 15.
| 1583 Babington Commandm. (1590) 265 Their weaknes..haunting them and riding them as wee vse to speake in euery corner. 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xix. (Arb.) 218 When with proud and insolent words, we doo vpbraid a man, or ride him as we terme it. 1664 Pepys Diary 13 Aug., The Duke [of York]..did cry..‘All the world rides us, and I think we shall never ride anybody’. 1680 Otway Orphan ii. i, I Have seen enough to..ride him to advantage as I please. 1731 Bowman Serm. Vers. 9 The ambitious giddy priesthood Rides you, as you the tamest beast wou'd. 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life ii. Concl., Rogues! they are ridden by prejudices. 1837 Emerson Wks. (Bohn) II. 175 The tradesman..is ridden by the routine of his craft. 1903 Strand Nov. 511/2 Grim fear rode him day and night. |
c. To annoy, worry, rile.
colloq. (
orig. U.S.).
| 1918 H. C. Witwer From Baseball to Boches 359 Well, Joe, the mob begins to ride me. 1926 S. Lewis Mantrap viii. 92, I guess I have been riding you pretty hard... I'm sorry. 1938 G. Heyer Blunt Instrument viii. 155 They won't arrest you. You needn't let that bugbear ride you. 1940 R. Chandler Farewell, my Lovely iii. 22 Go ahead and ride me. Everybody else does. 1948 F. Brown Murder can be Fun (1951) vii. 104 Dineen didn't like that so he rode Jerry every chance he had. 1959 ‘J. R. Macdonald’ Galton Case (1960) xvii. 140 Don't let it ride you. You're a willing man, but you can't take on responsibility for all the trouble in the world. 1973 N. Graham Murder in Dark Room x. 65 ‘It's still murder.’ ‘That's what's riding me,’ he said. ‘I feel I almost had a hand in it.’ |
18. a. To sit upon, to be carried or borne along upon (something).
Also in various phrases denoting forms of punishment, as
to ride the cowl-staff,
hatch,
horse,
mare,
stang, etc. (see the
ns.).
| 1597 Shakes. Lover's Compl. 22 Some-times her leueld eyes their carriage ride, As they did battry to the spheres intend. 1629 H. Burton Babel no Bethel Pref. Ep. 11 To perswade them, that they ride Peters ship, wherein they may safely arriue at the holy Land. 1781 Cowper Retirement 535 Till he that rides the whirlwind checks the rein. 1782 J. Wolcot (P. Pindar) Ode to R.A.'s i, That easy..thing Rid by the Chancellor, yclep'd a Sack. 1816 Byron Prisoner of Chillon xiii, The eagle rode the rising blast. 1839 Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. II. 450/2 A passage boat..riding the wave. 1890 St. Nicholas May 584 Not infrequently the boys will ‘ride’ a log down the current. |
b. Of things: To rest upon,
esp. by projecting or overlapping.
| 1713 Phil. Trans. XXVIII. 189 Its Root Leaves deeply cut, and those which ride the Stalk whole and round. 1754 Smellie Midwifery I. 84 Sometimes the Vertebrae which compose the Sacrum ride one another, and form a large protuberance. 1801 J. Wolcot (P. Pindar) Tears & Smiles, Of spectacles that rode his nose. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VI. 230 Very often an embolus is caught in an arterial bifurcation, which it rides with a prolongation extending into each branch. |
c. spec. in
Surfing. Also
fig.| 1953 ‘S. Rattray’ Bishop in Check 101 One-half per cent of them play tennis—or swim, or surf-ride. 1968 W. Warwick Surfriding in N.Z. 2 The Duke..caught a wave and rode it until a short distance from the shore. 1969 Times 14 Apr. 6/7 Powerful enough to accelerate atomic particles, the particles ‘riding’ on the waves and gaining energy from them. 1970 Studies in English (Univ. Cape Town) I. 26 Most surfers leave the wave before they reach the soup, as it is tricky to ride. 1975 Oxf. Compan. Sports & Games 1005/1 A surfer can ride the wave in a straight line..to the beach or, by weight transference, turn his board to the right or left. |
d. To travel in or on (a train, public transport vehicle, etc.), to be a passenger on. Chiefly
U.S. Also in various phrases, chiefly connected with tramp life, as
to ride the blind(s) [
blind n. 10], to travel on a blind baggage car without paying one's fare;
to ride (the) cushions, to travel luxuriously; to travel as a paying passenger;
to ride the rails, to travel by rail (
esp. without a ticket);
to ride the rods [
rod n.1 9 g], to travel on a bar underneath a railway carriage or wagon.
| 1906, etc. [see below]. 1926 J. Black You can't Win vii. 80 ‘Let's ride the passenger trains,’ I said. 1934 D. Runyon in Collier's 3 Mar. 9/1 He is a great hand for riding the tubs back and forth between here and Europe. 1941 B. Schulberg What makes Sammy Run? vi. 122 He spent three weeks riding the street cars and the buses and trying to get by the studio reception desks. 1962 A. Shepard in Into Orbit 95, I honestly never felt that I would be the first man to ride the Mercury capsule. 1964 Mrs. L. B. Johnson White House Diary 11 Sept. (1970) 195 They said they would be delighted to ride the train with me through North Carolina. 1972 Publishers' Weekly 24 Jan. 25 Bill is too young to remember when you could ride the subway for a nickel. 1978 Detroit Free Press 16 Apr. 1a/2 Willie Ramsey leaves his house on the west side of Detroit and rides buses for nearly two hours to reach his factory job. |
| 1906 Dialect Notes III. 153 Ride (the) blind, v. phr., to steal a ride on a blind baggage car or on a railway train. ‘I've spent all my money; I'll have to ride the blind back.’ 1950 A. Lomax Mr. Jelly Roll 172, I..was ashamed to wire for money. So I decided to hobo..and, when the train pulled out the Denver station, I was riding the blinds. |
| 1918 Dialect Notes V. 29 To ride the cushions, vb. phr...to travel first class. 1924 ‘Digit’ Confessions 20th Cent. Hobo 12 Ride the cushions, travel by passenger train in the orthodox manner. 1929 H. W. Odum in A. Dundes Mother Wit (1973) 195 Thought I would ride cushions till my money give out. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really Blues i. 17 Riding the cushions on my way home made me think of another train ride I once took. 1972 Amer. Speech 1968 XLIII. 289 Ride the cushions, to deadhead. |
| 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really Blues i. 17 We hit Cape Girardeau, Mo., dirty from riding the rails. 1977 It June 4/4 According to the Railways Act of 1889, Section 538.., it is an offence to ride the rails ‘without having previously paid the proper fare’. |
| 1907 J. London Road 24 The tramp, snugly ensconced inside the truck, with the four wheels and all the framework around him, has the ‘cinch’ on the crew—or so he thinks, until someday he rides the rods on a bad road. 1925 G. H. Mullin Adventures of Scholar-Tramp xi. 157 He wanted to get into Philly late that very afternoon. That would probably mean riding the rods of a fast mail on the Pennsylvania, he said, adding the casual hope that we would have no trouble finding rods fit to ride. 1935 J. T. Farrell Studs Lonigan iii. xvi. 377 Or maybe lose a leg or get killed under a train, or freeze to death riding the rods in winter. 1946 Mezzrow & Wolfe Really Blues i. 5 He spent years..digging the riffs the wheels were knocking out when he rode the rods. |
e. to ride the lightning: to suffer execution on the electric chair.
U.S. slang.| 1935 Jrnl. Abnormal Psychol. XXX. 364 Ride the lightning, to be electrocuted. 1965 Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va.) 22 Mar., He pleaded for an opportunity to ‘ride the lightning’ of the electric chair. 1968 Sunday Truth (Brisbane) 15 Sept. 10/3 Four hours before I was ‘to ride the lightning’ in the chair a man came to the jail and confessed. |
19. to ride down: To exhaust (a horse) by excessive riding; to overtake by pursuit on horseback; to charge, or collide with, so as to overthrow.
| 1709 Lond. Gaz. No. 4580/1 The Czar was very active.., and rid down four Horses. |
| 1850 Thackeray Pendennis xxxix, He..was on the point of riding down a large old roomy family carriage. 1856 C. J. Andersson Lake Ngami 266 The ostrich is also at times ridden down by a single horseman. |
| fig. 1670 Eachard Cont. Clergy 111, I could procure hundreds, that should ride both sun and moon down, and be everlastingly yours. 1840 R. H. Dana Bef. Mast xvii, When officers are once determined to ‘ride a man down’, it is a gone case with him. 1874 Green Short Hist. ix. §9. 700 The support of the Commons..enabled Harley to ride down all resistance. |
b. Naut. (See
quot. 1867.)
| 1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 120 To bend or bear down by main strength and weight; as, to ride down the main tack. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Riding-down, the act of the men who throw their weight on the head of a sail to stretch it. |
20. a. To cut (an animal)
off or
out from the herd by skilful riding.
| 1843 M. A. Richardson's Historian's Table-bk., Leg. Div. I. 14 The horsemen rode off the bull from the rest of the herd until he stood at bay. 1850 R. G. Cumming Hunter's Life S. Afr. (ed. 2) I. 253, I have often ridden the best bull out of the herd. 1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting 262, I shortly came across another troop of bulls... I rode out one with beautiful long teeth. |
b. Polo. To edge
off (an opponent).
| 1897 Outing XXX. 487/1 Play into your comrades' hands, and watch out to edge or ride-off an adversary. |
c. To hunt (an animal) on horseback.
| 1889 Baden-Powell Pigsticking 2 It became usual to get up a sweepstake before starting to ride a boar. |
d. transf. To lead (a person)
off a subject or away from a desired end; to sidetrack.
| 1908 A. Chamberlain Politics from Inside 128 We got several of our discussions in before them and ‘rode them off’, to use a racing phrase. 1928 ‘Sapper’ Female of Species x. 161 Look here, Peter—we've got to try and ride them off. |
21. a. To cause (one) to ride,
esp. in
phr. to ride on a rail.
| 1711 Fingall MSS. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. V. 160 Ginckle dessigned to ride his cavalry into the breach when made. 1837 Hawthorne Twice-Told Tales 161 The millmen..[hesitated whether to] ride him on a rail, or refresh him with an ablution at the town-pump. 1843 Dickens Mart. Chuz. (1844) xxi. 267 ‘If I can realise your meaning, ride me on a rail!’ returned the General. 1854 S. Smith 'Way Down East x. 251 Others..proposed..giving him a good coat of tar-and-feathers and riding him out of town on a rail. 1876 ‘Mark Twain’ Tom Sawyer x, The villagers had a strong desire to..ride him on a rail for body-snatching. 1895 Crockett Cleg Kelly xli, Gin the wives nooadays had ony spunk in them ava', ye wad be mobbed and ridden on the stang, my man! 1929 E. Linklater Poet's Pub. xxiii. 253, I was ridden on a rail..in nothing but a torn shirt. 1949 Sat. Even. Post 2 July 67/1, I feel somewhat like the man who was being ridden out of town on a rail. |
b. To convey in a cart or other vehicle. Chiefly
U.S.| 1687 Ann. of Albany (1850) II. 97 It is very requisite that there be fyre-wood rid to ye indian houses. 1692 Ibid. 121 Ye sheriffe..is required to see each trader ride a load of wood to the said house. 1837 S. R. Maitland Vol. Syst. 287 If he is a rich man, he may ride his family away, every Sunday. 1859 Bartlett Dict. Amer. (ed. 2) 364, I heard a witness..testify that he had ‘rode some hogs from the wharf to the store’. |
c. To keep (a ship) moored; to secure or maintain at anchor.
| 1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World 267 Having nothing to ride the bark with, we were obliged to keep the sea. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §254 The buss was now rode by this buoy. 1803 Nelson 22 Dec. in Nicolas Disp. (1845) V. 326 Bays to ride our Fleets in. |
d. To run
up (a sail).
rare—1.
| 1880 Daily Telegr. 7 Sept., Waiting for the flash from the commodore's boat to tell them that they can ride up the mainsail. |
e. To bring
in or introduce (a cinematographic picture) with an accompaniment of music.
| 1927 Observer 17 Apr. 3/3 The orchestral prelude is usually quite elaborate, and the picture is what is called ‘ridden in’. |
V. intr. 22. a. ride and tie. Of two (or three) persons: To travel with one horse by alternately riding and walking, each one riding ahead for some distance and tying up the horse for the one who comes behind.
| 1742 Fielding J. Andrews ii. ii, They were both setting out, having agreed to ride and tie; a method of travelling much used by persons who have but one horse between them. 1791 Boswell Johnson an. 1737, Both of them used to talk..of this their first journey to London. Garrick, evidently meaning to embellish a little, said one day in my hearing, ‘We rode and tied’. 1866 Carlyle Remin. (1881) I. 176, I never rode and tied (especially with three) before or since. 1868 Holme Lee B. Godfrey xxiii, Mervyn and Olive were to ride and tie. |
| fig. 1805 H. Macneill Poems (1844) 114 When folk are sair put, they maun e'en ‘ride and tie’. |
b. As
n. or adv. (Sometimes hyphened.) Also
fig. (see
quots. 1826 and 1830).
| 1791 T. Paine Rights of Man i. (ed. 2) 64 It is like what the country people call ‘Ride and tie—You ride a little way, and then I’. 1826 Syd. Smith Wks. (1859) II. 124/1 It must absolutely be ride-and-tie with them; the butcher must hear the baker in the morning [etc.]. 1830 Miss Mitford Village Ser. iv. (1863) 225 Dinah having given to each of the four the half of a year's schooling, upon the principle of ride and tie, little Lucy going one day, and little Patty the next. 1893 Stevenson Catriona xiii, We were travelling ‘ride and tie’. |
c. Used attributively. (With hyphens.)
| 1809 Malkin Gil Blas v. i. ¶9 We journeyed on the ride-and-tie principle. 1824 Examiner 434/1 It is a ride-and-tie system with him. 1885 Scribner's Mag. XXX. 388/2 By the ‘ride-and-tie’ method, a horse was yet further economised. |
23. ride-and-drive, used attributively.
| 1865 Cornh. Mag. May 558 A good, useful,..ride-and-drive horse. 1900 Westm. Gaz. 2 Jan. 5/1 The ‘ride and drive’ system necessary in the Royal Artillery. |