▪ I. pastime, n.
(ˈpɑːstaɪm, ˈpæ-)
Forms: 5 pase tyme, 5–6 passe tyme, 6 passe-tyme (past-tyme, paste-time, past-time), 6–7 passe-time, 7 pas-time, 7–9 pass-time; 5– pastime (5–6 passetyme, passetime, pastyme).
[f. pass v. + time: in sense 1, tr. F. passe-temps: see pastance. Sense 2 may be an independent formation.]
1. gen. That which serves to pass the time agreeably; recreation, diversion, entertainment, amusement, sport; occas. † occupation (obs.). (No pl.)
| 1490 Caxton Eneydos xii. 43 The fayr pase-tyme that they take therat. 1491 ― Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495) i. li. 104 b/1 [They] came thyder euery daye in maner of passe tyme. 1526 Tindale Heb. xiii. 9 Which have not proffeted them that have had their pastyme in them. 1572 Nottingham Rec. IV. 139 For pastyme in beyttyng of a bulle. 1635 Quarles Embl. i. x. (1718) 41 Brave pastime, readers, to consume that day, Which without pastime flies too swift away. 1709 Addison Tatler No. 119 ¶2 Huge Leviathans..take their Pastime as in an Ocean. 1870 Freeman Norm. Conq. (ed. 2) I. App. 746 On the road, seemingly by way of pastime, he ravages Gaul. |
b. With a and pl.: A specific form of diversion or amusement; a recreation; a sport, a game.
| c 1489 Caxton Blanchardyn xxiii. 76 Tournoynge and behourdyng are my passe tyme. 1513 Bradshaw St. Werburge i. 1052 The elder prynce..Vsed haukynge, huntynge, for a past-tyme. 1562 J. Rowbotham Playe Cheasts * iij b, The same game being a pastime w{supt}out all tediousnes, malice,..gyle, or deceit. 1634 Milton Comus 121 The Wood-Nymphs deckt with Daisies trim, Their merry wakes and pastimes keep. 1722 Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. iii. 204 He could not go to bowls or any other pastime. 1843 Lytton Last Bar. i. i, The sports and pastimes of the inhabitants. |
† 2. A passing or elapsing of time; a space of time; an interval between two points of time. Obs.
| 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. 645 In whiche passetyme the kynge sent..vnto the forenamed John and hym by many meanys instaunsyd to leue the company of the lordys. Ibid. 666 In the whiche passetyme dyed innumerable people in the sayd cytie. 1529 Rastell (title) The pastyme of people. The Cronycles of dyuers realmys and most specyally of the realme of Englond. Ibid. (1811) 161 In this pastyme [i.e. during this campaign] dyed Geffrey Plantagenet. [1875 Parish Sussex Gloss., Passtime, time passed.] |
3. attrib., as pastime-ground, pastime-reading, pastime-student.
| 1843 Lytton Last Bar. iii. iv, The stranger of the pastime-ground was before her. 1902 Daily Chron. 22 Jan. 7/2 No sensible person in search of pastime-reading will waste time and attention upon the ponderous problem-novels. |
▪ II. ˈpastime, v. Now rare.
[f. prec. n.]
† 1. intr. To pass one's time pleasantly; to take one's pleasure; to divert, entertain, or amuse oneself; to play. Obs.
| 1523 IX Drunkardes title-p., Storyes ryght plesaunte and frutefull for all parsones for to pastyme with. 1548 Latimer Ploughers (Arb.) 25 They pastyme in theyr prelacies with galaunte gentlemen. 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 77 The Cat..vseth to pastime or play with the Mouse ere she deuoureth hir. 1592 Kyd Sol. & Pers. i. ii. 6 When did Perseda pastime in the streetes, But her Erastus ouer-eied her sporte? |
† b. trans. To divert, amuse. Obs.
| 1577 Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1663) 162 He being..linked with malefactors to pastime and sport the people. 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 324/1 Then must they goe to play & pastime them selues. |
2. trans. (nonce-use.) To make a diversion of, to amuse oneself with, to find amusement in.
| a 1860 J. A. Alexander Gosp. of Jesus iv. 50 The man who pastimes Christ and His religion, who allows the Church a place among his sources of amusement..may imagine that he really respects religion. |
Hence † ˈpastiming vbl. n. and ppl. a.; also † ˈpastimer, one given up to pastimes, one engaged in sport.
| 1573–80 Baret Alv. P 179 Pastiming, or sporting,..esbatement. 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Esbatement, pastiming. 1606 W. Birnie Kirk-Buriall Ded., In all campestrial prowes and pas-tyming exploits. 1608 Sir J. Harington Nugæ Ant. (1804) I. 382 Some idle pastimers did diverte themselves with huntinge mallards in a ponde. |