▪ I. couple, n.
(ˈkʌp(ə)l)
Forms: 4 coppell, 4–5 cuple, copul(l, coupel, 4–6 coupil(l, -yl(l, cople, copple, 4–7 cupple, 5 coupull, cowp-, cwpylle, cuppil, -ylle, 5–6 copel, -il(l, -yl(l, cowple, 6 coople, 4– couple.
[a. OF. cople, cuple, later couple:—L. cōpula band, tie, connexion: see copula.]
I. That which unites two.
1. a. A brace or leash for holding two hounds together. Usually in pl.; also a pair of couples.
| c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1147 Couples huntes of kest [= hunters cast off couples]. 1483 Cath. Angl. 86 A Cwpylle of hundys, copula. 1486 Bk. St. Albans E v b, When he has of cast his cowples at will. 1602 Return fr. Parnass. ii. v. (Arb.) 32 Another company of houndes..had their couples cast off. 1678 Lond. Gaz. No. 1345/4 Strayed..a red pied Fox Beagle Bitch.. with a pair of Couples about her neck. a 1763 Shenstone Progr. Taste ii. 10 Oh days! when to a girdle ty'd, The couples gingled at his side. 1781 P. Beckford Hunting (1802) 81 Care should be taken that the couples be not too loose, lest they should slip their necks out of the collar. 1821 Scott Kenilw. xxxiv, Hounds yelled in their couples. |
| fig. 1855 Thackeray Newcomes II. 66 In pursuit of a husband who will run away from the couple. |
b. transf. and fig. to go, hunt, run in couples.
Here the original meaning is often forgotten, and couples used with the sense of pairs, twos.
| 1610 B. Jonson Alch. i. i, 'Sdeath, you perpetual curs, Fall to your couples again, and cozen kindly. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. ii. i. 135 Ile keepe my Stables where I lodge my Wife, Ile goe in couples with her. 1633 P. Fletcher Purple Isl. ii. 19 note, None of them [the nerves] single, but runne in couples. 1644–7 Cleveland Char. Lond. Diurn. 4 They hunt in their Couples, what one doth at the head, the other scores up at the heele. 1705 Hickeringill Priest-cr. ii. iv. 39 (Like Blood-hounds) they usually hunt (in Couples) together, (Avarice and Ambition) that's their Name. 1836–9 Dickens Sk. Boz, Dancing Acad. ix, And when he had been sufficiently broken in in the parlour he began to run in couples in the Assembly-room. |
2. transf. † a. A connexion between two parts of the body; ? a ligament. Obs.
| 1535 Coverdale Col. ii. 19 The heade wherof the whole body by ioyntes and couples receaueth norishment and is knyt together. |
† b. Gram. A connecting word or particle; a copula. Obs.
| 1628 T. Spencer Logick 161 The Verbe (in the common language of the Schooles) is called the band, or couple. 1711 J. Greenwood Eng. Gram. 152 It is called the Subjunctive Mood because it is subjoin'd or added to the first Sentence by some Cople or Tye. |
† 3. Union or coupling in matrimony; the bond of wedlock; sexual union. Obs.
| c 1320 Orpheo 422 in Ritson Metr. Rom. II. 265 A foule couple it were forthy To lete hur com in thy company. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. x. 180 Hit is an vn-comely couple..To ȝeuen a ȝong wenche to an old feble Mon. c 1450 Myrc 194 Wyth-owten cowpulle or fleschly dede. a 1553 Ld. Berners Huon clxii. 631 It were a mete copyll of vs twayne to be ioyned together in maryage. 1611 Coryat Crudities 442 To be begotten in the honest and chast couple of marriage. |
II. A union of two; a pair.
The plural after a numeral is often couple, esp. when followed by of with the names of animals or things.
4. A brace of dogs used for hunting, esp. harriers or spaniels; also, a brace of conies or rabbits.
| c 1430–50 Two Cookery-bks., CC. copull Conyngges. 1470–85 Malory Arthur x. xiii. 434 A noyse as hit hadde ben a thyrtty couple of houndes. 1527 W. Capon in Fiddes Wolsey ii. (1726) 104 He gave to us 6 cowple of conyes. 1610 J. Guillim Heraldry iii. xiv. (1660) 167 Skilfull Forresters..Do use to say, a Couple of Rabbets or Conies. 1636 W. Denny in Ann. Dubrensia (1877) 14 Then throw they in their Couples, and one cry Of many Parkes do ring about the Skie. 1725 Bradley Fam. Dict., Couple, in respect to Conies and Rabbets, the proper Term for two of them; so it is for two Hounds. 1801 Strutt Sports & Past. i. i. 19 Two spaniels or harriers were called a couple. |
5. a. A man and woman united by love or marriage; a wedded or engaged pair.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 10168 (Cott.) To wijf he has dame anna tan,—Was suilk a cuple [v.r. coupil, couple] neuer nan. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xix. 224 The bible bereþ witnesse..Þat a-corsed alle couples þat no kynde forth brouhte. 1436 E.E. Wills (1882) 107 Euery couple of man & wyf dwellyng at Ochecote. 1545 Brinklow Compl. 44 b, .iij. pownd of euery hundreth, to be bestowyd vpon poore copyls at their maryages. 1610 Shakes. Temp. iv. i. 40, I must Bestow vpon the eyes of this yong couple Some vanity of mine Art. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 339 Fair couple, linkt in happie nuptial League. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 254 ¶3 A very loving Couple. 1753 Scots Mag. Aug. 422/2 The happy couple who got the Dunstable bacon in 1751. 1847 Emerson Repr. Men, Uses of Gt. Men Wks. (Bohn) I. 284 It is observed in old couples..who have been housemates for a course of years, that they grow alike. 1875 Mrs. Randolph Wild Hyacinth I. 43 Sir Loudoun would give up Glen Ettrick at once to the young couple. |
b. A man and woman associated as partners in a dance or the like.
| 1759 Compl. Lett.-writer (ed. 6) 226, I stood two couple above her. 1857 Hughes Tom Brown ii. viii, A merry country-dance was going on..and new couples joined in every minute. c 1875 Routledge's Ball-room Guide 31 The Lancers must be danced by four couples only in each set. |
6. Of animals: a. A pair of opposite sexes.
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 333 Of vche best þat berez lyf busk þe a cupple. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. x. 169 Alle schulen dye for his dedes..Out-taken Eihte soules, and of vche beest a couple. |
b. Farming. A ewe and her lamb; double couple, a ewe with two lambs.
| a 1722 Lisle Husb. Gloss. (E.D.S.), Couples, ewes and lambs. 1855 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. XVI. ii. 295, 200 ewes with their lambs, generally here [Bucks.] called ‘couples’. 1882 Somerset Gaz. 18 Mar., 9 single couples and 1 double ditto of ewes and lambs. |
7. a. gen. Two individuals (persons, animals, or things) of the same sort taken together; properly used of such as are paired or associated by some common function or relation; but often loosely, as a mere synonym for two. Cf. pair. † couple of corn: app. two quarters.
All shades of gradation connect the strict sense (as in 1541) with the loosest (as in 1711).
| 1365 Durh. Halmote Rolls (Surtees) 42 Ad emendum ij coppell' de silles cum les pannes. c 1400 Beryn 2002 Þer & þer a coupill gon to speke & eke to roune. 1481 Caxton Reynard (Arb.) 68 Tho gaf I hym a copel of maynchettis with swete butter. 1486 Bk. St. Albans F vj a, A Couple or a payer of botillis. 1526 Act. 28 Hen. VIII in Stat. Irel. (1621) 77 After the rate of fifteene shillings the couple of corne. 1535 Coverdale Judith xix. 3 A seruaunt and a couple of asses. 1541 R. Copland Guydon's Quest. Chirurg., Howe many cowples of sensityfe synewes come fro the brayne. 1570 R. Ascham Scholem. Pref. to Rdr. (Arb.) 20 Though they three do cost me a couple of hundred poundes by yeare. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado iii. v. 34 A couple of as arrant knaues as any in Messina. 1611 Bible 2 Sam. xiii. 6 Make me a couple of cakes. 1638 Brome Antip. iv. viii, These persons passe over the Stage in Couples. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 8 ¶1, I shall here communicate to the World a couple of letters. 1867 M. E. Herbert Cradle L. vii. 194 We spent a couple of hours resting and exploring the ruins. 1885 Law Times LXXX. 111/1 The rule..has existed for at least a couple of centuries. |
b. (With of omitted) = couple of (cf. coupla; U.S. colloq.).
| 1925 S. Lewis Martin Arrowsmith xvi. 188 A couple months in Italy. 1934 D. Hammett Thin Man xxii. 173 She touched me for a couple hundred to blow town. |
c. quasi-adj. a couple more (..), two more (colloq.).
| [1934 P. A. Taylor Sandbar Sinister vi. 92 ‘Just you hang on for a couple minutes more,’ Asey promised her.] 1961 ‘H. Stone’ Man who looked Death in Eye iii. 57 The crowd of curious onlookers gathered in the street and a couple more cops to hold them at a decent distance. 1965 A. Lurie Nowhere City xii. 123 I wonder if I could dictate a couple more letters then, while we wait? 1985 Washington Post 4 Jan. a13/4 It's going to be a couple more months..before we decide what to do. |
d. With ellipsis of of drinks, of glasses, etc. colloq.
| 1933 ‘R. Keverne’ Menace xvi. 180 Stopped at the ‘Swan’ for a couple. 1934 H. M. Harwood Old Folks at Home i. i, Liza (coldly): I said you had had a couple. |
8. One of a pair of inclined rafters or beams, that meet at the top and are fixed at the bottom by a tie, and form the principal support of a roof; a principal rafter, a chevron.
| [Cf. c 600 Isidore Orig. xix. xix. 6 Cuplæ [v.r. coplæ, complæ] vocatæ, quod copulent in se luctantes.] |
| 1364 Durh. Halm. Rolls (Surtees) 31, j domum sufficientem de iij copuls. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 1328 Al þe coples cipres were & þe raftres were al-so. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. ix. vi. 163 Twenty cuppil he gave or ma, to þe body or þe kirk alsua. 1572 J. Bossewell Armorie ii. 75 An house is neuer made perfecte, till these coples be put vpon it, by the maner of an heade. 1659 Willsford Scales Comm., Archit. 12 At every joynt a collar-beam, fastned at their heads with a pin onely; these last by some are called the Arch-couples. 1796 Statist. Acc. Scotl. XVII. 140 (Jam.) The oak couples were of a circular form, lined with wood. 1868 G. Macdonald R. Falconer I. 97 The other [room]..showing the naked couples from roof-tree to floor. 1888 Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk. s.v., A ‘half-couple’ is a single main timber, such as would be used in a ‘lean-to’ roof. |
† 9. = couplet 1. Obs. rare.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 102 Sir Tristrem; ouer gestes it has þe steem..if men it sayd as made Thomas; But I here it no man so say, Þat of som copple som is away. 1423 Jas. I. Kingis Q. xxxiii, All the gardyng and the wallis rong Ryght of thaire song, and on the copill next Off thaire suete armony. 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie ii. x. (Arb.) 99 By distick or couples of verses agreeing in one cadence. |
10. Dynamics. A pair of equal and parallel forces acting in opposite directions, tending to produce a motion of rotation.
| 1855 Peirce Anal. Mechanics 40 A couple of forces is a system of two parallel and equal forces which act in different lines. 1881 Maxwell Electr. & Magn. II. 103 The moment of the couple with which terrestrial magnetism tends to turn the..magnet. |
| fig. 1887 Blackw. Mag. Sept. 293/1 The central ‘couple’, as the Mathematicians would call it, of the European balance. |
11. Geom. (See quot.)
| 1881 C. Taylor Geom. Conics 257 If three or more pairs of points A, A{p}; B, B{p}; C, C{p}; etc. be taken on a straight line at such distances from a point O thereon that OA . OA{p} = OB . OB{p} = OC . OC{p} = etc., they are said to constitute a system in Involution..the points (A, A{p}) (B, B{p}) (C, C{p}) etc., are called Conjugate Points or Couples of the involution. |
12. Electr. A pair of connected plates of different metals, used for creating either a galvanic or a thermo-electric current.
| 1863 Tyndall Heat i. App. (1870) 17 The figure represents what is called a thermo-electric pair or couple. 1863–72 Watts Dict. Chem. II. 415 The system of two dissimilar metals immersed in a liquid which acts on one of them is called a Galvanic or Voltaic Couple. 1885 Watson & Burbury Math. Th. Electr. & Magn. I. 240. |
13. Astron. A double star.
14. attrib. and comb., as couple-balk (Sc.), cf. sense 8 and balk n.1 11; couple-keep (see quot.).
| 1843 A. Bethune Sc. Fireside Stor. 113 The wooden frame⁓work of an old bed..was brought down from the couple-bauks of the barn. 1888 Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk., Couple-keep is often to be found in advertisements. It means a good crop of early grass fit for ewes and lambs, which must be well fed. |
▸ couples therapist n. a practitioner of couples therapy.
| 1974 H. S. Kaplan New Sex Therapy xi. 189 The sex therapist must be an extremely skilled psychotherapist and *couples therapist if he is to be successful. 2003 Shape May 52/2 If the frequency with which you have sex remains a source of tension.., consider seeing a couples therapist who can help you work out this issue. |
▸ couples therapy n. any form of therapy aimed at relieving problems in a sexual or domestic partnership; cf. marital therapy n. at marital adj. Special uses.
| 1967 J. Haley & L. Hoffman Techniques Family Therapy iv. 282 The reason you took up *couples therapy is because you got bored with individuals. 2000 Diva May 27/1 We had spent a fortune on couples therapy and, believe me, we really worked hard when we were in that room. |
▸ couple therapist n. = couples therapist n. at Additions.
| 1979 R. L. Shapiro & J. Zinner in W. G. Lawrence Exploring Individual & Organizational Boundaries xi. 160 There may be a perception of one of the therapists in family therapy which is dominated by his role as an individual or *couple therapist. 2003 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Jrnl. Sentinel (Nexis) 9 Feb. 3 l, Make sure the couple therapist has formal training and experience. |
▸ couple therapy n. = couples therapy n. at Additions.
| 1970 Amer. Jrnl. Orthopsychiatry 40 106 (title) Behavioral approaches to family and *couple therapy. 2005 San Antonio (Texas) Express-News (Nexis) 17 Sept. 12 e, The sex therapist may want to work with him alone at first, then eventually include couple therapy. |
▪ II. couple, v.
(ˈkʌp(ə)l)
Forms: 3 kuple, 3–5 cuple, 4 copil, cuppel, -ul, 4–5 coupel, -il, -yl, cowpyll, cuppil(le, 4–6 copple, cowple, coupul(l, 4–7 cople, cupple, 6 coople, 4– couple.
[a. OF. copler, cupler, later coupler, f. couple: see prec. and cf. L. cōpulāre.]
1. trans. To tie or fasten (dogs) together in pairs.
| c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1139 Þenne þise cacheres þat couþe cowpled hor houndez, Vnclosed þe kenel dore, & calde hem þer-oute. c 1440 [see comple v.2]. 1486 Bk. St. Albans B iij b, Cowple vp yowre houndys. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. Ind. i. 18 Couple Clowder with the deepe-mouth'd brach. 1602 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. ii. v. (Arb.) 32 The Huntsmen hallowed, so ho, Venue a coupler, and so coupled the dogges. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 37 ¶2 Tom. Bellfrey and Ringwood were coupled together..to be in at the Death of the Fox, Hare, or Stag. 1859 Jephson Brittany ix. 147 They [the dogs] were all coupled. |
2. a. gen. To fasten or link together (properly in pairs); to join or connect in any way.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 88 If it were made in ryme couwee..þat rede Inglis it ere inowe, þat couthe not haf coppled a kowe. 1382 Wyclif Isa. v. 8 Wo that ioynen hous to hous, and feeld to feeld coupleth. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 135 The superior Scythia is a grete region..coplede of the este parte to Ynde, of the northe to the occean. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 43 With ane Capill and twa Creillis cuplit abufe. 1535 Coverdale Isa. xxiv. 22 These shalbe coupled together as prisoners be. 1600 Hakluyt Voy. (1810) III. 566 They bound our armes behind vs..coupling vs two and two together. 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 64 These [places] Ecbar coupled to the rest of his Empire. a 1744 Pope (J.), That man..who is measuring syllables and coupling rhimes, when he should be mending his own soul. 1819 Shelley Cyclops 202, I see my young lambs coupled two by two With willow bands. |
† b. To yoke (a horse or cart). Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 6220 (Cott.) His folk all armed did he call, And cuppel did his cartes all. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. iii. 190 Let cople þe comissarie, oure cart shal he drawe. |
c. Organ-playing. To connect (two keys or keyboards) by means of a coupler. Also intr. (of a key or keyboard) To admit of this connexion.
| 1829 Organ Specif. in Grove Dict. Mus. II. 599/1 Pedal to couple Swell to Great. 1880 Ibid. 601/2 When the Swell was coupled to the Great Manual. |
d. Mech. To connect (railway carriages) by a coupling; to connect (the driving-wheels of a locomotive steam-engine) by a coupling-rod.
| 1841 Penny Cycl. XIX. 249/1 The two pair of wheels [of a locomotive engine] were coupled together by connecting rods. 1864 Law Times Rep. X. 719/1 Trucks..filled with ballast..were coupled together and carried away by an engine. 1874 Knight Dict. Mech. s.v. Car-coupling, in Europe the connection is more intimate, the cars being coupled together so firmly as to prevent the jar as the cars collide or jerk apart in stopping or starting. |
e. Photogr. To connect a device (as a rangefinder, etc.) to the mechanism of a camera. Also intr., to be capable of being so connected.
| 1934 R. M. Fanstone Mod. Miniature Cameras ii. 7 This camera has automatic focussing by means of a range finder coupled to the focussing adjustment of the lens. 1935 W. Alexander Miniature Camera Guide p. i (Advt.), Leica Model III. Automatically coupled range-finder focusing. 1939 Amer. Ann. Photogr. 1940 7/2 These new, small cameras were characterized by their versatility and built-in features, such as: range finders coupled to the lens and shutter assembly. 1958 Amateur Photographer 31 Dec. 8/3 (Advt.), Rangefinder couples with all lenses. 1961 A. L. M. Sowerby Dict. Photogr. (ed. 19) Coupled exposure-meter, an exposure-meter the mechanism of which is linked to the controls adjusting stop and shutter-speed. |
† 3. a. To join in wedlock or sexual union. Obs.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter xviii. 5 God til mankynd as spouse til spouse is copild. 1375 Barbour Bruce iv. 41 Dame mariory wes coupillyt in-to goddis band with Walter stewart off Scotland. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 112 Borne of a woman that was carnally coupled vnto hym. 1485 Caxton St. Wenefr. 2, I am coupled in matrimonye to the sone of the euerlastyng kyng. 1535 Coverdale Mark x. 9 Let not man therfore put asunder that which God hath coupled together. 1549 Bk. Com. Prayer, Solemn. Matrim., If any man do allege any impediment why they may not be coupled together in matrimony. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. iii. iii. 45 The Vicar of the next village..hath promis'd to..couple vs. 1726 Swift Let. to Pope 17 Nov. 369 To assist..in degrading a parson who couples all our beggars. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones xviii. ix, As eager for her marriage with Jones as he had before been to couple her to Blifil. |
b. To espouse, marry. Obs.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 12754 Clunestra at kirke couplit onone This Engest, with Jolite to hir iuste spouse. |
c. To pair (animals).
| 1721 R. Bradley Wks. Nat. 91 If a Sow of that Breed is Coupled with a Boar of the Cloven-footed kind. a 1754 Fielding Fathers v. v, Wedding! directly! what, do you think you are coupling some of your animals in the country? |
4. intr. (for refl.). To unite with one of the opposite sex, come together sexually; to pair.
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. x. 153 To kepe his cun from Caymes þat þei coupled not to-gedere. a 1547 Surrey Aeneid iv. 35 He that with me first coppled tooke away My love with him. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. iv. i. 145 Begin these wood birds but to couple now? 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 194 Furnish..your Aviaries with Birds before they couple. 1671 Milton P.R. ii. 181. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) IV. 96 They [moles] couple towards the approach of spring. 1869 Tennyson Pelleas & Ettarre 526 Why then let men couple at once with wolves. |
5. a. trans. To associate or bring together (persons) in pairs, or as companions or partners; † formerly also, to match or engage as opponents in a contest.
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. iv. 132 Clerkes þat were confessours coupled hem to-gedere Forte construe þis clause. c 1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 3596 Thai saw never under the hevyn Twa Knightes that war copled so evyn. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xvii. 392 Or ever they lefte eche other goo, whan they were cowpled ones togyder [wrestling]. 1526 Tindale Acts ix. 26 He assayde to cople hym silfe with the apostles. 1583 T. Stocker Hist. Civ. Warres Lowe C. ii. 58 a, Ihon Montiew, as he was coupled to the enemie, was slaine with an Harquebouze shott. 1684 Otway Atheist i. i, When the rest of the Company is coupled. 1822 Wordsw. Eccles. Sonn. ii. xxxiv. Latimer & Ridley, See Latimer and Ridley in the might Of Faith stand coupled for a common flight! |
b. To attach or unite by ties of affection, or the like.
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. xi. 116 Ryd forþ bi Richesse..For ȝif þou couple þe to him, to Clergie comestou neuere. c 1430 Hymns Virg. (1867) 22 For euere loue coupliþ god to man. 1526 Tindale N.T. Prol., The spyrite of god, whych..copleth us to god. 1548 Hall Chron. 171 Although the bodyes of these noble personages.. were..a sonder seperated..yet their hartes were knitte and coupled in one. |
† c. to couple friendship: a Latinism. to couple a skirmish (cf. to join battle). Obs.
| 1382 Wyclif Ecclus. xxxvii. 1, I frenshipe couplede [1388 Y haue couplid frenschip]. 1583 T. Stocker Hist. Civ. Warres Lowe C. ii. 66 a, A skirmishe beganne to be coupled betweene the Roiters of the Wood and the Roiters of the Enemie. |
6. intr. To join or unite with another as a companion, to come together or associate in pairs; † to engage (with another) in a contest.
| c 1477 Caxton Jason 39 b, Ther were none so hardy that durste..cople with him. 1548 Hall Chron. 182 b, The quene beyng therof asserteined, determined to couple [i.e. join battle] with hym while hys power was small and his ayde not come. 1871 B. Taylor Faust (1875) II. i. iii. 21 They crowding come, I see, already, Close coupling, or withdrawn unsteady. |
7. a. trans. Of things immaterial: To connect, conjoin, link (one with or to another, or together). Properly of two things only.
| a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1059 Þurh þet he wes soð godd, in his cunde icuplet wið ure. a 1300 Cursor M. 18804 (Cott.) He..Þat cuppuld þus vr kind til his. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 158 Clergye an Couetise heo [Meed] coupleþ to-gedere. 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 236 The wrechyt dome, That is cowplyt to foule thyrldome. 1526 Tindale 1 Pet. iii. 2 Whill they beholde youre pure conversacion coupled with feare. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxvii. §10 He hath coupled the substance of his flesh and the substance of bread together. 1727–38 Gay Fables i. xii. 48 Av'rice..Must still be coupled with its cares. 1847 Emerson Repr. Men, Montaigne Wks. (Bohn) I. 342 A biblical plainness, coupled with a most uncanonical levity. 1874 Dixon Two Queens III. xiii. x. 57 A man who coupled acts with words. |
b. To conjoin in thought or speech.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 78 Isaie ueieð hope & silence, & kupleð boðe togederes. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 489 Neither did he so couple you to the Colledge of Philosophers, and Oratours. 1751 Jortin Serm. (1771) IV. i. 5 Theft and swearing are coupled together in the Prophet Zechariah. 1826 Southey Vind. Eccl. Angl. 253 To this let me couple the just complaint of..Melchior Canus. 1866 Mrs. J. H. Riddell Race for Wealth xxiii, I wish you would not couple her name and mine together. |
8. Physics. To bring about a coupling (sense 6 f) between. So coupled ppl. a. a. Said of oscillating systems. (Cf. coupling vbl. n. 6 f (i).)
| 1893 Proc. R. Soc. LIV. 76 Its coils (coupled inductively) were connected in series with the non-inductive coils of the inactive ring. 1908 [see coupling vbl. n. 6 f (i)]. 1915 A. F. Collins Bk. of Wireless iii. iv. 143 When the open and closed circuits are coupled together they can be tuned to each other so that the electric oscillations in both circuits..have the same frequency. 1927 E. G. Richardson Sound ii. 54 Owing to the assumption of the vibration by the air in the box the tone of the combined ‘coupled system’ is much more intense than that of the fork alone. 1927 I. B. Crandall Theory Vibr. Syst. ii. 63 A very considerable change in natural frequencies..has been brought about by coupling to the heavy diaphragm a relatively light resonator system. 1944 A. Wood Physics of Music ii. 24 Two pendulums of unequal length suspended from a horizontal string{ddd}form a coupled system. 1962 Simpson & Richards Junction Transistors xiv. 341 The primary and secondary circuits are tuned separately to resonance at the same frequency and coupled together. 1965 H. J. J. Braddick Vibrations, Waves, & Diffraction i. 26 Two oscillators may be coupled in such a way that when one is vibrating, motion is transferred to the other. 1968 C. G. Kuper Introd. Theory Superconductivity ix. 147 (caption) Coupled-harmonic-oscillator model for a lattice in two dimensions. |
b. Said of particles (electrons, atoms, etc.) and fields, and of mathematical quantities representing them. So to be coupled with = to interact with, to be influenced in (its) behaviour by. (Cf. coupling vbl. n. 6 f (ii).)
| 1922 Chem. Abstr. XVI. 3033 The magnetic energy of the valence electron and of the atom body, coupled in the manner postulated. 1923 H. L. Brose tr. Sommerfeld's Atomic Struct. vi. 406 An outer valence electron..and..the rest of the atom..are coupled together by the internal magnetic field. 1935 J. Dougall tr. Born's Atomic Physics vii. 154 For every electron the orbital and spin moments are firmly coupled; but the various electrons influence each other comparatively little. 1959 B. I. & B. Bleaney Electr. & Magn. xx. 548 We need to know more about the mutual interactions between the various electrons... These can be expressed in the form of a set of rules for coupling together the angular momenta in forming the vector resultant. 1960 J. C. Slater Quantum Theory of Atomic Struct. I. x. 239 It was useful to postulate two vectors L and S, which could be coupled to give a vector J. 1966 [see coupling vbl. n. 6 f (ii)]. |