▪ I. ope, a. and n.
(əʊp)
[Reduced from open, the n being dropped as in pa. pples.: cf. awake for awaken, wove(n, bespoke(n, etc.]
A. adj. = open a. in various senses. (Only pred. or after the n.) Now arch. and poet.
| a 1250 Owl & Night. 168 Vor swikedom haved schome and hete, Ȝif hit is ope and under-ȝete. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 28/66 He leide ope him þis bok. 1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 4841 The large wonde vp-on my syde Al hope, I geue hem to refut. 1549–62 Sternhold & H. Te Deum, Thou heavens kingdom didst set ope. 1595 Shakes. John ii. i. 449 The mouth of passage shall we fling wide ope. 1678 Bunyan Pilgr. i. 186 To keep ope their drowsie slumbring eyes. 1820 Keats Ode to Psyche 66 A casement ope at night, To let the warm Love in! 1873 Browning Red Cott. Nt.-cap 211 With both eyes wide ope. |
B. n. [Cf. open n.]
† 1. = open n. 2, opening vbl. n. 5. Obs.
| 1611 W. Sclater Key (1629) 293 What an ope I should giue to aduersaries. 1627 ― Exp. 2 Thess. (1629) 167 Its fearefull when God.. intercludes all possibility or ope for returne out of errour. |
2. = open n. 1, opening vbl. n. 2. a. Arch.
| 1845 Petrie Round Towers Irel. 371 Pointed opes, splayed reveals. 1878 M{supc}Vittie Ch. Ch. Cathedral 59 The central ope of each triplet having a trefoiled head. |
b. local. (See quot. 1880.)
| 1866 N. & Q. 3rd Ser. IX. 320/1 At the street corner, where the name of the street is usually painted, you find Charles' Ope, Chapel street Ope. 1880 W. Cornwall Gloss., Ope, a narrow covered passage between two houses; an opening. 1893 Q. [Couch] Delect. Duchy 227 Her window yonder, over the ope. |
▪ II. ope, v.
(əʊp)
[Reduced from open v. after prec.]
= open v. in various senses. (Chiefly, and since 17th c. exclusively, poet.)
| c 1430 Two Cookery-bks. 18 Take þe hennys & skalde hem & ope hem. 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 210 Which opte his doore to rich and poore. 1577 Whetstone Remembr. Life Gascoigne xii, The windowes of my muse, then straight I ope. 1607 Shakes. Timon v. iv. 47 Set but thy foot Against our rampyr'd gates, and they shall ope. 1610 ― Temp. i. ii. 37 The howr's now come The very minute byds thee ope thine eare. 1664 Wood Life Jan. (O.H.S.) II. 4 Going to his study doore and oping it. 1741–2 Gray Agrip. 451 Oped his young eye to bear the blaze of greatness. 1807 Crabbe Par. Reg. i. 662 He opes his ample jaws, And lets a frog leap down, to gain applause. 1849 Whittier Leg. St. Mark 80 Lord, ope their eyes that they may see! |
▪ III. ope
= hoop n.3 2, bullfinch; cf. olph.
| 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agric. (1681) 266 Kill the Opes or Bull finches that feed on the buds of Fruit-trees. |
▪ IV. ope
obs. f. hope; up, upon prep.