▪ I. † ˈcalculate, n. Obs.
[f. L. calculāre to reckon: see next. Cf. estimate n., and see -ate1, -ate2.]
A calculation, reckoning, estimate.
| 1695 E. Bernard Voy. fr. Aleppo in Misc. Cur. (1708) III. 99 By a moderate Calculate there could not have been less at first than 560. 1700 Rycaut Hist. Turks III. 432 An Exact and Secret Calculate was made of the true Number. a 1734 North Exam. iii. viii. ¶26. 602 Nor were these Brothers mistaken in their Calculate. |
▪ II. calculate, v.1
(ˈkælkjʊleɪt)
[f. L. calculāt- ppl. stem of calculā-re to count, reckon, f. calculus a stone (see calculus). Cf. It. calcolare, Sp., Pg. calcular, F. calculer. An early form of the pa. pple. was calculat, -ate, ad. L. calculāt-us.]
1. trans. To estimate or determine by arithmetical or mathematical reckoning; to compute, reckon.
| 1570 Dee Math. Pref. 42 Hable to Calculate the Planetes places for all tymes. 1656 tr. Hobbes' Elem. Philos. (1839) 92 When we calculate the magnitude and motions of heaven or earth. 1671 True Non-Conf. 152 About 165 years, before the Councel..is the highest period from whence they can be calculat. 1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike iii. 35 The men looked at the ground, and calculated how much digging and other work there would be. 1860 Tyndall Glac. ii. §1. 223 Bradley was able to calculate the velocity of light. |
b. absol. To perform calculations, to form an estimate.
| 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. i. iii. 65 Why Old men, Fooles, and Children calculate. 1613 R. C. Table Alph. (ed. 3) Calculate, cast a count, reckon. 1789 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) III. 35 As yet, no vote has been given which will enable us to calculate, on certain ground. |
2. ellipt. To ascertain beforehand the time or circumstances of (an event, e.g. an eclipse, a nativity) by astrology or mathematics.
| 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iv. i. 34 A cunning man did calculate my birth And told me that by Water I should dye. 1667 Milton P.L. viii. 80 When they come to model Heav'n And calculate the Starrs. 1857 De Quincey China 10 To calculate a lunar eclipse. |
† 3. To reckon in, count, include. Obs.
| 1643 Sober Sadness 32 [He] must have been calculated in the Black-bill, if he had not taken himselfe off. |
4. To plan or devise with forethought; to think out; to frame. arch.
| 1654 G. Goddard in Introd. to Burton's Diary (1828) I. 30 For the indenture, that was calculated at Court. 1672 Grew Idea Hist. Plants §3 That.. is a Thought not well Calculated. 1708 Swift Sentiments Ch. Eng. Man Wks. 1755 II. i. 68 He doth not think the church of England so narrowly calculated, that it cannot fall in with any regular species of government. 1820 Hoyle's Games Impr. 171 Each [player] calculates his game without inspecting the tricks. 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits, Character Wks. (Bohn) II. 61 The English did not calculate the conquest of the Indies. It fell to their character. |
5. To arrange, design, prepare, adjust, adapt, or fit for a purpose. Const. for, or inf. with to; now only in pass.
| 1639 Fuller Holy War ii. iii. (1840) 51 This vision, though calculated for this one bishop, did generally serve for all the nonresidents. 1691 T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. 16 Voyages all calculated for the proving her against the Worm. 1727 Swift Modest Prop. Wks. 1755 II. ii. 66, I calculate my remedy for this..kingdom of Ireland, and for no other. 1732 Berkeley Sermon to S.P.G. Wks. III. 250 The Christian religion was calculated for the bulk of mankind. 1816 Scott Antiq. i, The coach was calculated to carry six regular passengers. 1848 Thirlwall Rem. (1877) I. 137 The college is calculated for the reception of sixty students. |
b. In the pa. pple. the notion of design gradually disappears, leaving merely the sense ‘suited’: see calculated below. (Cf. the similar history of apt, fit, adapted, fitted.)
6. intr. To reckon or count upon or on.
| 1807 Southey Life (1850) III. 109 All those may almost be calculated upon. 1829 I. Taylor Enthus. vi. (1867) 114 Security in calculating upon the future. 1873 Tristram Moab viii. 150 We had calculated on a quiet Sunday. |
7. U.S. colloq. To think, opine, suppose, ‘reckon’; to intend, purpose.
| 1830 Galt Lawrie T. ii. v. (1849) 56, I calculate, that ain't no thing to make nobody afeard. 1833 Marryat Peter S. xliv. [American speaking] ‘Well, captain,’ said he, ‘so you met with a squall?’ ‘I calculate not.’ 1837 Haliburton Clockm. I. 291, I calculate you couldn't fault it in no particular. 1859 Knickerbocker Mag. XVII. (Bartlett), Mr. Crane requested those persons who calculated to join the singin' school to come forward. |
▪ III. † ˈcalculate, v.2 Obs.
[f. L. calculus stone, pebble; cf. coagulate, etc.]
intr. To form stone in the bladder. Hence ˈcalculating ppl. a.
| 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 197 The same..with Parsley drunk in Wine..dissolveth the stone in the bladder, and preventeth all such calculating gravel in time to come. |