† deˈsignment Obs.
[f. design v. + -ment.]
= designation, design.
1. Indication by sign or token.
| 1625 Gill Sacr. Philos. ii. 156 No Scripture is so direct..as this for the certaine designement of the time. a 1684 Leighton Comm. 1 Pet. ii. 14 The them that are sent..is a very clear designment of the inferior governors of those times. |
2. Appointment or nomination to office or function; consignment or destination to a fate.
| 1582 N. T. (Rhem.) Luke vi. 12 Annot., As a preparation to the designement of his Apostles. 1612 T. Taylor Comm. Titus i. 7 Designements to offices and places. 1642 Jer. Taylor Episc. (1647) 93 Paul & Barnabas..went to the Gentiles, by..speciall designement made at Antioch. 1668 H. More Div. Dial. iv. xviii. (1713) 326 No designment of them to Sin and Damnation. 1732 Law Serious C. xxii. (1761) 420 It is by the express designment of God, that some beings are Angels, and others are men. |
3. Appointment, arrangement, or ordination of affairs; planning, designing; hence, that which is planned; an enterprise, undertaking, design.
| 1583 Harsnet Serm. Ezek. (1658) 135 Had he had freedome to haue altered Gods Designment, Adams liberty had bene aboue the designment of God. 1594 Ord. Prayer in Liturg. Serv. Q. Eliz. (1847) 654 Cruel designments so closely plotted against her innocent life. 1604 Shakes. Oth. ii. i. 22 The desperate Tempest hath so bang'd the Turkes, That their designement halts. 1611 Coryat Crudities 205 A very disastrous accident..frustrated his whole designement. 1659 Gentl. Calling (1696) 139 Many hours..intervening between the Designment and the Execution [of a Duel]. 1738 Warburton Div. Legat. I. 216 A strange Jumble as well as Iniquity in this Designment. |
4. Artistic representation, delineation; an outline, sketch; an original draught or design.
| 1570 Dee Math. Pref. in Billingsley Euclide A j, Of all these, liuely designementes..to be in velame parchement described. 1658 Dryden Death O. Cromwell 96 For though some meaner artist's skill were shown..Yet still the fair designment was his own. 1667 ― Ess. Dram. Poesie (R.), Shall that excuse the ill painture or designment of them? 1703 T. N. City & C. Purchaser 85 A neat and full Expression of the 1st Idea or Designment thereof. |