▪ I. withdraw, n. rare.
[f. withdraw v.]
Withdrawal, removal; spec. = withdraught 1 b.
| 1444 Maldon (Essex) Docts. liber ‘A’ lf. 32b (MS.) For a defaute, or a withdrawe of courte, a freman shall be amerced at iii d. 1693 C. Mather Wonders Invis. World 64 One of these Witnesses was over-perswaded by some Persons, to be out of the way upon G. B.'s Tryal; but he came afterwards with Sorrow for his withdraw. 1720 S. Sewall Diary 11 Nov. (1882) III. 276 Went not to Mm.. Winthrop's. This is the 2{supd} Withdraw. 1727 C. Mather (title) Christian Loyalty, Or, some Suitable Sentiments On the Withdraw of King George the First,..and the Access of King George the Second. |
▪ II. withdraw, v.
(wɪðˈdrɔː, wɪθ-)
Pa. tense withdrew (wɪðˈdruː); pa. pple. withdrawn (wɪðˈdrɔːn). Forms: see with prep. and draw v.; also 4 widdraw; pa. tense 4 wid-drogh, widrouh; pa. pple. 5 othedraw, 6 withdrawed.
[f. with- i) + draw v. (Cf. L. retrahĕre to retract, retray, F. retirer to retire.)]
I. trans.
1. To take back or away (something that has been given, granted, allowed, possessed, enjoyed, or experienced).
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 230 Ure Louerd..wiðdraweð his grace, & his cumfort. c 1315 Shoreham Poems vii. 490 Ich mey ȝyuen, and eke wyþ-draȝe, Al þat myn hys. 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 332 Þat he no may his loue haue, Grete strengþe him doþ wiþ-drawe. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 91 Lich unto the greene tree, If that men toke his rote aweie, Riht so myn herte scholde deie, If that mi love be withdrawe. a 1400 Prymer (1891) 41 The sonne with drowȝ his liȝt. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) iv. xx. 65 Now the from me withdraweth bytter deth. 1535 Coverdale 1 Chron. xvii[i]. 13, I wyl not withdrawe my mercy from him. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lv. §3 Impossible it is that God should with⁓drawe his presence from any thing. 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. ii. Wks. 1856 I. 23 My mistresse..withdrewe her gratious aspect even now. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. ¶1 Those noursing fathers and mothers..that withdraw from them who hang vpon their breasts..liuelyhood and support. 1815 Shelley Alastor 16 Withdraw No portion of your wonted favour. 1833 Tennyson Two Voices 145 When Life her light withdraws. 1854 R. S. Surtees Handley Cr. xxxvi. (1901) I. 288 They..said they'd withdraw their subscriptions from the hounds. 1874 Green Short Hist. ii. §8. 105 The office of sheriff was withdrawn from the great nobles of the shire. 1898 ‘H. S. Merriman’ Roden's Corner xiv, Then you are not disposed to withdraw your name from the concern? |
† b. To subtract (arithmetically). Obs.
| c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. ii. §45 Vnder that nombere [1400] I wrote a 1397; þan withdrowe I the laste nombere owte of þat, and þan fond I þe residue was 3 ȝere. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton) v. xiv. (1859) 81 Where that it nedeth oughte to adden, or withdrawen. c 1430 Art of Nombryng (E.E.T.S.) 6 The figures that thow hast withdraw, adde them ayene to the omyst figures. |
† c. To cause to decline, decrease, or disappear.
| c 1450 J. Capgrave St. Augustine xxxv. 45 Þat ȝe schuld..not be lettyd with no cold whech schuld withdrawe ȝour deuocion. 1546 Gassar's Prognost. b viij, The heat of Summer shalbegynne to be wythdrawne by rayne. 1563 Shute Archit. B ij b, It hath ben withdrawen and hidden (as almost al other knowlages..hath bene) through ignoraunce. |
2. To draw back, take away, remove (a thing) from its place or position.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3803 Aaron..ðis fier blessede and wið⁓droȝ. c 1386 Chaucer Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 870 Withdraweth the fir, lest it to faste brenne. 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love ii. v. (Skeat) l. 129 Whan the see ebbeth and withdraweth the gravel. c 1400 tr. Secr. Secr., Gov. Lordsh. 70 Reubard..withdrawys þe fleume fro þe mouth of þe stomake. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) vi. 21 Syrus..withdrew þe water and destruyd þe citee. 1422 Yonge tr. Secr. Secr. 241 Whan a man sittyth atte mette he sholde wythdrawe his honde afor that he be y-fillit. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xiv. 352/12 Whan charlemagne sawe that reynawde had wyth⁓drawe his baner, he was glad of it. 1648 Gage West Ind. 176, I withdrew my foot a little. 1671 Milton Samson 192 In prosperous days They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head. 1834 Hook Gilbert Gurney iii, This speech..induced me suddenly to withdraw my head. 1842 Loudon Suburban Hort. 463 So as to admit of withdrawing, and reintroducing the vines without injuring them. 1848 Dickens Dombey lviii, Harriet was withdrawing her hand to open the book, when Alice detained it for a moment. 1854 Ronalds & Richardson Chem. Technol. (ed. 2) I. 168 The most appropriate spot for withdrawing the gases from this furnace. 1898 ‘H. S. Merriman’ Roden's Corner xxv, As he spoke he had withdrawn from his pocket a folded paper. |
b. To take (one's eyes, etc.) off something.
| 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 5 He is happy that with⁓draweth his ere & his eye from alle vyle thinges. 1542 Elyot, Oculorum remissio, a withdrawyng of the loke. 1836 Dickens Sk. Boz, Tuggs's at Ramsgate, As her eye caught that of Mr. Cymon Tuggs, she withdrew it from his features in bashful confusion. 1838 ― O. Twist xxxviii, Till even she, who was not easily cowed, was fain to withdraw her eyes, and turn them towards the ground. |
c. To remove (money) from capital, or from a bank or other place of deposit.
| 1776 Adam Smith W.N. ii. iii. I. 403 That part is, from that moment, withdrawn from his capital. 1828 Act 9 Geo. IV c. 92 §38 After having withdrawn any Sum or Sums of Money from or out of any Savings Banks. 1861 Act 24 Vict. c. 14 §4 The Officers of the Postmaster General..shall not disclose the Name of any Depositor nor the Amount deposited or withdrawn. |
d. To draw (a veil, curtain, etc.) back or aside; to draw back (a bolt). Now rare.
| 1797 Mrs. Radcliffe Italian xi, The veil was at length withdrawn. 1833 L. Ritchie Wand. Loire 170 The sound of opening doors, withdrawing bolts, and hoarse voices hallooing from tower to tower. 1841 Dickens Barn. Rudge ix, Withdrawing the little window curtain, she gazed out. 1878 Browning La Saisiaz 106 Here's the veil withdrawn from landscape. |
3. fig. † a. To retract, revoke, rescind. Obs.
| c 1290 Beket 1829 in S. Eng. Leg. 159 Ȝif þov wenest wel for-to do, with-drauȝ þine dede sone. c 1290 St. Nicholas 265 ibid. 248 With-drauȝ þi red, ich þe rede. c 1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 3459 The king withdrogh his jugement. c 1480 Henryson Test. Cress. 327 Withdraw thy sentence, and be gracious. |
b. To remove from the scope of an inquiry, from a particular category, or the like.
| 1725 Broome Notes Pope's Odyss. vi. 331 Nausicaa..is withdrawn, and a whole nation introduced for a more general praise of Ulysses. 1839 Hallam Lit. Eur. ii. v. §97 One [poem] by Hercules Rollock..is..equal, a few names withdrawn, to any of the contemporaneous poetry of France. 1848 H. R. Forster Stowe Catal. 236 The next two lots were withdrawn. 1869 H. F. Tozer Highl. Turkey II. 259 The marvellous element..withdraws the narrative..from the course of ordinary occurrences. 1895 Law Times Rep. LXXIII. 637/2 It was not a case which should have been withdrawn from the jury. |
c. To take back, retract (one's words, an expression). Often absol. in imper., in parliamentary procedure, to demand the withdrawal by a member of an expression or a statement.
| 1793 in Ld. Auckland's Corr. (1862) III. 37 Burke got up twice, but the House was so satisfied, that it would hear nothing, and nothing was heard but Withdraw, withdraw. 1837 Dickens Pickw. i, The Chairman was quite sure the hon. Pickwickian would withdraw the expression he had just made use of. 1880 Hansard's Parl. Deb. 20 Aug. 1756, I call upon the hon. Member to withdraw the word ‘offensive’... (Cries of ‘Withdraw!’) |
d. To refrain from proceeding with or prosecuting (a course of action, a proposal, etc.); to cease to support or present (a candidate, etc.).
| 1781 Blackstone Rep. II. 1028 The Court allowed the Plaintiff to withdraw his Demurrer. 1834 Dickens Sk. Boz, Steam Excurs., Mr. Alexander Briggs moved as an amendment, that [etc.]..; but after some debate consented to withdraw his opposition. 1844 H. H. Wilson Brit. India I. 555 The latter proposition was withdrawn. 1880 Hansard's Parl. Deb. 20 Aug. 1739 Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xxiii, Nero..neither repeated nor withdrew his command. 1913 Act 3 & 4 Geo. V, c. 6 §1 If the candidate is withdrawn or deemed to be withdrawn. |
4. † a. To keep back or hold (one's hand); also, to withhold (a blow). Obs.
| a 1300 K. Horn 859 (Camb.) His dent he gan wiþ-draȝe, For hi were neȝ aslaȝe. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 369 Achilles tho withdrowh his hond. c 1400 tr. Secr. Secr., Gov. Lordsh. 52 Whanne kynges..withdrawes her hondys frome þe..poscessiouns of her subgitz. |
† b. To keep back, withhold (something due, customary, or necessary); hence gen. to withhold.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 21906 Þai serue him all apon þair wise, And man wit-draus his seruise. c 1386 Chaucer Wife's Prol. 617, I koude noght withdrawe My chambre of Venus from a good felawe. c 1450 Godstow Reg. 231 They haue preuyd þat þey with-drowe no dewete þat was wonyd & vsyd. 1510 in Leadam Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden Soc.) II. 70 The seid priour..withdraweth suche dueties as they of Right owght to take. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 6 b, Whan god withdraweth his rayne,..than shall there be neyther oxe ne cowe. 1580 [see withdrawer]. |
† c. To keep back, restrain (a person, his desires, etc.). Obs.
| 1340 Ayenb. 254 Þe guode man and þe wyse wyþdraȝeþ hare wyl and hare lostes..be temperance. 1390 Gower Conf. II. 393 Withdrawh thi lust and hold the stille. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 96 Forto wythdraw all men of such oþes and wordys Seynt Poule..forbedyth yche cristen man not to speke all maner ydull speche. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye i. xix. 51 Yf yt happe..that any..be dystracte from saynge.. eny..verse..and may not say yt, but yf he withdrawe his voyce from syngynge. 1530 Palsgr. 781/2 Let him go whan he wyll, he shall nat be withdrawen for me. |
5. To draw away, deflect, divert (a person, his mind, etc.) from an object, pursuit, line of conduct, etc.; † also, to draw, attract; to distract. Now rare.
† Occas. const. inf.: To divert from doing something.
| 1340 Ayenb. 58 Þet hi myȝten his..uram þe guode þet hi habeþ y-conceyued wyþdraȝe. Ibid., Yef þou be þine tonge wyþdraȝst ane man oþer a child wel to done. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 215 Þat man leve no worldly goodis þat wiþ⁓drawiþ his wille fro God. ? 1477 Stonor Papers (Camden) II. 34 Parauenture more chargeful besynes hathe othedraw yower mynde. 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. i. xxix. F iv, Withdrawe towardys the, the hertes of straungers by yeftes. 1542 Elyot, Auocamentum,..recreation, that withdraweth the mynde from heuynes or melancholy. 1563 Golding Cæsar iii. (1565) 76 Those sorte of rascals whom hope of spoile..had wythdrawen from husbandrye and daylye labor. a 1592 Greene Jas. IV, ii. ii, With how contrarious thoughts am I withdrawne! Why linger I twixt hope and doubtfull feare? 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. v. iv. 23 Aduantagious care Withdrew me from the oddes of multitude. 1606 Reg. Privy Council Scot. (1885) VII. 181 To alienat and withdraw thaim from thair due obedience to his Majestie. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. i. viii. 33 Whatsoever is new, or great,..withdrawes a man..from the intended way of his discourse. 1667 Milton P.L. vii. 612 They thought Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw The number of thy worshippers. 1841 Elphinstone Hist. India I. 593 It would have been happy if he had never been withdrawn from those pursuits. 1859 W. Collins Q. of Hearts i, The circumstances which have withdrawn us from the world for the rest of our days. |
6. To remove (a person) from a position; to cause to retire or recede; † occas. to take aside; spec. to cause (a force, troops) to retire from a position; to draw off from an engagement.
| a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 107 Mani that haue be withdrawe oute of abbeyes, for thaire londes. 1471 Caxton Recuyell (Sommer) 149 Saturne wythdrowe his peple on that oon syde. a 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV 206 His onely sauegarde and comforte, were to withdrawe hym and his compaignie into Fraunce. a 1592 Greene Jas. IV, iii. iii, A shining blade Withdrawes a coward theefe that would inuade. 1615 in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 160, I presently did withdraw him..until I had discovered that which I desired. 1621 H. Elsing Debates Ho. Lords (Camden) 87 The prisoner withdrawen. 1805 C. James Milit. Dict. (ed. 2), To withdraw, to call back; to make to retire. 1821 Shelley Adonais xlii, Where'er that Power may move Which has withdrawn his being to its own. 1823 Scott Quentin D. ix, A sounder..had..withdrawn in pursuit of him all the dogs..and the greater part of the huntsmen. 1836 Thirlwall Greece xxi. III. 175 She would be compelled to with⁓draw her forces from Lesbos. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair lx, Walter Scape was withdrawn from Eton, and put into a merchant's house. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xx, She has withdrawn her spies. |
b. Law. To remove (a juror) from the panel in order to put an end to the proceedings.
| a 1676 Hale De Jure Maris i. vi. (1787) 36 The court and the king's attorney-generall..were so well satisfied with the defendant's title, that they moved the defendant to consent to withdraw a juror. 1789 New Lond. Mag. Sept. 458/2 And Mrs. Phillips agreed on her part that a Juror should be withdrawn. 1866 Foster & Finlason Nisi Prius Cases IV. 942 The plaintiff's counsel proposed to withdraw a juror, which was assented to. 1881 Odgers Libel & Slander 550 Actions of defamation are often compromised before the judge comes to sum up the evidence. A juror is often withdrawn, sometimes at the suggestion of the judge. |
† 7. = withdraw from in various senses. Obs. rare.
| 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 895 Sin ȝe maugray ȝour miht mote hit wiþ-drawe. c 1400 Beryn 1257 Yff þow wolt drawe the to wit, & rebawdry withdrawe. c 1450 Godstow Reg. 304 He with-drow the forsaid court, by the mean of a frendly accorde. |
II. refl.
8. To remove oneself from a place or position; = 12. Now rare or arch.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 19175 Þai badd þat þai þam suld wit⁓drau Quils þai samen spak a thrau. 13.. Ibid. 21654 (Edinb.) Adam quen he wroȝt hauid woȝ Vndir þis tre he him wiþ-droȝ. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 73 He him withdrowh So prively that sche ne wiste Wher he becom. c 1410 Master of Game xxvi. (1904) 83 Þei ought to wiþdrawe hym in þe softest maner..and þan go preuyli to þei be vndir þe wynde. c 1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Aug. 39/19 He wepte, and with-drow him. 1485 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 314/1 The said William had withdrawn him out of thys Lande. 1530 Palsgr. 783/1 He hath withdrawen him selfe in some corner. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, v. iii. 28 Withdraw your selues, and leaue vs here alone. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 627 Vortigern had withdrawen himselfe into these parts. 1718 Atterbury Serm., Acts i. 3 (1734) I. 177 It was requisite that he should not withdraw himself from their Sight, at once. 1839 Lane Arab. Nts. I. 103 The King disguised himself, and..withdrew himself from the midst of his troops. |
† b. Of combatants, troops, etc.: = 12 b. Obs.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 3253 Þe brutons hom wiþdrowe, & þe saxons hom reste. c 1300 K. Horn 886 (Laud MS.) Hys feren gonnen hem wyt drawe. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 169 Cirus..feyned hym to flee and wiþdrowȝ hym. |
† c. Of water: = 12 c. Obs.
| c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxiv. 111 Þe see, þat before bette apon þe mount, withdrewe it. 1422 Yonge tr. Secr. Secr. 196 The See meveth and hym wyth-drawyth aftyr the mewynge..of the mone. |
9. To remove oneself from a condition, sphere, society, etc.; = 13. Now rare or arch.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 28136 Oft als haue i me wit-draun Til vncuth pryst, and fra myn aun. 1553 Eden Treat. Newe Ind. G j b, Voyces of deuyls..withdrawing them from the right waye. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 102 b, It is also to be feared lest suche as would haue ioyned them selues vnto this league, wyll be affrayde nowe of this, and withdrawe them selues. 1612 Sir J. Digby Let. 10 Oct. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. i. 609 Some of the beste of them have withdrawen themselves from their trade. 1638 Junius Paint. Ancients 24 Let our Imagination therefore among multitudes of people..withdraw it selfe to some secrecie. 1663 Sc. Acts Chas. II (1820) VII. 455/2 All..persons who shall..wilfully withdraw and absent themselffs from the ordinary meitings of divine worship. 1770 Junius Lett. xxxix, He cannot withdraw himself from the Complaints..of his Subjects. 1798 Malthus Popul. (1878) 448 Every man may..have the redress of withdrawing himself from the club. 1812 Belsham Mem. Lindsey 348 Withdrawing himself from an office the duties of which he was so fully competent to discharge. 1865 Dickens Lett. (1880) II. 233, I am withdrawing myself from engagements of all kinds. |
† 10. To cease, refrain; = 14. Obs.
| c 1290 St. James 159 in S. Eng. Leg. 38 Of is luþere þouȝt þat he þouȝte for drede he him with drovȝ. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10221 Þe king of alimayne sende..To king Ion, þat he wiþdrowe him of is wou. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 10872 Of þat man hyt ys grete drede, Þat wyþdraghþ hym fro gode dede. 1340 Ayenb. 52 Huanne hi wyþ-draȝeþ to do wel. 1422 Yonge tr. Secr. Secr. 243 He that is custumet to ette two tymes in the day, yf he wythdrawe hym sodaynly, anone he may grevaunce take. |
† 11. To contact. Obs. rare.
| 1471 Caxton Recuyell (Sommer) 497 His synewis shronke and withdrewe them. |
III. intr.
12. To go away, depart, or retire from a place or position, from some one's presence, to another room or a private place, etc.; † to draw back or turn aside.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3983 If ðin asse ne were wið-draȝen, Her suldes ðu nu wurðen slaȝen. [Vulg. nisi asina declinasset de via..te occidissem, Num. xxii. 33.] 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. viii. xxii. [xi.] (Tollem. MS.), Nouȝt with⁓drawinge towarde þe lyfte side, oþer towarde þe ryȝt side. 1471 Caxton Recuyell (Sommer) 170 He made his marouners to saylle and rowe with alle diligence for to withdrawe fro the porte. Ibid. 239 Whan she was a lytill withdrawen fro the temple. 1577 Holinshed Chron. II. 302/2 The people with their goodes and Cattell being fled and withdrawen into the Wooddes and Mountaynes. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado iii. iv. 100 Madam, withdraw, the Prince..and all the gallants of the towne are come to fetch you to Church. 1600 1st Pt. Sir J. Oldcastle v. x. 43, I will withdraw into some other roome. 1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. II. 711 Who was there, but withdrawn under a hedge with the Prince and Duke. 1697 Dryden Virg. Past. viii. 19 Scarce from our upper World the Shades withdrew. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 108 ¶6 Upon with⁓drawing into my Room after Dinner. 1712 Ibid. 536 ¶1 She delivered the remaining part of her Message, and with⁓drew. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones xviii. xiii, Sophia now took the first Opportunity of withdrawing with the Ladies. 1781 Cowper Retirem. 447 A man..Who comes when call'd, and at a word withdraws. 1810 Scott Lady of L. ii xxxvii, The Minstrel..from the shore withdrew. 1828 Lytton Pelham III. iii, I bowed slightly, and she withdrew to the countess. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xxvii. 209 The men..withdrew from me, and approached the eastern boundary of the glacier. 1874 Green Short Hist. iii. §3. 127 By the treaty of Lambeth, Lewis promised to withdraw from England. |
b. Of combatants, troops, etc.: To retire from the field of battle or any contest, or from an advanced position.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 3681 Prest aȝen him he was & slou of hom to grounde, so þat hii gonne wiþ drawe. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 12746 Lenger to iuste myght þey nought stande, But þem defended al wyþdrawande. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 2015, I..will at þou knaw þat for na drede I with-draw. 1471 Caxton Recuyell (Sommer) 401 Whan the two oostes were withdrawen. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lix. 203 Cause your men to withdraw fro the batayle. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, v. iv. 8 Withdraw my Lord, Ile helpe you to a Horse. 1697 Dryden æneis xi. 559, I beg your Greatness..beaten, to withdraw. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 83 ¶10 The Confederates are preparing to withdraw into Winter Quarters. 1880 Hensman Afghan War (1881) 449 The Amir's troops..only withdrew at daylight. |
† c. Of water: To subside, ebb. Obs.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 596 In armenie ðat arche stod, Ðo was wið-draȝen ðat ilc flod. Ibid. 599 Dunes wexen, ðe flod wið-droȝ. a 1300 K. Horn 1399 (Camb.) Whanne þe se wiþ droȝe. c 1400 Destr. Troy 2008 The wodenes of waghes wightly with droghe. 1471 Caxton Recuyell (Sommer) 280 Whan the see was withdrawen & ferre ebbed. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. liii. [lii]. 76/2 They founde y⊇ ryuers withdrawen. 1618 Bolton Florus iii. x. (1636) 199 The Tide withdrawing upon course. |
13. To draw away from a person; to remove oneself or retire from a society or community, from publicity, etc.; to retire from participation in or pusuit of something; † to resign.
| c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 257 [331] Thow..makyst wise folk fro me withdrawe. 1540 Bible (Cranmer) Prov. xix. 7 Hys awne frendes withdrawe from him. 1667 Marvell Corr. Wks. (Grosart) II. 227 A large petition from the Earle of Clarindon, intimating that he was withdrawn. 1677 Reg. Privy Council Scot. Ser. iii. (1912) V. 120 Withdrawing from the publik ordinances in their owne paroch kirkes. 1697 Dryden æneis xii. 757 [He] wisely from th' infectious World withdrew. 1715 Pope Iliad ii. 448 Now great Achilles from our aid withdraws. 1746 Hervey Medit. (1818) 108 Wisely they withdrew from that immense multiplicity of learning. 1798 Ferriar Illustr. Sterne iii. 63 An ideal world, into which we can withdraw at pleasure. 1849 A. Scratchley Build. Societies 100 Desirous of with⁓drawing from the society. 1853 Newman Hist. Sk. (1873) II. i. iv. 174 Classes and ranks withdraw from each other more and more. 1870 J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Glean. Ser. ii. 23 Wiklif withdrew from his political and social projects. 1892 Gladstone in Daily News 4 Nov. 5/4, I have..withdrawn from all attendance at public banquets. 1911 Marett Anthropology ix. 237 No one has a chance of withdrawing into his own soul. |
† b. Of an immaterial thing, a condition, etc.: To depart, disappear.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 6583 [He] biheld toward þe water, & is grete herte wiþdrou. Ibid. 9189 Þe verste tuo ȝer god cas & hap inou..com to king steuene, ac suþþe it wiþ drou. 13.. Cursor M. 4698 (Gött.) Bot alkines welth bigan wid⁓drau. 1426 Audelay Poems 25 Dredles deuocioun hit is with draw. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye ii. 151 Then grace withdrawyth and the fende enteryth. |
† 14. Const. of of inf. To cease or refrain from, or from doing, something. Obs.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10893 Seint edmond..ofte him bisouȝte Þat he wiþdrowe of is dede. 1340 Ayenb. 53 Ich wille þet þou loki and wyþdraȝe. c 1375 Cato Major 523 in Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. 598 Þou most with-drawe of diuers metes, And vse no glotenie. 1450–80 tr. Secr. Secr. v. 8 Whan he withdrawith forto take the goodis and possessiones of his sugetis. |
Senses 8–14 in Dict. become 9–15. Add: [I.] 8. To cause (a person) to undergo withdrawal from or cease the use of an addictive drug, etc.; to dry out.
| 1967 Observer 26 Feb. 21/5 We take the addicts into hospital, withdraw them and turn them loose. |
[II.] 16. To practise coitus interruptus.
| 1969 J. Fraser Clap Hands v. 70 Don't worry. I'll withdraw. Just give yourself, baby. I want you. 1978 F. Weldon Praxis xii. 102 Peter was..always gentlemanly, and withdrew, politely, turning away to use a handkerchief. 1992 Daily Tel. 9 Oct. (You & Your Family Suppl.) 5/1 It put me right off taking the Pill so I came off three and a half months ago—my partner now withdraws. |
17. To cease the use of an addictive drug or other substance; to undergo a period of withdrawal from addiction. Also transf.
| 1971 E. E. Landy Underground Dict. 199 Withdraw, stop using a physically addictive drug. 1972 Nature 14 Apr. 323/1 It is often claimed, for example, that it is more difficult to withdraw from methadone than from heroin. 1977 Washington Post 23 Dec. (Weekend section) 5/3 Some people can only withdraw from the holidays gradually. They've become shopping-addicts, can't touch anything without turning it over to look for a price tag. 1981 D. W. Goodwin Alcoholism vi. 44 Most alcoholics..have seizures only when withdrawing from alcohol. 1986 Playboy Dec. 38/1 We're a society of credit junkies,..and I want to withdraw from the drug before it's too late. 1990 Policy Rev. Winter 10/1 For the cocaine user, it is possible to withdraw without medication. |