▪ I. document, n.
(ˈdɒkjʊmənt)
[a. OF. document lesson, written evidence (12th–13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. document-um lesson, proof, instance, specimen, in med.L. also written instrument, charter, official paper, f. docēre to teach.]
† 1. Teaching, instruction, warning. Obs.
| c 1450 Henryson Mor. Fab. 58 Despysing thus her hailsome document, The fowles..tuke their flight. 1503 Hawes Examp. Virt. Prol. iii, All that is wryten is to oure document. 1660 Trial Regic. 147 Punishment goes to the prisoner, but examples to the document of all others. 1793 J. Williams Life Ld. Barrymore 101, I have heard much document from the Grey Beards of society, delivered to prove [etc.]. |
† 2. An instruction, a piece of instruction, a lesson; an admonition, a warning. Obs.
| 1549 T. Some Latimer's Serm. bef. Edw. VI, Ded., In them are frutefull and godlye documentes. 1620 tr. Boccaccio's Decameron 80 b, These were his daily documents to his young wife. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 87 ¶10 There are..few to whom it is not unpleasing to receive documents. 1769 Sir J. Reynolds Disc. ii. (1876) 328 Even bad pictures themselves supply him with useful documents. c 1800 Landor in Parr's Wks. (1828) VIII. 48, I will give him some documents which shall enlighten his judgment at the expence of his skin. |
† 3. That which serves to show, point out, or prove something; evidence, proof. Chiefly with dependent clause. Obs.
| 1459 Charters of Peebles (Burgh Rec. Soc. 1872) 132 And than be verray document of thaim that herd and saw the begyning of that bargan the gud men..fand [etc.]. 1533 Bellenden Livy iv. (1822) 353 Ane notabil document, that pluralite of capitanis are unproffittabil in battal. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World v. iii. §21. 490 This may serue as a document of Fortunes instabilitie. 1769 Junius' Lett. xxvii. ¶5 Sufficient care was taken to leave no document of any treasonable negociation. 1847 Emerson Repr. Men, Napoleon Wks. (Bohn) I. 374 The best document of his relation to his troops is the order of the day..in which [etc.]. |
4. Something written, inscribed, etc., which furnishes evidence or information upon any subject, as a manuscript, title-deed, tomb-stone, coin, picture, etc.
| 1727–51 Chambers Cycl., Document, in law, some written monument produced in proof of any fact asserted..The antiquity of the foundation of such a church is proved by a number of authentic documents. 1755 N. Magens Insurances I. 340 As an Authentic Document was required of the foregoing Declaration, I signed and sealed this to serve where occasion shall require. 1810 Wellington in Gurw. Desp. VI. 290, I had got..the emplacement of the whole French army of the 1st June which is a very curious document and gives a tolerable notion of their whole force in Spain. 1850 A. Jameson Leg. Monast. Ord. (1863) 401 These frescoes..have become invaluable as documents. 1877–9 F. Wharton Law of Evid. I. ii. ix. §614. 586 A ‘document’..is an instrument on which is recorded, by means of letters, figures, or marks, matter which may be evidentially used. |
b. spec. The bill of lading and policy of insurance handed over as collateral security for a foreign bill of exchange; hence document-bill.
| 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Document-bill, an Indian bill of exchange drawn on London, having as collateral security the bill of lading and policy of insurance on the goods; against a part of the estimated value of these the bill is drawn. |
Add: 5. Special Comb. document case, a lightweight usu. flexible case for carrying papers.
| 1936 C. Day Lewis Friendly Tree vii. 102 He deliberately chose the most expensive *document-case he could find. 1974 Harrod's Christmas Catal. 19 Under-arm document case {pstlg}27.50. |
▪ II. document, v.
(ˈdɒkjʊmɛnt)
[f. prec. n.: cf. F. documenter.]
† 1. trans. To teach, instruct. Obs.
| 1648 Scottish Mist Dispel'd 32 Upon this principle you document the Parliament of England about the Kings power in making laws. 1682 Bunyan Holy War 217 That they might be documented in all good and wholesome things. 1739 ‘R. Bull’ tr. Dedekindus' Grobianus 271 The Monarch documents him in his Part. |
b. To give a ‘lesson’ to; to instruct or admonish in an authoritative or imperious manner. Obs.
| 1690 Dryden Don Sebastian iv. ii, I am finely documented by my own daughter! 1778 Franklin Let. Wks. 1889 VI. 161 Your letters..in which you, with magisterial airs, schooled and documented me, as if I had been one of your domestics. 1802 M. Moore Lascelles I. 126 She..entreated Mrs. Carisbrook to send them [the girls] to her..that she might document them. |
2. To prove or support (something) by documentary evidence.
| 1711 Countrym. Let. to Curat 31 The Historical deduction before given (sufficiently documented from your own Writers). 1780 Blue Blanket 4 (Jam.) This city was so often destroyed, her monuments and charters lost, that her original cannot well be documented. 1825 Anderson Hist. Acc. Fam. Fraser 79 They are documented in a charter of confirmation of the lands of Wester Logy. |
3. To provide with documents. a. To furnish (a ship) with the ‘papers’ or documents required for the manifestation of its ownership and cargo.
| 1828 Webster s.v., A ship should be documented according to the directions of law. 1848 Arnould Mar. Insur. (1866) I. i. i. 8 By sailing his ship imperfectly or improperly documented, he forfeits his right to protection under the policy. 1884 R. Wheatley in Harper's Mag. June 60/1 To enable such vessels..to be documented and receive an American register. |
b. To furnish (a person) with evidence; to keep informed or instructed.
| 1807 W. Taylor in Ann. Rev. V. 165 A..corroboration to the statements of that courageous and documented historiographer. 1892 Nation (N.Y.) 8 Sept. 187/1 It was for a novel..that he was ‘documenting himself’. 1894 Daily News 20 Dec. 5/4 Statesmen who want to be, as they say here, ‘well documented’ to resist possible attacks. |
Hence ˈdocumented ppl. a., ˈdocumenting vbl. n.; † ˈdocumentor, an indicator.
| 1684 tr. Agrippa's Van. Arts lxxxi. 277 There be many of smaller Animals also that claim a Prerogative in the Shields of great men, provided they be the Documentors of mischief: such as Coneys, Moles, Frogs, Locusts, Mice, Serpents. 1801 M. Edgeworth Belinda (1857) 4 After the course of documenting which she had gone through. 1803 W. Taylor in Ann. Rev. I. 256 A full, a documented, a well-proportioned account. 1886 American XII. 286 There were 256 disasters to documented vessels. |