again, adv., prep., conj.
(əˈgɛn, əˈgeɪn)
Forms: 1 ongegn, ongægn, ongeægn, ongén, onᵹeán, onᵹán; later aᵹén, aᵹeán, aᵹán. South. 2 onȝein, oȝein, anȝen, 2–4 aȝein, aȝen, aȝé, 3 aë, 3–4 aȝeyn, aȝayn, ayé, 4 ayein, aȝeen, 5 ayhen, ayhé, 5–6 ayen(e. North. 4 ogayn(e, ogain(e, 4–6 agayn(e, again(e, (Sc. agane, agone). Midl. 3 onnȝænn, aȝean, aȝan, aȝeon, aȝon, agen, 3–4 ageyn, 5–6 ageyn(e, agein(e, agayn(e, 5–7 againe, 7–9 again, in poets agen.
[1. OE. like the cogn. langs. shows two forms: (1) onᵹeán, earlier *onᵹeaᵹn, onᵹeæᵹn, ongægn, *ongagn, OHG. in gagan, cf. ON. gagn n., gagn- adv. pref.; (2) onᵹén, earlier onᵹeᵹn, ongegn, OS. angegin, OHG. in gegin, in gegini (MHG, engegene, engein, mod.G. entgegen), ON. i gegn (Sw. igen, Dan. igjen); f. on, in + (1) gagn, (2) gegn, best explained as:—*gag(a)na, *gag(a)ni, variant o- and i- stems of gag(a)n. Not found in Gothic. From onᵹén came the various southern forms of which ayen was the type; from the earlier ongegn, onᵹeᵹn, the type ayein; from aᵹeán, the southern and midl. types ayan, ayon; from the earlier ongægn, ongæᵹn (perh. influenced later by Norse), the northern a-gain. The late agen was a mixed form between ayen and again, and showed the common literary pronunciation even when again was written; hence it was used by the poets down to the present century (found 1834), but this is now obs. 2. The primary meaning of gagn, gegn seems to have been ‘direct, straight’ (see gain a. and n., and cf. ON. gegn adj.), whence on-gegn ‘in a direct line with, opposite, facing locally,’ and so extended to all ideas of meeting, opposition, reversal, recurrence, repetition. Originally a separable adverbial particle, as in ongegn-cuman, which, when separated from the vb., became an adv. or prep. according to the construction: he cymeð aᵹén, he him cymeð aᵹén, he cymeð him aᵹén, he cymeð aᵹén him or hine. 3. As early as 1130 there arose in the south a variant with advb. genitive aȝenes, againes, corrupted bef. 1400 to aȝenst, against (see next word) as the prepositional form. Early in 16th c. again was restricted to the advb. use, and against alone used as prep. (and conj.). In Sc. and north Eng. where against was not adopted, again still retains all its early constructions, occasionally borrowed also by southern writers since 1525.]
A. adv.
1. † a. In the opposite direction; back. Obs.
| 993 Batt. Maldon 137 Ðæt spere sprengde, ðæt hit sprang onᵹean. c 1220 Leg. St. Kath. 1368 & ba binden ham swa, Þe fet & te honden, Þat ha wrungen aȝain. 1382 Wyclif Ecclus. xiii. 13 Be thou not to gredi, lest thou be put aȝeen [1611 put back]. c 1400 Apol. for Loll. 105 Þe wif of Loth, þat..loking aȝen, was turnid in to an image of salt. Ibid. No man leying hand to þe plowe, and loking aȝen, is able to þe kyndam of God. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. clxiii. 147 The walsshmen..were so strong that they dryuen the englysshmen ageyne. |
b. esp. with go, come, wend, turn, throw: back, esp. all the way back, back to the point of starting. Obs. exc. in the arch. and dial. ‘turn again,’ and as in d.
| c 1000 ælfric Hom. (Sweet 77) Gecyrde se apostol onᵹean mid miclum wurðmynte. 1031 O.E. Chron. (Parker MS.) Her com Cnut aᵹan to Englalonde. 1070 Ibid. Swa Thomas to þam timan aᵹean ferde buton bletsunga. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 79 Ȝif þu mare spenest of þine hwan ic aȝen cherre{revsc} al ic þe ȝelde. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 91 Elhc cristene man makeð þis dai procession fro chirche to chirche and eft agen. c 1250 Gen. & Exod. 3267 Ðo quoðen he, ‘wende we a-gen, An[d] israel folc lete we ben.’ c 1300 Beket 147 And was oute threo ȝer and an half, er he aȝe com. 1387 Trevisa Higden Rolls Ser. I. 407 Fynde and see, And þanne torne home aȝe. 1398 ― Barth. De P.R. ix. iii. (1495) 347 A cercle that comyth agayne into itself and is renewed. 1513 More Edw. V (1641) 17 But sith things passed cannot be called againe. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. ii. i. 217 Nay, come againe, good Kate, I am a gentleman. 1611 ― Cymb. iv. iii. 1 Againe: and bring me word how 'tis with her. 1611 Bible Judg. iii. 19 Hee himselfe turned againe from the quarries. ― Luke x. 35 When I come again, I will repay thee [1881 Revised I, when I come back again, will repay thee]. 1678 Bunyan Pilgrim 9 Come then, Neighbour Pliable, let us turn again, and go home. 1742 Richardson Pamela III. 363 Go and shut the Chamber-door and come to me again. Arch. ‘Turn again Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor of London!’ Mod. Sc. I have come far enough, it is time for me to turn again. |
† c. to and again: to and fro, backwards and forwards. Obs.
| 1628 Digby Voy. to Medit. (1868) 7 Wee plyed to and againe the Spanish shore. 1665 Pepys Diary 15 July, Staid an hour crossing the water to and again. 1697 Perry Hist. Coll. Am. Col. Ch. They all sat down not at a table but to and again about the room as we are now sitting. 1702 W. J. tr. Bruyn's Voy. to Levant ii. 3 A white Plume of Peacocks Feathers..which they wafted to and agen to drive off the Flies. 1719 De Foe Crusoe (1858) 356 He walked along the shore, to-and-again, with his father. 1736 Bailey (Fol.). |
d. strengthened with back, re-turn; thus passing into 3. (In OE. eft ‘again’ was strengthened by onᵹeán ‘back’; in mod.Eng. again having taken the place of eft requires back in place of onᵹeán.)
| 1052 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) And ᵹewende þa Godwine eorl ut aᵹean..and ða oðra scipu ᵹ ewenden heom eft onᵹean to Sandwic. 1506 Sir R. Guylforde Pylgr. 7 The 16th day of June we retournyd ayen to Venys. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. iii. 8 Nurse, come backe againe. 1611 Bible Prov. ii. 19 None that goe vnto her, returne againe. 1813 Scott Trierm. ii. xxii, Recall thine oath! and to her glen Poor Gyneth can return agen. |
2. In reaction or reciprocal action; in return, in reply, in response, back; either of an action returned, or one done in return for it. Obs. or arch. exc. in ‘Answer again,’ and as in b, c.
| c 1220 Leg. St. Kath. 1331 We nullen, ne ne duren, warpen na word aȝain. c 1305 St. Edm. Conf. 31 Hi seide aȝe þat hi ne miȝte noȝt bi so lute beo. c 1386 Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 124 And answere hym in his langage ageyn [Lansd. aȝeine, Camb. a-geyn]. c 1440 Gesta Rom. (1879) lx. 245 [He] wedde a ȝonge gentil damiselle to wyfe; and he loviede hir moche, and she hatide him ayene. c 1500 Notborune Mayd. (1842) 33 For neuer a dell He wyll me loue agayne. 1535 Coverdale Judg. i. 7 As I haue done, so hath God rewarded me agayne. 1557 N. T. (Genev.) Tit. ii. 9 Not answering againe, neither pickers. 1592 Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 1113 Who did not whet his teeth at him again. 1596 ― Merch. V. i. ii. 87 He would pay him againe when he was able. 1600 ― A.Y.L. iii. v. 132, I maruell why I answer'd not againe. 1611 Bible Luke vi. 35 Doe good and lend, hoping for nothing againe. 1662 in Heath Grocers' Comp. (1869) 68 The which we doe faithfully promise shall be payd to you agayne. 1742 Richardson Pamela III. 78 If he did not love me again, would he have flung his Book at my head? c 1840 Longfellow Endymion vii, Ye shall be loved again! Mod. (? dial.) Very saucy, and inclined to answer again. |
b. esp. in ring, echo, etc. again, to echo back, re-echo; passing into, to sound in response or sympathy.
| 1561 Bible (Genev.) 1 Sam. iv. 5 All Israel shouted a mightie shoute, so that the earth rang againe. [So 1611; Wycl. thurȝ sownede. Coverd. sounded withall.] 1605 Shakes. Macb. v. iii. 53, I would applaud thee to the very Eccho, That should applaud againe. 1810 Scott Lady of L. ii. xix, Echo his praise agen. 1837 Dickens Pickw. I. 261 He laughed till the glasses in the sideboard rang again. |
c. From echo, extended to creak, crack, thrill, shake, reel, dance, ache, shine, gleam, wink, etc., to express sympathetic response to action, indicating the intensity of the action itself.
| a 1536 Tindale Writings (1849) II. 12 They make poor women howl again. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. iii. ii. 205 Wooing heere, vntill I swet againe..I gat a promise. 1623 Massinger Dk. of Milan i. i, Drink hard; and let the health run through the city, Until it reel again. 1710 Palmer Proverbs 53 To open upon the cry till they are hoarse again. 1837 Dickens Pickw., The wind blowing..till every timber of the old house creaked again. Ibid., Rubbing away [with the towel] till his face shone again. 1857 W. Collins Dead Secret II. 72 She gallops and gallops till the horse reeks again. c 1870 ― Biter Bit. 286 He struck his fist on the table so heavily that the wood cracked again. |
3. Back into a former position or state; back.
| a 1067 Charter of Eadweard in Cod. Diplom. IV. 195 Gif ani land sy owt of ðen biscopriche ᵹedon, ich wille ðæt hit cume in onᵹean. c 1250 Gen. & Exod. 405 And he sal bringen man a-gen In paradis to wunen and ben. 1297 R. Glouc. 36 And a ȝeyn in his kyndom mid gret honour ydo. c 1350 Will. Palerne 4254 Til þou..haue heled þe werwolf..and maked to man aȝe. 1387 Trevisa Higden Rolls Ser. I. 119 Anon þey were i-cast vp aȝe. a 1400 Covent. Myst. 377 From dethe to lyue I am resyn ageyn. 1475 Bk. of Noblesse 2 For relevyng and geting ayen the said Reaume. c 1540 Wyatt Compl. Love to Reason 157 ‘Thou gave her once,’ quod I, ‘but by and by Thou took her ayen from me!’ 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. ii. i. 129 Take them againe. 1601 ― All's Well v. iii. 131 And would never Receive the ring again. a 1665 Cleveland Obseq. 40 Perhaps an Ignis fatuus now and then Starts up in holes, stinks and goes out agen. 1728 Young Love of Fame v. (1757) 121 Then Like April suns, dives into clouds agen. a 1763 Shenstone Odes 214 'Tis yours, ye fair, to bring those days agen. 1790 Wolcott (Peter Pindar) Wks. 1812 II. 338 Go, children, to your leading-strings agen. 1818 Byron Ch. Har. i. vii, Monks might deem their time was come agen. 1855 H. Reed Lect. Eng. Lit. vi. (1878) 216 Bringing..the old books to light and life again. |
b. Back in a former position or state; anew; once more as before.
| c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 72 As of the lef agayn the flour to make. c 1440 Gesta Rom. (1879) 95 He is here ayene! a 1447 Card. Beaufort in Ellis Orig. Lett. i. 4 I. 8 Lette seele the Cofir aȝeyn with a signet of myn. 1624 Quarles Job (1717) 215 Confess to men, I was a Leper, but am clear agen. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 492. §3 These careless pretty creatures are very Innocents again. 1835 Crabbe Par. Reg. ii. 536 And Robin never was himself again. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 78 The principles of the treaty of Dover were again the principles of the foreign policy of England. Mod. Clown in the Pantomime: ‘Here we are again!’ |
4. Repetition of an action or fact: another time; once more; any more; anew; (in quot. 1853 used as a request for repetition of what has previously been said; cf. come again s.v. come v. 55 d).
| 1382 Wyclif Ecclus. xxxi. 42 Bere thou not hym doun in aȝee asking. c 1450 Lonelich Grail xvi. 367 Thanne Ioseph aȝen took þat schrewe..And bond him aȝen in alle mennes siht. 1526 Tindale John viii. 21 Then sayde Iesus agayne [Wycl. eft] vnto them. a 1528 Skelton Dk. of Albaney 153 For ye be false echone False and false again. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, v. iii. 133 Speake it again! Twice saying Pardon doth not pardon twaine. 1602 ― Ham. i. ii. 188, I shall not look upon his like again. 1611 Bible Gen. viii. 21, I will not againe [Wycl. no more] curse the ground any more for man's sake. a 1622 Wither Brit. Rememb. 164, I saw how Cities, Commonwealths, and men, Did rise and fall, and rise and fall agen. 1736 H. Browne Pipe of Tob. (B.P.) ii. 21 Happy thrice and thrice agen, Happiest he of happy men. 1835 Crabbe Village i. 193 He hears and smiles, then thinks again and sighs. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 137 He meditated the design of again confiscating and again portioning out the soil of half the island. 1853 Dickens Bleak Ho. lvii. 549 ‘You know Mr. Skimpole!’ said I. ‘What do you call him again?’ returned Mr. Bucket. |
b. This sense is more fully expressed by once again, over again; and the repetition increased by too and again (obs.), again and again, ever and again, time and again. now and again: occasionally, now and then.
| 1535 Coverdale 1 Kings xviii. 34 Do it yet once. And they dyd it once agayne. 1604 Shakes. Oth. i. iii. 372, I haue told thee often, and I re-tell thee againe and againe. 1610 ― Temp. i. ii. 134, I..Will cry it ore againe. Ibid. iii. ii. 44 Hearken once againe to the suite I made to thee. 1659 Ross in Burton's Diary (1828) IV. 379 Your Committee too and again offered it as an expedient. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 26 You may thus work it round again and again. 1759 Johnson Rasselas xlv. (1787) 130 They came again and again, and were every time more welcome than before. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 91 Again and again the assailants were driven back. 1865 A. Trollope Belton Est. ix. 96, I will come up every now and again. 1870 Morris Earthly Par. iv. 414 Time and again, he, listening to such word, Felt his heart kindle; time and again did seem As though a cold and hopeless tune he heard. 1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. III. xii. 188 The name appears over and over again. 1880 Cyples Hum. Exp. iii. 63 The flesh, ever-and-again, pleasantly tingles. |
5. Repetition of quantity: Once repeated; as much again = this and as much more, twice as much; half as much again = this and half as much more, one-and-a-half times as much.
| 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iv. iii. 7 Lent shall bee as long againe as it is. 1669 Boyle Cont. New Exper. i. (1682) 11 A good deal larger..if not as large agen. a 1700 Dryden Dufresnoy (J.) A theatre as large and as deep again. 1709 Pope Criticism 81 Yet want as much again to manage it. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. v. 178 The Grouse is about half as large again as a Partridge. 1878 Huxley Physiogr. 84 About half as heavy again as an equal bulk of atmospheric air. |
6. Repetition locally (as on a tour): In any (or some) other place to which you may go; anywhere or somewhere besides, or further. arch.
| 1555 Fardle of Facions ii. x. 209 Horses and mares, in suche plentie, as I beleue no parte of the earth hath againe. a 1626 Bacon (J.) There is not, in the world again, such a spring and seminary of brave military people as in England, Scotland, and Ireland. Mod. You'll not meet with the like of it in London again. |
7. As another point or fact. a. of transition or contrast: On the other hand. b. of simple succession: Further, moreover, in the next place, besides.
| a 1533 Frith Answ. Rastell §15 He saith, We have an advocate; and saith again, for our sins. 1580 Baret Alvearie A 222 And he againe on the other parte. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, ii. ii. 113 Th' other againe Is my kinsman. Ibid. v. v. 15 Come, litle ones: And then, again, it is as hard to come, as for a Camell To thred the posterne of a needles eye. 1611 Bible 2 Sam. xvi. 19 And againe, whom should I serue? 1694 R. Lestrange Fables (J.) Those things that we know not what to do withal, and those things, again, which another cannot part with. 1742 Richardson Pamela IV. 87 But now again, see what succeeds to this. 1853 Wallace Euclid iii. v, Again, because E is the centre of the circle CDG, EC is equal to EG. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 499 What again is the legal effect of the words? |
† B. prep. Obs. or dial.
¶ Illustrations of the development of the prep. from separable adverbial particle.
| a 1100 O.E. Chron. an. 1067 Þá he onᵹeán-cóm. a 1100 Satan 301 (Grein) [Se þe] {uacu}s onᵹeán-cymeð. a 1100 Hymn iv. 59 (Grein) Þonne storm cymeð m{iacu}num ᵹæste onᵹeᵹn. a 1100 ælfric Hom. (Sweet 77) Him urnon onᵹeán weras and wif. a 1100 Ags. Gosp. Luke xiv. 31 Hwæðer he mæᵹe cuman aᵹén þone þe hym aᵹén cymð. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1796 Esau him cam aȝen. Ibid. 3912 King..cam hem ageon. a 1300 Havelok 2024 Hwo mihte so mani stonden ageyn? Ibid. 3912 Hwo mouhte agey[n] so many stonde? 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 7942 Nathyng þam salle ogayne-stand. Ibid. 7964 Na thyng salle mow ogayne þam stand. c 1460 Townl. Myst. 41 My bydyng standes he not ogane. |
† 1. Of position: Opposite to, facing, in front of, in full view of. (= against 1.)
| c 950 Lind. Gosp. Luke xix. 30 Gaas in woerc þæt onᵹeaeᵹn is [Rushw ongæᵹn]. c 1000 Ags. Gosp., ibid. Farað on þæt castel þe onᵹean [v.r. onᵹen] inc ys. c 1000 ælfric Deut. xxxii. 49 On þam lande Moab, onᵹean Iericho. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 3 Þane castel þet is onȝein eou. 1297 R. Glouc. 6 Euene aȝeyn Fraunce stonde þe contre of Chichestre, Norwiche aȝeyn Denemarc, Chestre aȝeyn Yrlond. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 6366 Þe son sal þan in þe este stande..And þe mone ogayne it in þe weste. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. Prol. 48 To seen this flowre ayein the sunne sprede. c 1430 Syr Generides 8323 Right ageyn [Clarionas] he stoode. c 1440 Morte Arth. 85 The mayde knelyd the kynge a gayne. 1466 J. Paston's Funeral in Lett. 549 II. 266 To the iiii orders of fryers that rede ageyn the cors. |
† 2. fig. Of mental attitude or disposition: Towards, in the sight of, in regard to. = against 3.
| 1340 Ayenb. 114 Ne is hit naȝt grat þing ne grat ofservinge aye God. c 1430 Lydgate Bochas ii. xxvi. (1554) 62 a, To be piteous Ageine Cresus. c 1440 Morte Arth. 52 Ageyne the kynge trator is he. 1540 Whittinton Tully's Offyce i. 44 Howe we shulde behaue ourselfe agayn other men. |
† 3. Of motion: In a direction contrary to or facing; towards, in the direction of, forward to, to meet.
| 894 O.E. Chron., Ða woldon ferian norð weardes..onᵹeán ða scipu. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 5 Ure drihten sende his ii apostles oȝein þene castel. c 1200 Moral Ode 351 Þos goð uneaðe aȝien þe cliue and aȝien þe heie hulle. c 1250 Gen. & Exod. 1438 Eliezer him cam a-gon. c 1300 St. Brand. 32 That Aȝe me..threo journeyes he wende. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 3624 And prykeþ ys stede & forþ he nam Agayn þe hulle an heȝe. c 1386 Chaucer Man of Law's T. 293 And preyeth hir for to ride agein the queene. c 1440 Morte Arth. 24 They ran as swithe as euyr they might Oute at the gates hym agayne. |
† b. In reception of, in welcome of. = against 5 b.
| a 1300 Havelok 1106 Belles dede he ageyn hire ringen. 1330 R. Brunne Chron. 118 Mald þe Emperice com to lond, Þe castelle of Arondelle open ageyn hir fond. |
† 4. Advancing into forcible contact or into collision with; = against 6.
| a 1300 Havelok 568 Hise croune he þer crakede Ageyn a gret ston. a 1325 Metr. Hom. 32 Mani pas, That than igain me casten was. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2850 Wiþ ys fuste harde a gerte{revsc} Gyoun agayn þe teþ. Ibid. 2569 Casten aȝe þe wal. c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame 1035 Betynge of the see..ayen the roches holowe. a 1593 Marlowe Edward II, ii. ii. 209 Libels are cast again thee in the street. |
† 5. Towards with hostile intent; to meet in hostility. = against 11.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. John xviii. 29 Hwylce wrohte bringe ᵹe onᵹean þysne man? c 1250 Gen. & Exod. 3912 King..seon, for to figten cam hem ageon. 1297 R. Glouc. 451 Ladde ost gret ynou aȝe þe kyng & his. a 1305 St. James in E.E.P. (1862) 58 Aȝen þe deuel he com adoun: & bad þe schrewe abide. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xix. 356 To gone agayne pryde. c 1400 Destr. Troy xvi. 7315 The Prinse hym persayuit and preset hym agayn. 1664 Flodden Field viii. 75 Who manfully march'd them again. [1782 Trumbull McFingal ii. (1795) 41 To each of whom, to send again ye Old Guy of Warwick were a ninny.] |
† 6. gen. In hostility or active opposition to (with fight, strive, act, be, speak, murmur, etc.) = against 12.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Mark ix. 40 Se þe nis aᵹen eow se is for eow [v.r. aᵹean; Lind. & Rushw. wið]. 1012 O.E. Chron. Wearð þa se here swiþe astyred anᵹean ðone biscop. c 1175 Cott. Hom. 219 And habbe anwealda and riche anȝen godelmichti. c 1200 Ormin 1842 He shollde fihhtenn Onnȝæn ane drake. c 1300 Beket 54 Dude here beste aȝe the Prince. Ibid. 1456 Than contek holde in suche lond, and nameliche aë the Kinge. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 4142 Anticrist es..Als he þat es ogayn Crist ay. 1430 A.B.C. of Aristotle in Babees Bk. 10 Argue not aȝen þat. c 1450 Merlin 55 Ye shull fight ageyn yowre enmyes. 1521 Fisher Wks. 311 The sermon of Iohan the bysshop of Rochester made agayn the pernicyous doctryn of Martin luuther. c 1550 Cheke Matt. xxi. 12 Yei murmured again y⊇ good man of y⊇ house. 1604 Middleton Five Gallants ii. iii. Wks. II. 255 Go and suborn my knave again me here. 1829 Scott Antiq. xv. 96 I'm no again your looking at the outside of a letter neither. |
† b. In competition with, as against.
| c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 189 In preysing of the flour agayn the leefe, No more than of the corne agayn the sheefe. |
† 7. Opposed to in tendency or character, contrary to. = against 10.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. v. 23 Þæt þin broðor hæfð ǽniᵹ þing aᵹen þé [v.r. aᵹeán; Lind. & Rushw. wið]. c 1230 Ancren Riwle 200 Onloðest God & most aȝean his grace. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 304 Þat men þam says ogayn þair likyng. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 1593 Al be it that it is again his kind. 1424 Paston Lett. 4 I. 13 Ageyn the kinges peas. 1432–50 tr. Higden Rolls Ser. I. 131 Hit is bareyne in pastures, ageyne the nature of other regiones. 1523 Fitzherbert Surveying 4 It were agayne reason to a bridge a man of his owne right. 1596 R. H. tr. Lavaterus's Ghostes & Spir. 128 Licence to doo these things..againe his owne expresse commaundement. |
† 8. In resistance to. = against 13.
| 1048 O.E. Chron., Him láð wære ðæt hi onᵹeán heora cynehláford standan sceoldan. c 1230 Ancren Riwle 50 Þiccure aȝein þe wind. a 1300 Rel. Antiq. I. 63 Þolemod aȝean alle wowes, and in alle uveles. 1375 Barbour Bruce iv. 186 Neyll the bruce held Kyndrummy Agane his sone. 1384 Chaucer Moder of God 111 We mowen make resistance Ageyn the feend. a 1423 James I King's Quair ii. x. Again distresse confort to seke. 1488 Act 4 Hen. VII, xix. §1 The defence of this land ageyn oure ennemyes outwarde. |
† 9. In return for, in exchange for; in place of, instead of. = against 14.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 15 Ne scalt þu ȝelden vuel onȝein uuel nuða. c 1230 Hali Meid. 7 Nis tis þeowdom inoh aȝain þat. |
† 10. Time: Towards, drawing near; near the beginning of. = against 18.
| 1096 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) Fela hungerbitene onᵹean winter ham tuᵹon. c 1305 St. Edm. Conf. 14 Aȝen eue he cudde furst his lyf. c 1435 Torr. Portugal 1940 The wynd arose ayen the nyght. |
† 11. In view of, in anticipation of, in preparation for; to meet. = against 19.
| c 1230 Hali Meid. 31 Hwen he beoð ute, hauest aȝain his ham cume sar care & eie. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 562 Ðat arche was a feteles good, set and limed a-gen ðe flood. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 4041 Thir takens..þat ogayn þe worldes ende shuld be. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 1496 Þys messagers agayn þe morwe{revsc} a-rayd hem for hure message. c 1386 Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 134 Ageyn this lusty somerestyde. a 1450 Syr Eglamore in Dom. Archit. II. 202 Ageyn ye evyn ye kyng gart dyȝt A bath for ye gentyll knyȝt. |
† C. conj. or conjunctive adv. Obs. or dial.
† 1. In return for the adverse fact that. a. with rel. particle. b. simply.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 21 And he hine iblecie onȝein þe he hine acursede. c 1200 Ormin 11143 [Þeȝȝ] himm sinndenn cweme, onnȝæn þatt teȝȝ Himm wærenn ær uncweme. |
† 2. Of time: Against the time that, before that. a. with rel. particle. b. simply.
| c 1200 Ormin 6128 All þe birrþ bitæchenn itt þe preost o Godess hallfe, Onnȝæn þatt he shall shrifenn þe. c 1315 Pol. Songs 151 Aȝeyn this cachereles cometh, thus y mot care. a 1400 Sir Perceval 192 Wolde scho noȝte with hir bere Bot a lyttille Scottes spere, Agayne hir sone ȝode. 1632 Massinger City Madam iii. i, Get..His cap and pantofles ready..And a candle Again you rise. |