Down
(Down) v. t. To cover, ornament, line, or stuff with down. [R.] Young.
Down
(Down), n. [OE. dun, doun, AS. dun; of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. dun hill, fortified hill, Gael. dun
heap, hillock, hill, W. din a fortified hill or mount; akin to E. town. See Town, and cf. Down, adv. &
prep., Dune.]
1. A bank or rounded hillock of sand thrown up by the wind along or near the shore; a flattish-topped
hill; — usually in the plural.
Hills afford prospects, as they must needs acknowledge who have been on the downs of Sussex.
Ray.
She went by dale, and she went by down.
Tennyson. 2. A tract of poor, sandy, undulating or hilly land near the sea, covered with fine turf which serves chiefly
for the grazing of sheep; — usually in the plural. [Eng.]
Seven thousand broad-tailed sheep grazed on his downs.
Sandys. 3. pl. A road for shipping in the English Channel or Straits of Dover, near Deal, employed as a naval
rendezvous in time of war.
On the 11th [June, 1771] we run up the channel . . . at noon we were abreast of Dover, and about
three came to an anchor in the Downs, and went ashore at Deal.
Cook 4. pl. [From the adverb.] A state of depression; low state; abasement. [Colloq.]
It the downs of life too much outnumber the ups.
M. Arnold. Down
(Down), adv. [For older adown, AS. adn, adne, prop., from or off the hill. See 3d Down, and
cf. Adown, and cf. Adown.]
1. In the direction of gravity or toward the center of the earth; toward or in a lower place or position; below; - -
the opposite of up.
2. Hence, in many derived uses, as: (a) From a higher to a lower position, literally or figuratively; in a
descending direction; from the top of an ascent; from an upright position; to the ground or floor; to or into
a lower or an inferior condition; as, into a state of humility, disgrace, misery, and the like; into a state of
rest; — used with verbs indicating motion.
It will be rain to-night. Let it come down.
Shak.
I sit me down beside the hazel grove.
Tennyson.
And that drags down his life.
Tennyson.
There is not a more melancholy object in the learned world than a man who has written himself down.
Addison.
The French . . . shone down [i. e., outshone] the English.
Shak.
