1. To make fine; to refine; to purify, to clarify; as, to fine gold.
It hath been fined and refined by . . . learned men.
Hobbes. 2. To make finer, or less coarse, as in bulk, texture, etc.; as. to fine the soil. L. H. Bailey.
3. To change by fine gradations; as (Naut.), to fine down a ship's lines, to diminish her lines gradually.
I often sate at home
On evenings, watching how they fined themselves
With gradual conscience to a
perfect night.
Browning. Fine
(Fine) n. [OE. fin, L. finis end, also in LL., a final agreement or concord between the lord and his
vassal; a sum of money paid at the end, so as to make an end of a transaction, suit, or prosecution; mulct; penalty; cf.
OF. fin end, settlement, F. fin end. See Finish, and cf. Finance.]
1. End; conclusion; termination; extinction. [Obs.] "To see their fatal fine." Spenser.
Is this the fine of his fines?
Shak. 2. A sum of money paid as the settlement of a claim, or by way of terminating a matter in dispute; especially,
a payment of money imposed upon a party as a punishment for an offense; a mulct.
3. (Law) (a) (Feudal Law) A final agreement concerning lands or rents between persons, as the lord
and his vassal. Spelman.
(b) (Eng. Law) A sum of money or price paid for obtaining a benefit, favor, or privilege, as for admission
to a copyhold, or for obtaining or renewing a lease.
Fine for alienation (Feudal Law), a sum of money paid to the lord by a tenant whenever he had occasion
to make over his land to another. Burrill. — Fine of lands, a species of conveyance in the form of a
fictitious suit compromised or terminated by the acknowledgment of the previous owner that such land
was the right of the other party. Burrill. See Concord, n., 4. — In fine, in conclusion; by way of termination
or summing up.
Fine
(Fine), v. t. [From Fine, n.] To impose a pecuniary penalty upon for an offense or breach of
law; to set a fine on by judgment of a court; to punish by fine; to mulct; as, the trespassers were fined ten
dollars.
Fine
(Fine), v. i. To pay a fine. See Fine, n., 3 (b). [R.]
Men fined for the king's good will; or that he would remit his anger; women fined for leave to marry.
Hallam. Fine
(Fine), v. t. & i. [OF. finer, F. finir. See Finish, v. t.] To finish; to cease; or to cause to cease.
[Obs.]
