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Soil; tarnish; stain. A noble and triumphant merit breaks through little spots and sullies in his reputation. Spectator.

ns. "They take up our old trade of conquering." Dryden. (m) To comprise; to include. "The noble poem of Palemon and Arcite . . . takes up seven years." Dryden. (n) To receive, accept, or adopt for the purpose of assisting; to espouse the cause of; to favor. Ps. xxvii.

al extent small in proportion to the height; as, a tall person, tree, or mast. Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall. Milton.

In a threefold manner or degree; repeatedly; very. Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you To pardon me. Shak. Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just. Shak.

ly a royal seat, but sometimes the seat of a prince, bishop, or other high dignitary. The noble king is set up in his throne. Chaucer. High on a throne of royal state. Milton.

o the commons in Great Britain; -- so called in distinction from, and as inferior to, the nobles and clergy.

revailing opinions, whatever they may be; a timeserver. Timepleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness. Shak.

ect or subject; thus, I love to learn, i.e., I love learning; to die for one's country is noble, i.e., the dying for one's country. Where the infinitive denotes the design or purpose, good usage formerly allowed the prefixing of for to the to; as, what went ye out for see (Matt. xi. 8). Then longen folk to go on pilgri…

Honorable discourse; eulogy. [Obs.] She was born noble; let that title find her a private grave, but neither tongue nor honor. Beau. & Fl.

andard; test; proof; tried quality. Equity, the true touch of all laws. Carew. Friends of noble touch . Shak.

scenes are blended; a composition partaking of the nature both of tragedy and comedy. The noble tragi-comedy of "Measure for Measure." Macaulay.

h as if transported with some fit Of passion. Milton. We shall then be transported with a nobler . . . wonder. South.

To pass beyond a limit or boundary; hence, to depart; to go. [Obs.] Soon after this, noble Robert de Bruce . . . trespassed out of this uncertain world. Ld. Berners.

agistrate chosen by the people, to protect them from the oppression of the patricians, or nobles, and to defend their liberties against any attempts that might be made upon them by the senate and consuls.

A nobleman, or person of quality, especially in the English universities; -- so called from the tuft, or gold tassel, on the cap worn by them. [Cant, Eng.] Several young tufts, and others of the faster men. T. Hughes.

A hanger-on to noblemen, or persons of quality, especially in English universities; a toady. See 1st Tuft, 3. [Cant, Eng.] Halliwell.

The practice of seeking after, and hanging on, noblemen, or persons of quality, especially in English universities. [Cant, Eng.]

others, or in due order; due chance; alternate or incidental occasion; appropriate time. "Nobleness and bounty . . . had their turns in his [the king's] nature." His turn will come to laugh at you again. Denham . Every one has a fair turn to be as great as he pleases. Collier.

ease for a time; to relax; as, to unbend the mind from study or care. You do unbend your noble strength. Shak.

To undertake; to engage in; to hazard. [Obs.] I have moved already Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans To undergo with me an enterprise. Shak.