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The finishing up of a business; speedy performance, as of business; prompt execution; diligence; haste. Serious business, craving quick dispatch. Shak. To carry his scythe . . . with a sufficient dispatch through a sufficient space. Paley.

t of the possession of a wrongdoer, by way of pledge for redress of an injury, or for the performance of a duty, as for nonpayment of rent or taxes, or for injury done by cattle, etc.

bly. On the docket, in hand; in the plan; under consideration; in process of execution or performance. [Colloq.]

Information concerning the previous performances of race horses, or other facts concerning them which may be of assistance in judging of their chances of winning future races; sometimes, similar information concerning other sports. [Sporting Slang]

A chart of previous performances, etc., of race horses. [Race- track Slang]

To acquire by labor, service, or performance; to deserve and receive as compensation or wages; as, to earn a good living; to earn honors or laurels. I earn that [what] I eat. Shak. The bread I have earned by the hazard of my life or the sweat of my brow. Burke. Earned run (Baseball), a run which is made without the ass…

Execution; performance; realization; operation; as, the law goes into effect in May. That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between The effect and it. Shak.

studied; executed with exactness or painstaking; as, an elaborate discourse; an elaborate performance; elaborate research. Drawn to the life in each elaborate page. Waller.

Honorably discharged from the performance of public duty on account of age, infirmity, or long and faithful services; -- said of an officer of a college or pastor of a church.

eeably, amuses or diverts, whether in private, as by conversation, etc., or in public, by performances of some kind; amusement. Theatrical entertainments conducted with greater elegance and refinement. Prescott.

The interval of time which occurs between the performance of any two acts of a drama.

ve is the envelope of its tangents. push the envelope. It is used to refer to the maximum performance available at the current state of the technology, and therefore refers to a class of machines in general, not a specific machine. push the envelope Increase the capability of some type of machine or system; -- usu. by…

The art of riding on horseback; performance on horseback; horsemanship; as, feats equestrianism.

An effort made, or exertion of body or mind, for the performance of anything; a trial; attempt; as, to make an essay to benefit a friend. "The essay at organization." M. Arnold.

The act of executing; a carrying into effect or to completion; performance; achievement; consummation; as, the execution of a plan, a work, etc. The excellence of the subject contributed much to the happiness of the execution. Dryden.

The performance of an office, a ceremony, or a religious duty. Lewis refused even those of the church of England . . . the public exercise of their religion. Addison. To draw him from his holy exercise. Shak.

Taught by use, practice, or experience, experienced; having facility of operation or performance from practice; knowing and ready from much practice; clever; skillful; as, an expert surgeon; expert in chess or archery. A valiant and most expert gentleman. Shak. What practice, howsoe'er expert In fitting aptest words to…

ives life and suggestive force to ideas and sentiments; as, he reads with expression; her performance on the piano has expression. The imitators of Shakespeare, fixing their attention on his wonderful power of expression, have directed their imitation to this. M. Arnold.

Ease in performance; readiness proceeding from skill or use; dexterity; as, practice gives a wonderful facility in executing works of art.

Omission; nonperformance; as, the failure to keep a promise.