open 
sixteenth centuries. It is thought to have been the indi- 
ration of some ratik or nrtlr*-, as that of yeoman of thi- 
n-own, lint this has not liccn vnitl. <i. -Open CUt, a |Ho 
longed excavation open at the top, made In constructing 
s, \\IT.H, laying water-pipes, in entrances to tunnels, etc.: 
In contradistinction to tunnel. - Open diapason, flank, 
front, gowan. .see the nouns. Open form, In cryntal. 
See fonn, I. Open-field system. *ec ./<'*' Open 
furnace, in chemical ananttonl, a furnace in which the 
(lame passes through the intenitic.cn of the materials 
which, Intermixed, form the charge, or Impinges directly 
n jmn the mass to be heated : in contradistinction to 
muffle-furnace, in which the substance to be heated is In- 
i losi-il Inamuttle. See mujllel, 6. Open harmony. See 
harmmi/, 2 (if)- Open hawse, integral, letter. See the 
noun*. -Open head. See htad, n.,n (r). Open mandi- 
bles, inandibleB which are not entirely covered or con- 
cealed by the labrum. Open matter, In printing, com- 
position that contains many blanks. Open note. See 
/wtei. Open order, pedal, pipe, policy, score. Sec 
the nouns. - Open season, the time during which game, 
fish, etc., may Be legally taken : opposed to close season.- 
Open secret, stop, string, tone, verdict, wound, i-tc. 
set- the nouns. To break open, fly open, etc. Hee the 
verbs. To keep open house, (o) To keep a public-house 
or inn. (6) To be very hospitable : entertain many friends. 
To lay one open to. Nee fai/i. To throw open the 
door to. See door. With open arms, doors, et. See 
arml, etc. = Syn. 2 and 6. Uncovered, unprotected, ex- 
posed, obvious, public. 7. Frank, Ingenuous, etc. (see 
candid), unreserved, undisscmbling, artless, guileless. 
II. w. An open or clear space. 
And race thro' many a mile 
Of dense and open. Tennyson, Baltn and Balan. 
In opent, in public. 
Delos, who demys hit, IB duly to say 
shortly to shalkes " a shewyng onopun." 
Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. 8.), 1. 4208. 
The Lady Anne, 
Whom the king hath In secrecy long married, 
This day was view'd in open as his queen, 
Going to chapel. Shale.. Uen. VIII., Hi. _'. 4uft. 
The open, (a) The open country ; a place or space clear 
of obstructions, especially clear of woods. 
The Auslbel road, . . . now hiding in a cover of woods, 
now showing again in '/" open. 
J. W. Palmer, After his Kind, p. 12. 
(6) The open air. 
How soundly a man who has worked hard sleeps in the 
open, none but he who has tried it knows. 
T. Roosevelt, Hunting Trips, p. 69. 
open (6'pn), r. [< ME. openen, < AS. openian 
= OS. opanon, oponon = OFries. epenia = D. 
iipnicn = MLG. openen, open = OHG. offaiion, 
offinan, MHG. offenen, offenen, G. offnen = Icel. 
opna = Sw. oppna = Dan. aabne, open; from 
the adj.: see open, .] I. trans. 1. To make 
open; cause to be open; unlock, unfasten, or 
draw apart or aside, and thus afford access or 
egress, or a view of the interior parts ; make 
accessible or visible by removing or putting or 
pushing aside whatever blocks the way or the 
view; unclose. 
Open your purse, that the money and the matter may be 
both at once delivered. Shak., T. O. of V., i. 1. 137. 
Within this paper all my joys are clos'd ; 
Boy, open it, and read it with reverence. 
Beau, and Ft., Woman- Hater, i. 2. 
When other butchers did open their meat, 
Bold Robin he then begun. 
Robin Hood and the Butcher (Child's Ballads, V. 34). 
The Pilgrims being all admitted this day, the Church 
doors werelock'd in the evening, and open'd no more till 
Easter day. MaundreU, Aleppo to Jerusalem, p. 68. 
He [Walpole] knew that, for one month which is stopped 
with a place, fifty other mouths will be instantly opened. 
Macaulay, William Pitt. 
2. To form by cutting, cleaving, removing, or 
pushing aside whatever impedes or hinders : as, 
to open a way, road, or path through the woods ; 
to open a hole or breach in the enemy's walls. 
I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the 
midst of the valleys. Isa. ill. 18. 
3. To pierce or cut into, and lay bare or make 
accessible: as, to open an animal; to open a 
wound. 
In most cases ... It Is necessary to open an abscess by 
an Incision. Quain, Mod. Diet. 
4. To spread out; expand; unclose; unroll; 
unfold; extend: as, to open one's hand, a book, 
or a fan ; to open ranks. 
Ezra opened the hook In sight of all the people. 
Neb. vlii. :>. 
6. To lay bare; expose; exhibit; reveal; dis- 
close : as, to (>i>cn one's mind freely to a friend ; 
to open one's grief or one's plans. 
They perceived he was not willing to ojien himself fur- 
ther, ami therefore. \viihout furthrr questioning, brought 
him to the house. Sir P. Sirfwy, Arcadia, I. 
Come, come; oj*n the matter in brief: what said she? 
Shak., T. (!. of V., i. 1. 136. 
My heart I'll open now, my faults confess. 
Bran. aadFl., Knight of Malta. i\. >. 
sharply lie opened and reproved sin. 
r'"n'* Art*, etc.. in Biog. Notice of Bradford, Works, 
((Parker Soc., 1853), II. ctvi. 
41 in 
6. To unfold; expound; explain: interpret : as. 
In II/II-H text. 
I will Incline mine ear to a parable ; I will 01*11 my dark 
saying upon the harp. Ps. xlix. 4. 
He answered by opening the parable of the workmen 
that were hired into tin- vineyard. 
Wiiithrop, Hist. New England, II :i7". 
7. To expand or enlighten; enlarge; make re- 
ceptive; render accessible to wisdom, know- 
ledge, enlightenment, improvement, or new in- 
fluences. 
Then opened he their understanding, that they might 
understand the scriptures. Luke xxir. 45. 
I feel my heart new open'd. Shak., Hen. VIII., III. 2. 366. 
He must travel to open his mind. 
Steele, Guardian, No. 34. 
8. To render accessible or available for settle- 
ment, use, intercourse, etc. : as, to open land ; 
to open a country to trade: sometimes with up: 
as, to open up trade. 
The English did adventure far to "pen the north parts 
of America. Abp. Abbot, Descrlp. of World. 
Next to the extension and development of the Empire 
comes the opening up of new countries. 
W. Betant, Fifty Years Ago, p. 11. 
9. To discover; come into view of. [Rare.] 
On the north side of Cape Bowden we opened a pretty 
little bay, of semicircular form. 
McCormick, Arc. and Antarc. Voyages, II. 111. 
10. To set in action; start; initiate; com- 
mence : as, to open a public assembly, a ses- 
sion of Congress, or Parliament; to open an ex- 
hibition ; to open a shop ; to open a correspon- 
dence, a discussion, a negotiation, proceedings, 
etc. 
You retained him only for the opening of your cause, and 
your main lawyer Is yet behind. 
Dryden, Epistle to the Whigs. 
At about 1800 yards the enemy opened fire from four 
guns. W. B. Russell, Diary In India, II. 869. 
11. To shuck or shell; remove the shell or husk 
from the meat or the fruit of, as an oyster ; cut 
out. 12. In law : (a) To state (the ease) to the 
court or jury, preliminary to adducing evidence ; 
more specifically, to make the first statement 
for this purpose, and give evidence tinder it, 
before the adversary is allowed to do so. (6) 
To recall or revoke, as a judgment or decree, 
for the purpose of allowing further contest or 
delay. 13. In malting, to shovel up the edges 
and throw a portion of (the couched grain) to- 
ward the center of the couch, distributing it in 
such a manner as to leave a somewhat greater 
depth of grain at the edges than at the center 
of the couch. See malting andcoMcA 1 , 5 Opened 
Circuit. See circuit, 12. Opened margin. See margin, 
1. TO Open a credit, to accept or pay the draft of a 
correspondent who has not furnished funds. TO open a 
foreclosure, under the English law, to sue on the cove- 
nant to pay, which gives the mortgager a new right to re- 
deem after foreclosure of that right. To open an ac- 
count with. See account. To open the ball, budget, 
etc. See the nouns. To open up. (a) To open effectually, 
in any sense of the verb open, (b) Specifically, to loosen 
the consistency or texture of ; give a freer or less dense 
consistency or texture t<>. - Syn. 1. To uncover. 5. To 
exhibit, make manifest. 
II. in trans. 1. To unclose; be opened or be- 
come open 
Open, locks, 
Who* 
never knock* ! 
Shak., Macbeth, iv. 1. 40. 
"1'was then, Belinda, if report say true. 
Thy eyes first open'd on a billet-doux. 
Pope, K. of the L., i. 118. 
Wide as a heart opened the door at once. 
Browning, Ring and Book, I. 20. 
2. To afford access, entrance, egress, or view: 
as, a gate opened on the lane. 
The Pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber, whose 
window opened towards the sunrlsing. 
Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress, p. 122. 
3. To burst open; become parted, ruptured, 
or broken ; gape. 
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and cov- 
ered the company of Abiram. Ps. cvi. 17. 
The clouds, methought, would open, and show riches 
Beady to drop upon me. Shak. , Tempest, Hi. 2. 150. 
4. To burst and unfold ; spread out or expand, 
as a bud or flower. 
Your virtues open fairest in the shade. 
Pope, Moral Essays, ii. 2O2. 
5. To become expanded or enlightened; be- 
come receptive or ready to receive. 
As the mind opens, and its functions spread, 
Imagination plies her dangerous art. 
Pope, Essay on Man, II. 142. 
6. To begin: i-oinmenee: as. sales opciifd at 
par ; the exhibition <i\ti <</ ye>t erday ; the story 
..yicii.v well. Often used elliptically, an object being uii- 
derstood: as, we opened on the enemy at once (that is, 
open-handed 
- tire, or began the attack at once) ; he oprtied on 
him with vigor (that is, began to attack him with vigor). 
The flrst thus open'd: "Hear thy suppliant's call." 
J'"l*, Imnciail, iv. 4OH. 
Suildenly a battery with musketry upeafd UJHUI us from 
the edge of the woods on the other side of the clearing. 
U. S. Grant, Personal Memoirs, I. 85S. 
7. To begin to appear; become more distinct ; 
expand before the eye on nearer approach or 
favorable change of position: become more 
visible or plain as position changes: as, the 
harbor opened to our view. 
There, Interspersed in lawns and opening glade*, 
Thin trees arise that shun each other's shades. 
Pope, Windsor Forest, 1. 21. 
8. Inliuiiliii<i, to begin to bark on view or *> -nt 
of the game. 
If I cry out thus upon no trail, never trust me when 1 
open again. Shak., M. W. of \V., iv. >. 21)9. 
They run forward, ope.n upon the uncertain scent, and 
though, In fact, they follow nothing, are earnest In the 
pursuit. Ooldmtith, Citizen of the World, Iradx. 
9. To yield or make (a certain quantity) when 
opened: said of oysters: as, to open well or 
badly; to open (at the rate of) six quarts per 
bushel. [Colloq.] 
opent (6'pn), adr. [< open, a.] Openly. 
We passed open before Modona vpon Mondaye that was 
the .xxvij. daye of Julye. 
Sir R. Quylforde, Pylgrymage, p. 12. 
openable (6'pn-a-bl), . [<.npeu + -able.~\ Ca- 
pable of being"opened or unclosed; fitted to 
be opened. 
open-air (o'pn-ar'), o. Outdoor; conducted or 
taking place in the open air ; al fresco : as, open- 
air exercises; open-air sports; open-air life. 
Open-air manometer. See manometer. 
Open-arset, " [Early mod. E. also openarce, 
opynars; <. ME. openers, < AS. openears, open- 
ars, medlar, < open, open, + ears, arse : see open 
and arse.] The fruit of the medlar-tree. 
I fare as doth an openers ; 
That ilke fruyt is ever feng the wers, 
Til it be rotcii In mullok or in stree. 
Chaucer, Prol. to Reeve's Tale, 1. 17. 
openbill (6'pn- 
bil), n. A stork 
of the genus 
Anastomus. 
open-breasted 
(6 ' pn - bres ' - 
ted), a. 1. Open 
on the breast; 
that does not 
cover the breast 
or bosom : said 
of garments so 
made as to 
leave the breast 
or bosom ex- 
posed. 2. 
Open - hearted ; 
not conceal- 
ing thoughts 
or feelings ; 
frank. 
Thou art his friend 
(The confidence he has In thee confirms it), 
And therefore 111 be open-breasted to thee. 
Bran, and Fl., Custom of the Country, v. 3. 
open-cast (p'pn-kast), . and a. I. n. In iiiin- 
inij, a working open to the day; an openwork. 
II. a. Pertaining to or obtained from such 
workings. 
open-doored (o'pn-dord), . [< open + door + 
-erf 2 .] Accessible; hospitable. 
A house 
Once rich, now poor, but eyer open-door'd. 
Tennyson, (Jeraint. 
open-dot (6'pn-dot), n. In lace-making, a hole 
left in pillow-lace to lighten the more solid 
parts of the design. 
opener (op'ner), n. [< ME. "opener, < AS. <>i - 
<Te, opener, < openian, open: see open, e.] 1. 
One who opens : as, a pew-<>/)f ner. 2. A tool or 
machine used in opening. Specifically (o) A tool 
used for opening tins or cans, as of potted meats, fruits, 
etc.; a can-opener. (6) In cotton-carding, etc., a machine 
for tearing open the tufts of cotton as they come from the 
bale, shaking out the dust, pulling the cotton apart, and 
preparing it for the lapper ; an opening-machine. Some- 
times culled co! ton picker, and often combined with the 
lapper under the name of opener-tapper. 
open-eyed (6'pn-id), . With eyes wide open, 
as in wonder or watchfulness; watchful; vigi- 
lant. Shak., Tempest, ii. 1. 302. 
open-handed (o'pn-han'ded), n. 1. Generous: 
liberal; miinitieent. 2. Handling two oars 
whose ends do not meet, as in the act of row- 
ing: also said of the action itself: as. an //- 
" rower : open-handed rowing. 
OpcuNII (J 
