TOW 
TOW, s. [cop, Sax.] Flax or hemp beaten and combed 
into a filamentous substance.—-Tow twisted round the handle 
of an Instrument makes it easier to be held. Sharp. 
To TOW, v. a. [ceon, ceohan. Sax., to lead; toghen, 
old Dutch.] To draw by a rope, particularly through the 
water. 
Thou knew’st too well 
My heart was to thy rudder ty’d by the string, 
And thou should’sl tow me after. Shakspeare. 
TO'WAGE, s. [toiiage, Fr.] The act of towing. Cot- 
grave, and Sherwood.- —Money paid for towing. Bailey. 
TOWAHNAHIOOKS, a river of North America, which 
falls into the Columbia, about 275 miles before the latter 
empties itself into the Pacific ocean. Its banks are chiefly 
inhabited by the Snake Indians, who live principally on sal¬ 
mon, with which the river abounds. 
TOWAMENSING, a township of the United States, in 
Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Population 488. 
TO WAR, a small island near the north coast of Celebes, 
in the Eastern seas. Lat 1. 18. N. long. 124. 25. E. 
TOWA'RD, or Towa'rds, prep, [topapd, copapbep. 
Sax.] In a direction to.—He sethis face toward the wil¬ 
derness. Num. —With local tendency to. 
The currents drive, 
Tow'rds the retreating sea, their furious tide. Milton. 
Near to: as, the danger now comes towards him.—With 
respect to; touching; regarding. 
Repent you not. 
As that the sin hath brought you to this shame. 
Which sorrow’s always tow'rds ourselves, not heaven ? 
Shakspeare . 
With ideal tendency to.—This was the first alarm England 
received towards any trouble, after it had enjoyed for so 
many years the most uninterrupted prosperity. Clarendon .— 
Nearly; little less than.—I am towards nine years older since 
I left you. Swift. —-This word used sometimes to have its 
two syllables separated from each other, and the noun go¬ 
verned put between them. Mason. 
Whose streams run forth there to the salt sea-side. 
Here back return, and to their spring ward go. Fairfax. 
TO'WARD, or To'wards, adv. [It is doubtful whether 
in this use the word be adverb or adjective.] Near; at 
hand; in a state of preparation.—We have a foolish trifling 
banquet towards. Shakspeare. 
TO'WARD, adj. Ready to do or learn; not froward. 
—Why, that is spoken like a toward prince. Shakspeare. 
TOWARD, Point, a cape of Scotland, at the south end 
of the county of Argyle, on the Clyde; 24 miles south of 
Inverary. Lat. 55. 52. N. long. 4, 42. W. 
TO'WARDLINESS, s. Docility; compliance; readiness 
to do or to learn.—The beauty and towardliness of these 
children moved her brethren to envy. Ralegh. 
TO'WARDLY, adj. Ready to do or learn; docile; com¬ 
pliant with duty.—Some young towardly noblemen or gen¬ 
tlemen were usually sent as assistants or attendants. Bacon. 
TO'WARDNESS, s. Docility.—Parents will not throw 
away the towardness of a child, and the expense of education 
upon a profession, the labour of which is increased, and the 
rewards are vanished. South. 
TOWCESTER, a market town of England, in the county 
of Northampton, situated on two streams, into which the little 
river Tove or Wedon is here divided, and which encompasses 
the town. Over these there are three bridges. The town is 
handsome, and consists chiefly of one long and very broad 
street. Towcester is a place of considerable antiquity, and 
during the time of the Saxons was a place of great strength, a 
castle having been built by them, of which there are still some 
vestiges on the north-west side of the town. The famous mi¬ 
litary road called the Watling-street runs through the town, 
and appears plainly in the road to Stoney Stratford. Horse- 
ley places here the Roman station Lactodoro. Towcester 
contains 471 houses, and 2245 inhabitants. Market on Tues- 
T O W 51 
day, and three annual fairs; 8 miles south-west of Northamp¬ 
ton, and 60 north-west of London. 
TOWEDNACK, a parish of England, in Cornwall; 3 
miles south-west-by-west of St. Ives. Population 532. 
TO'WEL, s. [touaglio , Italian.] A cloth on which the 
hands are wiped. 
The attendants water for their hands supply, 
And having wash’d, with silken towels dry. Dryden. 
TO’WER, , s. [cop. Sax.; turris, Lat.] A high building; 
a building raised above the main edifice. 
He them beholding, soon 
Comes down to see their city, ere the tower 
Obstruct heaven-towers. Milton. 
A fortress; a citadel.—A strong tower from the enemy. 
Psalms. —A high head-dress. 
Lay trains of amorous intrigues 
In towers, and curls, and periwigs. Hudibras. 
High flight; elevation. 
To TO'WER, v. n. To soar; to fly or rise high. 
No marvel 
My lord protector’s hawks do tower so well. Shakspeare. 
TOWER HILL, the name of a hill and village in the 
United States, in South Kingston, Rhode Island. 
TOWER ISLAND, a small island in the Eastern seas, near 
the south coast of the island of Flores. Lat. 9. 2. S. long. 
124. 44. E. 
TOWERED, adj. Adorned or defended by towers. 
Might she the wise Latona be, 
Or the tow'red Cybele. Milton. 
TOWERIDGE, a river of England, in the county of De¬ 
von. It rises about 4 miles from Hartland Point, near the 
source of the Tamar, and enters the Severn at Barnstaple bay, 
about 2 miles below Appledore, where it is joined by the Taw. 
TOWERMUIR, the name of a tower in England, in the 
county of Lincoln, situated between Tattershall and Horn- 
castle. 
TO'WERMUSTARD, s. [ turritis , Lat.] A plant. 
Miller. 
TOWERSEY, a parish of England, in Buckinghamshire; 
9 miles south-west of Aylesbury. 
TO'WERY, adj. Adorned or guarded with towers. 
Rise, crown’d with lights, imperial Salem rise! 
Exalt thy tow'ry head, and lift thy eyes! Pope. 
TOWLE, or Towie Kinbattock, a parish of Scotland, 
in Aberdeenshire, about 3| miles long, and 2 broad, watered 
by the Don. Population 585. 
TO'WLINE, s. [coh-lme, Sax.] The rope or chain used 
in towing. 
TOWLSTON, a township of England, West Riding of 
Yorkshire ; 2 miles west of Tadcaster. 
TOWN, s. [cun. Sax.; t.uyn, Dutch, from cynan, Sax. 
to shut in.~\ Any walled collection of houses. 
When Alexandria was besieg’d and won. 
He pass’d the trenches first, and storm’d the town. Betterton. 
Any collection of houses larger than a village.—Before 
him towns, and rural works between. Milton. —In Eng¬ 
land, any number of houses to which belongs a regular 
market, and which is not a city or the see of a bishop.—The 
inhabitants of a town. 
To the clear spring cold Artaea went; 
To which the whole towne for their water sent. Chapman. 
The court end of London. 
A virgin whom her mother’s care 
Drags from the town to wholesome country air. Pope. 
The people who live in the capital. 
He, all at once let down, 
Stuns with his giddy larum half the town. Pope. 
It is used by the inhabitants of every town or city: as we 
say, a new family is come to town. —There is some new dress 
or 
