Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Approach

Ap-proach′

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Approached
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Approaching
.]
[OE.
approchen
,
aprochen
, OF.
approcher
, LL.
appropriare
, fr. L.
ad
+
propiare
to draw near,
prope
near.]
1.
To come or go near, in place or time; to draw nigh; to advance nearer.
Wherefore
approached
ye so nigh unto the city?
2 Sam. xi. 20.
But exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching
.
Heb. x. 25.
2.
To draw near, in a figurative sense; to make advances; to approximate;
as, he
approaches
to the character of the ablest statesman
.

Ap-proach′

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To bring near; to cause to draw near; to advance.
[Archaic]
Boyle.
2.
To come near to in place, time, or character; to draw nearer to;
as, to
approach
the city; to
approach
my cabin; he
approached
the age of manhood.
He was an admirable poet, and thought even to have
approached
Homer.
Temple.
3.
(Mil.)
To take approaches to.

Ap-proach′

,
Noun.
[Cf. F.
approche
. See
Approach
,
Verb.
I.
]
1.
The act of drawing near; a coming or advancing near.
“The approach of summer.”
Horsley.
A nearer
approach
to the human type.
Owen.
2.
A access, or opportunity of drawing near.
The
approach
to kings and principal persons.
Bacon.
3.
pl.
Movements to gain favor; advances.
4.
A way, passage, or avenue by which a place or buildings can be approached; an access.
Macaulay.
5.
pl.
(Fort.)
The advanced works, trenches, or covered roads made by besiegers in their advances toward a fortress or military post.
6.
(Hort.)
See
Approaching
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Approach

APPROACH

,
Verb.
I.
[The Latin proximus contains the root, but the word, in the positive degree, is not found in the Latin. It is from a root in class Brg, signifying to drive, move, or press toward.]
1.
To come or go near, in place; to draw near; to advance nearer.
Wherefore approached ye so nigh the city? 2Sam. 11.
2.
To draw near in time.
And so much the more as ye see the day approac. Heb. 10.
3.
To draw near, in a figurative sense; to advance near to a point aimed at, in science, literature, government, morals, &c.; to approximate; as, he approaches to the character of the ablest statesman.
4.
To draw near in duty, as in prayer or worship.
They take delight in approaching to God. Isiah. 51.

APPROACH

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To come near to; as, Pope approaches Virgil in smoothness of versification. This use of the word is elliptical, to being omitted, so that the verb can hardly be said to be transitive. The old use of the word, as 'approach the hand to the handle,' is not legitimate.
2.
To have access carnally. Lev. 18.
3.
In gardening, to ingraft a sprig or shoot of one tree into another, without cutting it from the parent stock.

APPROACH

, n
1.
The act of drawing near; a coming or advancing near; as, he was aprised of the enemy's approach.
2.
Access; as, the approach to kings.
3.
In fortification, not only the advances of an army are called approaches, but the works thrown up by the beseigers, to protect them in their advances towards a fortress.

Similar Results