Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

shiftingmore about shifting

shifting


  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Shift  \Shift\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Shifted};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Shifting}.]  [OE.  shiften,  schiften,  to  divide,  change, 
  remove.  AS  sciftan  to  divide;  akin  to  LG  &  D.  schiften  to 
  divide,  distinguish,  part  Icel.  skipta  to  divide,  to  part  to 
  shift,  to  change,  Dan  skifte  Sw  skifta  and  probably  to 
  Icel.  sk[=i]fa  to  cut  into  slices,  as  n.,  a  slice,  and  to  E. 
  shive,  sheave,  n.,  shiver,  n.] 
  1.  To  divide;  to  distribute;  to  apportion.  [Obs.] 
 
  To  which  God  of  his  bounty  would  shift  Crowns  two  of 
  flowers  well  smelling.  --Chaucer. 
 
  2.  To  change  the  place  of  to  move  or  remove  from  one  place 
  to  another;  as  to  shift  a  burden  from  one  shoulder  to 
  another;  to  shift  the  blame. 
 
  Hastily  he  schifte  him[self].  --Piers 
  Plowman. 
 
  Pare  saffron  between  the  two  St  Mary's  days,  Or  set 
  or  go  shift  it  that  knowest  the  ways.  --Tusser. 
 
  3.  To  change  the  position  of  to  alter  the  bearings  of  to 
  turn;  as  to  shift  the  helm  or  sails. 
 
  Carrying  the  oar  loose,  [they]  shift  it  hither  and 
  thither  at  pleasure.  --Sir  W. 
  Raleigh. 
 
  4.  To  exchange  for  another  of  the  same  class;  to  remove  and 
  to  put  some  similar  thing  in  its  place  to  change;  as  to 
  shift  the  clothes;  to  shift  the  scenes. 
 
  I  would  advise  you  to  shift  a  shirt.  --Shak. 
 
  5.  To  change  the  clothing  of  --  used  reflexively.  [Obs.] 
 
  As  it  were  to  ride  day  and  night;  and  .  .  .  not  to 
  have  patience  to  shift  me  --Shak. 
 
  6.  To  put  off  or  out  of  the  way  by  some  expedient.  ``I 
  shifted  him  away.''  --Shak. 
 
  {To  shift  off},  to  delay;  to  defer;  to  put  off  to  lay  aside. 
 
 
  {To  shift  the  scene},  to  change  the  locality  or  the 
  surroundings,  as  in  a  play  or  a  story. 
 
  Shift  the  scene  for  half  an  hour;  Time  and  place  are 
  in  thy  power.  --Swift. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Shifting  \Shift"ing\,  a. 
  1.  Changing  in  place  position,  or  direction;  varying; 
  variable;  fickle;  as  shifting  winds;  shifting  opinions  or 
  principles. 
 
  2.  Adapted  or  used  for  shifting  anything 
 
  {Shifting  backstays}  (Naut.),  temporary  stays  that  have  to  be 
  let  go  whenever  the  vessel  tacks  or  jibes. 
 
  {Shifting  ballast},  ballast  which  may  be  moved  from  one  side 
  of  a  vessel  to  another  as  safety  requires. 
 
  {Shifting  center}.  See  {Metacenter}. 
 
  {Shifting  locomotive}.  See  {Switching  engine},  under 
  {Switch}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Use  \Use\,  n.  [OE.  us  use  usage,  L.  usus,  from  uti,  p.  p.  usus, 
  to  use  See  {Use},  v.  t.] 
  1.  The  act  of  employing  anything  or  of  applying  it  to  one's 
  service;  the  state  of  being  so  employed  or  applied; 
  application;  employment;  conversion  to  some  purpose;  as 
  the  use  of  a  pen  in  writing;  his  machines  are  in  general 
  use 
 
  Books  can  never  teach  the  use  of  books.  --Bacon. 
 
  This  Davy  serves  you  for  good  uses.  --Shak. 
 
  When  he  framed  All  things  to  man's  delightful  use 
  --Milton. 
 
  2.  Occasion  or  need  to  employ;  necessity;  as  to  have  no 
  further  use  for  a  book.  --Shak. 
 
  3.  Yielding  of  service;  advantage  derived;  capability  of 
  being  used  usefulness;  utility. 
 
  God  made  two  great  lights,  great  for  their  use  To 
  man.  --Milton. 
 
  'T  is  use  alone  that  sanctifies  expense.  --Pope. 
 
  4.  Continued  or  repeated  practice;  customary  employment; 
  usage;  custom;  manner;  habit. 
 
  Let  later  age  that  noble  use  envy.  --Spenser. 
 
  How  weary,  stale,  flat  and  unprofitable,  Seem  to  me 
  all  the  uses  of  this  world!  --Shak. 
 
  5.  Common  occurrence;  ordinary  experience.  [R.] 
 
  O  C[ae]sar!  these  things  are  beyond  all  use  --Shak. 
 
  6.  (Eccl.)  The  special  form  of  ritual  adopted  for  use  in  any 
  diocese;  as  the  Sarum,  or  Canterbury,  use  the  Hereford 
  use  the  York  use  the  Roman  use  etc 
 
  From  henceforth  all  the  whole  realm  shall  have  but 
  one  use  --Pref.  to 
  Book  of  Common 
  Prayer. 
 
  7.  The  premium  paid  for  the  possession  and  employment  of 
  borrowed  money;  interest;  usury.  [Obs.] 
 
  Thou  art  more  obliged  to  pay  duty  and  tribute,  use 
  and  principal,  to  him  --Jer.  Taylor. 
 
  8.  [In  this  sense  probably  a  corruption  of  OF  oes,  fr  L. 
  opus  need  business,  employment,  work  Cf  {Operate}.] 
  (Law)  The  benefit  or  profit  of  lands  and  tenements.  Use 
  imports  a  trust  and  confidence  reposed  in  a  man  for  the 
  holding  of  lands.  He  to  whose  use  or  benefit  the  trust  is 
  intended  shall  enjoy  the  profits.  An  estate  is  granted  and 
  limited  to  A  for  the  use  of  B. 
 
  9.  (Forging)  A  stab  of  iron  welded  to  the  side  of  a  forging, 
  as  a  shaft,  near  the  end  and  afterward  drawn  down  by 
  hammering,  so  as  to  lengthen  the  forging. 
 
  {Contingent},  or  {Springing},  {use}  (Law),  a  use  to  come  into 
  operation  on  a  future  uncertain  event. 
 
  {In  use}. 
  a  In  employment;  in  customary  practice  observance. 
  b  In  heat;  --  said  especially  of  mares.  --J.  H.  Walsh. 
 
  {Of  no  use},  useless;  of  no  advantage. 
 
  {Of  use},  useful;  of  advantage;  profitable. 
 
  {Out  of  use},  not  in  employment. 
 
  {Resulting  use}  (Law),  a  use  which  being  limited  by  the 
  deed,  expires  or  can  not  vest,  and  results  or  returns  to 
  him  who  raised  it  after  such  expiration. 
 
  {Secondary},  or  {Shifting},  {use},  a  use  which  though 
  executed,  may  change  from  one  to  another  by  circumstances. 
  --Blackstone. 
 
  {Statute  of  uses}  (Eng.  Law),  the  stat.  27  Henry  VIII.,  cap. 
  10,  which  transfers  uses  into  possession,  or  which  unites 
  the  use  and  possession. 
 
  {To  make  use  of},  {To  put  to  use},  to  employ;  to  derive 
  service  from  to  use 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  shifting 
  adj  1:  continuously  moving  or  changing  from  position  or  direction; 
  "he  drifted  into  the  shifting  crowd";  "their  nervous 
  shifting  glances" 
  2:  continuously  varying;  "taffeta  with  shifting  colors" 
  3:  (of  soil)  unstable;  "shifting  sands";  "unfirm  earth"  [syn:  {unfirm}] 
  n  :  the  act  of  moving  from  one  place  to  another  [syn:  {shift}] 




more about shifting