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Antonyms for ran down


Grammar : Verb
Spell : ruhn
Phonetic Transcription : rʌn



Definition of ran down

Origin :
  • the modern verb is a merger of two related Old English words, in both of which the first letters sometimes switched places. The first is intransitive rinnan, irnan "to run, flow, run together" (past tense ran, past participle runnen), cognate with (cf. Middle Dutch runnen, Old Saxon, Old High German, Gothic rinnan, German rinnen "to flow, run").
  • The second is Old English transitive weak verb ærnan, earnan "ride, run to, reach, gain by running" (probably a metathesis of *rennan), from Proto-Germanic *rannjanan, causative of the root *ren- "to run." This is cognate with Old Saxon renian, Old High German rennen, German rennen, Gothic rannjan.
  • Both are from PIE *ri-ne-a-, nasalized form of root *reie- "to flow, run" (see Rhine).
  • Of streams, etc., from c.1200; of machinery, from 1560s. Meaning "be in charge of" is first attested 1861, originally American English. Meaning "seek office in an election" is from 1826, American English. Phrase run for it "take flight" is attested from 1640s. Many figurative uses are from horseracing or hunting (e.g. to run (something) into the ground, 1836, American English).
  • To run across "meet" is attested from 1855, American English. To run short "exhaust one's supply" is from 1752; to run out of in the same sense is from 1713. To run around with "consort with" is from 1887. Run away "flee in the face of danger" is from late 14c. To run late is from 1954.
  • verb ridicule
Example sentences :
  • Phoebe came out from the sitting-room, ran down the steps, and barred his way.
  • Extract from : « Good Indian » by B. M. Bower
  • She ran down lightly, and along the passage leading to the library.
  • Extract from : « The Coryston Family » by Mrs. Humphry Ward
  • At the gate without a word I took her hand and ran down the street.
  • Extract from : « The Harbor » by Ernest Poole
  • I ordered the horses to be saddled, dressed myself, and ran down to the baths.
  • Extract from : « A Hero of Our Time » by M. Y. Lermontov
  • On the other hand, the Montauk laid her yards square, and ran down to the Hook.
  • Extract from : « Homeward Bound » by James Fenimore Cooper
  • She could not control it or the tears that ran down her face in the darkness.
  • Extract from : « The Innocent Adventuress » by Mary Hastings Bradley
  • The tears often ran down his cheek, during the meal, which was short.
  • Extract from : « The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete » by Duc de Saint-Simon
  • He dressed hastily; ran down to the yard; stared about him: his car had vanished.
  • Extract from : « A Nest of Spies » by Pierre Souvestre
  • At Michaelville, they started the scooter and ran down the track to the river.
  • Extract from : « Poisoned Air » by Sterner St. Paul Meek
  • You heard him cry and, waking, ran down to the water's edge.
  • Extract from : « Murder Point » by Coningsby Dawson

Synonyms for ran down

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019