1 definition 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.
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