1502. Greene, Quip for Upst. Courtier. To square it up and downs the streets before his mistresse.
1594. Hooker, Eccles. Polity, iii. 1. In St. Paul's time the integrity of Rome was famous; Corinth many ways reproved; they of Galatia much more out of square.
d.1612. Harington, Epigrams, i. 37. Once, by mishap, two poets fell a-squaring.
d.1657. Bradford, Plymouth Plantation, 269. At length they . . . resolved to send Mr. Winslow . . . into England, to see how ye squars wente.
1696. Lestrange, Æsop. One frog looked about him to see how squares went with their new king. Ibid. I will break no squares whether it be so or not.
1902. D. Mail, 13 Nov., 3, 4. The men squared up to each other, and Martin struck Drew a violent blow in the face which felled him.
2. (colloquial).—To be entirely in agreement, to arrange, to accommodate. Whence on (or upon) the square (or squarely, adv.) = absolutely dependable; all square (or squares) = all right; square to (by the square, or in square) = suitable, exact, in amity or agreement; to keep square = to lead a straight life. Also in combination: amongst others, square backdown = a palpable retreat; square piece = a decent girl; square answer = an unmistakable reply; square clobber = respectable clothes; square crib = 'a house of good repute' (Grose); square tats = honest dice; square drinker = a steady toper; square eater = a hearty feeder; square thing = the truth: see quot. 1785: also square head (thieves') = an honest man; square meal = a substantial repast; square play
fair play; square-rigged
well-dressed, &c., &c.
1589. Puttenham, Arte of Eng. Poesie [Arber], 113. A constant minded man, euen egal and direct on all sides, and not easily ouerthrowne by euery little aduersitie . . . a square man.
1604. Shakspeare, Winter's Tale, v. 1. O, that ever I Had squared me to thy counsel. Ibid. (1608), Anthony and Cleop., ii. 2, 190. She's a most triumphant lady if report be square to her. Ibid., ii. 36. Read not my blemishes in the world's report: I have not kept my square; but that to come shall all be done by the rule. Ibid. (1609), Timon of Athens, v. 4, 36. It is not square to take On those that are revenges.
1611. Cotgrave, Dict. s.v. Vn ferial beuveur. A square drinker . . . one that will take his liquor soundly.
1616. Fletcher, Bonduca, ii. 3. By Heaven, Square eaters! . . . Upon my conscience, The poor rogues have not eat this month.
1628. Ford, Lover's Melancholy, iv. 2. Then they . . . steal women's hearts; with them and theirs The world runs round; yet they are square men still.
16[?]. Milton, Ans. to Salmasius, x. They chose rather to be lorded over . . . by a tyrant . . . than endure their brethren and friends to be on the square with them.
1640. Shirley, Love's Cruelty, ii. 3. Should he retain a thought not square of her, This will correct all.
1642. Sir T. Browne, Religio Medici, i. 5. There is no Church whose every part so squares unto my conscience.
1644-5. Howell, Letters, 1. vi. 46. He could never square well with his Eminence the Cardinal.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, 1. xv. Both being put together may square out the most eminent of the ancient gentry in some tolerable proportion.
1677. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, i. 1. Telling truth is . . . as prejudicial to a man that would thrive in the world as square play to a cheat.
1692. Dryden, Juvenal, iii. 179. We live not on the square with such as these.
d.1704. Brown, Works, i. 46. If they dealt squarely with me they'd scarce at all wonder.
