Etymology tree
Proto-Germanic *kas-
Proto-Germanic *kastōną
Old Norse kastabor.
Middle English casten
English cast
From Middle English casten, from Old Norse kasta (“to throw, cast, overturn”), from Proto-Germanic *kastōną (“to throw, cast”), of unknown origin.
Cognate with Scots cast (“to cast, throw”), Danish kaste (“to throw”), Swedish kasta (“to throw, cast, fling, toss, discard”), Icelandic kasta (“to pitch, toss”). In the sense of "flinging", displaced native warp.
The senses relating to broadcasting are based on that same term; compare -cast.
Meanings
(not-comparable) Of an animal, such as a horse or sheep: Lying in a position from which it cannot rise on its own.
Etymology tree
Proto-Germanic *kas-
Proto-Germanic *kastōną
Old Norse kastabor.
Middle English casten
English cast
From Middle English casten, from Old Norse kasta (“to throw, cast, overturn”), from Proto-Germanic *kastōną (“to throw, cast”), of unknown origin.
Cognate with Scots cast (“to cast, throw”), Danish kaste (“to throw”), Swedish kasta (“to throw, cast, fling, toss, discard”), Icelandic kasta (“to pitch, toss”). In the sense of "flinging", displaced native warp.
The senses relating to broadcasting are based on that same term; compare -cast.
Meanings
An act of throwing.
The number rolled on a die when it is thrown.
An instance of throwing out a fishing line.
I went out on the timber boom and made a few casts, but with little success. 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 152:
Something which has been thrown, dispersed etc.
a cast of scatter'd dust 1697, Virgil, “The Fourth Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
A small mass of earth "thrown off" or excreted by a worm.
The area near the stream was covered with little bubbly worm casts.
The collective group of actors performing a play or production together.
The cast was praised for a fine performance.
He’s in the cast of Oliver.
The casting procedure.
The men got into position for the cast, two at the ladle, two with long rods, all with heavy clothing.
An object made in a mould.
The cast would need a great deal of machining to become a recognizable finished part.
A supportive and immobilising device used to help mend broken bones.
The doctor put a cast on the boy’s broken arm.
The mould used to make cast objects.
A plaster cast was made from his face.
(collective) The number of hawks (or occasionally other birds) cast off at one time; a pair of hawks.
As when a cast of Faulcons make their flight / An an Herneshaw, that lyes aloft on wing […] 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
The form of perch which I have found in every way suited to ordinary requirements, especially where only a cast of hawks (two) is kept, is that figured opposite. 1884, James Edmund Harting, Hints on the Management of Hawks, Horace Cox, page 8https://www.google.com/books/edition/Hints_on_the_Management_of_Hawks/yntEAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22cast+of+hawks%22&pg=PA8&printsec=frontcover:
Louis XIV was keen, employing a total hawking personnel of 175 and adding a fourth cast of gyrfalcons to hunt hares in 1682 […]. 2007, Tim Blanning, The Pursuit of Glory, Penguin, published 2013, page 395:
A squint.
The image of the affected eye is clearer and in consequence the diplopy more striking the less the cast of the eye; hence the double vision will be noticed by the patient before the misdirection of the eye attracts the attention of those about him. 1847, John Churchill, A manual of the principles and practice of ophthalmic medicine and surgery, p. 389, paragraph 1968
Arriving in Brittany, the Woodville exiles found a sallow young man, with dark hair curled in the shoulder-length fashion of the time and a penchant for expensively dyed black clothes, whose steady gaze was made more disconcerting by a cast in his left eye – such that while one eye looked at you, the other searched for you. 2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 7:
Visual appearance.
He stared down at his champagne glass with narrowed eyes and a hard cast to his mouth. 2007, Lindsay Armstrong, The Australian's Housekeeper Bride, page 78:
Using a tungsten-balanced film outdoors results in a blue cast to the photo. 2004, Betsy Brill, Photojournalism: The Professional's Approach, page 240:
Her features had a delicate cast to them.
The form of one's thoughts, mind etc.
The cast of mind which prompted the plan was permanent, and in it are to be found both the strength and the weakness of Petty's character. 1894, Wilson Lloyd Bevan, Sir William Petty : A Study in English Economic Literature, page 40:
I have read all her articles and come to admire both her elegant turn of phrase and the noble cast of mind which inspires it; but never, I confess, did I look to see beauty and wit so perfectly united. 1992, Hilary Mantel, A Place of Greater Safety, Harper Perennial, published 2007, page 330:
Young Wilcox’s rejoinder, which impressed my uncle enough to make him recall and record it verbatim, was of a fantastically poetic cast which must have typified his whole conversation, and which I have since found highly characteristic of him. 1928 February, H[oward] P[hillips] Lovecraft, “The Call of Cthulhu”, in Farnsworth Wright, editor, Weird Tales: A Magazine of the Bizarre and Unusual, volume XI, number 2, Indianapolis, Ind.: Popular Fiction Publishing Company, →OCLC:
(alt-of, obsolete) Obsolete form of caste (“hereditary social class of South Asia”).
The brahmin's cast is higher than any other cast. 1821, Report of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, volumes 12-16, page 160:
Animal and insect remains which have been regurgitated by a bird.
(collective) A group of crabs.
Some days, the whole cast of crabs would come out of their holes and ponder at the Fishers as if a storm is taking form. 2023, Sunil Santha, Climate Change, Small-Scale Fisheries, and Blue Justice: Fishscapes and Alternative Worldviews, Taylor and Francis:
A cast of blue crabs weathered the underwater turbulence by clinging to coral with their claws. 2011, J. E. Bright, Deepwater Disaster, Stone Arch Books:
In the crevices of the rock wall that buttresses the pool, a cast of crabs go about their crab business. 2023, Nadine J. Cohen, Everyone and Everything, Pantera Press:
(Norfolk, collective, historical) A group of crabs. ▸ Two crabs.
Coordinate term: hundred
At Cromer and the neighbourhood the crabs are counted by a peculiar standard: thus, two crabs are counted as one. The two crabs being called a cast, six score cast of crabs is called a hundred. At Cromer, therefore, a hundred crabs is two hundred and forty. 1876, “The Crab and Lobster Fisheries of Cromer”, in The Nautical Magazine, Cambridge University Press, page 197:
The measurement of the angle of a shotgun stock from a top-view center line, used to align the shotgun to the shooter's eye.
Cast is the measurement of the central line of the gun and the stock’s butt. If the butt is tilted slightly to the left of the central line, it’s called “cast on.” If the butt is tilted slightly to the right of the central line, it’s called “cast off.” Savage Arms, "THE PERFECT SHOTGUN FIT," 2021
A chance or attempt at something.
(archaic, colloquial) Assistance given by transporting a person or lightening their labour.
The superiors rode în a spring-van, and the rest in the wagon, while I walked the whole distance. None of them had the civility to give me a cast forward on either vehicle, […] 1852, Chambers' Edinburgh Journal, volumes 17-18, page 398:
boatman, just give us a cast over to the other side of the water. 1882, Sir James William Redhouse, The Turkish Vade-Mecum of Ottoman Colloquial Language, page 328:
ru гипс (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · hu vetés (act of throwing) · fr moule (mould used to make cast objects) · de Besetzung (group of actors performing together) · pt molde (mould used to make cast objects) · hu hajítás (act of throwing) · nl bezetting (group of actors performing together) · nl vorm (mould used to make cast objects) · no gips (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · fr forme (visual appearance) · es elenco (group of actors performing together) · es egagrópila (animal and insect remains regurgitated by a bird) · hu köpet (animal and insect remains regurgitated by a bird) · ca llançament (act of throwing) · sv rollfördelning (casting procedure) · uk акторський склад (group of actors performing together) · it gesso (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · de Ensemble (group of actors performing together) · nl zijwaartse blik (squint) · es reparto (group of actors performing together) · nl cast (group of actors performing together) · cmn 全體演員 /全体演员 (group of actors performing together) · es yeso (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · sv rollbesättning (group of actors performing together) · cmn 外貌 (visual appearance) · hu gipszkötés (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · sv gjutform (mould used to make cast objects) · ko 깁스 (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · de Cast (group of actors performing together) · fi karsastus (squint) · nl mal (mould used to make cast objects) · kn ಎರಕ (casting procedure) · hu dobás (act of throwing) · ru фо́рма (mould used to make cast objects) · nl schijn (visual appearance) · de Gips (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · ru в роля́х (group of actors performing together) · bg гипс (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · nl rolverdeling (group of actors performing together) · ru сле́пок (object made in a mould) · ms barisan pelakon (group of actors performing together) · fi kipsi (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · bg отливка (object made in a mould) · cs odlitek (object made in a mould) · fi keko (small mass of earth thrown off by a worm) · nl spalk (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · fi valos (object made in a mould) · uk гіпс (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · el γύψος (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · hu gipszöntvény (object made in a mould) · it ingessatura (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · fi parvi (group of crabs) · gl molde (object made in a mould) · fi valu (casting procedure) · hu gipsz (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · ru ка́стинг (casting procedure) · fi muotti (mould used to make cast objects) · ga foireann (group of actors performing together) · be гіпс (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · ka სხმული (object made in a mould) · nl gips (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · pt gesso (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · yue 卡士 (group of actors performing together) · ru соста́в исполни́телей (group of actors performing together) · fi valumuotti (mould used to make cast objects) · gl escaiola (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · fi oksennuspallo (animal and insect remains regurgitated by a bird) · ca motlle (mould used to make cast objects) · ga foireann aisteoirí (group of actors performing together) · hu fajta (form of one's thoughts, mind etc.) · cs sádra (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · fr moulage (object made in a mould) · eo gipsobandaĝo (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · bg мятане (act of throwing) · hu (mindset) lelkület (form of one's thoughts, mind etc.) · bg хвърляне (act of throwing) · ga claonfhéachaint (squint) · ru отли́вка (object made in a mould) · gl lanzamento (act of throwing) · sv casting (casting procedure) · gl forma (mould used to make cast objects) · cmn 抛 (casting procedure) · grc βόλος (act of throwing) · fi lastoitus (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · it stampo (mould used to make cast objects) · bg състав (group of actors performing together) · pl obsada (group of actors performing together) · pt moldado (object made in a mould) · ja ギプス (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · fi lasta (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · de Gipsverband (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · sk sadra (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · it calco (object made in a mould) · fi siristely (squint) · ru косогла́зие (squint) · gl moldeado (object made in a mould) · fr distribution (group of actors performing together) · cmn 投 (casting procedure) · it forma (object made in a mould) · es escayola (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · nl casten (casting procedure) · ca repartiment (group of actors performing together) · fi ilme (visual appearance) · ru бросо́к (act of throwing) · sv rollsättning (casting procedure) · id gips (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · hu bagolyköpet (animal and insect remains regurgitated by a bird) · cmn 石膏 (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · fi valaminen (casting procedure) · ja キャスト (group of actors performing together) · ro mulaj (object made in a mould) · fr jet (act of throwing) · cmn 特征 (visual appearance) · hu szereposztás (casting procedure) · el νάρθηκας (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · fr plâtre (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · fi heitto (act of throwing) · it calco (mould used to make cast objects) · gl molde (mould used to make cast objects) · nl rolbezetting (group of actors performing together) · fi valu (object made in a mould) · nl rolverdeling (casting procedure) · nl afgietsel (object made in a mould) · sv rollbesättning (casting procedure) · sv form (mould used to make cast objects) · ja 演奏 (group of actors performing together) · uk склад виконавців (group of actors performing together) · ca guix (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · oc geis (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · it cast (group of actors performing together) · pt elenco (group of actors performing together) · cs sádrový obvaz (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · sv gips (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · cmn 鑄模 /铸模 (mould used to make cast objects) · ar ضِمَاد مِنَ الْجِبْس (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · fi heite (something which has been thrown dispersed) · hu gondolkodásmód (form of one's thoughts, mind etc.) · sv rollinnehavare (group of actors performing together) · cmn 鑄件 /铸件 (object made in a mould) · la iactus (act of throwing) · oc gip (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · bg калъп (mould used to make cast objects) · hu öntvény (object made in a mould) · ru распределе́ние роле́й (casting procedure) · nl blik (squint) · hu észjárás (form of one's thoughts, mind etc.) · hu szereposztás (group of actors performing together) · ro distribuție (group of actors performing together) · fi piirre (visual appearance) · eo rolularo (group of actors performing together) · nl casting (casting procedure) · fr strabisme (squint) · fi kokoonpano (group of actors performing together) · ja ギブス (medicine: supportive and immobilising device) · fi näyttelijät (group of actors performing together)
Etymology tree
Proto-Germanic *kas-
Proto-Germanic *kastōną
Old Norse kastabor.
Middle English casten
English cast
From Middle English casten, from Old Norse kasta (“to throw, cast, overturn”), from Proto-Germanic *kastōną (“to throw, cast”), of unknown origin.
Cognate with Scots cast (“to cast, throw”), Danish kaste (“to throw”), Swedish kasta (“to throw, cast, fling, toss, discard”), Icelandic kasta (“to pitch, toss”). In the sense of "flinging", displaced native warp.
The senses relating to broadcasting are based on that same term; compare -cast.
Meanings
(physical) To move, or be moved, away.
Many savages believe that by annually casting their skins serpents and other animals renew their youth and live for ever. 1918, James George Frazer, Folk-Lore In The Old Testament, volume 1, page 50:
(literary, physical) To move, or be moved, away. ▸ To throw.
The more, an' please your honour, the pity, said the Corporal; in uttering which, he cast his spade into the wheelbarrow[…]. 1759–1767, [Laurence Sterne], The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, volume (please specify |volume=I to IX), London: […] T. Becket and P. A. Dehondt, […], page 262:
Why then a Ladder quaintly made of Cords / To cast vp, with a paire of anchoring hookes, / Would serue to scale another Hero's towre[…]. c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
(physical) To move, or be moved, away. ▸ To throw forward (a fishing line, net etc.) into the sea.
As Jesus walked by the see off Galile, he sawe two brethren: Simon which was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, castynge a neet into the see (for they were fisshers)[…]. 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Matthew iiij:
(physical) To move, or be moved, away. ▸ To throw down or aside.
So she to Guyon offred it to tast; / Who taking it out of her tender hond, / The cup to ground did violently cast, / That all in peeces it was broken fond […] 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
Near Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, Madman, co-pilot and plane were caught in a storm, cast into the Caribbean, drowned. 1930 December 19, “Sidar the Madman”, in Time:
Her bow is not to her liking. In a temper, she casts it on the grass. 2009, Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall, Fourth Estate, published 2010, page 316:
it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 6:30:
(of an animal, physical) To move, or be moved, away. ▸ To throw off (the skin) as a process of growth; to shed the hair or fur of the coat.
(physical) To move, or be moved, away. ▸ To shed leaves or fruit prematurely.
(physical, qualifier:obsolete except in set phrases) To move, or be moved, away. ▸ To remove, take off (clothes).
You know the saying, "Ne'er cast a clout till May is out"? Well, personally, I'm bored of my winter clothes by March. 2002 March 2, Jess Cartner-Morley, “How to Wear Clothes”, in The Guardian:
when the serjeant saw me, he cast his coat and put it on me, and they carried me on their shoulders to a village where the wounded were and our surgeons[…]. 1822, “Life of Donald McBane”, in Blackwood's Magazine, volume 12, page 745:
(physical) To move, or be moved, away. ▸ To heave the lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water.
(obsolete, physical) To move, or be moved, away. ▸ To vomit.
These verses[…]make me ready to cast. 1601, Ben Jonson, Poetaster or The Arraignment: […], London: […] [R. Bradock] for M[atthew] L[ownes] […], published 1602, →OCLC, Act I, scene i:
(archaic, physical) To move, or be moved, away. ▸ To throw up, as a mound, or rampart.
Thine enemies shall cast a trench [bank] about thee. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 19:48:
Kenett states that the military works still known by the name of Tadmarten Camp and Hook-Norton Barrow were cast up at this time ; the former, large and round, is judged to be a fortification of the Danes, and the latter, being smaller and rather a quinquangle than a square, of the Saxons. 1881, John Kirby Hedges, The history of Wallingford, volume 1, page 170:
(archaic, physical) To move, or be moved, away. ▸ To throw out or emit; to exhale.
This horned bird, as it casts a strong smell, so it hath a foul look, much exceeding the European Raven in bigness 1849, Philip Henry Gosse, Natural History:
1695 (first published), 1726 (final dated of publication) John Woodward, An Essay toward a Natural History of the Earth and Terrestrial Bodies
This […] casts a sulphurous smell.
To direct (one's eyes, gaze etc.).
But Richmond, his grandfather's darling, after one thoughtful glance cast under his lashes at that uncompromising countenance appeared to lose himself in his own reflections. 1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:
She then yawned again, threw aside her book, and cast her eyes round the room in quest of some amusement[…]. 1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter 11, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC:
To whom do Lyons cast their gentle Lookes? Not to the Beast, that would vsurpe their Den. c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
(qualifier:dated outside accounting) To add up (a column of figures, accounts etc.); cross-cast refers to adding up a row of figures.
I cast up the notches on my post, and found I had been on shore three hundred and sixty-five days. 1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC:
They cast it up and found it agreed with the printed balance-sheet. 1859, David Morier Evans, “The Royal British Bank—Its Suspension and General Mismanagement”, in Facts, Failures and Frauds, London: Groombridge & Sons, page 337:
Obtain an aged list of accounts receivable balances at the financial year end and use CAATs to cast and cross-cast the schedule and agree the total to the general ledger control account for accounts receivable. 2007, George Puttick, Sandy van Esch, “Auditing Revenue Transactions and Balances”, in The Principles and Practice of Auditing, →ISBN, page 637:
The Clearke of Chartam: hee can write and / reade, and cast accompt. 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
I cannot yet cast account either with penne or Counters. 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 17, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
To what this ten years' tribute will amount,
That we have cast, but cannot compass it
By reason of the wars, that robb'd our store c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I:
Obtain a list of individual customers with balances outstanding at the year end, cast this and agree it to the trade receivables account. 2023, “Procedures”, in Audit and Assurance, Kaplan Financial Limited, →ISBN, page 354:
(qualifier:social) To predict, to decide, to plan. ▸ To calculate the astrological value of (a horoscope, birth etc.).
John Gadbury confessed that Mrs Cellier, ‘the Popish Midwife’, had asked him to cast the King's nativity, although the astrology claimed to have refused to do so. 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society, published 2012, page 332:
he is […] a perfect astrologer, that can cast the rise and fall of others, and mark their errant motions to his own use. , vol.1, New York Review of Books, 2001, p.309
He did the washing up and stayed behind to watch the dinner cook while she hopped off with a friend to have her horoscope cast by another friend. 1985, Lawrence Durrell, Quinx, Faber & Faber 2004 (Avignon Quintet), p.1197
(obsolete, qualifier:social) To predict, to decide, to plan. ▸ To plan, intend.
The cloister[…]had, I doubt not, been cast for [an orange-house]. 1685, William Temple, "Upon the Gardens of Epicurus:
[...] for the quene had cast to haue ben ageyne with kyng Arthur at the ferthest by ten of the clok / and soo was that tyme her purpoos.
[...] "for the queen had cast to have been again with King Arthur at the furthest by ten of the clock, and so was that time her purpose." 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur Book XIX, Chapter i leaf 386v:
I wrapt my selfe in Palmers weed, / And cast to seeke him forth through daunger and great dreed. 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
(qualifier:social, transitive) To predict, to decide, to plan. ▸ To assign (a role in a play or performance).
The director cast the part carefully.
(qualifier:social, transitive) To predict, to decide, to plan. ▸ To assign a role in a play or performance to (an actor).
The director cast John Smith as King Lear.
(qualifier:social, transitive) To predict, to decide, to plan. ▸ To describe in an opinionated way. Mostly used with a metaphor involving light.
King John cast his predecessor in a negative light to deflect criticism of his own questionable decisions.
(qualifier:social) To predict, to decide, to plan. ▸ To consider; to turn or revolve in the mind; to plan.
to cast about for reasons
She[…]cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 1:29:
(archaic, qualifier:social) To predict, to decide, to plan. ▸ To impose; to bestow; to rest.
The government I cast upon my brother. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
Cast thy burden upon the Lord. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 4:22:
(archaic, qualifier:social) To predict, to decide, to plan. ▸ To defeat in a lawsuit; to decide against; to convict.
to be cast in damages
She was cast to be hanged. 1822, John Galt, The Provost:
Were the case referred to any competent judge, […]they would inevitably be cast. 1667, attributed to Richard Allestree, The Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety. […], London: […] R. Norton for T. Garthwait, […], →OCLC:
(qualifier:social) To predict, to decide, to plan. ▸ To turn (the balance or scale); to overbalance; hence, to make preponderate; to decide.
a casting voice
24 July, 1659, Robert South, Interest Deposed, and Truth Restored
How much interest casts the balance in cases dubious!
To perform, bring forth (a magical spell or enchantment).
While I could tell my little witch was growing stronger with each piece of loot, I got tired of casting fireball after fireball and looting gear with three more health. 2025 February 14, Tyler Colp, “Reinstall: Path of Exile”, in PC Gamer (US), number 392, page 93:
Sorcery is not the exclusive prerogative of the fetish-man, but is practised haphazardly by anyone who wishes to cast a spell upon another. 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 178:
To throw (light etc.) on or upon something, or in a given direction.
The Poet and the Painter
Casting shadows on the water
As the sun plays on the infantry
Returning from the sea. 1972, “Thick As A Brick”, Ian Anderson (lyrics), performed by Jethro Tull:
The threat of Russian barbarism sweeping over the free world will cast its ominous shadow over us for many, many years. 1950 April 24, “A Global View”, in Time:
A sudden thought cast a gloom over his countenance. 1960, Lawrence Durrell, Clea:
(archaic) To give birth to (a child) prematurely; to miscarry.
being with childe, they may without feare of accusation, spoyle and cast [translating avorter] their children, with certaine medicaments, which they have only for that purpose. , Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.98
The abortion of a woman they describe by an horse kicking a wolf; because a mare will cast her foal if she tread in the track of that animal. 1650, Thomas Browne, chapter V, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC, 1st book, page 20:
To shape (molten metal etc.) by pouring into a mould; to make (an object) in such a way.
The practice of casting steel seems the most difficult of all the foundry arts, for despite every care, a percentage of the work is liable to be faulty and disappointing, but at Crewe, generally, a very good class of casting was turned out. 1944 November and December, A Former Pupil, “Some Memories of Crewe Works—II”, in Railway Magazine, page 343:
One copy of the magnificent caveman, The Thinker, of which Rodin cast several examples in bronze, is seated now in front of the Detroit Museum of Art, where it was placed last autumn. 1923 March 24, “Rodin's Death”, in Time:
(dated) To shape (molten metal etc.) by pouring into a mould; to make (an object) in such a way. ▸ To stereotype or electrotype.
To twist or warp (of fabric, timber etc.).
Stuff is said to cast or warp when[…]it alters its flatness or straightness. c. 1680, Joseph Moxon, The Art of Joinery:
To bring the bows of a sailing ship on to the required tack just as the anchor is weighed by use of the headsail; to bring (a ship) round.
To deposit (a ballot or voting paper); to formally register (one's vote).
Time to tell all the ballots cast by voters in the box.
To change a variable type from, for example, integer to real, or integer to text.
To display a number, you need to cast it to a string type.
Of dogs, hunters: to spread out and search for a scent.
He clambered on to an apron of rock that held its area out to the sun and began to cast across it. The direction of the wind changed and the scent touched him again. 1955, William Golding, The Inheritors, Faber and Faber, published 2005, page 50:
To set (a bone etc.) in a cast.
To open a circle in order to begin a spell or meeting of witches.
To broadcast (video) over the Internet or a local network, especially to one's television.
The streamer was the first to cast footage of the new game.
sv kasta (to throw forcefully) · fi saada keskenmeno (to give birth prematurely) · fo kasta (to throw forcefully) · nl smijten (to throw forcefully) · ar رَمَى (to throw forcefully) · es lanzar (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · pl poronić (to give birth prematurely) · cs lít (to make by pouring into a mould) · bg захвърлям (to throw down or aside) · fi taivuttaa (of fabric, timber etc.: to twist or warp) · mn цутгах (to make by pouring into a mould) · ka სხმა (to make by pouring into a mould) · th เหวี่ยง (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · ru заки́дывать (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · gl guindar (to throw forcefully) · fi taikoa (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · txb kärsk- (to throw forcefully) · fi jakaa roolit (to assign a role in a play or performance) · oc lançar (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · fi loitsia (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · fi laskea (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · th ถอด (to remove, take off clothes) · tr alçıya almak (to set in a cast) · mi whakaepa (to throw forcefully) · es fondear (to heave a lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water) · it sondare (to heave a lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water) · it fare (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · cs obsadit (to assign a role in a play or performance) · ru отли́ть (to make by pouring into a mould) · pl odlewać (to make by pouring into a mould) · nl casten (computing: to change the type of a variable) · yue 抌 (to throw forcefully) · fr plâtrer (to set in a cast) · pt escalar (to assign a role in a play or performance) · pl ciskać (to throw forcefully) · nl geven (to assign a role in a play or performance) · th เขวี้ยง (to throw forcefully) · ru подсчита́ть (to add up a column of figures) · th เหวี่ยง (to throw forcefully) · ru забро́сить (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · it calcolare (astrology: to calculate the astrological value of) · he ליהק (to assign a role in a play or performance) · it lanciare (to throw down or aside) · es castear (computing: to change the type of a variable) · de werfen (to throw forcefully) · gl lanzar (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · cmn 鑄 /铸 (to make by pouring into a mould) · pt tacar (to throw forcefully) · es conjurar (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · ga caith (to throw forcefully) · th หล่อ (to make by pouring into a mould) · fr jeter (to throw forcefully) · oc getar (to throw forcefully) · fi riisua (to remove, take off clothes) · ca fer (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · pl uronić (to throw off the skin, shell etc.; to shed the hair or fur) · ota صالمق (to throw forcefully) · nl omzetten (computing: to change the type of a variable) · fi antaa ääni (to deposit a ballot) · cmn 擲 /掷 (to throw forcefully) · bg отливам (to make by pouring into a mould) · oc arronçar (to throw forcefully) · pl linieć (to throw off the skin, shell etc.; to shed the hair or fur) · bg хвърлям (to throw forcefully) · cs obsazovat (to assign a role in a play or performance) · izh valella (to make by pouring into a mould) · it configurare (astrology: to calculate the astrological value of) · de gießen (to make by pouring into a mould) · es escriturar (to assign a role in a play or performance) · la iaciō (to throw forcefully) · ru подсчи́тывать (to add up a column of figures) · is fleygja (to throw forcefully) · th ผลัด (to throw off the skin, shell etc.; to shed the hair or fur) · fi katsella (to direct one's eyes) · ru бро́сить (to throw forcefully) · oc ronçar (to direct one's eyes) · fr voter (to deposit a ballot) · de hinwerfen (to throw down or aside) · ja 投げる (to throw forcefully) · it tirare (to throw down or aside) · ro distribui (to assign a role in a play or performance) · nl peilen (to heave a lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water) · it gettare (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · fi suunnata katseensa (to direct one's eyes) · is varpa (to throw forcefully) · fi muuntaa (computing: to change the type of a variable) · ru забра́сывать (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · fi heittää (to throw down or aside) · it affidare (to assign a role in a play or performance) · fi loihtia (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · ru бро́сить (to throw on or upon something, or in a given direction) · ru броса́ть (to throw on or upon something, or in a given direction) · ru сумми́ровать (to add up a column of figures) · bg мятам (to throw forcefully) · th ทอด (to throw on or upon something, or in a given direction) · fr diriger (to direct one's eyes) · pl obsadzić (to assign a role in a play or performance) · fr jeter (Wicca: to open a circle) · grc βάλλω (to throw forcefully) · ru броса́ть (to throw forcefully) · pl rzucić (to throw on or upon something, or in a given direction) · es hechizar (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · es enyesar (to set in a cast) · nn støype (to make by pouring into a mould) · it fondere (to make by pouring into a mould) · ja 鋳る (to make by pouring into a mould) · pl zarzucać (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · cmn 拋 /抛 (to throw forcefully) · pl rzucać (to throw on or upon something, or in a given direction) · fi heittää menemään (to throw down or aside) · hy գցել (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · fr fondre (to make by pouring into a mould) · it castare (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · fi langettaa (to throw on or upon something, or in a given direction) · es moldear (to make by pouring into a mould) · ru швырну́ть (to throw forcefully) · fi lastoittaa (to set in a cast) · pl zrzucić (to throw off the skin, shell etc.; to shed the hair or fur) · oc ronçar (to throw forcefully) · ru отлива́ть (to make by pouring into a mould) · th ขว้าง (to throw forcefully) · fi heittää (to throw on or upon something, or in a given direction) · it lanciare (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · nl afweren (to throw down or aside) · it gettare (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · cmn 强制类型转换 (computing: to change the type of a variable) · ca llençar (to throw down or aside) · nl afwerpen (to throw down or aside) · th ลอก (to throw off the skin, shell etc.; to shed the hair or fur) · oc dirigir (to direct one's eyes) · ka ჩამოსხმა (to make by pouring into a mould) · es sondear (to heave a lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water) · fi langettaa (kirous) (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · fi heittää (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · pt arremessar (to throw forcefully) · nl een rol f toewijzen (to assign a role in a play or performance) · ru вы́кинуть (to give birth prematurely) · oc lançar (to throw forcefully) · ru просумми́ровать (to add up a column of figures) · nl gooien (to throw forcefully) · fr lancer (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · pl rzucać (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · it ingessare (to set in a cast) · cmn 分配角色 (to assign a role in a play or performance) · it scandagliare (to heave a lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water) · fi uistella (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · pt lançar (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · fr couler (to make by pouring into a mould) · pl zrzucać (to throw off the skin, shell etc.; to shed the hair or fur) · ru ки́нуть (to throw forcefully) · pl obsadzać (to assign a role in a play or performance) · nb støype (to make by pouring into a mould) · hy ձուլել (to make by pouring into a mould) · nl neergooien (to throw down or aside) · pl zarzucić (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · th เปลื้อง (to remove, take off clothes) · it gettare (to direct one's eyes) · es sondar (to heave a lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water) · cmn 扔 (to throw forcefully) · mi hangarewa (to make by pouring into a mould) · sv besätta (to assign a role in a play or performance) · ja 投じる (to throw forcefully) · th ทอด (to direct one's eyes) · sa क्षिपति (to throw forcefully) · ckb داڕشتن (to make by pouring into a mould) · pl wylinieć (to throw off the skin, shell etc.; to shed the hair or fur) · ca votar (to deposit a ballot) · de wegwerfen (to throw down or aside) · pl ronić (to give birth prematurely) · sv gjuta (to make by pouring into a mould) · fi valaa (to make by pouring into a mould) · ru заки́нуть (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · it votare (to deposit a ballot) · pt moldar (to make by pouring into a mould) · ar صَبَّ (to throw forcefully) · sv rollbesätta (to assign a role in a play or performance) · fi katsoa (to direct one's eyes) · fr sonder (to heave a lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water) · sga fo·ceird (to throw forcefully) · fi luodata (to heave a lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water) · ru сбра́сывать (to throw off the skin, shell etc.; to shed the hair or fur) · hy նետել (to throw down or aside) · qu hich'ay (to make by pouring into a mould) · pl uformować (to make by pouring into a mould) · he לִהֵק (to assign a role in a play or performance) · nl gieten (to make by pouring into a mould) · fi heittää pois (to throw down or aside) · nb kaste (to throw forcefully) · fi laatia (astrology: to calculate the astrological value of) · th ฉาย (to throw on or upon something, or in a given direction) · fi paiskata (to throw forcefully) · fi hakea vainu (hunting: to spread out and search for a scent) · es lanzar (Wicca: to open a circle) · th หว่าน (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · nb støpe (to make by pouring into a mould) · chy -a'ha (to throw forcefully) · fi äänestää (to deposit a ballot) · nl uitbrengen (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · cmn 投 (to throw forcefully) · cmn 投 (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · pl miotać (to throw forcefully) · th ปลด (to remove, take off clothes) · es hondear (to heave a lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water) · cmn 鑄造 /铸造 (to make by pouring into a mould) · th เลือก (to assign a role in a play or performance) · it posare (to direct one's eyes) · hy նետել (to throw forcefully) · fi laskea yhteen (to add up a column of figures) · fi valita näyttelijät (to assign a role in a play or performance) · th ร่าย (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · pl ulewać (to make by pouring into a mould) · yue 掟 (to throw forcefully) · nl werpen (to throw down or aside) · nl uitgooien (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · oc getar (to direct one's eyes) · it addizionare (to add up a column of figures) · it gettare (to make by pouring into a mould) · fi antaa rooli (to assign a role in a play or performance) · sv loda (to heave a lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water) · bg сумирам (to add up a column of figures) · fi vääntää (of fabric, timber etc.: to twist or warp) · nl uitspreken (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · fr transtyper (computing: to change the type of a variable) · fi lukea (loitsu) (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · fi aikoa (to plan, intend to do something) · ru посчита́ть (to add up a column of figures) · oc lançar (to direct one's eyes) · da kaste (to throw forcefully) · pl formować (to make by pouring into a mould) · es escayolar (to set in a cast) · th ผลัดขน (to throw off the skin, shell etc.; to shed the hair or fur) · fr additionner (to add up a column of figures) · fr jeter (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · fr jeter (to direct one's eyes) · bg мятам (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · gl largar (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · th ลอกคราบ (to throw off the skin, shell etc.; to shed the hair or fur) · it esprimere (to deposit a ballot) · pl odlać (to make by pouring into a mould) · ca dirigir (to direct one's eyes) · pt lançar (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · th ทอด (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · pl ronić (to throw off the skin, shell etc.; to shed the hair or fur) · nn kasta (to throw forcefully) · fi pudottaa karvansa (to throw off the skin, shell etc.; to shed the hair or fur) · cs odlít (to make by pouring into a mould) · fr muer (to throw off the skin, shell etc.; to shed the hair or fur) · fr retyper (computing: to change the type of a variable) · oc getar (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · bg помятам (to give birth prematurely) · ru кида́ть (to throw forcefully) · it sommare (to add up a column of figures) · ru сбро́сить (to throw off the skin, shell etc.; to shed the hair or fur) · it gettare (to throw down or aside) · is kasta (to throw forcefully) · hy շպրտել (to throw forcefully) · ca fondre (to make by pouring into a mould) · fi roolittaa (to assign a role in a play or performance) · cmn 抛 (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · ru счита́ть (to add up a column of figures) · cmn 撒 (to throw a fishing line or net into the water) · it colare (to make by pouring into a mould) · ru швыря́ть (to throw forcefully) · fi luoda (to throw off the skin, shell etc.; to shed the hair or fur) · pl rzucić (to perform, bring forth a magical spell or enchantment) · it gettare (to throw forcefully) · pl cisnąć (to throw forcefully) · nl werpen (to throw forcefully) · fr sommer (to add up a column of figures) · fi heittää (to throw forcefully) · it gettare (to throw down or aside) · pl ulać (to make by pouring into a mould)