sing small en · VERB
Pronunciation
- /-smɑl/ (General-American, cot-caught-merger)
- /sɪŋ ˈsmɔːl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /sɪŋ ˈsmɔl/ (General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
From sing + small (“in a small fashion; (obsolete) in a low tone, softly”).
Meanings
-
(idiomatic, intransitive) To assume a humble tone.
By all that's good, I muſt myſelf ſing ſmall in her company!—I vvill never meet at hard-edge vvith her— […]
1753 (indicated as 1754), [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XVII. Miss Byron. In Continuation.”, in The History of Sir Charles Grandison. […], volume I, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by C. Hitch and L. Hawes, […], →OCLC, page 111:Then shoots through my enjoyment / The one sharp drop of gall: / The host—the cur, the heathen— / On 'Baccy singeth small.
1877 October, “The Nicotian Lotos-eater. [From the German of Leistner.]”, in Cope’s Tobacco Plant. A Monthly Periodical, Interesting to the Manufactuerer, the Dealer, and the Smoker, volume II, number 91, Liverpool, Lancashire: John Fraser, →OCLC, page 86, column 2:
-
(idiomatic, intransitive) To not say anything; to keep quiet.
Deutschland sleeps: her star has waned. / France, the Thundress whilome, now / Singeth small, with bated breath.
a. 1850 (date written), James Clarence Mangan, “An Invitation”, in Poems […], New York, N.Y.: P. M. Haverty, […], published 1859, →OCLC, page 436:
- (idiomatic, intransitive) To play a minor part.
-
(intransitive, obsolete, qualifier:singing) To sing softly.
[A]re not moſt of our kings being vvhen they ſing ſmall and fine, after a puling maner, ſaluted Apolloes for their muſicke: […]
1603, Plutarch, “How a Man may Discerne a Flatterer from a Friend”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, →OCLC, pages 93–94:The Poet culls that dainty flowers; he saileth on the floods; / Leaps with the fountain's ecstacy,^([sic – meaning ecstasy]) and dwelleth in the woods; / Launcheth his barque of hopeful song, nor dreads the roaring fall; / Singing with lark and nightingale, though oft he singeth small.
1870, J. P. Robson, “The Poet’s Photograph”, in Evangeline: Or, The Spirit of Progress; […], Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland: […] J. M. Carr, […], →OCLC, page 236:I marvell'd ſhe ſung ſo ſmall indeed, being no Maid.
c. 1623–1624 (date written), Tho[mas] Middleton, “Women Beware Women. A Tragedy”, in Two New Playes. […], London: […] Humphrey Moseley, […], published 1657, →OCLC, Act IV, scene ii, page 180:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| singing small | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| sang small | Number=Plur, Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| sang small | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| sang small | Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| sang small | Mood=Sub, Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| sang small | Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| sang small | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| sings small | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| singest small | Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres | archaic | lexicographic |
| sung small | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| sangest small | Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past | archaic | lexicographic |
| sing small | Number=Plur, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| sing small | VerbForm=Inf | lexicographic | |
| sing small | Mood=Sub, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| sing small | Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| sing small | Mood=Imp, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| sing small | Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| singeth small | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | archaic | lexicographic |
| sungest small | Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past | archaic | lexicographic |
Relateds
Translations (3)
fi vaikuttaa vähän (to play a minor part) · fi olla nöyrä (to assume a humble tone) · fi olla nöyrästi (to assume a humble tone)