[Ads-l] Antedating of "drop out" v.

[Stanton McCandlish]

The first of these (24 Feb 1819) seems like it could be something else, a
"drop away", "shake out", "be left out or removed" kind of sense, but
probably more of the original context is needed.


On Mon, Sep 30, 2024 at 1:31 PM Steven Losie <stevenlosie at gmail.com> wrote:

> To drop out (v.2, OED3, 1883)
>
> The OED provides the definition: "To withdraw or disappear from one's (or
> its) place in a series, group, etc.; to disappear from public notice; spec.
> to ‘opt out’ from society."
>
> [begin quote]
> Our country — If her _measures_ are _justified_ by strict policy, the
> _section_ that _drops out_ should be ejected from the _fount_.
> [end quote]
> "Washington's Birthday", Washington (DC) Gazette, 24 Feb 1819, p.3, col.3 (
> newspapers.com)
>
> https://www.newspapers.com/image/1043753967/?match=1&terms=%22school%22%20%22drops%20out%22&pqsid=LRJQgbga-YRmimrJQnnVsA%3A580645%3A1321574844
>
> [begin quote]
> While the latter would relax them so much that any State might drop out of
> the Union at its own will and pleasure.
> [end quote]
> The Globe (Washington, DC), 16 June 1832, p.3, col.2 (newspapers.com)
>
> https://www.newspapers.com/image/1040913752/?match=1&terms=%22school%22%20%22drops%20out%22
>
> [begin quote]
> The whole body of Whigs applauded this infamous declaration...and were
> content to drop out of sight as a party themselves, and following shouting
> in the train of ragamuffins they were at one time bent on sending to the
> galleys.
> [end quote]
> Berrow's Worcester Journal (Worcester, England), 13 April 1843, p.1, col.1
> https://www.newspapers.com/image/401227387/?match=1&terms=%22drops%20out%22
>
> [begin quote]
> The excessive number of Virginia troops who were permitted to drop out of
> the ranks and return to their homes, shows very well that there was no firm
> purpose to carry the war out of the limits of that State.
> [end quote]
> "A Bit of War History --- Lee's Surrender Premeditated", The Knoxville
> Whig, 3 Jan 1866, p.3, col.2 (newspapers.com)
>
> https://www.newspapers.com/image/76160431/?match=1&terms=%22school%22%20%22drops%20out%22
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org