See Also: Frame(medicine)
frame(1)(dictionary)
frame(2)(dictionary)
Frame(law)
frame-up(dictionary)
freeze-frame(dictionary)
space frame(medicine)
trial frame(medicine)
stocking frame(encyclopedia)
zimmer frame(dictionary)

frame(2) (iou)



frame verb.
[Old English framian, from base of FROM. Cf. Old Norse frama to further, advance, & related Old Norse fremja to further, advance, perform, which prob. infl. the sense-development.]
verb intrans. Profit, be of service. OE-ME.
verb intrans. Make progress; prosper, succeed; fare. obsolete exc. dial. OE.
verb trans. Make ready for use; equip or adorn with. Only in ME.
verb trans. Prepare (timber) for use in building; hew out; perform the carpenter's work for (a building). ME-E18.
verb trans.
a. Contrive, devise, invent (a plot, rule, story, etc.); compose; express. LME.
frame up N. Amer. slang prearrange (an event) surreptitiously and with sinister intent; plan in secret; fake the result of.
M. McCarthy She..stood looking out into the garden, endeavouring to frame an apology. R. P. Graves The motion was framed in anti-conservative terms.
b. Conceive, imagine. arch. L16.
George Eliot He could frame to himself no probable image of love-scenes between them.
c. Cause, produce. Only in L16.
Shakespeare 2 Henry VI Fear frames disorder.
d. Form, articulate, utter (words, sounds). E17.
verb trans. Make, construct. LME.
B. Jowett The things in heaven are framed by the Creator in the most perfect manner.
a. verb trans. Give shape to, form (with material object); compose, give expression to (the face). L15-E18.
Shakespeare 3 Henry VI I can..frame my face to all occasions.
b. verb trans. Shape, direct (one's thoughts, actions, etc.) to a certain purpose; arch. dispose, lead, (a person). Foll. by for, to, to do. M16.
S. Pepys We were as merry as I could frame myself to be. J. Keble Thy silent grace, framing aright our lowly orisons.
c. verb trans. & intrans. Direct (one's steps); set out upon (a journey); shape one's course, go. obsolete exc. dial. L16.
E. Bront? Frame upstairs, and make little din.
d. verb intrans. & trans. Prepare, attempt, or pretend to do something; contrive to do something. Also, show promise in an activity. Now chiefly dial. E17.
Mrs H. Ward He frames well in speaking.
verb trans. Adapt, adjust, fit (chiefly an immaterial object) to or into (something). M16.
Wordsworth Unto this he frames his song.
b. verb intrans. Adapt oneself, conform. Of things: suit, fit. M16-M17.
verb trans. Set or enclose in a frame; serve as a frame for. E18.
J. Carlyle I have your..Villa framed and hung up. D. M. Thomas Her long straight black hair framed a somewhat heavy face.
verb trans. Concoct a false charge or accusation against; devise a scheme or plot with regard to; make the victim of a frame-up. slang (orig. US). E20.
C. E. Mulford Honest men framed, and guilty men let off for political reasons.
Comb.: frame-up (colloq., orig. US) something that has been prearranged or concocted, esp. with a sinister intent; a conspiracy or plot, e.g. to incriminate a person on false evidence.
framed adjective that has been framed; provided with a frame: LME.
framer noun a person who frames something LME.
framing verbal noun (a) the action of the verb; (b) a framework; a frame or set or system of frames: LME.