Cut , to run away, move off quickly; to cease doing anything; CUT AND RUN , to quit work, or occupation, and start off at once— Sea phrase, “ CUT the cable and RUN before the wind;” to CUT DIDOES , synonymous with to CUT CAPERS ; CUT A DASH , make a show; CUT A CAPER , to dance or show off in a strange manner; CUT A FIGURE , to make either a good or bad appearance; CUT IT , desist, be quiet, go away, leave what you are doing and run; CUT IT SHORT , cease being prolix, “make short work” of what you have in hand; CUT OUT , to excel, thus in affairs of gallantry one Adonis is said to CUT the other out in the affections of the wished-for lady— Sea phrase, from CUTTING out a ship from the enemy’s port.
— from The Slang Dictionary: Etymological, Historical and Andecdotal by John Camden Hotten

Miss Ophelia began with Topsy by taking her into her chamber, the first morning, and solemnly commencing a course of instruction in the art and mystery of bed-making.
— from Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

CUT, to run away, move off quickly; to cease doing anything; CUT AND RUN , to quit work, or occupation, and start off at once; to CUT DIDOES , synonymous with to CUT CAPERS ; CUT A DASH , make a show; CUT A CAPER , to dance or show off in a strange manner; CUT A FIGURE , to make either a good or bad appearance; CUT OUT , to excel, thus in affairs of gallantry one Adonis is said to “ cut the other out ” in the affections of the wished for lady; CUT THAT! be quiet, or stop; CUT OUT OF , done out of; CUT OF ONE’S GIB , the expression or cast of his countenance [ see GIB ]; TO CUT ONE’S COMB , to take down a conceited person, from the practice of cutting the combs of capons [ see COMB-CUT ]; CUT AND COME AGAIN , plenty, if one cut does not suffice, plenty remains to “come again;” CUT UP , mortified, to criticise severely, or expose; CUT UP SHINES , to play tricks; CUT ONE’S STICK , to be off quickly, i.e. , be in readiness for a journey, further elaborated into AMPUTATE YOUR MAHOGANY [ see STICK ]; CUT IT FAT , to exaggerate or show off in an extensive manner; to CUT UP FAT , to die, leaving a large property; CUT UNDER , to undersell; CUT YOUR LUCKY , to run off; CUT ONE’S CART , to expose their tricks; CUT AN ACQUAINTANCE , to cease friendly intercourse with them— Cambridge.
— from A Dictionary of Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words Used at the Present Day in the Streets of London; the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge; the Houses of Parliament; the Dens of St. Giles; and the Palaces of St. James. by John Camden Hotten

Following this method in the present instance, let us speak of the states which are respectively first, second, and third in excellence, and then we will leave the choice to Cleinias now, or to any one else who may hereafter have to make a similar choice among constitutions, and may desire to give to his state some feature which is congenial to him and which he approves in his own country.
— from Laws by Plato

An Italian, named Toscanelli, drew a map showing how this voyage could be made, and sent Columbus a copy.
— from A History of the Philippines by David P. Barrows

With Ned and Marjorie at their head, the young people showed unlimited patience and ingenuity in planning new amusements for their friend; and not a day passed that they did not descend upon him in a body, laden with offerings of fruit and flowers, trophies of their fishing expeditions, and bits of gay gossip from mine and smelter, choir and Chinatown.
— from In Blue Creek Cañon by Anna Chapin Ray

Ruth and Julia and Lois Forsaith, oh, yes, and Pamela, and two or three others,—as many as she can afford chairs for,—it will be the very thing.”
— from Brenda's Cousin at Radcliffe: A Story for Girls by Helen Leah Reed

He gnawed his moustache and smoked cigarette after cigarette.
— from Adventure by Jack London

First to emphasize this fact in the War of 1812 was the naval brig Argus , Captain William H. Allen, which made a summer crossing and cruised for a month on end in the Irish Sea and in the chops of the Channel with a gorgeous recompense for her shameless audacity.
— from The Fight for a Free Sea: A Chronicle of the War of 1812 The Chronicles of America Series, Volume 17 by Ralph Delahaye Paine

This is Whitaker's statement:—"In the year 1121 William le Meschines and Cecilia his wife founded a Priory for canons regular, at Embsay, which was dedicated to St. Mary and St. Cuthbert, and continued there about thirty-three years, when it is said by tradition to have been translated to Bolton, on the following account.
— from Lays and Legends of the English Lake Country With Copious Notes by John Pagen White

Blue wild geraniums also flourish in patches in the meadows, and sometimes cranesbill and campion.
— from The Naturalist on the Thames by C. J. (Charles John) Cornish

[9] He, despairing of finding any other way of appeasing the old man, after some consideration and consultation with his ministers, said to him: "You have told me that your intended son-in-law is a young man of rare abilities, and more fit to be the husband of a princess than of your daughter, and his appearance is very prepossessing; I offer him then my daughter in the place of yours.
— from Hindoo Tales Or, the Adventures of Ten Princes by active 7th century Dandin

“To put the fear of God in the nigger's hearts,” were the words of many a sanguinary captain and crew.
— from White Shadows in the South Seas by Frederick O'Brien

Until a light was discovered 90 that could project its rays a half mile or more, and so concentrated as clearly to reveal landmarks at that distance, the other extreme, no light at all, was not only desirable, but positively necessary if the boat was to be kept going.
— from Old Times on the Upper Mississippi The Recollections of a Steamboat Pilot from 1854 to 1863 by George Byron Merrick