Definition of "make"

And all Israel's language about this power, except that it makes for righteousness, is approximate language

1873, Matthew Arnold, Literature and Dogma

Follow after the things which make for peace.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Romans 14:19

Considerations infinite / Do make against it.

c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene i]

We made an odd party before the arrival of the Ten, particularly when the Celebrity dropped in for lunch or dinner. He could not be induced to remain permanently at Mohair because Miss Trevor was at Asquith, but he appropriated a Hempstead cart from the Mohair stables and made the trip sometimes twice in a day.

1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd.

Style alone does not make a writer.

1995, Harriette Simpson Arnow: Critical Essays on Her Work, p.46

So if your prospective school is proudly displaying that "We Are Outstanding" banner on its perimeter fence, well, that is wonderful … but do bear in mind that in all likelihood it has been awarded for results in those two subjects, rather than for its delivery of a broad and balanced curriculum which brings out the best in every child. Which is, of course, what makes a great primary school.

2014 September 23, A teacher, “Choosing a primary school: a teacher's guide for parents”, in The Guardian

who makes or ruins with a smile or frown

1668, John Dryden, Annus Mirabilis: The Year of Wonders, M. DC. LXVI. […], London: […] Henry Herringman, […], (please specify the stanza number)

A great expression and amazing eye contact, in particular, can make a photograph, and without them, you can end up with very little.

2006, Michael Grecco, Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait, Amphoto Books, page 124

Since the launch early last year of […] two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations. University brands built in some cases over centuries have been forced to contemplate the possibility that information technology will rapidly make their existing business model obsolete.

2013 July 20, “The attack of the MOOCs”, in The Economist‎, volume 408, number 8845

He is not that goose and Ass that Valla would make him.

1709–1710, Thomas Baker, Reflections on Learning

So this was my future home, I thought! Certainly it made a brave picture. I had seen similar ones fired-in on many a Heidelberg stein. Backed by towering hills, […] a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.

1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter IV, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company

In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass. […] Strangers might enter the room, but they were made to feel that they were there on sufferance: they were received with distance and suspicion.

1892, Walter Besant, chapter III, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […]

I caught sight of him two or three times and then made him turning north into Laurel Canyon Drive.

1939, Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep, Penguin, published 2011, page 33

Linus Caldwell: Well, she just made Danny and Yen, which means in the next 48 hours the three o' your pictures are gonna be in every police station in Europe.

2004, George Nolfi et al., Ocean's Twelve, Warner Bros. Pictures, 0:50:30

David Sinclair: (walking) Almost at Seventh; I should have a visual any second now. (rounds a corner, almost collides into Kaleed Asan) Damn, that was close.Don Eppes: David, he make you?David Sinclair: No, I don't think so.

2007 May 4, Andrew Dettmann et al., "Under Pressure", episode 3-22 of Numb3rs, 00:01:16

They that sail in the middle can make no land of either side.

1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […]

As the guard's whistle shrilled the "right away," I made to join my companions in the train, but with a smile the driver, whose name was Abdul, bade me take the fireman's seat.

1942 July-August, Philip Spencer, “On the Footplate in Egypt”, in Railway Magazine, page 208

I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town. I was completely mystified at such an unusual proceeding.

1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd.

I made over twenty miles that day, for I was now hardened to fatigue and accustomed to long hikes, having spent considerable time hunting and exploring in the immediate vicinity of camp.

1918 September–November, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Land That Time Forgot”, in The Blue Book Magazine, Chicago, Ill.: Story-press Corp.; republished as chapter VIII, in Hugo Gernsback, editor, Amazing Stories, (please specify |part=I, II, or III), New York, N.Y.: Experimenter Publishing, 1927,

On November 15, 1396, […] Benedict XIII made him bishop of Noyon;

1991, Bernard Guenée, Between Church and State: The Lives of Four French Prelates

Jimmy Conway: They're gonna make him.Henry Hill: Paulie's gonna make you?

1990, Nicholas Pileggi, Martin Scorsese, Goodfellas

When my father comes back with a dark wet spot on his pants, right in front, as if he has made in his pants, he starts eating his food in great shovelfuls.

1992, Merrill Joan Gerber, The kingdom of Brooklyn, page 30

"He made in his pants, okay? I hope everybody's satisfied!" She flung her hat on the floor and kicked it. "He'll never come back to school now! Never! And it's all your fault!

2003, Mary Anne Kelly, The Cordelia Squad, page 121

Wales' defence had an unfamiliar look with Cardiff youngster Darcy Blake preferred to 44-cap Danny Gabbidon of Queen's Park Rangers, who did not even make the bench.

2011 September 2, “Wales 2-1 Montenegro”, in BBC

Bart spies an opportunity to make a quick buck so he channels his inner carny and posits his sinking house as a natural wonder of the world and its inhabitants as freaks, barking to dazzled spectators, “Behold the horrors of the Slanty Shanty! See the twisted creatures that dwell within! Meet Cue-Ball, the man with no hair!”

2012 May 20, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: The Simpsons (classic): “Marge Gets A Job” (season 4, episode 7; originally aired 11/05/1992)”, in The Onion AV Club

Whether, […], the construction of additional roads […] would present a case in which the exaction of prohibitory or otherwise onerous rates may be prevented, though it result in an impossibility for some or all of the roads to make expenses, we need not say; no such case is before us.

1889 May 1, Chief Justice George P. Raney, Pensacola & A. R. Co. v. State of Florida (judicial opinion), reproduced in The Southern Reporter, Volume 5, West Publishing Company, p.843

At first glance, you may be able to make rent and other overhead expenses because the business is doing well, but if sales drop can you still make rent?

2005, Yuvi Shmul, Ron Peltier, Make It Big with Yuvi: How to Buy Or Start a Small Business, the Best Investment, AuthorHouse, page 67

So you can’t make payroll. This happens. […] many business owners who have never confronted it before will be forced to deal with this most difficult matter of not making payroll.

2011, Donald Todrin, Successfully Navigating the Downturn, Entrepreneur Press, page 194

to solace him some time, as I do when I make

ca.1360-1387, William Langland, Piers Plowman

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

1791, The First Amendment to the United States Constitution

a scurvy, jack-a-nape priest to meddle or make

c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene iv]

Gomez, what makest thou here, with a whole brotherhood of city bailiffs?

1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], (please specify the page number)

Footman. Madam! Mr. Dorimant!Lov. What makes him here?

1676, George Etherege, A Man of Mode

What makes her in the wood so late, / A furlong from the castle gate?

1816, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Christabel

I was a young un at 'Oogli,Shy as a girl to begin;Aggie de Castrer she made me,— An' Aggie was clever as sin;Older than me, but my first un —More like a mother she wereShowed me the way to promotion an' pay,An' I learned about women from 'er!

1896, Rudyard Kipling, The Ladies

He could see that her face was thin, proud. She looked like she'd be a hard dame to make. He didn't want just that. She'd be a hard dame to win.

1934, James T. Farrell, chapter 16, in The Young Manhood of Studs Lonigan

The boys in the lower classes who had already dropped out of school derived much of their prestige among their peers from their skill in “making” girls.

1959, Vance Packard, The Status Seekers, Pocket Books, published 1971, page 138

The only thing she wants to make is you!

1979, Mark Tuttle, “The Loan Shark”, in Three's Company, season 4, episode 10 (television production)

Monday night, I'm makin' Jen / Tuesday night, I'm makin' Lyn / Wednesday night, I'm makin' Catherine / Oh, why can't I be makin' love come true?

1996, Rivers Cuomo (lyrics and music), “Tired of Sex”, in Pinkerton, performed by Weezer

The flood had made, the wind was nearly calm, and being bound down the river, the only thing for us was to come to and wait for the turn of the tide.

1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], part I, page 193

I can name the tribe every moccasin belongs to by the make of it.

1907, Mark Twain, A Horse's Tale‎

The cane was undoubtedly of foreign make, for it had a solid silver ferrule at one end, which was not English hall–marked.

1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 2, in The Ayrsham Mystery‎

The Royal Typewriter Company is distributing a very attractive eight page folder, announcing the Royal Number 10, the first machine of Royal make which uses levers instead of wires to operate the type-bars.

1914, Judicious Advertising, page 158

I never feel very much excited about any old thing; it's not my make; but I've got a sort of shiver inside of me, and a watery feeling in the heart region.

1914, Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton, Perch of the Devil‎, page 274

[…] papers are respectively of second or inferior quality, the last being perhaps torn or broken in the "make" — as the manufacture is technically termed.

1908, Charles Thomas Jacobi, Printing: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Typography as Applied More Particularly to the Printing of Books‎, page 331

In 1880 the make of pig iron in all countries was 18,300,000 tons.

1902 September 16, “German Iron and Steel Production”, in The New York Times‎, page 8

However, the unzip and make programs weren't found, so the default was left blank.

2003, D. Curtis Jamison, Perl Programming for Biologists‎, page 115

"They ever get a make on the blood type?" Horn asked, staring at the stained mattress.

2003, John Lutz, The Night Spider‎, page 53

"I'm sure we'll get a make on the suspect's prints by day break, so if you come down town, I'll see you get everything available. Go ahead and process the car, we won't have any need of it."

2003, Harlan Wygant, The Samurai Conspiracy: A Story of Revenge by the Author of "The Junkyard Dog.", page 36

He got out his binoculars, trying for a make on the plate, but the plate light was conveniently not working. The windows must have been tinted, because he could not see inside the van, either.

2007, P. T. Deutermann, Hunting Season: A Novel, St. Martin's Press

“Okay, if I could understand correctly what Oscar was saying through all the doubletalk, we've got a make on the bigwig occupant of the convoy ahead. Chaim Lieberman, Israeli Ambassador to the United States.” “Shit,” said Gardner.

2008, H.A. Covington, The Brigade, page 660

Sent back the list of makes with only Post and Hamilton on it. (Buckner had recommended 10 staff officers and 1 combat soldier!)

2004, Joseph Stilwell, Seven Stars: The Okinawa Battle Diaries of Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. and Joseph Stilwell‎, page 94

Blue Peter "make"

1978, Biddy Baxter, Hazel Gill, Margaret Parnell, Rachel Barnes, Kate Pountney, The 'Blue Peter' Make, Cook & Look Book‎, page i

It's your make as the cards lie. Take your time.

1925, Robert William Chambers, The Talkers‎, page 195

'Not your make,' said the adjutant sternly and started dealing the cards with his white be-ringed hands as though he was in haste to get rid of them.

1962 (edition), Leo Tolstoy, Hadji Murat: A Tale of the Caucasus

If the interrupter operated every 2 sec., the current would rise to 10 amp. and drop to zero with successive "makes" and "breaks."

1947, Charles Seymour Siskind, Electricity‎, page 94

To me, if I weren't going with someone and was taking pills, it would be like advertising that I'm an easy make.

2007, Prudence Mors Rains, Becoming an Unwed Mother‎, page 26

She's your make, not mine. […] It isn't anything short of difficult to entertain someone else's pregnant fiancee.

1962, Ralph Moreno, A Man's Estate‎, page 12

Th'Elfe therewith astownd, / Vpstarted lightly from his looser make, / And his vnready weapons gan in hand to take.

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie

Where their maids and their makes / At dancing and wakes, / Had their napkins and posies / And the wipers for their noses

1624, Ben Jonson, The Masque of Owls at Kenilworth

But then sometimes I thought, it's a black Crake / That never to her-sell can get a Make.

1684, Meriton, Praise Ale

Every cake hath its make; but a scrape cake hath two.

1678 (later reprinted: 1855), John Ray, A Hand-book of Proverbs

the last we shall have, I take it; for a make to a million, but we trine to the nubbing cheat to-morrow.

1826, Sir Walter Scott, Woodstock; Or, the Cavalier

Only as he climbed the steps did he mind that he hadn't even a meck upon him, and turned to jump off as the tram with a showd swung grinding down to the Harbour […]

1934, Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Grey Granite, Polygon 2006 (A Scots Quair), page 606

Harvest.—When left for seed, they are cut and wadded as pease, with a make.Produce.—From three to six sacks an acre.

1797, Arthur Young, General View of the Agriculture of the County of Suffolk: Drawn Up for the Consideration of the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement, page 73

Harvest. Taken up by a pease-make, and left in small heaps, and turned as often as the weather may make it necessary.

1811, William Gooch, General view of the agriculture of the county of Cambridge; drawn up for the consideration of the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement, page 142, section VI "Pease"