sing small

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English

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Etymology

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From sing + small (in a small fashion; (obsolete) in a low tone, softly).

Pronunciation

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Verb

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sing small (third-person singular simple present sings small, present participle singing small, simple past sang small, past participle sung small) (intransitive)

  1. (idiomatic)
    1. To assume a humble tone.
      • 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:
        By all that's good, I muſt myſelf ſing ſmall in her company!—I vvill never meet at hard-edge vvith her— []
      • 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:
        Then shoots through my enjoyment / The one sharp drop of gall: / The host—the cur, the heathen— / On 'Baccy singeth small.
    2. To not say anything; to keep quiet.
      • a. 1850 (date written), James Clarence Mangan, “An Invitation”, in Poems [], New York, N.Y.: P. M. Haverty, [], published 1859, →OCLC, page 436:
        Deutschland sleeps: her star has waned. / France, the Thundress whilome, now / Singeth small, with bated breath.
    3. To play a minor part.
  2. (singing, obsolete) To sing softly.
    • 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:
      [A]re not moſt of our kings being vvhen they ſing ſmall and fine, after a puling maner, ſaluted Apolloes for their muſicke: []
    • 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:
      I marvell'd ſhe ſung ſo ſmall indeed, being no Maid.
    • 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:
      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.

Conjugation

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Translations

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See also

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Further reading

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