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Webster 1913 Edition


Shelter

Shel′ter

,
Noun.
[Cf. OE.
scheltrun
,
shiltroun
,
schelltrome
,
scheldtrome
, a guard, squadron, AS.
scildtruma
a troop of men with shields;
scild
shield +
truma
a band of men. See
Shield
,
Noun.
]
1.
That which covers or defends from injury or annoyance; a protection; a screen.
The sick and weak the healing plant shall aid,
From storms a
shelter
, and from heat a shade.
Pope.
2.
One who protects; a guardian; a defender.
Thou [God] hast been a
shelter
for me.
Ps. lxi. 3.
3.
The state of being covered and protected; protection; security.
Who into
shelter
takes their tender bloom.
Young.
Shelter tent
,
a small tent made of pieces of cotton duck arranged to button together. In field service the soldiers carry the pieces.
Syn. – Asylum; refuge; retreat; covert; sanctuary; protection; defense; security.

Shel′ter

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Sheltered
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Sheltering
.]
1.
To be a shelter for; to provide with a shelter; to cover from injury or annoyance; to shield; to protect.
Those ruins
sheltered
once his sacred head.
Dryden.
You have no convents . . . in which such persons may be received and
sheltered
.
Southey.
2.
To screen or cover from notice; to disguise.
In vain I strove to cheek my growing flame,
Or
shelter
passion under friendship’s name.
Prior.
3.
To betake to cover, or to a safe place; – used reflexively.
They
sheltered
themselves under a rock.
Abp. Abbot.

Shel′ter

,
Verb.
I.
To take shelter.
There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat,
Shelters
in cool.
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition


Shelter

SHEL'TER

,
Noun.
[L. celo.]
1. That which covers or defends from injury or annoyance. A house is a shelter from rain and other inclemencies of the weather; the foliage of a tree is a shelter from the rays of the sun.
The healing plant shall aid,
From storms a shelter, and from heat a shade. Pope.
2. The state of being covered and protected; protection; security.
Who into shelter takes their tender bloom. Young.
3. He that defends or guards from danger.

SHEL'TER

,
Verb.
T.
1. To cover from violence, injury, annoyance or attack; as a valley sheltered from the north wind by a mountain.
Those ruins shelter'd once his sacred head. Dryden.
We besought the deep shelter to us. Milton.
2. To defend; to protect from danger; to secure or render safe; to harbor.
What endless shall you gain,
to save and shelter Troy's unhappy train? Dryden.
3. To betake to cover or a safe place.
They sheltered themselves under a rock. Abbot.
4. To cover from notice; to disguise for protection.
In vain I strove to check my growing flame,
Or shelter passion under friendship's name. Prior.

SHEL'TER

,
Verb.
I.
To take shelter.
There the Indian herdsman shunning heat,