Manure \Ma*nure"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Manured; p. pr. & vb.
n. Manuring.]
[Contr, from OF. manuvrer, manovrer, to work
with the hand, to cultivate by manual labor, F. man?uvker.
See Manual, Ure, Opera, and cf. Inure.]
1. To cultivate by manual labor; to till; hence, to develop
by culture. [Obs.]
To whom we gave the strand for to manure. --Surrey.
Manure thyself then; to thyself be improved; And
with vain, outward things be no more moved. --Donne.
2. To apply manure to; to enrich, as land, by the application
of a fertilizing substance.
The blood of English shall manure the ground.
--Shak.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
|