close adj. and adv. (uses not now general)
1.
enclosed, shut up, shut in, confined
Gent. III. i. 236
“ prison”
(hence “ prisoner”
Oth. V. ii. 334), MND. III. ii. 7, Wint. IV. iii. [iv.] 503,
R3 IV. ii. 52
“I will take order for
her keeping ,”
H8 V. iv. 31,
Rom. III. ii. 5
“thy curtain,”
Lucr. 367.
2.
free from
observation, concealed, secret
2H6 II. iv. 74
“ dealing,”
R3 I. i. 157
“secret intent,”
Tim. IV. iii. 143,
Ham. II. i. 118
“which, being kept ”
; often in phrase “stand
”
Ado III. iii. 113, 3H6 IV. v. 17, Mac. V. i. 23, also
absol.
Tw.N. II. v. 23
“close”
(=be still); used adverbially=secretly Shr.
Ind. I. 127 “in a napkin being
close convey'd,”
1H6 I. iv. 9. “close entrench'”
3.
practising secrecy,
uncommunicative, not open
Meas. IV. iii. 127
“In your close
patience,”
John IV. ii. 72
“that close aspect of
his,”
1H4 II. iii. 115
“No lady closer,”
Mac. III. v. 7
“close contriver of all
harms,”
Cym. III. v. 85
“Close villain.”