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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Chase

Chāse, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. CHASED; p. pr. & vb. n. CHASING.] [Fr. chasser, O. Fr. chacier, Pr. cassar, Sp. & Pg. cazar, It. cacciare, from Lat. captiāre, for captāre, to strive to seize, to make chase for, v. intens. of capere, to take. Cf. CATCH.]

Sense 1. To pursue for the purpose of taking, as an enemy, or game; to hunt.

We are those who chased you from the field. Shak.

Sense 2. To urge onward; to compel to depart; to drive; to persecute;—often with away or off. “Chased by their brother’s endless malice from prince to prince and from place to place.” Knolles.

Chāse, v. t.

verbtransitive

[A contraction of enchase, q. v.] To set in ornamental work, as that of a jeweler; to engrave, as plate, with decorative figures.

Chāse, n.

noun

n. [Fr. chasse, O. Fr. chace, Pr. cassa, Sp. & Pg. caza, It. caccia. See supra.]

  1. Vehement pursuit for the purpose of capturing or obtaining; hunting, as of an enemy, or game, or some object greatly desired. “You see this chase is hotly followed.” Shak. “Mad chase of fame.” Dryden. “Beasts of chase.” Dryden.
  2. That which is pursued or hunted; the vessel pursued by another. Totten.

Seek thee out some other chase. Shak.

  1. An open hunting-ground to which game resorts, and which is private property, thus differing from a forest, which is not private property, and from a park, which is inclosed.
  2. [Fr. châsse, from Lat. capsa, box, case, q. v.] (Print.) An iron frame used by printers to confine types, when set in columns or pages.
  3. A wide groove.
  4. (Tennis.) The spot where a ball falls, and beyond which the adversary must strike his ball in order to gain a point.

Chase of a gun, the forward part from the trunnions to the swell of the mouth. — Chase-ring, a band at the front end of the chase. [See Illust. of Cannon.]