closet
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈklɒzɪt/
ipa: /ˈklɑzɪt/
rhymes: -ɒzɪt
Forms: form: closets
Etymology: From Middle English closet, from Old French closet, from clos (“private space”) + -et (diminutive suffix), from Latin clausum. Equivalent to close + -et, but generally applied in French solely to small open-air enclosures.
Senses: examples: text: A Closet full of shelves... it... should therefore be called a Cupboard rather than a Closet.
ref: 1799 May 17, Jane Austen, letter
glosses: A small room within a house used to store clothing, food, or other household supplies.
examples: text: A slepe hym toke / In hys closet.
ref: c. 1370, Robert Cicyle, l. 57 f:
glosses: Any private space, (particularly) bowers in the open air.
examples: text: VVhen come to the place vvhere vve all vvere to dine, / (A chair-lumber'd Cloſet, juſt tvvelve feet by nine) / My friend bid me vvelcome, but ſtruck me quite dumb / VVith tidings that Johnson and Burke coud not come: […]
ref: 1765, [Oliver] Goldsmith, The Haunch of Venison, a Poetical Epistle to Lord Clare, Dublin: […] W. Whitestone, […], published 1776, →OCLC, page 9:
glosses: Any private or inner room, (particularly)
examples: text: Closet for a lady to make her redy in, chamberette.
ref: 1530, John Palsgrave, Lesclarcissement, page 206:
glosses: Any private or inner room, (particularly):
A private room used by women to groom and dress themselves.
examples: text: When thou prayest, enter into thy closet.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 6:6:
glosses: Any private or inner room, (particularly):
A private room used for prayer or other devotions.
examples: text: [A]broad and at home, at their Tables or in their Closets […]
ref: 1594–1597, Richard Hooker, chapter 24, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, (please specify the page):
glosses: Any private or inner room, (particularly):
A place of (usually, fanciful) contemplation and theorizing.
glosses: Any private or inner room, (particularly):
The private residence or private council chamber of a monarch.
examples: text: Chaplayneȝ to þe chapeles chosen þe gate... / Þe lorde loutes þerto, & þe lady als, / In-to a comly closet coyntly ho entreȝ.
ref: c. 1390, Sir Gawain & the Green Knight, §I, 934 ff.
text: Closet, chapelle.
ref: 1530, John Palsgrave, Lesclarcissement, page 206:
glosses: A pew or side-chapel reserved for a monarch or other feudal lord.
examples: text: But heere's a Parchment... I found it in his Closset, 'tis his Will.
ref: 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], line 130:
glosses: A private cabinet, (particularly):
One used to store valuables.
examples: text: Mr. Tradescant and his wife told me they had been long considering upon whom to bestow their closet of curiosities when they died.
ref: 1659, Elias Ashmole, Diary, page 326:
text: The late House of Commons have... seiz'd Closets and Writings without Information.
ref: 1681, Marquis of Halifax, Seasonable Addresses to the Houses of Parliament in Concise Succession, page 10:
glosses: A private cabinet, (particularly):
One used to store curiosities.
examples: text: Went the sonne of god oute of the pryuy closet of the maydens wombe.
ref: 1530, chapter II, in Myroure of Oure Ladye, page 233:
text: The closet can be a scary place for a gay teenager.
text: He's so far in the closet, he can see Narnia.
glosses: A private cabinet, (particularly):
A secret or hiding place, (particularly) the hiding place in English idioms such as in the closet and skeleton in the closet.
glosses: A private cabinet, (particularly):
Clipping of closet case.
glosses: Any small room or side room.
One intended for storing clothes or bedclothes.
glosses: Any small room or side room.
Clipping of closet of ease, (later, UK) clipping of water closet: a room containing a toilet.
examples: text: A Closset is the halfe of the Barre, and tenne of them maie be borne in one fielde.
ref: 1572, J. Bossewell, Wks. Armorie, page 12:
topics: government
heraldry
hobbies
lifestyle
monarchy
nobility
politics
coordinate_terms: barrulet
glosses: An ordinary similar to a bar but half as broad.
glosses: A sewer.
glosses: A state or condition of secrecy, privacy, or obscurity.
examples: text: 6 o'clock TV news specials concerning a famous Hollywood movie star who has been diagnosed with [AIDS]. It had to happen sooner or later. (In fact it probably has happened sooner, but the tenor of the times and the closets of the people were no doubt more secure.)
ref: 1985 August 24, Michael Bronski, “Rock Hudson: The Great Gay Hope”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 7, page 15:
glosses: A state or condition of secrecy, privacy, or obscurity.
The state of having one's sexual orientation a secret.
examples: ref: 1669, Kenelm Digby, The closet of the eminently learned Sir Kenelm Digbie Kt. opened: Whereby is discovered several ways for making of metheglin, sider, cherry-wine &c. together with excellent directions for cookery: as also for preserving, conserving, candying, &c.:
ref: 1670, Hannah Woolley, The Queen-like Closet, Or, Rich Cabinet: Stored with all manner of RARE RECEIPTS For Preserving, Candying and Cookery Very Pleasant and Beneficial to all Ingenious Persons of the FEMALE SEX.:
glosses: A compendium of knowledge, possibly from closet as a room?
Synonyms: sense: place of fanciful theorization
word: armchair
sense: furniture or shelving used for storage
word: cabinet
sense: room with a toilet
word: bathroom
Hyponyms: sense: small closet with built-in lock
word: locker
sense: small room used for storage
word: walk-in closet
sense: small room used for storage
word: storage room
sense: storage area set into a wall, used for storing food or dishware
word: cupboard
sense: storage area set into a wall, used for storing food or dishware
word: pantry
sense: storage area set into a wall, used for storing food or dishware
word: larder
sense: storage area set into a wall, used for storing food or dishware
word: cabinet
sense: piece of furniture, used for storing clothes
word: wardrobe
sense: piece of furniture, used for storing clothes
word: armoire
sense: piece of furniture, used for storing clothes
english: Irish & Scots
translation: Irish & Scots
word: press
sense: piece of furniture, used for storing food or dishware
word: cupboard
sense: piece of furniture, used for storing food or dishware
word: sideboard
sense: piece of furniture, used for storing food or dishware
word: cabinet
sense: piece of furniture, used for storing food or dishware
english: Irish & Scots
translation: Irish & Scots
word: press
sense: piece of furniture, used for storing food or dishware
word: wardrobe
Derived terms: bed-closet
broom closet
cedar closet
chemical closet
clerk of the closet
Clerk of the Closet
closet audit
closet auger
closet candlestick
closet-candlestick
closet case
closet-chapel
closet-chaplain
closet-devotion
closet-door
closet drama
closet-draught
closetful
Closetgate
closet-help
closet index
closet-keeper
closetlike
closet-lucubration
closet-meditation
closet of decency
closet of ease
closet of the heart
closet-philosopher
closet picture
closet-picture
closet politician
closet-politician
closet-prayer
closet-preparation
closet queen
closet-reasoner
closet-religion
closetry
closet-speculation
closet-student
closet-study
closet-vow
closetwork
closet-work
closety
come out of the broom closet
come out of the closet
cybercloset
dry closet
earth closet
Fibber McGee's closet
food closet
glass closet
hide in the closet
hot closet
in the closet
linen closet
monster closet
powder closet
skeleton in one's closet
skeleton in the closet
spear closet
the closet is made of glass
water closet
water-closet
watercloset
WC