a. [ OE. som, sum, AS. sum; akin to OS., OFries., & OHG. sum, OD. som, D. sommig, Icel. sumr, Dan. somme (pl.), Sw. somlige (pl.), Goth. sums, and E. same. √191. See Same, a., and cf. -some. ] 1. Consisting of a greater or less portion or sum; composed of a quantity or number which is not stated; -- used to express an indefinite quantity or number; as, some wine; some water; some persons. Used also pronominally; as, I have some. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some theoretical writers allege that there was a time when there was no such thing as society. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A certain; one; -- indicating a person, thing, event, etc., as not known individually, or designated more specifically; as, some man, that is, some one man. “Some brighter clime.” Mrs. Barbauld. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some man praiseth his neighbor by a wicked intent. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Most gentlemen of property, at some period or other of their lives, are ambitious of representing their county in Parliament. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Not much; a little; moderate; as, the censure was to some extent just. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. About; near; more or less; -- used commonly with numerals, but formerly also with a singular substantive of time or distance; as, a village of some eighty houses; some two or three persons; some hour hence. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The number slain on the rebel's part were some two thousand. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Considerable in number or quantity. “Bore us some leagues to sea.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

On its outer point, some miles away.
The lighthouse lifts its massive masonry. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Certain; those of one part or portion; -- in distinction from other or others; as, some men believe one thing, and others another. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some [ seeds ] fell among thorns; . . . but other fell into good ground. Matt. xiii. 7, 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A part; a portion; -- used pronominally, and followed sometimes by of; as, some of our provisions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your edicts some reclaim from sins,
But most your life and blest example wins. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

All and some, one and all. See under All, adv. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The illiterate in the United States and Scotland often use some as an adverb, instead of somewhat, or an equivalent expression; as, I am some tired; he is some better; it rains some, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some . . . some, one part . . . another part; these . . . those; -- used distributively. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some to the shores do fly,
Some to the woods, or whither fear advised. Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Formerly used also of single persons or things: this one . . . that one; one . . . another. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some in his bed, some in the deep sea. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A person unknown or uncertain; a person indeterminate; some person. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me. Luke viii. 46. [ 1913 Webster ]

We must draw in somebody that may stand
'Twixt us and danger. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A person of consideration or importance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody. Acts v. 36. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In some degree; somewhat. [ Written also sumdel, sumdeale, and sumdele. ] [ Obs. ] “She was somedeal deaf.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou lackest somedeal their delight. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In one way or another; in some way not yet known or designated; by some means; as, the thing must be done somehow; he lives somehow. [ 1913 Webster ]

By their action upon one another they may be swelled somehow, so as to shorten the length. Cheyne. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The indefiniteness of somehow is emphasized by the addition of or other. [ 1913 Webster ]

Although youngest of the familly, he has somehow or other got the entire management of all the others. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ F. soubresaut a jump, leap, OF. soubresault, It. soprassalto an overleap, fr. L. supra over + saltus a leap, fr. salire to leap; or the French may be from Sp. sobresalto a sudden asault, a surprise. See Supra, and Salient. ] A leap in which a person turns his heels over his head and lights upon his feet; a turning end over end. [ Written also summersault, sommerset, summerset, etc. ] “The vaulter's sombersalts.” Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now I'll only
Make him break his neck in doing a sommerset. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Anything unknown, undetermined, or not specifically designated; a certain indefinite thing; an indeterminate or unknown event; an unspecified task, work, or thing. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is something in the wind. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The whole world has something to do, something to talk of, something to wish for, and something to be employed about. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Something attemped, something done,
Has earned a night's repose. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A part; a portion, more or less; an indefinite quantity or degree; a little. [ 1913 Webster ]

Something yet of doubt remains. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Something of it arises from our infant state. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A person or thing importance. [ 1913 Webster ]

If a man thinketh himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. Gal. vi. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In some degree; somewhat; to some extent; at some distance. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

I something fear my father's wrath. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

We have something fairer play than a reasoner could have expected formerly. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

My sense of touch is something coarse. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

It must be done to-night,
And something from the palace. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. At a past time indefinitely referred to; once; formerly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Did they not sometime cry “All hail” to me? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. At a time undefined; once in a while; now and then; sometimes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sometime we see a cloud that's dragonish,
A vapor sometime like a bear or lion. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. At one time or other hereafter; as, I will do it sometime. “Sometime he reckon shall.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having been formerly; former; late; whilom. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our sometime sister, now our queen. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ion, our sometime darling, whom we prized. Talfourd. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ Sometime + adverbial ending -s, as in -wards. ] 1. Formerly; sometime. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

That fair and warlike form
In which the majesty of buried Denmark
Did sometimes march. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. At times; at intervals; not always; now and then; occasionally. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is good that we sometimes be contradicted. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sometimes . . . sometimes, at certain times . . . at certain other times; as, sometimes he is earnest, sometimes he is frivolous. [ 1913 Webster ]