shelve

shelve
shelve (v.) 1590s, "to overhang," back formation from shelves, plural of SHELF (Cf. shelf). Meaning "put on a shelf" first recorded 1650s; metaphoric sense of "lay aside, dismiss" is from 1812. Meaning "to slope gradually" (1610s) is from M.E. shelven "to slope," from shelfe "grassy slope," related to SHELF (Cf. shelf). Related: Shelved; shelving.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • shelve — [ʆelv] verb [transitive] to decide not to continue with a plan, idea etc, although you might continue with it at a later time: • Plans for the project have been shelved. • The company agreed to shelve its 300 billion warrant bond issue. * * *… …   Financial and business terms

  • Shelve — Shelve, v. t. 1. To furnish with shelves; as, to shelve a closet or a library. [1913 Webster] 2. To place on a shelf. Hence: To lay on the shelf; to put aside; to dismiss from service; to put off indefinitely; as, to shelve an officer; to shelve… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Shelve — Shelve, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Shelved}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Shelving}.] [Perhapss originally from the same source as shallow, but influenced by shelf a ledge, a platform.] To incline gradually; to be slopping; as, the bottom shelves from the shore.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shelve — [shelv] vi. [< SHELF] shelved, shelving to incline or slope gradually vt. [< pl. of SHELF] 1. to equip with shelves 2. to put on a shelf or shelves 3 …   English World dictionary

  • shelve — index continue (adjourn), defer (put off), delay, hold up (delay), postpone, pretermit …   Law dictionary

  • shelve — [ʃelv] v [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: shelves, plural of shelf] 1.) [T] to decide not to continue with a plan, idea etc, although you might continue with it at a later time ▪ Plans to reopen the school have been shelved . 2.) [I always +… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • shelve — [ ʃelv ] verb transitive to decide not to use something such as a plan or suggestion now, although you may use it later …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • shelve — [v] defer, postpone delay, dismiss, drop, freeze*, give up, hang up, hold, hold off, hold over, hold up, lay aside, mothball*, pigeonhole*, prolong, prorogue, put aside, put off, put on back burner*, put on hold, put on ice*, scrub*, sideline,… …   New thesaurus

  • shelve — ► VERB 1) place on a shelf. 2) abandon or defer (a plan or project). 3) fit with shelves. DERIVATIVES shelver noun. ORIGIN from shelves, plural of SHELF(Cf. ↑shelf) …   English terms dictionary

  • shelve — verb (shelved; shelving) Etymology: shelf Date: 1598 transitive verb 1. to furnish with shelves 2. to place on a shelf < shelve books > 3. a. to remove from active service b. to put off or …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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