give over

Definitions

1. 1

   To give up, hand over, surrender (something).

   • Diocletian, the emperor, was so much affected with it that he gave over his sceptre and turned gardener.
   • Until 1961 the line was electrified only as far as Rickmansworth, where steam locomotives were attached or detached in place of electric ones. In the same year the stations north of Amersham were given over to British Rail.
2. 2

   To entrust (something) to another.

   • She gave the deeds over to the solicitor.
3. 3

   To devote or resign to a particular purpose or activity

   To devote or resign to a particular purpose or activity; to yield completely.

   • The factory has been entirely given over to aircraft manufacture.
   • He gave himself over to a monastic life.
   • For, as indeed was very natural in such case, all government of the Poor by the Rich has long ago been given over to Supply-and-demand, Laissez-faire and such like, and universally declared to be ‘impossible’.
4. ›+ 2 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To quit, to abandon.

      • If the bodies continued missing until Sunday, all hope would be given over, and the funerals would be preached on that morning.
      • Lord, give over this wrastling. […] Tempt not the fates by another bout.
   2. 5

      To give up

      To give up; abandon; stop.

      • Give over with your nonsense, will you!
      • While he was declaring the truth, a constable came in with his great staff, and bid him give over, and come down: but William Penn held on, declaring truth in the power of God.
      • Amelia, I wish you would give over with your reading and your information, it's not for ladies to be literary; people don't like it, you silly thing!

The neighborhood