Adjacent Words

Case definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CASE, n.
1. A covering, box or sheath; that which incloses or contains; as a case for knives; a case for books; a watch case; a printers case; a pillow case.
2. The outer part of a building.
3. A certain quantity; as a case of crown glass.
4. A building unfurnished.
CASE, v.t.
1. To cover with a case; to surround with any material that shall inclose or defend.
2. To put in a case or box.
3. To strip off a case, covering, or the skin.
CASE, n. Literally, that which falls, comes, or happens; an event. Hence, the particular state, condition, or circumstances that befall a person, or in which he is placed; as, make the case your own; this is the case with my friend; this is his present case.
2. The state of the body, with respect to health or disease; as a case of fever; he is in a consumptive case; his case is desperate.
To be in good case, is to be fat, and this phrase is customarily abridged, to be in case; applied to beasts, but not to men, except in a sense rather ludicrous.
3. A question; a state of facts involving a question for discussion or decision; as, the lawyer stated the case.
4. A cause or suit in court; as, the case was tried at the last term. In this sense, case is nearly synonymous with cause, whose primary sense is nearly the same.
5. In grammar, the inflection of nouns, or a change of termination, to express a difference of relation in the word to others, or to the thing represented. The variation of nouns and adjectives is called declension; both case and declension signifying, falling or leaning from the first state of the word. Thus, liber is a book; libri, of a book; libro, to a book. In other words, case denotes a variation in the termination of a noun, to show how the noun acts upon the verb with which it is connected, or is acted upon by it, or by an agent. The cases, except the nominative, are called oblique cases.
In case, is a phrase denoting condition or supposition; literally, in the event or contingency; if it should so fall out or happen.
Put the case, suppose the event, or a certain state of things.
Action on the case, in law, is an action in which the whole cause of complaint is set out in the writ.
CASE, v.i. To put cases.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an occurrence of something; "it was a case of bad judgment"; "another instance occurred yesterday"; "but there is always the famous example of the Smiths" [syn: case, instance, example]
2: a special set of circumstances; "in that event, the first possibility is excluded"; "it may rain in which case the picnic will be canceled" [syn: event, case]
3: a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy; "the family brought suit against the landlord" [syn: lawsuit, suit, case, cause, causa]
4: the actual state of things; "that was not the case"
5: a portable container for carrying several objects; "the musicians left their instrument cases backstage"
6: a person requiring professional services; "a typical case was the suburban housewife described by a marriage counselor"
7: a person who is subjected to experimental or other observational procedures; someone who is an object of investigation; "the subjects for this investigation were selected randomly"; "the cases that we studied were drawn from two different communities" [syn: subject, case, guinea pig]
8: a problem requiring investigation; "Perry Mason solved the case of the missing heir"
9: a statement of facts and reasons used to support an argument; "he stated his case clearly"
10: the quantity contained in a case [syn: case, caseful]
11: nouns or pronouns or adjectives (often marked by inflection) related in some way to other words in a sentence [syn: case, grammatical case]
12: a specific state of mind that is temporary; "a case of the jitters"
13: a person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities); "a real character"; "a strange character"; "a friendly eccentric"; "the capable type"; "a mental case" [syn: character, eccentric, type, case]
14: a specific size and style of type within a type family [syn: font, fount, typeface, face, case]
15: an enveloping structure or covering enclosing an animal or plant organ or part [syn: sheath, case]
16: the housing or outer covering of something; "the clock has a walnut case" [syn: shell, case, casing]
17: the enclosing frame around a door or window opening; "the casings had rotted away and had to be replaced" [syn: casing, case]
18: (printing) the receptacle in which a compositor has his type, which is divided into compartments for the different letters, spaces, or numbers; "for English, a compositor will ordinarily have two such cases, the upper case containing the capitals and the lower case containing the small letters" [syn: case, compositor's case, typesetter's case]
19: bed linen consisting of a cover for a pillow; "the burglar carried his loot in a pillowcase" [syn: case, pillowcase, slip, pillow slip]
20: a glass container used to store and display items in a shop or museum or home [syn: case, display case, showcase, vitrine] v
1: look over, usually with the intention to rob; "They men cased the housed"
2: enclose in, or as if in, a case; "my feet were encased in mud" [syn: encase, incase, case]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English cas, from Anglo-French, from Latin casus fall, chance, from cadere to fall — more at chance Date: 13th century 1. a. a set of circumstances or conditions <is the statement true in all three cases> b. (1) a situation requiring investigation or action (as by the police) (2) the object of investigation or consideration 2. condition; specifically condition of body or mind 3. [Middle English cas, from Anglo-French, from Latin casus, translation of Greek pt?sis, literally, fall] a. an inflectional form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective indicating its grammatical relation to other words b. such a relation whether indicated by inflection or not 4. what actually exists or happens ; fact <thought he had failed, but that wasn't the case> 5. a. a suit or action in law or equity b. (1) the evidence supporting a conclusion or judgment (2) argument; especially a convincing argument <makes a good case for adopting the proposal> 6. a. an instance of disease or injury <a case of pneumonia>; also patient b. an instance that directs attention to a situation or exhibits it in action ; example c. a peculiar person ; character 7. oneself considered as an object of harassment or criticism <get off my case> Synonyms: see instance II. noun Etymology: Middle English cas, from Anglo-French case, chase, from Latin capsa chest, case, probably from capere to take — more at heave Date: 14th century 1. a. a box or receptacle for holding something b. a box together with its contents c. set; specifically pair 2. a. an outer covering or housing <a pastry case> b. a tube into which the components of a round of ammunition are loaded 3. a divided tray for holding printing type 4. the frame of a door or window ; casing III. transitive verb (cased; casing) Date: 1575 1. to enclose in or cover with or as if with a case ; encase 2. to line (as a well) with supporting material (as metal pipe) 3. to inspect or study especially with intent to rob

U.S. Military Dictionary

1. An intelligence operation in its entirety. 2. Record of the development of an intelligence operation, including personnel, modus operandi, and objectives.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. 1 an instance of something occurring. 2 a state of affairs, hypothetical or actual. 3 a an instance of a person receiving professional guidance, e.g. from a doctor or social worker. b this person or the circumstances involved. 4 a matter under official investigation, esp. by the police. 5 Law a a cause or suit for trial. b a statement of the facts in a cause sub judice, drawn up for a higher court's consideration (judge states a case). c a cause that has been decided and may be cited (leading case). 6 a the sum of the arguments on one side, esp. in a lawsuit (that is our case). b a set of arguments, esp. in relation to persuasiveness (have a good case; have a weak case). c a valid set of arguments (have no case). 7 Gram. a the relation of a word to other words in a sentence. b a form of a noun, adjective, or pronoun expressing this. 8 colloq. a comical person. 9 the position or circumstances in which one is. Phrases and idioms: as the case may be according to the situation. case history information about a person for use in professional treatment, e.g. by a doctor. case-law the law as established by the outcome of former cases (cf. common law, statute law). case-load the cases with which a doctor etc. is concerned at one time. case-study 1 an attempt to understand a person, institution, etc., from collected information. 2 a record of such an attempt. 3 the use of a particular instance as an exemplar of general principles. in any case whatever the truth is; whatever may happen. in case 1 in the event that; if. 2 lest; in provision against a stated or implied possibility (take an umbrella in case it rains; took it in case). in case of in the event of. in the case of as regards. in no case under no circumstances. in that case if that is true; should that happen. is (or is not) the case is (or is not) so. Etymology: ME f. OF cas f. L casus fall f. cadere cas- to fall 2. n. & v. --n. 1 a container or covering serving to enclose or contain. 2 a container with its contents. 3 the outer protective covering of a watch, book, seed-vessel, sausage, etc. 4 an item of luggage, esp. a suitcase. 5 Printing a partitioned receptacle for type. 6 a glass box for showing specimens, curiosities, etc. --v.tr. 1 enclose in a case. 2 (foll. by with) surround. 3 sl. reconnoitre (a house etc.) esp. with a view to robbery. Phrases and idioms: case-bound (of a book) in a hard cover. case-harden 1 harden the surface of, esp. give a steel surface to (iron) by carbonizing. 2 make callous. case-knife a knife carried in a sheath. case-shot 1 bullets in an iron case fired from a cannon. 2 shrapnel. lower case small letters. upper case capitals. Etymology: ME f. OF casse, chasse, f. L capsa f. capere hold

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Brain Brain, n. [OE. brain, brein, AS. bragen, br[ae]gen; akin to LG. br["a]gen, bregen, D. brein, and perh. to Gr. ?, the upper part of head, if ? =?. [root]95.] 1. (Anat.) The whitish mass of soft matter (the center of the nervous system, and the seat of consciousness and volition) which is inclosed in the cartilaginous or bony cranium of vertebrate animals. It is simply the anterior termination of the spinal cord, and is developed from three embryonic vesicles, whose cavities are connected with the central canal of the cord; the cavities of the vesicles become the central cavities, or ventricles, and the walls thicken unequally and become the three segments, the fore-, mid-, and hind-brain. Note: In the brain of man the cerebral lobes, or largest part of the forebrain, are enormously developed so as to overhang the cerebellum, the great lobe of the hindbrain, and completely cover the lobes of the midbrain. The surface of the cerebrum is divided into irregular ridges, or convolutions, separated by grooves (the so-called fissures and sulci), and the two hemispheres are connected at the bottom of the longitudinal fissure by a great transverse band of nervous matter, the corpus callosum, while the two halves of the cerebellum are connected on the under side of the brain by the bridge, or pons Varolii. 2. (Zo["o]l.) The anterior or cephalic ganglion in insects and other invertebrates. 3. The organ or seat of intellect; hence, the understanding. `` My brain is too dull.'' --Sir W. Scott. Note: In this sense, often used in the plural. 4. The affections; fancy; imagination. [R.] --Shak. To have on the brain, to have constantly in one's thoughts, as a sort of monomania. [Low] Brain box or case, the bony on cartilaginous case inclosing the brain. Brain coral, Brain stone coral (Zo["o]l), a massive reef-building coral having the surface covered by ridges separated by furrows so as to resemble somewhat the surface of the brain, esp. such corals of the genera M[ae]andrina and Diploria. Brain fag (Med.), brain weariness. See Cerebropathy. Brain fever (Med.), fever in which the brain is specially affected; any acute cerebral affection attended by fever. Brain sand, calcareous matter found in the pineal gland.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Case Case (k[=a]s), n. [OF. casse, F. caisse (cf. It. cassa), fr. L. capsa chest, box, case, fr. capere to take, hold. See Capacious, and cf. 4th Chase, Cash, Enchase, 3d Sash.] 1. A box, sheath, or covering; as, a case for holding goods; a case for spectacles; the case of a watch; the case (capsule) of a cartridge; a case (cover) for a book. 2. A box and its contents; the quantity contained in a box; as, a case of goods; a case of instruments. 3. (Print.) A shallow tray divided into compartments or ``boxes'' for holding type. Note: Cases for type are usually arranged in sets of two, called respectively the upper and the lower case. The upper case contains capitals, small capitals, accented and marked letters, fractions, and marks of reference: the lower case contains the small letters, figures, marks of punctuation, quadrats, and spaces. 4. An inclosing frame; a casing; as, a door case; a window case. 5. (Mining) A small fissure which admits water to the workings. --Knight.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Case Case, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cased; p. pr. & vb. n. Casing.] 1. To cover or protect with, or as with, a case; to inclose. The man who, cased in steel, had passed whole days and nights in the saddle. --Prescott. 2. To strip the skin from; as, to case a box. [Obs.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Case Case, n. [F. cas, fr. L. casus, fr. cadere to fall, to happen. Cf. Chance.] 1. Chance; accident; hap; opportunity. [Obs.] By aventure, or sort, or cas. --Chaucer. 2. That which befalls, comes, or happens; an event; an instance; a circumstance, or all the circumstances; condition; state of things; affair; as, a strange case; a case of injustice; the case of the Indian tribes. In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge. --Deut. xxiv. 13. If the case of the man be so with his wife. --Matt. xix. 10. And when a lady's in the case You know all other things give place. --Gay. You think this madness but a common case. --Pope. I am in case to justle a constable, --Shak. 3. (Med. & Surg.) A patient under treatment; an instance of sickness or injury; as, ten cases of fever; also, the history of a disease or injury. A proper remedy in hypochondriacal cases. --Arbuthnot. 4. (Law) The matters of fact or conditions involved in a suit, as distinguished from the questions of law; a suit or action at law; a cause. Let us consider the reason of the case, for nothing is law that is not reason. --Sir John Powell. Not one case in the reports of our courts. --Steele. 5. (Gram.) One of the forms, or the inflections or changes of form, of a noun, pronoun, or adjective, which indicate its relation to other words, and in the aggregate constitute its declension; the relation which a noun or pronoun sustains to some other word. Case is properly a falling off from the nominative or first state of word; the name for which, however, is now, by extension of its signification, applied also to the nominative. --J. W. Gibbs. Note: Cases other than the nominative are oblique cases. Case endings are terminations by which certain cases are distinguished. In old English, as in Latin, nouns had several cases distinguished by case endings, but in modern English only that of the possessive case is retained. Action on the case (Law), according to the old classification (now obsolete), was an action for redress of wrongs or injuries to person or property not specially provided against by law, in which the whole cause of complaint was set out in the writ; -- called also trespass on the case, or simply case. All a case, a matter of indifference. [Obs.] ``It is all a case to me.'' --L'Estrange. Case at bar. See under Bar, n. Case divinity, casuistry. Case lawyer, one versed in the reports of cases rather than in the science of the law. Case stated or agreed on (Law), a statement in writing of facts agreed on and submitted to the court for a decision of the legal points arising on them. A hard case, an abandoned or incorrigible person. [Colloq.] In any case, whatever may be the state of affairs; anyhow. In case, or In case that, if; supposing that; in the event or contingency; if it should happen that. ``In case we are surprised, keep by me.'' --W. Irving. In good case, in good condition, health, or state of body. To put a case, to suppose a hypothetical or illustrative case. Syn: Situation, condition, state; circumstances; plight; predicament; occurrence; contingency; accident; event; conjuncture; cause; action; suit.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Case Case, n. [F. cas, fr. L. casus, fr. cadere to fall, to happen. Cf. Chance.] 1. Chance; accident; hap; opportunity. [Obs.] By aventure, or sort, or cas. --Chaucer. 2. That which befalls, comes, or happens; an event; an instance; a circumstance, or all the circumstances; condition; state of things; affair; as, a strange case; a case of injustice; the case of the Indian tribes. In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge. --Deut. xxiv. 13. If the case of the man be so with his wife. --Matt. xix. 10. And when a lady's in the case You know all other things give place. --Gay. You think this madness but a common case. --Pope. I am in case to justle a constable, --Shak. 3. (Med. & Surg.) A patient under treatment; an instance of sickness or injury; as, ten cases of fever; also, the history of a disease or injury. A proper remedy in hypochondriacal cases. --Arbuthnot. 4. (Law) The matters of fact or conditions involved in a suit, as distinguished from the questions of law; a suit or action at law; a cause. Let us consider the reason of the case, for nothing is law that is not reason. --Sir John Powell. Not one case in the reports of our courts. --Steele. 5. (Gram.) One of the forms, or the inflections or changes of form, of a noun, pronoun, or adjective, which indicate its relation to other words, and in the aggregate constitute its declension; the relation which a noun or pronoun sustains to some other word. Case is properly a falling off from the nominative or first state of word; the name for which, however, is now, by extension of its signification, applied also to the nominative. --J. W. Gibbs. Note: Cases other than the nominative are oblique cases. Case endings are terminations by which certain cases are distinguished. In old English, as in Latin, nouns had several cases distinguished by case endings, but in modern English only that of the possessive case is retained. Action on the case (Law), according to the old classification (now obsolete), was an action for redress of wrongs or injuries to person or property not specially provided against by law, in which the whole cause of complaint was set out in the writ; -- called also trespass on the case, or simply case. All a case, a matter of indifference. [Obs.] ``It is all a case to me.'' --L'Estrange. Case at bar. See under Bar, n. Case divinity, casuistry. Case lawyer, one versed in the reports of cases rather than in the science of the law. Case stated or agreed on (Law), a statement in writing of facts agreed on and submitted to the court for a decision of the legal points arising on them. A hard case, an abandoned or incorrigible person. [Colloq.] In any case, whatever may be the state of affairs; anyhow. In case, or In case that, if; supposing that; in the event or contingency; if it should happen that. ``In case we are surprised, keep by me.'' --W. Irving. In good case, in good condition, health, or state of body. To put a case, to suppose a hypothetical or illustrative case. Syn: Situation, condition, state; circumstances; plight; predicament; occurrence; contingency; accident; event; conjuncture; cause; action; suit.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Case Case, n. [F. cas, fr. L. casus, fr. cadere to fall, to happen. Cf. Chance.] 1. Chance; accident; hap; opportunity. [Obs.] By aventure, or sort, or cas. --Chaucer. 2. That which befalls, comes, or happens; an event; an instance; a circumstance, or all the circumstances; condition; state of things; affair; as, a strange case; a case of injustice; the case of the Indian tribes. In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge. --Deut. xxiv. 13. If the case of the man be so with his wife. --Matt. xix. 10. And when a lady's in the case You know all other things give place. --Gay. You think this madness but a common case. --Pope. I am in case to justle a constable, --Shak. 3. (Med. & Surg.) A patient under treatment; an instance of sickness or injury; as, ten cases of fever; also, the history of a disease or injury. A proper remedy in hypochondriacal cases. --Arbuthnot. 4. (Law) The matters of fact or conditions involved in a suit, as distinguished from the questions of law; a suit or action at law; a cause. Let us consider the reason of the case, for nothing is law that is not reason. --Sir John Powell. Not one case in the reports of our courts. --Steele. 5. (Gram.) One of the forms, or the inflections or changes of form, of a noun, pronoun, or adjective, which indicate its relation to other words, and in the aggregate constitute its declension; the relation which a noun or pronoun sustains to some other word. Case is properly a falling off from the nominative or first state of word; the name for which, however, is now, by extension of its signification, applied also to the nominative. --J. W. Gibbs. Note: Cases other than the nominative are oblique cases. Case endings are terminations by which certain cases are distinguished. In old English, as in Latin, nouns had several cases distinguished by case endings, but in modern English only that of the possessive case is retained. Action on the case (Law), according to the old classification (now obsolete), was an action for redress of wrongs or injuries to person or property not specially provided against by law, in which the whole cause of complaint was set out in the writ; -- called also trespass on the case, or simply case. All a case, a matter of indifference. [Obs.] ``It is all a case to me.'' --L'Estrange. Case at bar. See under Bar, n. Case divinity, casuistry. Case lawyer, one versed in the reports of cases rather than in the science of the law. Case stated or agreed on (Law), a statement in writing of facts agreed on and submitted to the court for a decision of the legal points arising on them. A hard case, an abandoned or incorrigible person. [Colloq.] In any case, whatever may be the state of affairs; anyhow. In case, or In case that, if; supposing that; in the event or contingency; if it should happen that. ``In case we are surprised, keep by me.'' --W. Irving. In good case, in good condition, health, or state of body. To put a case, to suppose a hypothetical or illustrative case. Syn: Situation, condition, state; circumstances; plight; predicament; occurrence; contingency; accident; event; conjuncture; cause; action; suit.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Case Case, v. i. To propose hypothetical cases. [Obs.] ``Casing upon the matter.'' --L'Estrange.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

I. INSTANCES AND OTHER ABSTRACT MEANINGS (cases) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. A particular case is a particular situation or incident, especially one that you are using as an individual example or instance of something. Surgical training takes at least nine years, or 11 in the case of obstetrics... One of the effects of dyslexia, in my case at least, is that you pay tremendous attention to detail... The Honduran press published reports of eighteen cases of alleged baby snatching. N-COUNT: oft in N, N of n 2. A case is a person or their particular problem that a doctor, social worker, or other professional is dealing with. ...the case of a 57-year-old man who had suffered a stroke... Some cases of arthritis respond to a gluten-free diet... Child protection workers were meeting to discuss her case. N-COUNT 3. If you say that someone is a sad case or a hopeless case, you mean that they are in a sad situation or a hopeless situation. I knew I was going to make it–that I wasn't a hopeless case. N-COUNT: adj N see also basket case, nutcase 4. A case is a crime or mystery that the police are investigating. Mr. Hitchens said you have solved some very unusual cases. N-COUNT 5. The case for or against a plan or idea consists of the facts and reasons used to support it or oppose it. He sat there while I made the case for his dismissal... Both these facts strengthen the case against hanging... She argued her case. N-COUNT: usu sing, oft N for/against n 6. In law, a case is a trial or other legal inquiry. It can be difficult for public figures to win a libel case... The case was brought by his family, who say their reputation has been damaged by allegations about him. N-COUNT see also test case 7. You say in any case when you are adding something which is more important than what you have just said, but which supports or corrects it. The concert was booked out, and in any case, most of the people gathered in the square could not afford the price of a ticket. = anyway, besides PHRASE: PHR with cl [emphasis] 8. You say in any case after talking about things that you are not sure about, to emphasize that your next statement is the most important thing or the thing that you are sure about. Either he escaped, or he came to grief. In any case, he was never seen again. = at any rate PHRASE: PHR with cl [emphasis] 9. If you do something in case or just in case a particular thing happens, you do it because that thing might happen. In case anyone was following me, I made an elaborate detour... PHRASE 10. If you do something or have something in case of a particular thing, you do it or have it because that thing might happen or be true. Many shops along the route have been boarded up in case of trouble. PREP-PHRASE: PHR n 11. You use in case in expressions like 'in case you didn't know' or 'in case you've forgotten' when you are telling someone in a rather irritated way something that you think is either obvious or none of their business. She's nervous about something, in case you didn't notice... PHRASE: PHR with cl [feelings] 12. You say in that case or in which case to indicate that what you are going to say is true if the possible situation that has just been mentioned actually exists. Members are concerned that a merger might mean higher costs, in which case they would oppose it. PHRASE: PHR with cl 13. You can say that you are doing something just in case to refer vaguely to the possibility that a thing might happen or be true, without saying exactly what it is. I guess we've already talked about this but I'll ask you again just in case. PHRASE: PHR with cl 14. You say as the case may be or whatever the case may be to indicate that the statement you are making applies equally to the two or more alternatives that you have mentioned. They know how everything works–or doesn't work, as the case may be. PHRASE 15. If you say that a task or situation is a case of a particular thing, you mean that it consists of that thing or can be described as that thing. It's not a case of whether anyone would notice or not. PHRASE 16. If you say that something is a case in point, you mean that it is a good example of something you have just mentioned. In many cases religious persecution is the cause of people fleeing their country. A case in point is colonial India. PHRASE 17. If you say that something is the case, you mean that it is true or correct. You'll probably notice her having difficulty swallowing. If this is the case, give her plenty of liquids... Consumers had hoped the higher prices would mean more goods in stores. But that was not the case. PHRASE: V inflects 18. If you say that someone is on the case, you mean that they are aware of a particular problem and are trying to resolve it. The CompuServe management is on the case now, and it looks as if things will return to normal soon. PHRASE II. CONTAINERS (cases) 1. A case is a container that is specially designed to hold or protect something. ...a black case for his spectacles. N-COUNT: oft n N see also attaché case, bookcase, briefcase, packing case, pillowcase, showcase 2. A case is a suitcase. N-COUNT 3. A case of wine or other alcoholic drink is a box containing a number of bottles, usually twelve, which is sold as a single unit. N-COUNT: oft N of n III. GRAMMAR TERM (cases) 1. In the grammar of many languages, the case of a group such as a noun group or adjective group is the form it has which shows its relationship to other groups in the sentence. N-COUNT 2. see accusative see nominative see also lower case, upper case

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kas: Ordinarily to describe the circumstances or condition of things; sometimes, juridically (aitia, Mt 19:10; Ac 25:14), as that for which a reckoning has to be given, as frequently the Latin res. In Ex 5:19, "they were in evil case," is interpreted by the Revised Version (British and American) as "were set on mischief."

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Covering, sheathe, capsule. 2. Box. 3. State, condition, situation, plight, predicament. 4. Instance, particular occurrence, example, specific instance. 5. Circumstance, condition, contingency, event. 6. Suit, action, cause, process, trial. 7. Question, matter of inquiry, subject of discussion. 8. Declension-form, case-ending, inflection, form. II. v. a. 1. Cover (with a case), protect, wrap, encase, enclose, envelop. 2. Box, put in a box or case, pack, pack up.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

A house; perhaps from the Italian CASA. In the canting lingo it meant store or ware house, as well as a dwelling house. Tout that case; mark or observe that house. It is all bob, now let's dub the gig of the case; now the coast is clear, let us break open the door of the house.

Moby Thesaurus

Bible truth, Smyth sewing, abessive, ablative, absolute fact, accepted fact, accusative, action, actual fact, adessive, admitted fact, afghan, alien, allative, ammunition box, anyhow, anyway, apoplectic, approximative, argument, argumentum, ark, arthritic, article, ascender, aspect, at all events, attache case, axiom, back, backing, bag, bald fact, bandolier, bare fact, bark, barrel, basis, basket, bastard type, beard, bearings, bed linen, bedclothes, bedcover, bedding, bedsheet, bedspread, belly, bevel, bibliopegy, billfold, bin, binder board, binding, black letter, blanket, body, book cloth, book cover, book jacket, bookbinding, bookcase, boot, bottle, box, box up, bran, briefcase, brutal fact, buffalo robe, bug, bunker, burden, cadre, caisson, calf love, can, canister, canvass, cap, capital, capsula, capsule, cardcase, carton, case in point, casemaking, casement, casing, casing-in, cask, casket, cause, cause in court, cedar chest, chaff, chapter, character, chassis, check over, check up, chest, cigarette case, circumstance, cist, citation, clothes, coffer, coffin, cold fact, collating, collating mark, come what may, comfort, comforter, common case, compact, con, conceded fact, concern, condition, cone, cons, consideration, consumptive, container, containerize, contour sheet, corn shuck, cornhusk, count, counter, counterpane, cover, covering, coverlet, coverlid, crackpot, crank, crate, crib, cross reference, crush, dative, datum, delative, demonstrable fact, demonstration, descender, detail, dinkum oil, dispatch box, dispute, doorframe, duck, dust cover, dust jacket, dyspeptic, eccentric, eiderdown, elative, element, elenchus, em, emblem, embox, embrace, empirical fact, en, encapsulate, encase, encasement, encyst, enfold, enshroud, envelop, envelope, enwrap, epileptic, episode, essence, essive, established fact, estate, etui, event, eventuality, examine, example, exemplar, exemplification, explanation, exponent, fabric, face, facet, fact, fact of experience, factor, fanatic, fat-faced type, feet, file, file folder, filing box, fitted sheet, fix, focus of attention, focus of interest, folding, folio, font, footband, footing, for fear of, for fear that, frame, framework, framing, gathering, genitive, gist, given fact, gluing-off, gospel, gospel truth, groove, hamper, happening, hard binding, hard fact, head, headband, heading, hermit, hobo, holder, holster, hope chest, housewife, how it is, how things are, hull, husk, hussy, hutch, if, ignoratio elenchi, illative, illustration, in any case, in any event, in case, incident, incidental, incurable, indisputable fact, inescapable fact, inessive, infatuation, inpatient, inspect, instance, instrumental, invalid, invest, issue, italic, item, jacket, jam, jar, judicial process, kit, kook, lap, lap robe, lative, lattice, latticework, lawsuit, legal action, legal case, legal proceedings, legal process, legal remedy, lest, letter, letter file, library binding, ligature, like it is, linen, lining, lining-up, litigation, living issue, local case, location, locative, logotype, lone wolf, loner, lot, lower case, main point, majuscule, make a reconnaissance, mash, matter, matter in hand, matter of fact, maverick, meat, mechanical binding, meshuggenah, minor detail, minuscule, minutia, minutiae, modality, mode, monstrance, motif, motive, naked fact, natural, nick, niggerhead, nominative, nonconformist, not guesswork, not opinion, nut, object lesson, objective case, oblique case, occasion, occurrence, odd fellow, oddball, oddity, order, original, ostensorium, outpatient, outsider, pack, package, packet, packing case, palea, parcel, pariah, particular, pash, pass, passing fancy, patchwork quilt, patient, peel, peep, perfect binding, perlative, pi, pica, pickle, picture frame, pillbox, pillow slip, pillowcase, place, plaidoyer, plain, plastic binding, play the spy, plea, pleading, plight, pod, point, point at issue, point in question, portfolio, position, positive fact, possessive case, postulate, posture, pot, powder box, predicament, prepositional, print, problem, proceedings, pros, pros and cons, prosecution, protection, provable fact, puppy love, put under surveillance, queer duck, queer fish, queer specimen, question, quilt, quiver, quiz, quotation, rack, rank, rara avis, reason, receptacle, reconnoiter, reference, refutation, regard, relevant instance, reliquary, repair, representative, respect, revealed truth, rheumatic, rind, robe, roman, rounding, rubric, rug, sack, saddle stitching, salient fact, sample, sampling, sans serif, sarcophagus, sash, scabbard, scout, scout out, screwball, script, self-evident fact, sewing, shank, shape, sheath, sheathe, sheathing, sheet, sheeting, shell, shoulder, shroud, shuck, shut-in, sick person, side sewing, signature, significant fact, simple fact, situation, skeleton, skin, skippet, slip, slipcase, slipcover, slough, small cap, small capital, smashing, smother, snuffbox, sober fact, socket, soft binding, solitary, spastic, special pleading, specimen, spectacle case, spiral binding, spook, spot, spread, spy, spy out, stake out, stamp, stamping, standing, stapling, state, station, status, stem, stubborn fact, study, subject, subject case, subject matter, subject of thought, sublative, sufferer, suit, suit at law, suitcase, superessive, surround, swaddle, swathe, symbol, tailband, talking point, tank, tea chest, terminal case, terminative, text, the absolute truth, the case, the exact truth, the hard truth, the honest truth, the intrinsic truth, the naked truth, the nitty-gritty, the plain truth, the sick, the simple truth, the sober truth, the stern truth, the truth, the unalloyed truth, the unqualified truth, the unvarnished truth, theme, thing, till, tin, tinderbox, tipping, topic, tramp, translative, trimming, trunk, type, type body, type class, type lice, typecase, typeface, typefounders, typefoundry, typical example, undeniable fact, upper case, valetudinarian, vanity case, vasculum, vet, victim, view, vocative, wallet, watch, well-known fact, window case, window frame, wire stitching, wrap, wrap about, wrap up, wrapper, zealot, zombie