score

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Origin: AS. scor twenty, fr. sceran, scieran, to shear, cut, divide; or rather the kindred Icel. skor incision, twenty, akin to Dan. skure a notch, Sw. skåra. See Shear.

1. A notch or incision; especially, one that is made as a tally mark; hence, a mark, or line, made for the purpose of account.

Whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used.— William Shakespeare

2. An account or reckoning; account of dues; bill; hence, indebtedness.

He parted well, and paid his score.— William Shakespeare

3. Account; reason; motive; sake; behalf.

But left the trade, as many more Have lately done on the same score.—

You act your kindness in Cydaria's score.— John Dryden

4. The number twenty, as being marked off by a special score or tally; hence, in pl., a large number.

Amongst three or four score hogsheads.— William Shakespeare

At length the queen took upon herself to grant patents of monopoly by scores.— Thomas Babington Macaulay

5. A distance of twenty yards; — a term used in ancient archery and gunnery. James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps

6. A weight of twenty pounds. dialect (England)

7. The number of points gained by the contestants, or either of them, in any game, as in cards or cricket.

8. A line drawn; a groove or furrow.

9. Music The original and entire draught, or its transcript, of a composition, with the parts for all the different instruments or voices written on staves one above another, so that they can be read at a glance; — so called from the bar, which, in its early use, was drawn through all the parts. John Weeks Moore

10. the grade received on an examination, such as those given in school or as a qualifying examination for a job or admission to school; — it may be expressed as a percentage of answers which are correct, or as a number or letter; as, a score of 98 in a civil service exam.

In score Music, having all the parts arranged and placed in juxtaposition. Benjamin H. Smart — To quit scores, to settle or balance accounts; to render an equivalent; to make compensation.

Does not the earth quit scores with all the elements in the noble fruits that issue from it?— Robert South

1. To mark with lines, scratches, or notches; to cut notches or furrows in; to notch; to scratch; to furrow; as, to score timber for hewing; to score the back with a lash.

Let us score their backs.— William Shakespeare

A briar in that tangled wilderness Had scored her white right hand.— Matthew Arnold

2. Especially, to mark with significant lines or notches, for indicating or keeping account of something; as, to score a tally.

3. To mark or signify by lines or notches; to keep record or account of; to set down; to record; to charge.

Madam, I know when, Instead of five, you scored me ten.— Jonathan Swift

Nor need I tallies thy dear love to score.— William Shakespeare

4. To engrave, as upon a shield. rare Edmund Spenser

5. To make a score of, as points, runs, etc., in a game.

6. Music To write down in proper order and arrangement; as, to score an overture for an orchestra. See Score, noun, 9.

7. Geology To mark with parallel lines or scratches; as, the rocks of New England and the Western States were scored in the drift epoch.

1. To keep the score in a game; to act as scorer.

2. To make or count a point or points, as in a game; to tally.

3. To run up a score, or account of dues.

4. To succeed in finding a partner for sexual intercourse; to make a sexual conquest. slang

5. To purchase drugs illegally. slang

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: 1913 supplement, GCIDE editors