'To follow the hounds' definitions:

Definition of 'To follow the hounds'

From: GCIDE
  • Hound \Hound\, n. [OE. hound, hund, dog, AS. hund; akin to OS. & OFries. hund, D. hond, G. hund, OHG. hunt, Icel. hundr, Dan. & Sw. hund, Goth. hunds, and prob. to Lith. sz?, Ir. & Gael. cu, L. canis, Gr. ?, ?, Skr. [,c]van. [root]229. Cf. Canine, Cynic, Kennel.]
  • 1. (Zool.) A variety of the domestic dog, usually having large, drooping ears, esp. one which hunts game by scent, as the foxhound, bloodhound, deerhound, but also used for various breeds of fleet hunting dogs, as the greyhound, boarhound, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • Hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A despicable person. "Boy! false hound!" --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Zool.) A houndfish. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. pl. (Naut.) Projections at the masthead, serving as a support for the trestletrees and top to rest on. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. A side bar used to strengthen portions of the running gear of a vehicle. [1913 Webster]
  • To follow the hounds, to hunt with hounds. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'To follow the hounds'

From: GCIDE
  • Follow \Fol"low\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Followed; p. pr. & vb. n. Following.][OE. foluwen, folwen, folgen, AS. folgian, fylgean, fylgan; akin to D. volgen, OHG. folg[=e]n, G. folgen, Icel. fylgja, Sw. f["o]lja, Dan. f["o]lge, and perh. to E. folk.]
  • 1. To go or come after; to move behind in the same path or direction; hence, to go with (a leader, guide, etc.); to accompany; to attend. [1913 Webster]
  • It waves me forth again; I'll follow it. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To endeavor to overtake; to go in pursuit of; to chase; to pursue; to prosecute. [1913 Webster]
  • I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. --Ex. xiv. 17. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To accept as authority; to adopt the opinions of; to obey; to yield to; to take as a rule of action; as, to follow good advice. [1913 Webster]
  • Approve the best, and follow what I approve. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • Follow peace with all men. --Heb. xii. 14. [1913 Webster]
  • It is most agreeable to some men to follow their reason; and to others to follow their appetites. --J. Edwards. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To copy after; to take as an example. [1913 Webster]
  • We had rather follow the perfections of them whom we like not, than in defects resemble them whom we love. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To succeed in order of time, rank, or office. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. To result from, as an effect from a cause, or an inference from a premise. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. To watch, as a receding object; to keep the eyes fixed upon while in motion; to keep the mind upon while in progress, as a speech, musical performance, etc.; also, to keep up with; to understand the meaning, connection, or force of, as of a course of thought or argument. [1913 Webster]
  • He followed with his eyes the flitting shade. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. To walk in, as a road or course; to attend upon closely, as a profession or calling. [1913 Webster]
  • O, had I but followed the arts! --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • O Antony! I have followed thee to this. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Follow board (Founding), a board on which the pattern and the flask lie while the sand is rammed into the flask. --Knight.
  • To follow the hounds, to hunt with dogs.
  • To follow suit (Card Playing), to play a card of the same suit as the leading card; hence, colloquially, to follow an example set.
  • To follow up, to pursue indefatigably.
  • Syn: Syn.- To pursue; chase; go after; attend; accompany; succeed; imitate; copy; embrace; maintain.
  • Usage: - To Follow, Pursue. To follow (v.t.) denotes simply to go after; to pursue denotes to follow with earnestness, and with a view to attain some definite object; as, a hound pursues the deer. So a person follows a companion whom he wishes to overtake on a journey; the officers of justice pursue a felon who has escaped from prison. [1913 Webster]