closet

Definitions

1. noun

   A small room within a house used to store clothing, food, or other household supplies.

   Examples

   • A Closet full of shelves... it... should therefore be called a Cupboard rather than a Closet.
   • She came in now, but to the closet; from it she took a simple skirt and blouse. Picking up her underclothing she departed, obviously to dress somewhere else.
2. noun

   Any private space, (particularly) bowers in the open air.

   Example

   • A slepe hym toke / In hys closet.
3. noun

   Any private or inner room, (particularly)

   Example

   • VVhen come to the place vvhere vve all vvere to dine, / (A chair-lumber'd Cloſet, juſt tvvelve feet by nine) / My friend bid me vvelcome, but ſtruck me quite dumb / VVith tidings that Johnson and Burke coud not come: […]
4. noun

   A private room used by women to groom and dress themselves.

   Example

   • Closet for a lady to make her redy in, chamberette.
5. noun

   A private room used for prayer or other devotions.

   Example

   • When thou prayest, enter into thy closet.
6. noun

   A place of (usually, fanciful) contemplation and theorizing.

   Example

   • [A]broad and at home, at their Tables or in their Closets […]
   ≈armchair
7. noun

   The private residence or private council chamber of a monarch.

8. noun

   A pew or side-chapel reserved for a monarch or other feudal lord.

   Examples

   • Chaplayneȝ to þe chapeles chosen þe gate... / Þe lorde loutes þerto, & þe lady als, / In-to a comly closet coyntly ho entreȝ.
   • Closet, chapelle.
9. noun

   One used to store valuables.

   Example

   • But heere's a Parchment... I found it in his Closset, 'tis his Will.
10. noun

    One used to store curiosities.

    Examples

    • Mr. Tradescant and his wife told me they had been long considering upon whom to bestow their closet of curiosities when they died.
    • The late House of Commons have... seiz'd Closets and Writings without Information.