[case] n [ME cas, fr. OF, fr. L casus fall, chance, fr. cadere to fall--more at chance] (13c) 1 a: a set of circumstances or conditions "is the statement true in all three ~s" b (1): a situation requiring investigation or action (as by the police) (2): the object of investigation or consideration
2: condition; specif: condition of body or mind 3a: 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
5. a: a suit or action in law or equity b (1): the evidence supporting a conclusion or judgment (2): argument; esp: a convincing argument
6. a: an instance of disease or injury; 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 "get off my ~" syn see instance -- in any case : without regard to or in spite of other considerations: whatever else is done or is the case "war is inevitable in any case" "in any case the report will be made public next month" -- in case : as a precaution "took an umbrella, just in case" -- in case of : in the event of "in case of trouble, yell"
[2]case n [ME cas, fr. ONF casse, fr. L capsa chest, case, prob. fr. capere to take--more at heave] (14c) 1 a: a box or receptacle for holding something b: a box together with its contents c: set; specif: pair
2. a: an outer covering or housing "a pastry ~" 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 [3]case vt cased ; cas.ing (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 esp. with intent to rob