Middle English Dictionary Entry
empēchen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | empēchen v. Also en-, in-, enpeshen. |
| Etymology | AF empecher, CF emp(ë)echier. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. apechen.
1.
(a) To cause to get stuck fast; (b) to run (a ship) aground.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)57 : J wol not that thou be empeched neither in forwh ne in mire.
b
- c1425 Bible SNT(1) (Cmb Dd.12.39)Deeds 27.41 : Þei wente vnto þo banke..þei enpeched þo schippe.
2.
(a) To hinder or impede; (b) to obstruct or block (a passage); (c) to prevent (from doing something).
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1430(?1383) Wycl.Curse (Corp-C 296)317 : He schal dwelle þere alle his lif, and no man enpeche hym.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)174 : Summe hadden wynges and seemeden thei wolden haue flowe, ne hadde þe see empeched hem.
- a1500 Now god þat syttyst (Cmb Ff.1.6)240 : Slowthe and neclygence ful sore empeche Justise.
b
- (1442) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2214 : Howe the weyes of our message been empeched and forbarred.
c
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)8 : Her nature shal not be enpeshed to don here digestioun.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)77 : J require yow that ye wole not enoye me ne enpeche me of my viage.
3.
To hinder the action, freedom, or well-being of; to interfere with, molest, or harm.
Associated quotations
- (1430-31) RParl.4.375b : Ye saide Suppliantz, dredyng hem to be hurt and enpeched of thair enheretance.
- (1435) RParl.4.489b : So that he..be not empesched, arested, molest, or greved in his persone or in his godes.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)90 : That the goode speryte by some evil temptacion is empeched with some errowe or dowte in his thowght.
- (1446) Doc.in Leach Educ.Chart.418 : That thei nor noon of thaim trouble nor empeche the maistres of the said Scoles.
- (1466) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2 p.121 : In no wyse vexe, trouble, empeche, molest, nor enterupe the seid Piers Marchauntz Mariners.
4.
To criticize unfavorably, disparage.
Associated quotations
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)87 : Yf thou loued thi selfe better than thi neyghburght, whi empechest thou his dedes and leuys thyne owyn?
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)81/39 : Austyn seiþ: "God forbede..þar ȝwe do a thynge for goode þat ȝif þer happyn in it eny evel aȝeyn oure wille that it schuld be impechid vnto vs."
5a.
Law To accuse; bring charges against (someone);-- (a) with obj. of person; (b) with obj. and of phrase specifying the charge; (c) with obj. and to phrase designating the person to whom the charge is submitted.
Associated quotations
a
- (1384) Appeal Usk in Bk.Lond.E.26/110 : Many of the worthiest of the town sholde haue [be] ther-by enpesched, & be execucion ydo so vpon hem, that they sholde noght haue bore nomore estat in the town.
- ?c1430(?1383) Wycl.Curse (Corp-C 296)294 : Þat wickid men..þere schullen dwelle in seyntewarie, and no man empeche hem bi processe of lawe.
- a1500(a1450) *St.Robt.Knares.(Eg 3143)230 : Full playnly he enpeched Monkes vnmeke in thare presence.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)27/86 : Al shulde I therthrough enpeche myn owne fere, if he were gilty.
b
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)82 : Of felony thou felly us enpechest.
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.858 : Yat he was gylty and coulpabyll of all ye trespasse abouen sayd yat he was impeched of befor.
- (1442) Doc.Ireland in RS 69275 : My Lorde Grey..and my Lorde Talbot..haue afore this tyme enpeched the said Erlle severally of many grete tresons.
- (1444) RParl.5.127a : Yef..thei or eny of hem therof be enpeched or sued.
- (1449) Will York in Sur.Soc.30155 : Nor that thei be not impeched of waste.
c
- (1441) Proc.Privy C.5.166 : Thomas Bocher prisoner in þe Kynges Bench had empeached hem to þe Kyng and his counsail.
- (1444) RParl.5.127b : And for the forfeiture therof be enpeched to oure Sovereigne Lorde.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)13/24 : Thre knyghtes also weren enpeched to þe Emperour of traytere by fals suggestyon.
5b.
Of the King or the House of Commons: to bring formal accusation of treason or other high crime against (a person).
Associated quotations
- (1433) RParl.4.455b : They been often tymes unrightfully empeched in youre Eschequer.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)24 : The kyng..purposed to empech hem off hyh Treson.
- (1450) RParl.5.182a : Dyvers grete and horrible treasons, uppon which he is accused and empeched by the Commens of Englond, assembled in this present Parlement.
- (1450) RParl.5.179a : Of all the treasons and offenses..We, your seid Commens, accuse and empeche the seid William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk.
- ?a1500(a1471) Brut-1461(2) (Lyell 34)6 : Yf the parlement appelid or enpechid eny man of eny cryme.
6.
To attack physically.
Associated quotations
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)369 : Empeche his hed, his face, have at his gorge, Bere at the breste..With myghti knyghtly poort.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: The gloss for sense 4. suits the first quot., but not the second a1500(?c1425) quot.--. Add this gloss to the existing one: "~ unto, to impute (sth.) to (sb.)".
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL