Middle English Dictionary Entry

ēten v.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms ēten v. Also (h)ete. Forms: sg.2 ētest, etst, est, 3 ēteth, et, it; ipv.sg. ē̆t, (Orm.) ett; p. ēt, ẹ̄t, āt; ppl. ēte(n, ethen, hetin, i-ēte(n, ȝēte(n.
Etymology OE etan; sg.2 itst, etst, etest, 3 it(t, et(t, iteþ, eteþ; p. ǣt, ēt; ppl. eten.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

Note: Cp. ieten v.
1.
To take as nourishment, to eat (food, liquids); eten in, to swallow; eten up, to consume; -- (a) with or (b) without obj., (c) with gen. or of phrase.
Show 61 Quotations
2.
(a) To be at table, to partake of a meal; to dine or feast; (b) eten and drinken, to dine or feast.
Show 20 Quotations
3a.
(a) To partake of or receive (the Host); (b) eten gostli, to partake of as spiritual food.
Show 10 Quotations
3b.
Fig. (a) To feed inwardly upon, derive spiritual strength or inspiration from (something); (b) to take unto oneself (the sins of others, one's own damnation).
Show 4 Quotations
4a.
Of beasts and birds of prey, or the Devil: to swallow, devour; also fig.
Show 11 Quotations
4b.
(a) To swallow (an object); (b) to ingest (medicine, etc.), take by mouth.
Show 5 Quotations
4c.
To despoil, ravage, or ruin (someone).
Show 3 Quotations
5.
Of cattle: to graze.
Show 2 Quotations
6.
(a) Of vermin, insects, etc.: to eat away, eat up; gnaw, bite; (b) eten of, gnaw or bite off.
Show 9 Quotations
7.
Of a disease or a medicine: to corrode, destroy (tissue).
Show 4 Quotations
8.
Of hate and fear: to gnaw at (one's heart).
Show 2 Quotations
9.
(a) eten almesse, ~ oðer mannes swink, to live on charity, on the labor of others; (b) eten at borde, ~ bred, to dine or eat; fig. to live; (c) eten..fille, to eat (one's) fill; (d) eten out of hous and harbar, ~ out at the dore, to eat (someone) out of house and home; (e) eten wel, to have a good appetite.
Show 15 Quotations
10.
Proverbs.
Show 6 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?a1150 Aelfric Gloss.(Trin-C B.15.34)439/439 : Etan ne sealdon [alt. from: ne gereordodon].
    • Note: New form: Also..(early) etan.
    Note: Antedates word.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(b). (See similar quot. (a1402) in sense 1.(a) with an implied direct object which appears to belong in sense 1.(b).)
  • c1200 Wor.Serm.in EGSt.7 (Wor Q.29)54 : Þe deofel seide..þet ilke dei þet Ȝe heteth of þe tre of liue..ȝe scullen beon also god.
    • Note: New form: Also..heten.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(c).
    Note: Gloss: to partake of (food), eat.
  • a1275 *Body & S.(4) (Trin-C B.14.39)36 : Wirmes..Min owene fles þa sulen oten [read: eten].
    • Note: New form: Also..(early)(error)oten.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 6.(a).
  • c1330 Orfeo (Auch)396 : Sum armed on hors sete, & sume astrangled as þai ete, & sum were in water adreynt.
    • Note: Additional quot.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(b).
  • (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)916/31 : Than she asked hym if he had ete ony mete late. 'Nay, madam, truly I yeete no mete nyghe thes three dayes.'
    • Note: New form: Also..yete.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(a).
  • a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)7/9 : We forbede that ye yeten no maner of flesche or fleschely metes in that worshipful nyȝt.
    • Note: New form: Also..yeten.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(a).
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

©2025 Regents of the University of Michigan. For details about this collection's copyright see the MEC copyright statement and the U-M Library Copyright Policy. Data last refreshed Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 12:18:00.