Middle English Dictionary Entry
fēlen v.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | fēlen v.(2) Also feylle. P. feled, (?) ful; ppl. fēled, feelde. |
| Etymology | OE fēolan, fēlan, & OI fela; cp. Goth. filhan. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To hide (something), conceal; to cover (something), bury, submerge; (b) to keep (something) secret, withhold knowledge.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)3264 : Þe body full fayn wald þai stele, O-way fra vs it for to fele.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)12 : His godhed in fleis was felid, Als hok in bait.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)49/1 : Raab..þat ressayued þe messangers of Israel..and feled þam in hir hous amang towe of lyne.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3237 : Thurghe þat foreste I flede, thare floures whare heghe, For to fele me for ferde of tha foule thyngez.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)43/108 : It sall be cleyngked euer-ilka dele With nayles þat are both noble and newe; þus sall I feste it fast to feele.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)51/202 : Fyftene cobittis of highte itt hase, Ouere ilke a hille fully to feylle.
- a1450 Spaldyng Katereyn þe curteys (BodR 22)542 : For I schuld feel hir fode als, In graue I hir layede.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)3867 : Þat fosse..was filled full of stanes..And be þe erde is þare feelde, Many seke men hase bene heelde.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)136.228 (v.2:p.370) : The next morwyn Ipolitus ful [L rapuit; ?read: fet] the body and .. buryid yt, anoyntyd with swet-smellyng onymentys.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)125 : To Feele: Abscondere, & cetera; vbi to hyde.
b
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)3 : In al þinge es he nouht lele That godes gift fra man wil fele.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)79/42 : My counsellars so wyse of lare..No wyt from me ye fele.