Middle English Dictionary Entry

folwen v.
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) To come after (something)in space; ~ face, to go forward without looking back; intr. to come after or behind, move later; (b) to come or occur after (something) in time, to succeed (something); intr. to happen later, to occur in succession; (c) to be next after (something); to follow (something in a book, in the zodiac, upon an astrolabe, in a list or enumeration, etc.); (d) to proceed, continue, persevere.
2.
(a) To advance along (a path, etc.); ~ for, ~ steppes, ~ sti; also fig.: ~ fet, ~ steppes, ~ trace(s), ~ treden, to follow in the footsteps (of someone), take as a guide, authority, or model; (b) to be guided by (an authority), to translate (a book); ~ the letter, ~ word bi word, to translate literally; (c) to imitate (someone), follow (an example); to resemble (an ancestor).
3.
(a) Of persons: to accompany (someone); esp., to attend (as disciple, servant, or helper); to follow (a leader in battle); (b) of things, actions, conditions, qualities: to be connected or associated with (something), to belong to, to attend.
4.
(a) To obey or be subservient to (someone); (b) to keep or observe (a rule, a law), to act in accordance with (advice, a command); (c) to accept or approve (an opinion, a desire); (d) to be in accordance with, correspond to, agree with.
5.
(a) To pursue, persecute, or attack (someone); to hunt (a game animal); (b) to follow through, keep on doing; (c) to prosecute (at law); (d) of a disease or vice: to afflict (someone), to seize upon; (e) to urge or prod.
6.
(a) To seek after (something), to seek out (someone); to search for; to strive for (a virtue); (b) to attempt or undertake (a task), compete (for a prize); (c) to frequent or engage in (tournaments); to consort with (a woman); (c) to reach or arrive at (something); to obtain (a blessing).
7.
(a) To result from (something), to be caused by, to follow as a consequence; (b) to follow (as a consequence in logic); to be the conclusion of a syllogism; hit folweth, therof folweth, etc.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.6vb (1.2) : Þou may se in þe nexte chapitre folweand.
  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.16vb (1.4) : As aneþes man or woman or oþer beste, se anone in þe nexte condicioun folowing.
  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.22va (1.4) : By þe grace of God I schal teche by þe 2 bokes folowende os bokes & auctoures of þis faculte speken and techen.
  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.42va (2.3) : Of þe 3 spices of ydropisy, se in þe next chapitle folwend.
Note: New spellings (pr. ppl.): folweand, folowing, folowende, folwend.