Middle English Dictionary Entry
mē̆ten v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | mē̆ten v.(1) Also met(e, mette. Forms: sg. 3 mēteth, etc. & (early) met; p. mēt(e, mē̆tte, māt(e, mā̆tte & mēted(e; ppl. mēted, mēten, mēt(e, mē̆tte(n, mōte(n. Contraction: mettam (mete theim). |
| Etymology | OE metan; sg. 3 met; p. mæt & mette;?Merc. *met; pl. mēton, WS mǣton; ppl. meten. For ppl. forms mōte(n, cp. dropen (Beowulf 2981). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To measure (sb. or sth., a distance, a quantity); ppl. fiftene times meting, being measured 15 times, i.e., if its length is multiplied by 15; (b) to take measurements, take a measurement, measure; (c) ppl. meten, measured, complete, exact.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Body & S.(1) (Bod 343)6 : Nu me sceæl þe meten and þa molde seoðða.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)213 : Gif hit chepinge be þe me shule meten oðer weien, þe sullere doð narewere þane he sholde.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)2/34 : Mon hine met mid one ȝerde ond þa mol[de] seoþþen.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)46/22 : Þu..merkedest þe heouene & mete wið þi strahte hond..þe eorðe.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)119/4 : Betere is þe þe truddeð..þen þe þe meteð [Tit: metið] hu heh is þe heouene.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)399 : Al of rede wete here assen he lette seme, For to meten here corn nam he none ȝeme.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)328 : Bihold of þe tur þe hiȝhede, And wiþ þi fot met þe brede.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2701 : He carf in two gummes of pris Two likenesses, so grauen & meten Ðis doð ðenken, & ðoð[er] forgeten.
- a1325 SLeg.Cross (Corp-C 145)172/154 : As euene as hy mete it er Þe carpenters it lete adoun.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)7295 : Þe folk of þe cuntre it mette Þer it lay wonderliche grete.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.79 : He ȝaf me a red þat semed as it were a ȝerd & seide to me..'mete þe temple.'
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.188 : Þe aungel mate þe wal an hundreþ & foure & fourty coutes.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.21.2 : Sholyn goon out..þy domys men & þe spacis of alle þe citees by enuyron sholyn be metyd fro þe place of þe careyn.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Hab.3.6 : He stode, and matte [WB(2): mat; L mensus est] the erthe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.27 : Euerich man þat..meteþ þat buriel, he schal fynde it euene riȝt of his owne mette.
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)83/30 : Þenne is hit [grain] winewed wiþ þe wynde, In Mesures meten and grounden to mele.
- a1400 Devotion Cross (Bod 177)228 : Thys crosse, xv tymes metyng, ys þe length of owre lorde cryst jhu.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.22 : Þe tone is fro þe toþer moten a grete myle.
- c1400 Interpol.Rolle Cant.(1) (Bod 288)25 : He stood and he mat [vr. mette] þe erþe..Crist stood and mat þe erþe, þat is, chosun men he took as his owne.
- ?c1400 Treat.Geom.(Sln 213)58 : Howe any thynge þat has heght may be met howe hegh it es.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.40.12 : Who mat [WB(1): mesurede] watris in a fist and peiside heuenes with a spanne.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1487 : Als the mare world es round sette, Swa es þe les world, man, round for to mette.
- (1433) RParl.4.451b : Clothe of colour shold conteigne in lenght xxviii yerdes, mette by the crest.
- c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)328 : Men mett [vr. he meted] hym..On þe playne grownd þer he laye: Feftene fotte and mare.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)4620-1 : Wt hurre fote he metede þe lengthe of þat space, & þe brede þerof he mette þo also.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)50/26 : He fell fro hevyn vnto hell þat is vnder þe erth, & þerfor he mett it.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)113.95 (v.2:p.193) : She toke a threde and .. mett the childis body [L (Materials for the History of Thomas Becket, 4:428; cp.2:xxix): arripuit fil[u]m et .. corpus defunctae mensuravit] .. and anoon the damysel rose vp heil and hool.
- c1470(?1458) Wey Jerus.(Bod 565)p.10 : The morteyse ys a fote of brede, Hoo wyll mete hyt wt a threde.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)7/28 : The lengthe of þis Ile..is viiic myle, who-so wille metene hit frome þe brynke of Totenese vn-to the angille of Calidonye.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)20/43 : Þe wch alle Willelmus conquestor made to be discryuyd & motyne by hides & cartewhelis.
- a1475 Leve lystynes (Brog 2.1)p.30 : I mett hym in þe morowe tyde, When he was in his moste pryde, The lenȝte of iij bene.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)700 : Torrent..met hyme xxiii fotte, Ther he lay on the bent.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)359 : I have moten [vr. mote] the membres of my squyers body.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Nich.(LdMisc 108)145 : Huy meten and founden al þe fulle.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.16.18 : The sones of Israel..gaderiden oon more, another lesse; and thei metiden [WB(1): mesurden] at the mesure gomor.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)335 : Meet wythe an el wande: Ulno.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.172 : Þer is as moche good witte in swyche gomes nollis As þou shuldist mete of a myst fro morwe tyll euen.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)80b : To Mete: Mensurare, Metari, metiri.
c
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)7293 : Þritti fote meten it was [Cai: Thritty fote longe of mesur he was], Þer it lay.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)7332 : He was heyer þen any man large bi a meten span.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)10038 : Fro þe hilte vnto þe pomel Was twenti vnche large, meten ful wel.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)919 : Four mettyn myle out of Rome..Þat erst was emperour of alle þus ended in sorow.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)115/484 : This botell..It holdys a mett potell.
2.
(a) To measure out (sth., a measure), dispense; (b) to measure out, give measure; (c) to mete out (reward, punishment), apportion, appoint; ~ ayenes, pay (sth.) back, repay (sth.); ~ med; (d) to repay (sb.), requite.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Knt.PW (Phys-E)p.140 : This kniht..gert met [vr. mete] him his corn sone.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)1.151 : For þe same mesour ȝe mete [vrr. meten, metes]..Ȝe shuln be weiȝe þerwiþ.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2918 : And Antropos mesured oute & met His lyues þrede.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ruth 3.15 : He mete [vr. maat] sixe buyschels of barly.
- a1450(1410) This holy tyme make (Dgb 102)54 : But þey þe full mesure mete, Hit semeþ in skornyng..Wiþ god of pes whan ȝe trete.
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.371 : Item, that the comyns haue the Cowle to mete ale wt.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)4657-8 : Suche mesure as ȝe meten to men Shal be moten to ȝow aȝen.
b
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)137 : Biðon ilke imet ðe ȝe meteð nuðe, eower weldede scal eft beon imeten eower mede.
- c1300 SLeg.Nich.(LdMisc 108)141 : Þe schipmen..wel largeliche him mete, And token þe bischope..Ane houndred quarteres ȝwete.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)330b/a : He þat meteþ schal take and rere þe same mesure.
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester11 : Ȝyf a foreyn come with sweche certeyne vitaylles, he schal havyn a mesure of the toun to metyn by.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)21b/a : Dimetior: mete diuerselych.
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)96b : Bi þe same mesure þat ȝe meten, luc. sixte cap.
c
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)159 : Bi þat ilke met þe ȝe meteð nu ȝiwer weldede, shal ben meten ȝiwer mede.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)549-50 : Alswich met as þu metest me, Alswich i wole mete to þe.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.7.2 : In what mesure ȝe meten, it shal be meten [vr. meten aȝen] to ȝou.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)68 : For þan sal mede witouten mere be mette [Göt, Trin-C: sett] for dede or bettur or were.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)272 : Of all, men agh þat drightin dride þat mirthes mettes [Frf: merkis; Göt: settis] man to mede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)752 : Thoru skil on þar auen dede Suld be mettam [Göt: markyd] al þair mede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26529 : For suilk es crist reght-wishede þat metes [Frf: merkis] ilk man his mede.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.65.7 : Y schal mete aȝen [WB(1): aȝeen mesuren; L remetiar] the firste werk of hem in her bosum.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Luke 6.38 : Bi the same mesure..it schal be metun [vr. moten] aȝen to ȝou.
d
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9949 : Ilkan es wit þair messur mette [Göt: mett, Trin-C: met].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25319 : Wit sli mett als yee bi and sell, Wit þat ilk sal yow be mett [Frf: mete].
3.
(a) To divide up (land), measure, survey; mark out (a city); ~ out, mark out (land); fig. survey (history); (b) to number or sort out (people) by setting them in lines; (c) ~ abouten, to measure or mark out the ground.
Associated quotations
a
- ?1316 SMChron.(Roy 12.C.12)143 : He Everwik made and met, More then Londone by seve stret.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)59.6 : Y shal meten [L metibor] þe ualaie of tabernacles.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.7 : Wherfore..we mowe nouȝt ful preyse hem, þat in stories meteþ and discryueþ all þe worlde wyde [L orbis quadrifidi dimensores]?
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)107.7 : I sal glade, and drihed twinne i sal, And dene of teldes mete with-al.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.540 : In þe place where þe olde toun Was first ybilt, he þe wallis sette; And he of lond many myle out mette.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.59.8 : Y schal meete [WB(1): mesuren] the greet valei of tabernaclis.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)336 : Meete londe, or set bowndys: Meto.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)3086 : Ten of the wysest furth can fayre and wett [read: mett] the land in lengh and bred.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Kings 8.2 : Dauyþ..smoot Moab, and he mat hem with a litil corde euenynge to þe erþe, forsoþe he metede two litle cordes, oon to slen & an ooþer to quykenen.
c
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)381/155 : Seint Thomas bi-heold þis noble place..Ane perche he nam and mat a-boute hou ech hous scholde beo.
4.
To judge (sth. intangible), estimate; appraise (sb. or sth.), value; ppl. even meten, equal.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Cor.10.12 : But we metinge, or mesuringe vs in vs silf..we schulden not glorie into ful moche.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)13b/a : [Angels] haueþ in hondes ryndes lynes & mesures for þey..metiþ [L mensurant] & weyeþ al men workes goode & euele.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)189/116 : Als messenger..Am I called..To witnesse þat goddis sone is þis, Euyn with hym mette and all myghty.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)9905 : And gold was no more to be mett þen oþer metall ys vs amang.
- c1450 Walton Boeth.(Cmb Gg.4.18)p.153 : Meteþ..þe [Lin-C: þat medeth noght be mesure of his mede Be veyn rumour of folkes audience].
5.
(a) To traverse (a certain distance); go, journey, pass; (b) impers. of time: to pass; reach (to a certain point); (c) to lie down flat; also, be laid down flat.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.And.(Hrl 2277)217 : He it met þo he vel fram heuene to helle Wiþ Lucifer.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)7695 : Himself fra erth, upward met þat way When he stey tylle heven on halghe Thursday.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)1708 : The stede..Leppe vp ouer an hill, Fyve stryde mett.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1209 : Or þai meten ware a myle þe meris with-outen, Þar metis þaim with a mekill flote þe maister of þe playnes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4803 : Þen metis he doun of þe mounte in-to a mirk vale.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5058 : Driues on..Till he was meten to þe meere.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)2839 : Many a myle they mett, tille they come in to Calabur.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)152/27 : He þat metyþe þis way, he can best telle þe myles and þe lengþe of hom.
b
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)374 : Qwen it was metyn to þe merke þat men ware to ryst..he..changid..his chere.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)564 : It was neuer bot as nyȝt fra þe none tyme Till it to mydday was meten on þe morne efter.
c
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)3 Kings 17.21 : He sprad abrood hym silf, and mat [vrr. was metid up, maat; WB(1): mesurede; L mensus est] on the child bi thre tymes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400 PPl.Z (Bod 851)1.101 : For the same mesures that methet amys Other alles ye schal be wo therewyth wen ye wenden hennus.
Note: New spelling
Note: ?error, ?contraction - A text has: 'mesour ȝe mete, amys oþer ellis.'
- a1500 MSerm.Mol.(Adv 19.3.1)82 : The lewde letherand lurdon went forthe and mette vij acurs of londe.
Note: Additional quote(s)
Note: ?sense.