Middle English Dictionary Entry
dā̆lien v.
Entry Info
| Forms | dā̆lien v. Also daly, dallin & dailien, daily, daile. |
| Etymology | OF dalïer & dailer. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To converse politely, leisurely, or intimately; talk, chat, jest; ~ wordes, exchange pleasantries, chat; (b) to speak in a serious, edifying, or solemn manner, commune; ~ to, with.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1114 : Þay laȝed vchone, Þay dronken and daylyeden and dalten vntyȝtel, Þise lordez and ladyez, quyle þat hem lyked.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1253 : Bot hir ar ladyes in-noȝe, þat leuer wer nowþe Haf þe..in hor holde..To daly with derely your daynte wordez..& colen her carez.
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)5714 : Murye þey syngyn and daunces maken, Dysours dalye [Ld: talen], reisons craken.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)239/30 : Be þan þat þei had restyd hem a while & dalyid wyth þe good wife of þe hows.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)112 : Dalyyn or talkyn: Fabulor, confabulor, colloquor.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.470 : When he hadde leue of sir Gij..No lenger nold he dayle [rime: fayle]; To þe riuer ful swiþe he ran.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.116 : To while þat þise men bold with þer folk gan daile, Sir Robert de Brus þe old to Dauid gan trauaile.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)313 : Deme now þyself, if þou con dayly [rime: fayle] As man to God wordez schulde heue.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)39/17 : Sche teld hym how sum-tyme þe Fadyr of Hevyn dalyd to hir sowle as pleynly and as veryly as o frend spekyth to a-noþer be bodyly spech.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)50/5 : Þe Qwen of Mercy, Goddys Modyr, dalyed to þe sowle of þis creatur, seying, 'My derworthy dowtyr, I bryng þe sekyr tydyngys [etc.].'
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)102/37 : & so þei dalyed in owr Lord a good while & had ful goodly cher.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)227/32 : Þe doctour schewyd hir gret cher & dalyid wyth hir as he had don be-for-tyme.
2.
To engage in amorous exchanges, flirt; to embrace.
Associated quotations
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)112 : Dallyn or hallesyn [vr. halsyn]: Amplector.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.31 : Sho..neure..dalied to homely with men like Thamare.