Middle English Dictionary Entry
daunten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | daunten v. Also danten. |
| Etymology | OF da(u)nter, vr. of donter (from L domitāre). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To subdue (an opponent); defeat (an adversary), conquer (a country); (b) to overpower or dominate (sb.); bring under control, control (oneself); also, persuade [quot.: 1420]; (c) to intimidate, daunt (sb.); ~ fro.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)3.268 : Dauid schal ben Dyademed and daunten hem alle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2072 : This he him granteth, That which of hem that other daunteþ In armes, him sche scholde take.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.6617 : Him ne mai no mannes myht With swerd..daunte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7220 : Thus hath Grece Troie danted.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1310 : Sone wil he [Darius] daunten þine meyn.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.222 : Priam, with sawtis..Hem hadde assayled..hem to daunte liche a conquerour.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.7.32 : Hercules..dawntide the proude Centauris.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mark 5.4 : Oft tymes he..hadde broken the chaynes..and no man miȝte daunte or make tame [L domare] hym.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.177 : Nature..hath hem in such wise daunted, That thei were..enchaunted.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5736 : Anthenor is goon Vn-to þe prest..Ȝif he myȝt in any wyse hym daunte..Ful craftely he leyde oute hoke & lyne.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1589 : Fortune..daunteth no wight but a wrecche.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1078 : Alle þas men þat þe world mast dauntes, Mast bisily þe world here hauntes.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)880 : The God of Love..can cherles daunten..And maken folkis pride fallen.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4764 : No man so hardy ne so wight..That he with love may daunted be.
- ?a1425(c1390) Chaucer Truth (Benson-Robinson)13 : Daunte thyself..And trouthe thee shall delivere.
- c1425(?a1400) Arthur (Lngl 55)113 : He daunted þe proude.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)114 : Cytherea! thow blysful lady swete, That with thy fyrbrond dauntest whom the lest.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.463 : Metellyus..though I hadde been his wyf, Ne sholde nat han daunted me fro drynke.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21343 : Leon dantand [Frf: dauntand] harsk and herd, Fuxul wit thoght til heuenward.
2.
(a) To tame or train (an animal); (b) to subdue, dominate, or control (an animal).
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.393 : Þis Makometh..þorw his sotil wittes Daunted a dowue, and day and nyȝte hir fedde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3063 : He schal hem [bulls] so daunte & make hem tame, Þat..He myȝt hem make louten and encline.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)200/6 : Al þat men techeþ a colt, whan men schal tame hym and daunty, he wole holde as longe as he lasteþ.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)225/33 : Amonge al bestis that bene nuryshid or dauntid by witte of man, the femalis bene..lyghtiste to teche.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.469 : A Serpent..to daunte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.2129 : He hath a See foul daunted With his magique.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1565 : With word the wilde beste is daunted.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.1378 : The hors he reuled..He dauntede hym..Bridled hym, & on his bak abood.
3.
(a) To soothe or fondle (a child, one's body); (b) to flatter (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.66.12 : To the tetes ȝee shul be born, and vp on the knes men shul daunte ȝou [WB(2): thei schulen speke plesauntly to ȝou; L blandientur vobis].
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4878 : Þe fadyr hadde þerof pyte; Þe chyld he daunted on hys kne.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Christina Mirab.(Dc 114)132/11 : Wiþ siche woordes & cosses dauntynge hir body.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)115 : Dawntyn, supra in Chersyn.
- a1500 How GWife(2) (StJ-C G.23)71 : Dant nocht women our-wantonly, Na feid þaim nocht our-delygatly.
4.
(a) To overcome or control (passion, sensuality); subdue or stifle (love); (b) to control or restrain (one's tongue, the heart); ~ unto concordaunce, harmonize; (c) to lay low (pride, arrogance, etc.), quell.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.270 : Reson of man ne wol nat daunte sensualitee.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)8419 : Þat þou mayst nat þy flesshe daunte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2225 : Drede & Schamefastnesse Han daunted Loue..And maked hym ful humble.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3300 : Tak with thy teeth the bridel faste, To daunte thyn herte.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4380 : A, Bialacoil, myn owne deer!..Kep atte leste thyn herte to me, And suffre not that it daunted be.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.5.1 : Whoso wol ben myghti, he moot daunten his cruel corages.
- c1475(?a1449) ?Lydg.7 Counsels (Trin-C R.3.21)32 : By sapience tempre þou þy corage, Of hasty ire daunt þe passion.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2390 : Ther mai nothing his tunge daunte, That he ne clappeth as a Belle.
- a1400 Cato(2) (Thott 306)[1.3] : The ferste vertu..is to daunte thy tonge.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1400 : All other fowles..Theyr voyce gan daunt vnto the concordaunce.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)p.135 : Hys hart dawnt so by temperance To voyde rancour.
c
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3799 : God daunted al his pride and al his boost.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2962 : Whan that he him most avaunteth, That lord, which veine gloire daunteth, Al sodeinliche..tok him fro the mennes sihte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1794 : For to daunte Þe pompe of Grekis.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.485 : Þat his falshede may finally be dauntid.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.399 : Elde daunteth daunger at the laste.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)3602 : Daunger is daunted and brought lowe Through help of me and of Pyte.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan. 2.40 : Yrun brekith to gydre alle thingus and dauntith [L. domat], or tamith.
Note: New gloss
Note: See MED tamen v.(1), sense 2.(b)"fig. to subdue (the flesh, the body, carnal delights, etc)…also, of iron: overcome (all things)." This quot. is used.