Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēbāten v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | dēbāten v.(1) P.ppl. dēbāted, dēbāt. |
| Etymology | OF debatre |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To quarrel, dispute; fig. be in turmoil; ~ with, quarrel with (sb.), have internal debate with (oneself); debating wordes, quarrelsome words; (b) to engage in combat, fight, brawl, make war; ~ ayenes, fight against (sb.); ~ with, fight against (sb.), use (a weapon) in fighting.
Associated quotations
a
- (1389) Lond.Gild Ret.in Bk.Lond.E.(PRO C 47/var.)46/60 : Ne broþer ne su[ster]..ne schal noght debat with oþer.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.412 : For whan I dar noon oother weyes debate, Thanne wol I stynge hym with my tonge smerte In prechyng.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.928 : A mannes Senne is forto hate, Which makth the welkne to debate.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2731 : So schalt thou fiele no rancour, Wherof thin herte schal debate.
- a1400 CMSoul (Bod 923)275 : How ofte he spak debatynge wordes and despitous wiþ his neghbore.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2179 : Þenne he boȝez to þe berȝe, aboute hit he walkez, Debatande with hym-self quat hit be myȝt.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1064 : His sones..For the crowne gonne to debate [vr. bate], which of hem Iustly shal succede.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5416 : Þou has a blisfull burȝe biggid to þi name, Quare many bernes sall debate.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.198 : That tweyn of hys men schold debat so ner hym.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)33a : To Debatt, vbi to striffe.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Th.(Manly-Rickert)B.2058 : And ouer that his cote armour, As whit as is a lilie flour, In which he wol debate.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3598 : Ther is a time..Of werre, in which a Prince algate Schal for the comun riht debate.
- (c1400) Gower PP (Eg 2862)268 : The two defaltes bringen in the thridde, Of mescreantz that sen how we debate.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5011 : And alderlaste cam kyng Philomene..With þe Grekis knyȝtly to debate.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)577 : Edyppus put hym-silf in prees As he that was ay redy to debat.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)2 Kings 14.6 : Tweyne sones..debatiden [L rixati sunt] aȝens hem silf..and oon smoot the tother and killide hym.
- ?c1425(c1380) Chaucer Form.A.(Benson-Robinson)51 : Unforged was the hauberk and the plate; The lambish peple..Hadden no fantasye to debate.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)189 : What boy bedyth batayl, or debatyth with blad, hym were betyr to ben hangyn.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1217 : Þan was ser Meliager moued & maynly debatis, Flingis out on a fole with a fell spere.
- ?c1450 Brut-1447 (Trin-C O.9.1)456/5 : John O stillere..debadet with the ambassitours..and rered blode of oon of theym.
- a1500 RSicily (Cmb Ff.2.38)124 : And he began for to debate; He smote þe porter.
2.
To oppose (sth.), resist; ~ ayen(es, strive against (sth.), oppose; ~ on, ~ with, oppose (sb.).
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5161 : Take in mynde What schame it is to ben unkinde; Ayein the which reson debateth.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1640 : His Argument..mai the pleine trouthe enforme And the soubtil cautele abate, Which every trewman schal debate.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)5913 : For he wol þus debate on me, I shal him drenche in þe see.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1976 : Cruel Fate Is redy ay, with Fortune, to debate Ageyn þinges þat gynne in wilfulnes.
- a1425 Blood Hayles (Roy 17.C.17)175 : Frederyk..Wold not aftyre godys lawes wyrk, Bot wyt Romanes de-batyd vppe & downe.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.3.42 : They as in partye of hir preye todrowen me, cryinge and debatyng ther-ayens.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)274 : God..Js Misplesid..whanne ony Synnere doth..for ony thing with him debate.
- c1460 Chaucer TC (Hrl 1239)4.166 : With-outen the Assent of hyr do not soo, yif you debate it, lest she be thy foo.
3.
To discuss (sth.); debate the pros and cons of (a legal question, a petition), deliberate upon; ~ abouten, talk about (sth.).
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)68 : And syþen riche forth runnen to reche hondeselle, ȝeȝed ȝeres-ȝiftes on hiȝ, ȝelde hem bi hond, Debated busyly aboute þo giftes.
- (?c1471) Agree.Edw.IV in Camd.1059 : Wyche mater was debat, arguet, and disputet by the seyd lordes spiritual and temporal.
- (?c1471) Agree.Edw.IV in Camd.1060 : The wyche comyns, after the mater debatet, comynt, grawntyt, and assentyt to the forseyd premisses.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)143 : Hit shalbe gode þat all supplicacions wich shalbe made to þe kynge..be sende to þe same counsell, and þer debatid and delibered.