Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēfēten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | dēfēten v. Also diffaiten. |
| Etymology | From dēfēt ppl. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To ruin (sth.); (b) defeted, p.ppl., overcome with sorrow or hunger; (c) to cut up (a game animal), butcher, dress.
Associated quotations
a
- (1435) RParl.4.490a : The saide Marchauntz, by ye menes and licences aforsaide, stonden in point to bee undoone, ye saide Staple to be dissevered and distroyed, and consequently ye saide pouere Toune of Caleys..to bee defaited and lost.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.226 : So cursed vice theire nature doth defete.
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.1.11 : Thow languyssest and art deffeted [L tabescis] for desir and talent of thi rather fortune.
- ?a1425 Siege Jerus.(1) (Lamb 491)1244 : With famyne defetid.
c
- c1425 Twiti Venery(1) (Vsp B.12)153 : And whan the hert is take, ye shal blowe iiij motys, and shal be defeted as of other bestes.
- c1425 Twiti Venery(1) (Vsp B.12)154 : And whan the boor is i-take, he be deffetyd al velue, and he shal have xxxij hasteletys.
2.
Law To nullify (an entail, a grant, statute, etc.), make null and void.
Associated quotations
- (1429) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.75 : He þermittith and shall discontinue or make discontinue and defeet or make defeet -- be warantie or warantise collaterale or jn any oþer wyse -- þe foresaid taile or tailez.
- (1434) Proc.Privy C.4.235 : Þei ne none of hem shul nevere assente þat eny manere assignement þat I shal have for eny paiement þat is due unto me shal be changed,letted, or diffaited at eny tyme.
- (1447) RParl.5.139b : Provided also, that the Statuit made at the last Parlement..be not in eny parcell thereof defeted nor undo by this Acte or Estaunce.
- (1450) RParl.5.206b : The seid Chaunceler and Justices have power and auctorite to defete, voide, and adnulle all such Yeftes, Grauntes, Feoffamentes..and Suerteez, ond uche of them, so founde made ayens concience.
- a1500(a1470) Brut-1461(1) (Add 10099)531/17 : Þe Quene..come southward with A gret multitude of peple..to defeet such conclusions as had bene taken before bi þe parlement.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Correction: in sense (b), change 'deffeted' in the first quot.--?a1425(c1380)--to 'desfeted'.
Note: Add "p.ppl. desfeted" to form section. (Since the etymon of this verb is dēfēt ppl., which itself is derived from OF desfait, deffet, ppl. of desfaire, the form in the quot. is probably not an error.)--per MLL