Middle English Dictionary Entry

dēliveren v.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms dēliveren v. Also deliveri(e, delivren, delivri, deleveren, diliveren, dilifere.
Etymology OF delivrer

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) To save (sb.), rescue, give relief to; -- also refl.; ppl. deliverend, rescuer, benefactor; delivered, the saved, the redeemed; (b) ~ fro, ~ from, ~ of, ~ out of.
Show 36 Quotations
2.
(a) To release (sb.) from prison, captivity, bondage; release (sb.) to (sb.); -- also refl.; ~ out, let (sb.) out, free; ~ fro, ~ from, ~ of, ~ out of; (b) to be a ransom for (sb.); (c) to discharge (sb.) of a duty; refl. divest oneself (of an office); (d) to cut (sth.) loose, free, loosen.
Show 26 Quotations
3.
To make (a woman) give birth; ben delivered, bear a child; ben delivered of, give birth to (a child).
Show 14 Quotations
4a.
(a) To give (sth.) to (sb.), bestow upon; also fig. bestow (death, woe, an office); ~ among, distribute among; ~ to, give to; (b) to assign (sb. lodgings); give (sb. a servant); (c) to tell (sth. to sb.); answer (sb.); present (a panel of names); (d) ~ to, ~ into, to give the name of (the whole) to (the part), etc.
Show 24 Quotations
4b.
(a) To give up (sth.), yield (sth. to sb.), relinquish, restore; deliver (a letter); surrender (a castle, etc.); ~ ayen, give back; ~ up, turn (sth.) over to (sb.); (b) to hand over (sb.), deliver (sb.) into the power of (sb.); also, betray; ~ in hostage, deliver (sb.) as a hostage; ~ to, ~ up; (c) to bring (sth.), deliver (sth. to sb.), carry, take; of a ship: to discharge its cargo, be unloaded.
Show 34 Quotations
5.
(a) To give (sb. a fight, a course in jousting, etc.); ~..of, exchange (blows, etc.) with (sb.); in chess: deliver (a check); (b) to fight with (sb.), joust with; (c) refl. to acquit oneself (in battle or tournament).
Show 13 Quotations
6.
(a) To rid (a place of sth., sb.), rid (a person of sb., sth.); evacuate (the bowels); ben delivered of, be freed of (sth.), get rid of (sb., sth.); (b) to get rid of (sb., sth.), do away with, destroy, kill; ~ of, do away with (sb.); (c) to get away from (a place), leave; -- also refl.; (d) to dispatch (sth.), finish; ben delivered, be finished, reach a conclusion; (e) to make haste, hurry; refl. bestir oneself, hasten.
Show 27 Quotations
7.
Med. (a) To expel (sth. from the body); vomit or evacuate (sth.); (b) to evacuate one's bowels; refl. vomit or defecate; (c) fig. to deliver (oneself of a sermon).
Show 12 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • (1422) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.61 : He openly deleuyryd me sesyn be yat same dede.
  • c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)75 : Ȝif ony tenementz ben divisyd to ony child with inne age, and the executours be malice or by collusion willen not…deliveren sesyn of the tenement divised to the same child with inne age, [etc.].
  • (1469) Paston (EETS)1.411 : Sir John hath made…a warrant of attourney in þe same dede to make and deliuere an estate and season of and in the same manoirs.
    • Note: The phrase ~ seisine should be part of sense 4b.(a). See seisin(e n., sense 1.(b) for the phrase.--per REL
    Note: Gloss: ~ seisine, to establish someone in possession as of freehold.
  • (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)119 : For as myche as, soone after that y hadde write the book clepid the 'Represser,' which is not ȝitt in-to this present day utterly into uce delyvered, fillen to me manye occupaciouns by sixe ȝeere next thanne folowing, that leiser was not to me, neither ȝitt is, forto write in special aȝens the articlis whiche ben spoken in the eend of the 'Represser' and left there untretid.
    • Note: None of the existing glosses seems to fit this quote, and there is nothing very like it. It seems to mean 'fully put into service' (?fully circulated, ?fully handed over for use, or fully published?)--per MJW
    Note: Probably belongs to sense 4a.(a). For gloss, see the phrase in MED use n., sense 1.(b): delivered in-to use, of a book: put into circulation.--per MLL

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: The first quot. in sense 7.(a)--*Chauliac(1)--does not fit the definition. (The "corde" is some sort of thread, which is being cut.) The quot. seems to belong to sense 2.(d).--per MLL

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91) 67 : Seth garlek in his pilys and þer-in bath wel and long a woman, and sho shal a-non be alyuered [Htrn 497: delyueryd] of her aftir-burthun.
Note: New spelling. A text (and MS) fond of coining verbs in a-.

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