Middle English Dictionary Entry
destinen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | destinen v. Forms: inf. destan & destenie; ppl. destined, destaned, destained, disteined & destinied, destenied, destanied. |
| Etymology | OF destiner & ME destinẹ̄ , destenīe. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To foreordain (sth.), assign or fix by destiny.
Associated quotations
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)69/28 : Forto sytten on his riȝth syde..wolde he nouȝth graunten hem for no cosynage, bot to hem þat his fader hadde destined it.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4090 : Ȝif vs be destaynede to dy todaye.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2673 : It was desteynid by dome & for due holdyn.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)809 : Þus was him destand þat day, as driȝten had shapid, To hent him þe hiȝere hande of his athill fais.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1100 : I be-seche þe now..if þou me say wald..How me is destayned to dye.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)13 : What thyng that [is] destyned to a person, be hit late be hit sone, at the last ever hit cumyth.
- c1475(a1400) Brut-1333 (Dc 323)8/27 : Þat lande to ȝou is destynyed & ordeigned for ȝow & for ȝoure peple.
- c1475 O man thow (Hrl 2251)10 : How Angelis in theyre Ierarchies Disteyned be in ordris nyne.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)143/32 : Lo, as it was destenyed of god toforn knowe, so it is thorow necessite falle.
2.
(a) To foreordain (someone's) fate; destine (sb.); (b) þam destaned, they happened (to ride); (c) to consign (sb. to evil), curse.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 ?Nassyngton SV (Cmb Ll.1.8)289 : He ȝaf euery man fre wylle..he destyned no man to hys blys, But þe only þat wolde ben hys.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4306 : Þe Dryghtten be louede, that vs has destaynede and demyd to dye in oure awen.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)313 : I be-seke þe..if þou me say wald Quatkyn fygour..he beris, Þat demyd is or destaned, þis dede for to worche.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)518 : Þere sall borne be a barne..Þat driȝtyn efter þi day has destaned to regne.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)422/14 : Lodowicus..was deseyvid with suche ane errour, at he said hym burd nedis be savyd & he wer destayned þerto.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)35a : To destan: fatare.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)68.33 : The boke of life is the knawynge of god, in the whilke he has destaynd all goed men to be safe.
b
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4115 : Þat oþer dai be desert þam destaned to ride.
c
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)108/32 : It is gret perill for fader and moder to curse her children, ne forto destenie hem vnto any wicked thinge.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(a1449) Lydg.Compl.LM (Cmb Ff.1.6)8 : At myn herte abyde the dedely payne…And worse than deth, my leche dothe destynye Me to recure, for lacke of mercy.
Note: New gloss: to expect (sb. to do sth.), intend. (Perhaps add (d) to sense 2.)--per MLL
Note: Add to form section: Also..destinie.