Middle English Dictionary Entry
deuen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | deuen v. Also dæwwen (Orm.). |
| Etymology | OE *dēawian, corresp. to OHG touwōn, OI döggva. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. bideuen.
1.
(a) To shed dew or rain; also fig.; (b) of dawn or daylight: to come with refreshing dew, bring relief.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.45.8 : Deweth, ȝee heuenus [WB(2): sende ȝe out deew; L rorate], fro aboue!
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)126a/b : He hatte aurora, as it were wedir dewinge [L aura rorans], for in þe dawinge dewe is I-gadred, and by þe moisture þerof þerþe is I-wattrid.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)24/23 : Holy letteris..be swete as hony to þoo soules þat desir heuene, for þei wer dewid fro heuene be þe holy vesseles of þe prophetis.
b
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)174 : Þei dede hire in a dungon, þer neuer day dewe [so several other MSS].
2.
(a) To shed dew or rain upon (sth.); fig. to water (seeds that have been planted), cherish (virtues); (b) to shed liquid upon (sth.); besprinkle (sb.); (c) fig. to refresh or soothe (sb.); encourage the growth of (the church).
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)103.14 : Dewand [L rigans] þe mounteines.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)137b/a : Addre and serpentis..hurttiþ men þat passiþ but litil, while floures, gras & herbis beþ I-dewed.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)120 : Dewyn or yeve dewe: Roro.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)80/23 : I am a sower, and vertues of the sowle be þe sedes, and stodie is the watir with the whiche thei be dewid.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)110 : Norysshed wyth the sonne shene..With bavme dewed and soote shoures Both hil and wale.
b
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)6.6 : Ich shal dewey [L rigabo] my couertour wyþ min teres.
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.34v : Þanne dewe, i. sprengle, a lytel þe face with frigida. & tak a smale clene lynen clout & dip it wel in eurose, or ellys in water of nenufar femel, i. lilij albi aquatici, of whit water lilye, & wap þe face þerwith & so slep al nyȝt.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3936 : Ȝe..with wepyng han dewed so ȝour wede.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1867 : With bitter teeres dewed al her face.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)59a/a : Be he dewed or sprinkeled, And be it caste fast or strongly in his face, water of roses or colde water.
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)13848 : To wattrenn & to dæwwenn swa Þurrh..sallte tæress Þatt herrte.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.196 : I was born in Lidgate, Wher Bachus licour doth ful scarsli fleete, My drie soule for to dewe & weete.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)144.474 (v.2:p.435) : Austyn .. with the welle of his doctrine dewyd and wattryd alle holy cherche.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)p.101 : Lett my brest, benyng lord, be dewod Downe with som drope from thi majeste.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450 *Bk.Marchalsi (Hrl 6398)2a : Geve þe feble otys in þe repe. And þat the otys by dewyd [vr. dewte] wyth watre for to be soften.
Note: New sense: to sprinkle (sth.) with water, moisten. Belongs to sense 2.(b).
Note: New spelling: P.ppl. deued & deute. (Note that the list of variant spellings in the form section may not be complete. These few examples were discovered in passing and may not be exhaustive: see sense 2.(b), 1st quot., with the form "dewei" and sense 2.(c), 2nd quot., with the form "dewe". Both forms are infinitives and belong under "Also". See sense 2.(c), last quot., with the form "dewod," which belongs with the past participles.)--all notes per MLL
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740:Eckhardt)20591 : If þar face be noght turnede þarto, Þe stagne mai þam nane harmes do. Of it thar þam haf na kins dout, Þof it deu on þam alle about.
Note: New spelling: Also deu. (Note: the list of variant spellings in the form section may not be complete.)
Note: Belongs to sense 2.(a). Add phrase and gloss: ~ onto splash (sb.) with water, besprinkle.
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.--all quots. per MLL