Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēven v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | dēven v.(1) Also deaven, defen, deiven, dewen. |
| Etymology | OE ādēafian |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. def adj.
1.
(a) To destroy the hearing; of age, death: make (the ears) deaf; fig. make (sb., ears) spiritually deaf; of ears: to grow deaf; (b) to deafen with noise, deafen (sb., one's ear); (c) to stun (sb.), overcome; stupefy (the wits).
Associated quotations
a
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)1/17 : Him deaueþ þa æren; him dimmeþ [þa] eiȝen.
- (a1333) Herebert Soethþe mon (Add 46919)38 : Touore þe deth..Boe monnes wyttes hym byreued, Hys eyen blynd, hys eren deued.
- a1400 Alle his frendes (Hrl 7322)3 : Hyse eres shullen dewen, & his eyen shullen dymmen.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.31 : For men deefid in Goddis lore he made to heere what God spake in hem.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)92/18 : The loue of this worlde deuethe eeris þat thei here noo wisdome.
b
- ?c1335 Swet ihc hend (Hrl 913)p.83 : Begger, wend a deuil wai! Þou deuist al min ere.
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)235 : Nou heo is dampned on deis, with deol þauȝ hir deue [vr. with dyn þey hyr deiue].
- c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.11 : Bretan and Brugoyn is bothe in ȝour bandum, And alle the Duseperis of Fraunse with ȝour dyn deuyt [Dc: deued; Thrn: dreuede].
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)322/1486 : Awake, Awake, hillis gyn qwake..wyttys ben revid, Erys ben devid.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)378/344 : Then deffys hym with dyn the bellys of the kyrke.
c
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1286 : Þe dunte þat sclulde [read: schulde] hym deue, & nedez hit most be done.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)26/129 : Oure shappe for doole me defes..Late vs take there fygge leves.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)156/148 : I xal hem reve, here wyttys deve, here hedys cleve.