Middle English Dictionary Entry
ablē̆nden v.
Entry Info
| Forms | ablē̆nden v. Also ableinde. Forms: sg.3 ablē̆ndeð, ablent; p. ablende, ablent(e; ppl. ablend(e, ablent, abland. |
| Etymology | OE āblendan; sg.3 āblendeþ, āblent; p. āblende; ppl. āblend(ed, ablænd. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. ablinden.
1.
(a) To deprive (sb.) of the power of vision, to blind; also, to dazzle or confuse (sb., the sight), to blind temporarily (as with strong light, violent motion, etc.); (b) to blind (sb.) mentally or spiritually, to mislead or deceive; ~ on mod, ~ the herte; (c) make (an ulcer) harmless.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14656 : He heom walde..baðe ablenden and anhon.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)58a : Esken..ablendeð [Nero: ablent] euch mon þe ham in blaweð.
- a1275 Louerd asse þu ard (Trin-C B.14.39)121 : I þenche on dilida þat samsun ablende, Wid hire suikedomes fule heo hine scende.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)82/13 : Huy driuen him barefot and a-blend ope þis scharpe stones.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4230 : Þat blod adoun wende So vast in eye & in face þat hit him ney ablende [B: ablent].
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)112/2328 : Þe walmes han þe abland.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)21.142 : The while þis light and þis leom shal Lucifer ableynde [vr. ablynde].
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)12b : And he come wiþ his spere rennyng and leping, he schal boþe ablende his enemyes siȝt and astonye his mynde.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)28/34 : Þa boceræs wæron ablende on mode.
- c1225 St.Marg.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)37/12 : Swa ich habbe ablend ham, þat ha..for-seoð godd & ham seoluen for-ȝeoteð.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)85b : Ne schulen ha nawt þenne ablende [Nero: ablenden; Pep: ablynde] þe heorte ehnen.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)27/4 : Beo heo erest ablend, heo is eð fallen.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)36/18 : Þe vikelare ablent [Pep: ablyndeþ] þene mon..þet he mide vikeleð.
- a1275 Doomsday (Trin-C B.14.39)28 : Þat makede þe worse, so woule he us ablende.
- a1300(?a1250) Serm.Atte wrastlinge (Trin-C B.1.45)106 : Liste sum suart sinne of wikke liflode haue a-blend hem herte eien.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.65 : And atte laste, as hit were the lond forto ablende, That no man him strenȝthe dude, of lond he gan wende.
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)150 : Certes wlaunknesse of wele hem hath al ablent.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)16 : Þis zenne of prede ys to dreduol uor hi ablent men zuo þet hi hamzelve ne knaweþ.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)54/13 : Þorouȝ þat blyndnesse þat þe deuel haþ ablent hem hij schullen done her leccherie openlich.
c
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)110.83/8 : Gif þu wille cancer ablendan, nim þeos wyrt.