Middle English Dictionary Entry
dōten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | dōten v. Also doiten, dotien. |
| Etymology | Prob. OE; cp. MDu. doten, dutten be out of one's mind, rave. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To behave foolishly or irrationally, do foolish things; be or grow silly; be or grow upset or deranged, rave; (b) to befuddle or fool (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)2080 : Hu nu, dame, dotestu? Cwen, acangestu nu mid alle þes oðre?
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)61a : Þet ha falleð i deadlich sar..oðer in to deop þoht swa þet ha dotie.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.403 : Som ben bolde and hardy to despise þis Seneca..but me semeth þat þey doteþ [L mihi desipere videntur].
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)1.129 : Þou dotest, daffe..Dulle are þi wittes!
- c1390 In a Pistel (Vrn)79 : Hose leeueþ not þis, I trouwe he dote.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1441 : I dote nat: I woot the cause why Men sholde wedde.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.983 : He wol..speke hise wordes in so sly a kynde, Whan he commune shal with any wight, That he wol make hym doten anon right.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)286 : Me forþynkez ful much þat ever I mon made; Bot I schal delyver and do away þat doten on þis molde.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)852 : He doted never for no doel so depe in his mynde.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1500 : Now a boster on benche bibbes þerof Tyl he be dronkken..and dotes þer he syttes.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)40/479 : Trous þou..to ger me dote, To trow in þi god for þi cote?
- c1430(c1395) Chaucer LGW Prol.(2) (Benson-Robinson)261 : Thow begynnyst dote As olde foles, whan here spiryt fayleth; Thanne blame they folk and wite nat what hem ayleth.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)128 : Dotone: Desipio.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)21.298 : King Eualach..Nygh In wanhope hadde I-falle..So this womman Made him tho dote.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)301/259 : What deuyll! whedir dote we or dremys!
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)52b : Of our mercurie they meddell & of our sulphure vive, wherin they dote and more & more vnthrive.
b
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)53b : Their dettors they flatter..Dotinge the marchauntes that they be fayne To let them goo.
2.
Of aged persons: to be or grow feeble-minded, be out of one's mind.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3294 : His wit he [Leir] he hauet bileued; me þunched þe alde mon wole dotie nou nan.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)67b/a : For grete age olde men doten & madden.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)125 : He dredes no dynt þat dotes for elde.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)785 : His wyttes fayles, and he ofte dotes.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)128 : Doton, or dote for age: Deliro.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)2404 : My fader in elde dotes.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)3191 : Men with white herys Dote and wote neuer what they mene.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)202 : J haue wel an hundreth winter..and at the laste dote and haue no wit to counseile.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)91/281 : Xuld I now in age begynne to dote?
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)1968 : Thow artte old and dotyste faste..þou artte agaste, Thow lyste not to fyghtte!
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)72 : I am an olde man..men sein that I dote.
3.
To become weak or unsound; rot, disintegrate.
Associated quotations
- (1395) Wycl.12 Concl.(Th 17)296 : Qwan þe chirche of Yngelond began to dote in temporalte, aftir her stepmodir þe grete chirche of Rome..feythe, hope, and charite begunne for to fle.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.752 : The seed of thorn in hit wol dede and dote.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)11.229 : Kitte hem [trees] that dote or drie or densed be.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)251 : He [the boar] began to dotur and dote Os he hade keghet scathe.
4.
Ppl. doted: (a) foolish, irrational; feeble-minded, doting; ~ daffe; (b) stunned, bewildered; (c) unsound, rotten.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.25.14 : Thre spices hatede my soule..a pore man proud, and a riche man a liere, and an old man a fool and dotid [WB(2): vnwitti; L insensatum].
- a1400 Cato(3) (Frf 14)165 : Loke atte þou skorne noȝt doted man in elde.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)1.138 : Þow doted daffe..dulle arne þi wittes.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)407 : She Was fair sumtyme..But she was past al that passage, And was a doted thing bicomen.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)145 : He was so miche fonned, masid, and dotid that he worschipid tho ydolis as Goddis.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)200 : Þou likly art to bere a dotyd heed.
- c1450(c1396) Chaucer Buk.(Benson-Robinson)13 : Thilke doted fool that eft hath levere Ycheyned be than out of prison crepe.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)128/30 : I haue sett the kyng in a chaumbre, for he be all doyted and has noo wytt.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)689/24 : That same is the doted knyght that I saw lye by the welle, nother slepynge nother wakynge.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)326 : Let not þe post be-cum þy staf, Lest þou be callet a dotet daf.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)95/235 : Doted I wot well thou art, for woodlie thou hast wrougt.
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4055 : Þe king was kast in gret þouȝt; he dared as doted man for þe bestes dedes.
- a1450 Ch.Feasts (Roy 18.A.10)174 : Oure lady her hede sche schette in a schete. And ȝit lay still doted and dased.
c
- (1466) in Willis & C.Cambridge 393 : This tymbir shalbe white oke, not doted, nor storvyn, nor sappy.