Middle English Dictionary Entry

dǒun adv.
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Entry Info

Forms dǒun adv. Also doune, don, dun, douen, doung, þoune. Comp. dǒuner, dǒuner-mōre, dǒnir-māre.
Etymology OE dūne & ādūn(e.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) With verbs implying motion: to a lower place, down, downward; also fig.; (b) with verbs implying rest: at a lower place, below, down; also fig.; (c) with verbs of looking, etc.: downward; casten eien ~, to direct the eyes downward, look down; (d) leien (paien) ~, to put (money) down, pay (money); (e) don ~, to take off (one's hood); leien ~, take off (a garment); fig. remove (words), cease (talking); (f) astron. of the sun, a constellation: set; gon ~, to set; of stars, nadir of the sun: lower in the heavens; (g) surg. lower in the body, toward the feet; also, deeper within the body.
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2.
(a) In a bent or reclining position, down; asien ~, gon ~, sinken ~, to fall to the floor or ground; bouen ~, louten ~, stoupen ~, bend down, lean over, bow; fallen ~, fall to the ground, prostrate (oneself), fall (on one's knees); knelen ~, lien ~, sitten ~; refl. leien ~, setten ~; (b) into a prostrate position; also fig.; beren ~, to knock (sb.) down; overcome (sb.); putten ~, treat (sb.) as inferior; depose (a king); setten ~, depose; smiten ~, strike (sb.) down; treden ~, overcome or destroy (sth.), etc.; (c) of a wall, gate, building, etc.: down, in ruins, to destruction; of a limb or tree: cut down; beten ~, to destroy; fallen ~, fall down, become ruinous.
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3.
Extending downward; downward (from a point, to a point).
Show 8 Quotations
4.
Misc. uses: (a) from earlier to later (in chronological order); (b) dounermore, to a place of less honor; (c) downward (from the higher in rank or importance to the lower); (d) at a distance from the speaker; (e) derken ~ on slomber, to fall asleep.
Show 6 Quotations
5a.
In cpds. & combs. with verbs: (a) downward in space [cp. 1. (a)]; ~ astien, ~ beren, ~ casten, ~ comen, ~ descenden, ~ fallen, ~ gon, ~ lighten, ~ rennen, ~ sinken; in shippes in se ~ gon, to go down to the sea in ships, go on voyages; (b) directed downward [cp. 1. (c)]; ppl. ~ caste, ~ folde, cast down; dejected; (c) bent down, prostrate, etc. [cp. 2. (a)]; ~ bouen, ~ fallen, ~ knelen; (d) prostrate; also fig. [cp. 2. (b)]; ~ beren, to knock (sb.) to the ground; ~ casten, overcome (sb.); ~ bringen, ~ leien, ~ smiten, ~ taken; (e) to destruction [cp. 2. (c)]; ~ casten, to break down (a wall); overturn (a table); ~ fallen, ~ minen, ~ sheren; (f) from earlier to later [cp. 4. (a)]; ~ descenden.
Show 40 Quotations
5b.
With ppl. or ger.: (a) ~ berand, an oppressor; ~ pressed, the oppressed; (b) ~ coming, a descent; the coming (first or second) of Christ; ~ falling, a fall; ~ ganging, setting; ~ going, a descent; setting; also, regions of the setting sun, the West; ~ pressing, pressing down, pressure; ~ renning, the course of a stream; ~ setting, act of setting (sth.) down; ~ sheding, a pouring down; (c) ~ casting, ~ falling, downfall, overthrow, destruction; ~ putting, contemptuous treatment.
Show 24 Quotations
5c.
With nouns: (a) ~ held, a downward slope, hillside; (b) ~ fal, the setting of the sun; regions of the sunset, the West; ~ gate, a descent; setting of the sun or a planet; ~ held, sunset; fig. the end of life or the world; (c) ~ cast, misfortune; ~ fal, overthrow, destruction.
Show 12 Quotations
5d.
In surnames.
Show 1 Quotation
5e.
See also up and ~, up-so-~.
Show 1 Quotation

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1400(1389) Wycl.25 Art.(Dc 273)472 : Anticrist and his proude clerkis schal downe with ther pride…For Anticrist in his moste pride schal sodeynly be brouȝt to grounde.
  • a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5868 : Doune shall the castell euery dele If eueriche do his entent.
    • Note: [F Par ceus iert li chastiaus cassés].
    Note: I don't see treated here the elliptical construction in which doun adv. takes on the force of a verb in phr. ~ with (sb. or sth.) used for a verb or doun followed by a modal auxiliary without an infinitive where the adverb implies a verb. (See OD senses 23, 24 and MED with prep., where quots. include: Wycl.25Art., l. 472 and RRose, l. 5868.)--per MJW
  • c1613(1461) Plumpton Let.2 : Soe shall ye have day of respitt to the xv of hillary…then to be opposed of your greenewax…I trust to god for to gett you downe your greenewax if that I may, thof it cost you mony.
    • Note: Probably belongs to sense 1. Add phrase and gloss: geten ~ grene-wax, to get (someone's) fine reduced.--per MLL
Note: In sense 5a.--in cpds. & combs. with verbs--the verbs in subsenses (a) ~ astien, ~ beren, ~ casten, ~ comen, ~ descenden, ~ fallen, ~ gon, ~ lighten, ~ rennen, ~ sinken; (c) ~ bouen, ~ fallen, ~ knelen; (d) ~ beren, ~ casten, ~ bringen, ~ leien, ~ smiten, ~ taken; (e) ~ fallen, ~ minen, ~ sheren; and (f) ~ descenden should all be given separate entries in the MED in accordance with current editorial practice. Treat any verb phrases under the appropriate verb entry.
Note: In sense 5b., conforming with the aforementioned editorial practice, the gerunds should be given separate entries (deriving each from the corresponding verb, when that exists) and each participle treated under its appropriate verb. (Note that sense 5a.(b) also includes a couple of participles, ~ caste, ~ folde.)
Note: In sense 5c., the noun(s) in subsenses (a) ~ held; (b) ~ fal, ~ gate, ~ held, (c) ~ cast, ~ fal are to be treated as separate entries.--all notes per REL

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