Middle English Dictionary Entry
dǒuten v.
Entry Info
Forms | dǒuten v. Also douti, dut(en, duti & (late) dought(en, douȝte, doubt(e(n. Forms: p. doutede, duted, douȝtede, doupted, dobted, doted & doute, dut(te, dought; ppl. douted, douȝted, doubted & doute, dute. |
Etymology | OF doter, douter (from L dubitāre). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To feel uncertain, be in doubt (about sth.); ~ in, ~ of; it is doute, it is doubted or doubtful; it is not to ~ of, there is no doubt about; doute ye not (no thing), have no doubt, never fear; -- intr. or refl.; (b) to doubt (sth.), be uncertain about; ~ is no nede, there is no reason to doubt; -- often with that, hou, what, or whether clause; (c) refl., to suspect (that sth. is the case), conjecture, suppose.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)1191 : Ne doute þe nouȝt, Bi god..Þou ne sschalt hente no vileinie.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.19 : Of many þinges that seemeþ ful sooþ, noþeless skilfulliche me douteþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)139a/a : Þe steresman doutiþ and not neuer whidirward he schal stere þe schip ariȝt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)200b/b : No man schal wene þat it is doute or fals þat god haþ set vertu in precious stoones.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.100 : Kinges thre..bar witnes that born was he..of his birth douted thai noht.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22809 : Ne dut right naman in þis dede!
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)21090 : Thomas..lange he douted in þe riȝt.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.70 : Ofte tymes þe lewed peple of hir bileue douten.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2108 : I seye nought for recreaundise, For I nought doute of youre servise.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.6.101 : Therfore doute the nothing, for of this litel spark thine heet of lijf schal shine.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.2.90 : Whoso that evere..douteth of this, he ne mai nat considere the nature of thinges.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.1.28 : It nis nat to douten of the thingis folwynge.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)42b/b : Nouȝt wiþstondynge þat Henry doutede in þat.
- (1462) Paston (Gairdner)4.33 : God graunt we may our-come theym; and so we shuld, I dought not, if we were alle on.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)55/22 : Sir, doute ye nat, he woll make on you a myghty puyssaunce.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)824 : The tour ys stronge y-nowe, ne dowte ȝe nouȝt.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)745 : Doughte ye noo thing, All this shalbe right wele.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Swithin (Hrl 2277)105 : If þu doutest in enie poynt þat þis beo..noȝt soþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)9a/b : For vnnethe any foole doutiþ where god be oþir no.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)857 : Hys dyscyplys douted echoun wheþer he [Christ] shulde ryse or noun.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7502 : Þat godd will help, dut es na nede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10869 : Þis leuedi nathing doted [Göt: doutid] sco þat godd ne moght his will do.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12321 : Sco was traist and duted noght þat godds wil ne suld be wroght.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.12.26,28 : Ne yet ne doute I it naught, ne I nyl nevere wene that it were to doute.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.4.255 : Thanne ne dowtestow nat..that they ne ben wrecches?
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.5.52 : Ne doute the nat that alle thinges ne ben don aryght.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)165/17 : I dowt it not it is ryth wel.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1507 : And byddeþ vs to dowten vs no-thyng His lord schal þanken vs.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)105/249 : I dowte not þe wordys ȝe han seyd to me, But I Aske how it xal be do.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)122/16 : It myȝt be douȝtid how moche loue ouȝte be ȝouun to þilk oon god.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)160/22 : Þay..dowtyd what hit myght be.
c
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)220/22 : I dowbte me [CQ(1): doute me] that in this case their rewlis be nat wele kepte, and I suppose that there be errour in the distribucion in to grette dispence and large yeftis to suche as haue nat wele deseruid them, and .. nat wele recompensid suche as haue truely deseruid.
2.
(a) To be anxious, fearful, frightened; ~ for, ~ of, be afraid of (sb. or sth.); ~ of lif, to fear for (one's) life; -- intr. or refl.; (b) to be afraid (to do sth.), hesitate; also, be confused; ben doute of, ?be afraid (to do sth.); (c) to fear (sb. or sth.); also fig.; (d) to fear (that sth. will happen, that sb. will do sth.); ~ that..nought, fear lest (sth. happen); ~ for to fallen, fear lest one fall; (e) ?to frighten (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1335 Þe grace of ihu (Hrl 913)24 : Þe children wiþ in þe moder wome Wel sore sul dute and drede þer for.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6876 : Vor is moder..ȝe bede, Þat nis as no womman, ac as þe deuel, ich doute.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)2.1 : Whi douteþ [L fremuerunt] hij hem of þe lawe?
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)103.8 : Hij shul douten of þe voice [L a voce..formidabunt] of þy þonder.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3996 : Forþ þanne rideþ Rychardoun..ne douteþ he for no man.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2517 : That thow doute ther wher as is no drede.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.880 : Of this thefte douted gretly Ioseph, whan that his lordes wyf preyed hym of vileynye.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.62 : The Slowthe, of which I doute Mor than of al the remenant.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15180 : His disciplis..Bigun to be dutand [Trin-C: doutonde].
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)21.314 : That is soþ..bote ich me sore doute [B: drede].
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2257 : He lened with þe nek & lutte..& lette as he noȝt dutte.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1089 : Whoso bar the stoon so bright, Of venym durst hym nothing doute.
- (1429) RParl.4.346b : The seide Suppliauntz doubten hem of damage and prejudice.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3854 : Alle his frendus..of his dethe..douȝteden gretlyche.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10128 : Þen dut hym the Duke for destany felle.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)180/757 : The kyng..doughtyth him sore of his lyf.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)207/1706 : He doughteth him of no treson.
b
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)192/11 : Hire meiden mei þauh techen sum lutel meiden þet were dute of [*Corp-C: þet were pliht of] forto leornen among gromes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.696 : Ther nys..no synne that he douteth for to do.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.29.9 : Be ȝe astonyed and wondre, wake ȝe and douȝte ȝe [WB(1): wagereth; L vacillate].
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)326/29 : Certayn folk..dowtis not for to do grete trispas.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)1191 : For a prynce to serue, ne dowt he not, and god be his spede!
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)116 : Thei ther-of were so abaisshed that hem dought longe er thei myght gete out..fro the fyre.
c
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)66a : Ne beon ha neauer se ancrefule ne se fulitohene, þe deouel of helle duteð ham swiðe.
- a1300 Floris (Vit D.3)p.88 : Þe alre febleste tour Nolde nouht duti þe amperur.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)708 : Hise ship he greyþede wel inow..Þat it ne doutede sond ne krike.
- a1350(1307) Execution Fraser (Hrl 2253)15 : Lutel he douteþ godes myht.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2332 : Þanne wolde is fon..douty him þe more.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3286 : Þai his dintes gun doute.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)1197 : Men schal þe dout [Cai: doubte], Wiþ-in þi lond & eke wiþ-out.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)3.6 : Ich ne schal nouȝt doute [L timebo] þousaundes of folk þat bysetten me.
- c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)199 : Whon þou schalt nedelich ones dye..Doute hit not!
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2892 : Al the world thi pouer doubteth.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2906 : Þe wreches o sodome, For welth þai duted neuer þe dome.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.181 : Þan salle men doute vs lesse..þe Sarazins our pruesse not so mykelle wille drede.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)222 : Þis haþel..þe halle entres..dut he no woþe, Haylsed he neuer one.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)784 : Þe wallez [of the castle] were wel arayed, Hit dut no wyndez blaste.
- (1432) Paston2.37 : The seid Erle, doubting the harme that mighte falle to the King, [etc.].
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)23.473 : That brid [Phoenix] is so dowted..That..Bothe brid & bestes..don him fle.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)23527 : Kyng Ryowns Strok he dowtede faste.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4434 : Bes bolde and doutes hym ryȝt nouȝt!
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)326 : We schal doute þe deþ whan þe day fallus.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12121 : Ho doutid no deth..ffor hit laithit hir les þen on lyue be.
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)128 : I dowte no man..þat euer was borne.
d
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)21/344 : Sore y me dute Wiþ him ȝe wolden pleie Bitwex ȝou selue tweie.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.32 : Ich doute that God me habbe forsake.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.73 : Ac ich douti [Ld: drede], for mi wrecche gult, that wors schal beo the ende.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27582 : We may se..Þe standand fall..For-þi agh we to be dutand For to fall.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)73b/a : He douteþ þat it schulde move þe brayne for hardenesse of þe bone of the temple.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)50/3 : Y doute mekyl þat þis book come nought to þe hondes of vntrew men.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)6 : He dought that he myght not wynne hem.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)30 : I doubte that ye will me sle.
e
- a1400 Cursor (Phys-E)21870 : For þe se sale rise and rute, Mani man sal dere and dute.
3.
To fear (God), honor, reverence; fear or respect (a king); respect (one's husband); fall under the influence of (one's wives and lovers).
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (Hrl 2277:Wright)p.13 : Ho so douteth Jhesu Crist, him ne failleth noȝt.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)144.20 : He shal do þe wil of þe doutand hym [L timentium se].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3000 : Yee war men þat godd duted noght.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6388 : Þat king aght man..Wit al wirscip to mensk and dute!
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12571 : Þai him [Christ] luued and doted [vrr. douted, duted] ai.
- c1400(?c1280) SLeg.OTHist.(LdMisc 622)13 : To douten god almiȝtty, of vche wisdom it is rote.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)68b/b : Vereor: to dowte.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)3/6 : Þa þat luuis god & dutes hym.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)35/33 : Þe howse to þe gestis sal man biteche a sistir at yeme þat dowtis god.
- (1442) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2182 : Our moost doubted Souverain Lord..the pouaire whiche ye have yeven unto us by your lettres of commission [etc.].
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)397/26 : Hur husband was a gud man & a riche, and dowtid God.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)87/19 : Then ye shall be dovbted and dred.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)48/36 : Ye shulde loue and doute youre husbond as ye loued youre moderes brest.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.73vb : Kynge Salamon ..whan he was olde he so doobted and loued hem [his 'strange women'; L (Vulg.1 Kings 11.4): depravatum est per mulieres cor eius] that they made hym honoure their straunge goddes and worshyppid Astaroth, Chamos, and Moloch.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)128/7 : As a ryghtful lorde to be dowtid and dredid.
- a1500(a1470) Brut-1461(1) (Add 10099)493/19 : Þis moste noble prince..whom al þe world dovpted, gaf his soul in-to þe handes of God.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.20 : The eldest sonne..in Fraunce & all landes was moste doute.