Middle English Dictionary Entry
drenchen v.
Entry Info
Forms | drenchen v. Also dreinchen, drenshen, drengen. Forms: p. dreinte, drainte, drengte, dreincte, dreinkt, drenkte, drente & drenchede, drenshede; ppl. dreint, draint, drenkt, drent & dreink & drenched, drenchet & idreint, idrenct, idrenched. |
Etymology | OE drencan, drencte & gedrencan. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. drinchen, drinken.
1.
(a) To drown (sb.), kill by drowning; (b) refl. to drown oneself; also, to die by drowning; (c) to drown, be drowned; (d) fig. to engulf (sb. or sth.), overwhelm, plunge (sb. into sth.), destroy; -- also refl.; also, to be engulfed or overwhelmed, to plunge (into sth.); ~ in teres (sorwe), drown (sb.) in tears (sorrow), be drowned in tears.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1507 : Alle heo wullet quellen..þa scipen to-draȝen & þa wif drenchen [Otho: adrenche].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12111 : Summe heo heom drengte [Otho: adreinte] in þere sæ deope.
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)1014 : Þe se hym gan to drenche [Hrl: adrynke].
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)561 : I shal dreinchen him in þe se.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)583 : I shal beren him to þe se..And i shal drenchen him þer-inne.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4489 : Þe deuel him halp þat he nas dreynt!
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3617 : Hym thynketh verrailiche that he may se Noes flood come walwynge..To drenchen Alisoun.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4272 : Thow shalt be dreynt [vr. dreynk].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1342 : His wif..with hire dowhtres alle..Dreint in the salte See thei were.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2081 : An hors of his was dreynt [vrr. drenkt, drenched] ther inne.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)1886 : Vpon þe watir þere he fond A drenched beest þere fletond.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.281 : Þe Trulle þe [read: þei] drenge on se.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)16313 : Tho turned thei aȝeyn and fauȝt, As thei..nede mauȝt, Or haue ben draynt In the see.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2178 : He..fond his fader drenched in the se.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)761 : A dragon..Come dryfande ouer þe depe to drenschen hys pople.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)44.100 : Alle Anon Idrenched they were.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)195 : This god..Took up the dreynte body sone And bar hit forth to Alcione.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)205 : Eolus..To blowen..So lowde, that he shulde drenche Lord and lady, grom and wenche.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5506 : All at come in-to þat cole, crabbis has þaim drenchid.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)3.592 : That þis lord..Shulde leuen euere-more, Neyther wyth water ner fyre Be dreynt ne brent.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)444 : Pharao..dreynte þe children whanne þey weren borun.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)38 : The king..roode in and was ny dreynt.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.263 : Fiftene Sarsyns there he dreyncte [vr. dreynte].
b
- a1350(1307) Execution Fraser (Hrl 2253)98 : Somme slaye were ant somme dreynte hem selue.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4352 : Fro the Schep..Sche fell and hath hirselve dreint.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1378 : They pryuely been stirt in to a welle And dreynte [vr. drenkte] hem seluen.
- a1450 Glo.Chron.B (Lond-U 278)556 : Dreynt [A: homber king of hongri..bi gan to fle, In to a gret water..& adreinte him silue].
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)33/5 : The most Parte of the othyr fellyn adovn into the see..and dreynt [vr. drent] ham-selfe.
- a1500 Play Sacr.(Dub 652)421 : Out! Out! yt werketh me wrake!..I wylle goo drenche me in a lake.
c
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)278 : In þe se he Dreinte at þe laste, And to helle wende he.
- c1330 St.Greg.(Auch)91/435 : Þer fore to drenche in salt water, Fro þis schame y wil now fle.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.455 : O clere..holy croys!..Me fro the feend..kepe That day that I shal drenchen in the depe.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.923 : The theef fil ouerbord..And in the see he dreynte [vrr. drencched, drenchede].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1030 : He fell aweie Out of the carte into a flod, And dreynte.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)1236 : Þei drenched [vrr. drunkend, drenkled] alle in noes flode.
- c1430(c1395) Chaucer LGW Prol.(2) (Benson-Robinson)293 : And some dreynt [vr. dreynkt], for they wolden not be fals.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)455 : He biganne to drenche.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)2008 : Sire Lokeryn dide þe water calle Humber after sire Humbert, ffor he dreynte þerin.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)923 : He fel wete In myd the see, and ther he dreynte.
d
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)39 : Þe deule..hem drencheð on shameliche deðe and mid hem to helle ledeð.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Tim.6.9 : Vnprofitable desyris..the whiche drenchen [L mergunt] men into the deeth and perdicioun.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)9.46 : Folewe þi Flessches wil..and drenche [vr. drenge] þi-seluen!
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)8.50 : Ay is þi soule sauf, but þi-self wole Do a dedly synne and drenche so þi soule.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3262 : Dreynt in sorow [she] to þe Grekes Ran.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.510 : O deth..do me anoon in teeris drenche, Or with thi colde strok myn hete quenche.
- a1425 Methodius(1) (Hrl 1900)109/10 : Wo to þee, Capharnaum, ȝif þou be enhaunsed vnto heuene, til into helle þou schalt be drenchid.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.2.1 : Allas how the thought of man, dreynt in overthrowynge depnesse, dulleth and forleteth his propre clernesse.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1919 : Wikkedly he..let hire drenche in sorwe and distresse.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)274 : And speciali that he not drenche al the leiser, which tho men..schulden haue forto reede or heere the word of God.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)89 : This sely Venus, nygh dreynt in teres wete, Enbraceth Mars.
- c1400 Interpol.Rolle Cant.(1) (Bod 288)19 : Þei ben drenchid in þe blak see of synne.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)21/17 : These onlerned men..wynne heuene, and we with all our doctryne are drenchid euene in helle.
- (a1475) Fortescue Dial.UF (Vit E.10)484 : The Crowne is ful hevy to suche kyngs as slepyn in vayne glory, and maken themself drengen in pride.
- a1500(c1380) Wycl.Papa (Ryl Eng 86)473 : Anticrist wolde faste to men godis of fortune bi coueytise, þat shulden drenge a man to helle.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)303 : Þe devill..drenchith þe synner in Ivill thowtis and Ivill consenting and Ivill werkis.
- a1500 Se meche (Roy 2.D.37)25 : On word myspoken may bryng the yn the myre So depe..till thu theryn be draynt [vr. drent].
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)3274 : When on athyll was so wele..Þat he knew not hys creatour..Into þe Dyche of debonerte drench must hym nede.
2.
(a) To sink (a ship, its cargo, etc.); to scuttle (a ship); also fig.; (b) to sink, be sunk, go under.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)175 : And gif he ship findeð, he fondeð to drenchen hit ȝif he mai.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1186 : As þe ssipes..come toward londe..þe pikes smite hom þoru out..& to dasste & drainte vourti ssipes þere.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.197 : Þere he..drenchede [Higd.(2): drowned; L demersit] oþer took al þe kynges navey in batayle of þe see.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.363 : A greet wawe of the see..som tyme..drencheth the ship.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1870 : The worldes wawe hath welnyh dreynt The Schip which Peter hath to stiere.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2074 : Þei anoon..Wil drenche his ship lowe vnder þe wawe.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.12 : Þei comen and filliden boþ botes of fishe, so þat wel nyȝ were þei boþe dreynt.
- (1449) RParl.5.142b : All suche Merchandise as..by distresse of wedyr or brekyng of the Vessell be dreynt or perysshed in the See.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)233 : How his shippes dreynte were Or elles lost.
- c1400 Interpol.Rolle Cant.(1) (Bod 288)20 : Þi spirit blew, and þe see hilide hem; drenchid [L submersi] þei ben as leed in grete watris.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)169 : They bored and drenchid hem [captured ships].
b
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)18/6 : Hij..fylleden boþe schippes so ful þat hij weren in poynt forto drenchen.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8094 : His schippes schyuered al a-sondre, And some dreint.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.374 : And þis boot is troublid here, but it drenchiþ not uttirli.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)68 : Þat on ende of þe sschip was ay toward heuen; Þat oþer doun in þe deep, as alle drenche wolde.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)250/21 : They sawe..shippes perschynge and drenchyng.
3.
(a) To inundate (a country, etc.), flood; (b) to soak (sth.), steep, immerse, dip, drench; also fig.; (c) to sink (into sth.), permeate, become closely involved with; (d) to make (a medicine) penetrate (into the body).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.411 : Þis ȝere þe see flood sprang up [by] Tempse and drenshede [Higd.(2): drownede; L submersit] meny townes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.839 : God dreynte [vrr. drenkte, drouned] al the world at the diluue.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)1532 : Hit ran hem..in þouȝt þat þis worlde shulde com to ende, Wiþ watir dreynt or fuyr brende.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)2228 : Þat flood þat dreynt þe world.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1761 : The se..Constreyneth..His flodes, that so fiersly they ne growen To drenchen erthe and al for evere mo.
- a1425 *Trev.Barth.(Mrg M 875)160b/b : By gret reynes..þe water ariseþ..& drencheþ playnes of cuntre.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)288 : The se ros so hye..that it drenchid many townys in Kent and Flaundris.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)39/123 : All þis wyde werd xal be dreynt with flood.
b
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)14/192 : Te alde feond..scheoteð niht & dei his earewen, idrencte of an attri healewi, towart tin heorte.
- a1350 Mon in þe mone (Hrl 2253)31 : When þat he is dronke ase a dreynt mous.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)299a/b : Scorpiones y-dreynte in oyle..socoureþ bestes þat ben y stronge wiþ scorpiouns.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.32.42 : I shal drenche myn arewis in blood.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.5.6 : Why the sterre Boetes..drencheth his late flaumbes in the see.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.370 : Out of the see grauel the salt to bringe, Let drenche hit for a tyme in water swete.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)12.566 : Let menge al this; olyues now..Don in and dreynt.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)22a/a : Þe more he [the soul] drenchiþ him in to þe body..þe lasse parfiteliche he undirstondiþ.
d
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)127a/b : In an olde fallynge of heres..It byhoueþ to..resolue the olde euel humour..wiþ medecynes þat ben mesurably hote..and þerwith it schulde be sotel in partye, þat schal be drenchede [L mergi] in vnto the botume, in þe whiche þe bygynnynge is of þe heeres.
4.
(a) To give (sb.) drink; (b) to poison (sb.) with a drink; (c) to swallow (food or drink).
Associated quotations
a
- a1300 Schrude and fede (Em 27)1 : Schrude and fede and drenche and hereborwe þe pouere..Þis boþ þe seue[n] workes þat quemeþ vre driȝte.
b
- a1200(?c1175) PMor.(Trin-C B.14.52)334 : Bute we wurðen us iwar, þis wereld us wile drenchen; Mast alle men hit ȝieueð drinken of on euele senche.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1106 : Thu sall be drenchett with a drinke, a draught of vnclene..Lange or þou metyn haue þe merke of þi medyll age.
c
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.7.23 : The whiche felawes the fyerse Poliphemus..had fretyn and dreynt in his empty wombe [L mersit..aluo].
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)156 : Alle goode lopyns j plounge and drenche.
5.
To descend, fall.
Associated quotations
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.43.19 : The comyng doun of that snow is as a locust drenchynge doun [WB(1): drenchende; L demergens].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)276/27 : An vlcer wiþ softe, deed flesche is þat in þe whiche drenched [*Ch.(1) marcide; L marcida.] flesche is founden wiþoute kynde.
Note: New sense
Note: Gloss: Of flesh: decayed or withered.--per MLL