Middle English Dictionary Entry
drēpen v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | drēpen v.(1) Also drẹ̄pe, drappe. Forms: p. drap, drōp & drēpede; pl. drā̆pe(n; ppl. drōpen & drēped. |
| Etymology | OE drepan; p. sg. *dræp; ppl. drepen, dropen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To kill (sb.); also, strike, strike down; (b) to overcome (sb.), subdue; (c) in surname: ~ devel, Kill-devil.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1137 : Hi dyden heom in quarterne þar nadres & snakes..wæron inne & drapen heom swa..Mani þusen hi drapen mid hungær.
- a1250 Wooing Lord (Tit D.18)283 : Lef þa duntes drepen me þat tai þe dunchen.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)424 : He [the whale] drepeð hem alle wiðuten wunde.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1783 : Summe of you shal ich drepen.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2229 : He hauede reunesse of þe knaue, So þat he with his hend Ne drop him nouth.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2648 : If ðor ne wore helpe twen lopen ðis child adde ðan sone be dropen.
- c1330 Body & S.(5) (Auch)p.34 : Vncomli, me þouȝt, min hert brast, when deþ so diolfuli me drap [rime: vnhap, nap, clap].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3602 : Þat þou mai drep [Trin-C: sle] me sum dere.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)93.6 : Widow and comelinge slogh þai, And stepchildre þai drape [L occiderunt] al dai.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)105.36 : And dropen es þe land in blodes [Hrl: And slain is þe land..In blodes; L Et infecta est terra in sanguinibus].
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)246 : Þe dom is þe deþe þat drepez uus alle.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)599 : He is so skoymos of þat skaþe..He may not dryȝe to draw allyt, bot drepez in hast.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1306 : Þe kyng.. dreped alle þe doȝtyest and derrest in armes.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)725 : Nade he ben duȝty..Douteles he hade ben ded & dreped ful ofte.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1189 : Tyl deth þee down drepe [rime: crepe].
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9 : Stithe men in stoure..ben drepit with deth.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)929 : Þis stone..drepit the dragon to the dethe negh.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10851 : Noght knowing..Þat the doghty was dede & drepid for ay.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)456 : Antiochus and Appolyne, aythere he drepide.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3169 : If I..cokke with þe conquirour till I be cald drepid, Ȝit me is better..in bataile be slayne.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)567 : Neyȝ to dede he gan [vs] drappe [rime: happe, pappe].
b
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9854 : Bes fuerse on your fos..And lette no dolnes you drepe..Fares with no faintyng!
c
- (1250) Close R.Hen.III273 : Thomas Drepedevell.
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 215 : Roberto Drepdevel.