Middle English Dictionary Entry

dressen v.
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) To place (sth.), lay, put, set; seat (sb.); ~ up heved, raise (one's) head; (b) fig. to put (sb. in doubt or danger); (c) refl. to place oneself, take up a position; of juice: appear or be (in fruit); (d) ~ in peces, cut (sb.) in pieces; (e) ~ on, to put on (one's shield); put (a crown) on (sb., one's head); ~ upon, put on (clothing), put (a garment) on (oneself); (f) ~ to, to fasten (sth.) to (sth.); ~ togeder, fasten (things) together.
2.
(a) To arrange (sth.), put in order, adjust; straighten; put (a shield, spear, armor) in position; make (a bed); order (one's words); ~ her, arrange or tidy up the hair; (b) to ornament (sth.), garnish; adorn (sb.); (c) refl. to take a (certain) bodily position; adjust oneself (in one's clothing, saddle, etc.); ~ doun (adoun), lie or sit down; fig. kneel, submit; ~ up (upward), raise oneself, get up; (d) refl. to stand up; ~ sitting, ~ to sitten, rise to a sitting position, sit up; (e) cook. to arrange (sth.) for serving, divide into portions; serve (a dish); also fig.
3.
(a) To dress or arm (sb., oneself); (b) to get dressed or armed.
4.
To mend or repair (sth.); tune (the strings of a harp); adjust (a scale); correct (a fault, obscure writing); redress (an injury or injustice).
5.
(a) To get ready, make preparations; prepare (for sth., to do sth.); (b) refl.
6.
(a) To make (sth.), build; form (a phalanx, line of battle); (b) to ordain (sth.), cause, bring about; deliver (a false judgment); cause (sth.) to be (in a certain place); arrange (death for sb.); cause (sb. to die); (c) ~ of, to derive (sth.) from (sth.).
7.
(a) To turn (sth. in a direction), direct (the eyes), turn (the back, face); ~ ayenes, turn towards; (b) to direct (one's mind or soul to sth.), apply (one's wits, heart, actions, etc., to doing sth.); use (sth. for a purpose); (c) to turn one's attention (to sth.), apply oneself (to a task), devote oneself (to sth.); ~ to mete, eat food, begin eating; -- usually refl.
8.
(a) To guide (a horse), steer (a ship), direct (a besom); control (sth.), govern (oneself); (b) to guide (sb.) spiritually; guide or direct (the heart, thoughts, actions); (c) to teach (sb.); instruct; bring up (a child); (d) ~ to (til, unto), to make (sth.) conform with (sth.); ~ into, reduce (sth.) to (servitude); (e) to bring (a city, country) under control, subdue; (f) ~ wei(es, ~ fet, ~ goinges, ~ steppes, to direct or guide (one's) way or course, direct aright; ~ pas, make (one's) way; ~ cours, pursue (one's) course; ~ wei thider, make (one's) way thither.
9.
(a) To send (sth.) to (sb.); address (a letter, a writ, words to sb. or to a place); (b) to offer (sth. to sb.), proffer, give; present (a gift); (c) ~ among(es, to distribute (sth.) among, divide among.
10.
(a) To go, move; (b) to get out of bed; ~ up, get up; (c) refl. to go, advance, proceed; (d) refl. ~ ayen(es, to turn against (sb.), go against, oppose, attack.
11.
(a) To treat (sb. in a certain way), deal with; (b) to treat (a wounded man); (c) to accost (sb.), approach (sth.).

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)126b/a : Ȝif þe member be dislocate inwarde, dresse oute þe arme & þe hande þe which is dislocate as moche as þu maie.
  • Note: New sense: ~ oute, ?to extend (a dislocated arm and hand), straighten out.--per MLL

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 59/5 : Fille vp þat tubbe .iij. parties þeroffe with aissches, and..with fayre coolde watre..and þus dresse as many tubbes as ȝe haue.
  • Note: Glossary = 'prepare'. Antedates sense 5.(a). ?Modify gloss to include 'prepare (sth.)'.