Middle English Dictionary Entry
eggen v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | eggen v.(1) |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI eggja. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To urge (someone) on; (b) to tempt or entice (someone), to incite (to evil) or lure (awai from good); (c) to stimulate, encourage, exhort (someone); eggen to gōd; (d) refl. to bestir oneself.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.157 : He egged bonde men to dedes of armes for hope of pray and of fredom.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.93 : He eggede and counsaillede to werre aȝenst Rome.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.278 : Þe clergi of Scotland egged þer kyng Jon..to procure an aliance.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)223 : He thouȝt egge Iasoun ther-tille, Thedur to go on his fre wille.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)136 : Eggyd, or steryd, or entycyd to doon a dede: Instigatus, incitatus..Eggyn, or entycyn to doon welle or yvele: Incito, provoco.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)239 : An Austyn þis ender daie egged me faste; Þat he wolde techen me wel he plyȝt me his treuþe.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11683 : Deofell eggeþþ aȝȝ þe mann To follȝhenn gluterrnesse.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)13 : Man eggeð his negebure to done oðer to speken him harm oðer same.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)4/16 : Þi folc..eggið þe to brudlac, & to weres cluppunge.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)778 : Þe deuel..eggede him þerto.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)1.968 : They that eggen or consenten to the synne been parteners of the synne.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1509 : Ȝyf..to relygyun hys wyl be mylde, And þou eggyst hym away To folue þe fals wrldes pay.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25372 : Þe warlau euer eggand til ill.
- a1400 Of vr vife (Hrl 7322)2 : Of þing þat vs egget, a vast vleynge.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.133 : Thebald of Plesence egged to þat tirpeile, Ageyn his fader to rise.
- (1415) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)9.301 : Offences wych I have done..by steryng of odyr Folke Eggyng me therto.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5843 : Þa syns..Til whilk þai egged þam.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)63b/b : Suggero: to say manys, egge.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.286 : [Þou] eggedest hem to ete.
- c1425 Treat.10 Com.(StJ-O 94)26 : Him þat þou eggest to synne.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)256/41 : I am sorie of a sight Þat egges me to ire.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)556 : He hadde..to hordom i-eged Gret won..of wommen alive.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1239 : The hole multitude Of oon assent entendeth not rebelle, But egged ar of theim that be to rude.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)13.1 : Delite of synn egges errand men to wen god noght to be.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)6/6 : The devel..eggede the womman Eue for to taste the olde apple.
c
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)39b : Godes engel þe is i swuch time bisiliche abuten to eggin us to gode.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.7 : By þe worþynesse and ensaumple of so worþy writeris i-spiȝt and i-egged [L prouocatus]..I haue y-kast..to make and to write a tretes.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)10.52 : He eggeþ..to goode.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)26b/b : A spirit is a subtil aier substaunce þat eggiþ & excitiþ þe vertues of þe body to here doynge & workes.
d
- a1425 Al es bot (Glb E.9)59 : Scho eges hire be lyfe To take hire a ȝong swayn þat wil mai hire swyfe.
2.
(a) To challenge or taunt (someone); (b) to rouse (someone) to anger; to enrage or irritate.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1130 : Burnes he sent enuiously to þemperour & egged him swiþe bi a certayne day bataile to abide.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)580/26 : Sir Dynadan egged hym so that he justed wyth sir Lameroke.
b
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.49.23 : Thei eggiden [WB(2): wraththeden; L exasperaverunt] hym out, and streuen, and enuyden to hym, hauynge dartis.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.32.21 : Thei han eggid [L provocaverunt] me in hym that was not God.
- a1500 Lady Prioress (Hrl 78)p.113 : But he that bod all the brunt, how sherwly he was egged, For to here hys dyrge do, and se hys pet deggyd.