Middle English Dictionary Entry
ei(e)ful adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | ei(e)ful adj. Also aiful, heiuol, (early) eifulle & (error) eyfold. |
| Etymology | OE ege-full. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. eiesful.
1.
Inducing fright or terror, terrible.
Associated quotations
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)81 : He hem gaf to andswere eifulle word.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)19/5 : Ða eifulle dieulen ðe bieð swa laðliche and swo grislich.
- c1225 St.Kath.(1) (Tit D.18)40 : Þurh fearlac of eiful [vr. eisfule] þreates.
- c1400 Glo.Chron.A (Add 19677)7729 : Eyfold [vr. eyful; Arms 58 (f.187v): ayfull; Clg: Sturne he was þoru out al, & heiuol & prout].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: The headform spelling ei(e)ful appears to be based on the spelling of the etymon, although none of the forms in the quots. has the second -(e)- (unlike the related entry ei(e)sful adj., in which at least one of the forms does).--notes per MLL