Middle English Dictionary Entry
ēlden v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | ēlden v.(1) |
| Etymology | From ēlde ; in S also from ēld old. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. ōlden.
1.
Of living beings: (a) to grow old; (b) to be subject to the effects of advancing age; to decline, grow feeble.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350 Prov.Hend.(Hrl 2253)59 : Loke þat þou do hit so selde, In þat sunne þat þou ne elde, þat þou neuer deȝe þer inne.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Bar.3.11 : Thou hast eldid [WB(2): wexidist eld] in an alien lond.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)142b/a : Whan þe egle eldeþ, þe bile waxiþ..hard.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Josh.13.1 : Thow hast eeldid [WB(2): hast woxe eld] and art of loong age.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)137 : Eelden, agyn: veterasco.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)73/9 : Go in-to þe lond of lif, þere non dyeþ ne non eldeþ.
b
- a1250(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Mdst A.13)465 : Elde..dohþ þe man to elden þat him self ne mai him welden.
- a1350 Heȝe louerd (Hrl 2253)27 : When y se steden styþe in stalle ant y go haltinde in þe halle, Myn huerte gynneþ to helde.
- c1390 Treat.Mass (Vrn)103 : Þat day schalt þou elde nouȝt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)182a/b : Oþere þer ben [in India] þat lyuen ful longe and elden neuere, but dyen as it were in myddil age.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)13 : If he hadde etun of þe tree of lijf not forbodun, he schulde neuer haue eelded, ne were sijk, ne deyed.
2.
Of things: to deteriorate through age, use, or decay; grow weak.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)18814 : Þu wirrkesst arrkess aȝȝ off tre Þatt eldenn & forrwurrþenn.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)18826 : Þatt arrke iss whilwendlike þing & eldeþþ & forrwurrþeþþ.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)101.27 : Hij [the earth and the heavens] shul perissen, þou for-soþe dwellest; and alle shul by-gynne at elden [Rolle Psalter, NVPsalter: elde] as cloþyng.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))2 Esd.9.21 : The clothis of hem eeldeden not.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)131b/b : Alle þingis eldiþ and wexiþ olde and fayleþ ȝif þey ben nat I kept and I saued by vertue of fyre.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)16099 : Nere mote þat hand rote ne elde, But hol wyþouten ende to welde.
3.
(a) To make (sb.) old or feeble; (b) without object.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1400) *Barton's Urines (Sln 280)f.282v : Fleshli couplyng .. tacun oute of mesure .. douþ muche harme. For hit dymmyþ a mannys siȝt & hosiþ his voice, hyt littilliþ his strenȝþe & dulliþ his wit, hit makiþ hym vnlufsum & vntymeli eldiþ hym, hit makiþ hym vnswote & shortiþ his lif, hit priuyþ hym of alle vertuwes & filliþ hym of alle vices.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)391-2 : The tyme that eldith our auncessours, And eldith kynges and emperours.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)158a/b : Euery medicyne forsoþ purgeþ and eldeþ .i. makeþ olde.
4.
To become firmly established (by long practice) -- in phrase elded thing, a habit.
Associated quotations
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26654 : Qua lenges lijs in sin Vnnethes he mai þar-vte win; Of eilded [Frf: elded] thing fful wel we wate Better it es to change þe state.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1467 : Þa ældede þe kinge & wakede an aðelan.
Note: New form: p.sg.3 ældede.
Note: Needed for date.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(a).
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)396 : The tyme, that hath al in welde, To elden [F viellir] folk had maad hir elde.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 4.
Note: Modify gloss: To make old or feeble; to cause (sb.) to grow old, age;--also without obj.
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
- a1300 PMor.(McC 123)4 : Ich eldi more þan ich dude; mi with aȝte beo þe more.
Note: New form: Also..eldi.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(a).
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)17.49 : Straunge childer ben elded [L inveterati sunt] and hij ben made lame fram þy waies.
Note: Modify gloss for sense 1.(a): Of living beings: (a) to grow old; ben elded.
Note: This quot has been taken back to books.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)6.7 : Bitwix my fæs al elded I [L inveteravi].
Note: Needed for date.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(a).
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.6.8 : I haue inwardly eldid [WB(2): Y waxe eld; L inveteravi] among alle myn enemys.
Note: Additional quot.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(a).
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books (except WB(2) vr.).
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.31.4 : Inwardly eldeden [WB(2): wexiden elde; L inveteraverunt] my bones.
Note: Additional quot.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(b).
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books (except for the WB(2) vr.).
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)31.3 : Inueterauerunt ossa mea..eldid my banes whils I cried all the day..my banes eldid, that is, the strenght of my saule failed.
Note: Quot. belongs to (and postdates) sense 1.(b).
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)101.27 : Mannys body..eldis and sall be chawngid in bettere.
Note: Additional quot. for sense 1.(b).
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.359 : As ȝougþe pasith so pasith her bewte, and as þei [man and woman] eldyn, so þey fatyn, til at þe laste þe day of her lyf comyth to an ende.
Note: Additional quot. for sense 1.(b).
Note: ?Revise etymology: (DOE) [OE ealdian.].
Note: Provisional form section: Also elde, eldi, helde; sg.3 eldeth, etc. & (early) (Orm.)eldethth; pl. elden, etc. & (early) (Orm.) eldenn; p. ældede; ppl. elded, etc. & eilded.--notes per MLL