Middle English Dictionary Entry
ēten n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ēten n. Also etain; eotend, eatant; yoten, geten. |
| Etymology | OE eoten, OI jötunn; final -nd, -nt from ME geant or OE ent giant. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A supernatural being of great size and strength, an ogre, a giant; also, a human being with these attributes; often fig.; (b) etene ring, circle of the giants (the reference is to a prehistoric monument of the type of Stonehenge).
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1832 : Þa comen þære twenti..eotendes [Otho: eatantes], longe muchele & stronge.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)545 : Of hem woren ðe getenes boren, Migti men, and figti.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)950 : Yhold he was so A neten in ich afiȝt.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7443 : Goli, þat eten [vrr. a ȝoten, þat etin, an eteyn], In fule hordom þan was he geten.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)723 : He werrez..wyth bullez and berez,..And etaynez, þat hym anelede of þe heȝe felle.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)776 : Þoȝ ȝe wer etnes [vr. gyauntes] echon.
- c1440 St.Chris.(Thrn)788 : Þou foule, þou etayne! Alle my knyghtes þou garte be slayne.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4745 : Ȝarmand & ȝerand, a ȝoten him semed.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)17275 : Þa spæc Mærlin..Iseo ȝe nu ohte men..þe hul swa swiðe hæh..hit hatte þere Eotinde Ring, elches weorkes unniliche. Hit com of Aufrike.