Middle English Dictionary Entry
among(es prep.
Entry Info
| Forms | among(es prep. Also amonk(e, amonx, amongist, amang(es; emong, emang(es, emaung, emung; imong, imang(es; omang(es; en mang, in mong(e, in mange, on mang; mang(is, mong. |
| Etymology | OE noun phrases on gemong, in ~, & advs. & preps. gemong, gemang, onmang, amang (with dat.). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Amid or among (people, persons of a certain class or country, etc.); in the presence of; ~ hem selve (our selve), among themselves (ourselves); (b) in or among (a crowd, a group, a people, etc.); (c) between (two parties, persons, or actions).
Associated quotations
a
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)2/14 : Nu heo hi dæleþ heom imong.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)2350 : Nass þatt næfre fundenn ær Amang wimmenn onn erþe Þatt [etc.].
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)6733 : Forr rihht all swa summ hord off gold Mang menn iss horde deresst.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)79 : A mon..fol imong þoues.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)85 : Among al his underþede.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10292 : Þis iseȝen Bruttes..þat Seuarus in his hirede hæfde..grið, & mong [Otho: a-mong] heom seoluen vnimete seorȝen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)31912 : Þa Bruttes..æuere heo weoren fleme; no durste heo næuere mængen imong Englisce monnen.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)195 : Alse shep amang wulfes.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)641 : Amonges men a swete [s]mel he let her of his holi spel.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)700 : Cristes helpe be us amonge.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1620 : Godes hus..heuenegate amongus us.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3129 : Oc among gu, dredeð gu nogt.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3419 : If ymong x wurð ogt mis-don.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)542 : Þis lond was þo ideled a þre amang þre sones.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1156 : Ioye & murþe inou among hom was þere.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)21/562 : Þaȝ he [Christ] were inne hys manhode Amanges ous to flotie.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.45 : Otho..regnede among [L apud] Duchesmen.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.206 : In helle..the moore deedly hate ther is among hem.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.506 : Murmure eek is ofte amonges seruauntz.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.40 : Hier in erthe amonges ous.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.931 : Wel I woot, greet stryf is vs among.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Monk fr.Death (Phys-E)p.30 : He was halden an haliman Imange his felaus euerilkan.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6570 : Qua held þe fast mang [Göt: emang; Frf: a-mong] oþer men?
- a1400 Cursor (Phys-E)20976 : Baþe mangis [Vsp: mang] man and rinnand beste.
- a1400 Rolle Encom.Jesu (Hrl 1022)190 : Ihesu es noght funden in ryches, bot in pouert..not among many, bot in alones.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)3.42 : Amonges kniȝtes and clerkis conscience to torne.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)3.168 : Suche a maistre is Mede amonge men of gode.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.242 : I lerned amonge lumbardes and iewes a lessoun.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)82 : Amonge enmyes so mony & mansed fendes.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)470 : Cortayse..And charyte grete be yow among.
- (1423) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)267 : I wole þat xx li. be deled amonge pore men and women.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)677 : Sich swete song was hem among..it was wondir lyk to be Song of mermaydens of the see.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)130/7 : A precyous ston þat is amonges hem.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)71/8 : He said þai had murtherd him amang þam.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)25/30 : Þe wicke þat ere imangis þaim.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Pass.(Hrl 4196)641 : Þis man þat standes omanges ȝow.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)84/25 : A preste þat was a-monx hem.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)40/8 : His knyghtis..said emanges þam selfe [etc.].
- a1450(a1400) Athelston (Cai 175/96)284 : Sche swownyd amonges hem alle.
- a1450(1401) For drede (Dgb 102)73 : Among philosofres wyse..men writen fynde, Þat synne is cause of cowardyse.
- a1450 Pore of spirit (Dgb 102)70 : To pore folk he is profytable, Þat leueþ his good hem amonges.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)726 : Emunge þe grete and þe smalle.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)1067 : And i myself emunge hom all As a king stode.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)499/20 : When þis temptacion was knowen emangis his brethur.
- (1451) Lin.DDoc.53/23 : To do emong yam Alsmany messes as a prest myst syng in A ȝer.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)2 : This noumbir of sex is amongis writeres mech comendid for that same perfeccion that longith to sex.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)339/7 : He was here amongyst you a twelve-monthe.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)196/1412d : Þe holy gost Lyght adown in forme of fyre Amongis his aposteles.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)128/378 : Now crystys holy name be vs emang!
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)260/60 : Emangys vs all, I red we kest To bryng this thefe to dede.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)7 : This londe stode..in grete werre amonges hem selfe for defaute of a kynge.
- a1500 Ihesu þt was borne (Adv)154 : And amonke howr selfe byn mony a frey.
- a1500 3rd Fran.Rule (Seton)46/8 : Striues and debatis emonge the brethren and susters of this reule.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)30820 : Ymong þan wrecche uolke Þat maiden heo hudde.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)28/5 : & makien þet tu nere na mare imong moncun imuneget on eorðe.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)2229 : Among þe þrenge of sipmen [Clg: Imong þon scipmonnen] hii funde þeos maydenes.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1592 : Esau..beð mengt ðat kin among.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3876 : Ðo flew dor water..Al folc and erue a-nog a-mong.
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)1291 : Þe steward swore þe pople among.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)65 : Huanne þe dyeuel yziȝþ loue and onynge amang uolke, moche hit him uorþingþ.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 6.9 : Fyue barley looues and tweye fysches; but what ben thes thingis among [L inter] so many men?
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)76/15 : Þare was grete disese ymang þe oste.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)369 : Y-monge þe pres.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)1196 : Þat oþer day, conseil he tok Amanges þe commune.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1231 : Opyn reprofe falis hir vnto Omang þe couent euer-ilkane.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)54/88 : Amonges ffelacheppe whan þou dost sytt.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.669 : His herte..Among hise bedes most devoute Goth in the worldes cause aboute.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.885 : Is ther swych blisse among Thise loveres?
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)55 : Mars..throng now her now ther among [vr. amongis] hem bothe.
2.
(a) In with (sth. else); within; ~ hemself, with each other; (b) in among (sth.); (c) in or under (certain conditions).
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.58 : He mot wel ekenn maniȝ word Amang Goddspelless wordess.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)11697 : In mi orchard, Imang mi treis of paradis.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.162 : Thilke ordenaunce..atemprith the elementz togidre amonges hemself [L in se].
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.851 : Yat nane of yat crafte wirke any lede amang other metaill, bot yf yt be in souldour.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1687 : As men a pot of bawme helde Among a basket ful of roses.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)101 : The wolle of Spayne..if it be tosed and menged well Amonges Englysshe wolle.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apost.(Dub 245)433 : Þei poudren blasphemye in among þis apostasye.
b
- c1400 *PPl.C (Trin-C R.3.14)[14.43] f.32b : Þeiȝ þe messanger make his wey amonge [Hnt: a-mydde] þe faire whete.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3169 : The avawmwarde voydez theire horsez..the vines imangez.
c
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)121 : Imong alle þere pine þe he for us þolede, ne undude he nefre ene his muð.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)69/16 : Amang alle ðese embeðankes is ðe wrecche hierte swa iheueȝed.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)2240 : Omang [L inter] his grete anguys Hym þai sal tak.
- c1455 Spec.Miser.(Tak 32)80 : Thus am I alle meschevys amonge.
3.
In, among, from among (a certain number of persons or things); ~ other, among others.
Associated quotations
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1107 : On mang þa oððre þe abbotrices under fengon Ernulf..feng to þam abbotrice on Burh.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5863 : Forr kallf wass..An lac amang þa lakess Þatt wærenn offredd Drihhtin Godd.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)5/18 : Ðies ilche modinesse, ðeih hie habbe loth and dale mang alle oðre sennes.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)1/10 : Moni cunne riwle beoð, auh two beoð among [Corp-C: bimong] alle þet ich chulle speken of.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)77/1339 : Tuelf felaȝes wiþ him wente, Among hem Aþulf þe gode.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)124 : Þise uour uirtues byeþ y-cleped cardinals uor þet hi byeþ heȝest amang þe uirtues.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)132 : A-mong foure schore vnneþe findestow on gode.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)582 : Among alle þe maidenes, most sche loued one.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3344 : And maked ech of hem to been his thral. Amonges othere, Danyel was oon.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3549 : Amonges othere thynges than he wan.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1418 : Scarsly amonges twelue ten shul thryue.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)199a/b : Among alle metalles bras is most notable.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)671 : Emang his mani serekyn sele, I sal tell sum-quat of his wele.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)967 : O-mang [Göt: Emang; Trin-C: Among] þine oþer werkes hend, O þi winning giue me þe tend.
- (?1430) Paston2.32 : Ye..have hys power in many grete articles, and mong other, in profession of monkes in Inggelond.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)11 : Amonge sundry thyngys: Inter.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)103/31 : Inmange al othir, ane [a wand] bare I: Itt florisshed faire.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)122/18 : Þes foure vertues ben cleped cardinals for þei ben pryncipals amonges þe vertues.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)7/13 : Among all othre prisoners, he founde the kynges brothre of Spayne.
- (1455) Lin.DDoc.81/5 : I..amonges other, haue enfeoffed [etc.].
- (1467) LRed Bk.Bristol1.17 : The Mair..and Burgeyszes..amongs other libertees..have uszed..a libertee [etc.].
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)44/15 : Amonges all chylderyn..A louelyer chylde is non trewly.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)104/218 : Amonge All women blyssyd art thu.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apost.(Dub 245)435 : In mong alle þe men þat evere weren her in erþe.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)15/10 : Amonge þese dedis whiche ben reulid bi doom of resoun or feiþ, summe ben iugid [etc.].
4.
(a) Amid or during (a certain activity or event); along with; (b) ~ this, etc., meanwhile; (c) ~ þam þe, ~ þat, while.
Associated quotations
a
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1127 : Wæs se eorl Karle of Flandres of slagen on ane circe..amang þane messe.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)15367 : & siþþenn don þeȝȝ falls & flærd Amang þe gode lare, & all biswikenn swa þe follc.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.DD (Lamb 487)43 : Heore eþem scean swa deð þe leit amonge þunre.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)18174 : Amang [Clg: Imong] þis motinge Merlyn at-wende.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.167 : Kyng Edward..lough among þe solempnetes of þe masses.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.40/23 : To this mane, amonge praynge yn the same place, sumtyme apperid the modyr of mercy.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.33 : Among remembryng, thynk on this langage.
- a1450 Chaucer LGW (Tan 346)1218 : A-monges al this, to romblen gan the heuene.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)176/229 : Amonges all þat grett rowthte, he is ded.
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1101 : Ac on mang þison com se eorl Rotbert up æt Portes muðan.
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)31/146 : Onmang þyssen þingen, heo wæs bisig and gedrefd.
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1135 : Enmang þis was his nefe cumen to Englelande.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.785 : Among al this..This markys..Ful boistously hath seyd [etc.].
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.6.44 : Among thise thinges [L interea] sitteth the heye makere..and governeth.
c
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1105 : & on mang þam þe he þær wunode, he gewann of his broðer Caþum and Baius.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)108/15 : Þa imong þæt heo þus speken, þa com þær [etc.].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)18174 : Imong þat he king wæs..Merlin him æt-wende.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)183 : Among þat þe sowle witeð, þe licame worpeð hewe.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)127/15 : Pacem relinquo uobis..Sahtnesse ich do imong [Cai: imog] ow.
- ?c1450(a1388) Wallingford Exafrenon (Dgb 67)203 : When a planete is in his triplicite, he is likned till a man in his wirshipe emonge his helpis.
Note: New spelling
- c1200 Wor.Serm.in EGSt.7 (Wor Q.29)27 : Efter þen þet ure drictin hefde heuene ischapen and engles imaket, o mang heom ves on engel þet vas brithere and feire þene ani of þen oþre.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)239 : Icc ne beo mang wimmannkinn Till hæþinng butenn chilldre.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)27 : Hu derst þu mon þer on-ȝein underfon drihtenes..blod in þine licome imong þan unwreste sunne and ec imong þan deofle þe wuneð in him.
- c1230 Ancr.(Corp-C 402)102/10 : Her to falleð euenunge of ham seolf, of hare cun, of sahe oðer of dede. Þis is among nunnen.
- (1258) Procl.Hen.III in PST (1868)21 : We senden ȝew þis writ..to halden a manges ȝew inehord.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)563 : Wat dostu godes among monne?
Note: Additional quote(s)