Middle English Dictionary Entry
ē̆vening n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | ē̆vening n.(2) Also (Orm.) effning & efnung. |
| Etymology | OE efning; cp. OI jafningi. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. evenling.
1.
An equal (as to rank, excellence, etc.); a peer; fellow, neighbor (in the Biblical sense); -- often with to or with phrase.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)10702 : & tatt tu wiþþ þin efenninng þe metelike lede.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)10991 : Faderr & Sune & Holiȝ Gast, Illc an effninng wiþþ oþerr.
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)162 : Þer sculen eueningges [Eg(1): heueninges; Trin-C: efninges] bon þe riche and þe laȝe.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)118 : Hire feder hefde iset hire earliche to lare, ant heo..undernom hit se wel þet nan nes hire euening.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)300 : Nis na þing euening ne eche wið godd.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)16/154 : Engel & meiden beoð euening i uertu i meidhades mihte.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)16/151 : Þu of earnest, meden, to beon englene euening i þe eche blisse of heouene.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)49a : To beo martirs euening.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)334 : Hwuche unðeauwes beoð efnunge to þeos?
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)772 : Vuel strengþe is lutel wurþ Ac wisdom..naueþ non euening.
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)47 : To lunye his euenyng al so hym seolue.
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)360 : Þu hit seyst, queþ vre louerd, nabbe ich non euenyng.
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)84 : Al so veyr as absalon, þat neuede on eorþe non euenyng.
- a1300 Edi beo þu (Corp-O 59)44 : Nis non maiden under sunne þe mei beo þin eueni[n]g.
- a1350 St.Alex.(1) (LdMisc 108)20/8 : His fader was a gret lording Of rome, a kynges euening.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23392 : Þe angels..þat þou sal euening þan be to.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25071 : He es bath euening and pere In wirscip til his fader dere.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)192/15 : For so he loueþ loue þat he makeþ loue his euenynge..He makeþ hir his maister.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)55/22 : He was man that none othyr was his eunynge in al goodness, and Ensample of al knyghtys.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2217 : If we..Take harme..Of any erdyng in erthe euenyng to vs, Hit were shortly a shame.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1117 : Hast thow enuyet þyn euenynge..Hast þow enuyet þyn vnderlyng?