Middle English Dictionary Entry
expellen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | expellen v. |
| Etymology | L expell-ere. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To drive out or away (an enemy, an invader); exorcise (the Devil); (b) to exile (a person from a town or country), to banish; to expel (from an organization); fig. to banish (someone from happiness); (c) to remove or evict (a person from his property).
Associated quotations
a
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.1943 : Alle tho foreyns that dede a-boute hym duelle..Out off that cuntre he dede hem expelle.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)21/27 : Seynte Edwarde, þe Danys expellyd & ouer-comyn, made one comyne lawe.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.99 : The kynge..expellede Canutus from Lindisey.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.87 : Men of Scythia, from whom thei were expellede.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)924 : Mercy expellyt hys [the Devil's] myght.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)1764 : The staff..Sche took to the, hym [a beast] to expelle.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)103 : A childe be the signe of the crosse may hym [the Devil] fere and expelle.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5569 : A sone..Þat schulde hym pleinly from his regne expelle.
- (1436) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23223 : All such persons shuld by the ordinary be prived and expellyd out that monastery perpetually.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)325 : Therfor ȝe are bothe, and youre kynrede, Out of that place of felicyte [the Garden of Eden] Expellyd.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)21/174 : From joy oure lorde wold us expelle..in joye of paradyse nevyr more to duelle.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.53 : He wolde expelle yonge men from his scole.
- a1525(?1472) Cov.Leet Bk.374 : That withoute any excuse or delaye ye expelle & putte hym oute of the same our Citie, and in noo wyse suffre him to abide there.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)353 : Therle of Warwike and therle of Arondell That exiled were, and the lorde Cobham eke, With all theyr frendes þat kyng Richard did expell.
c
- (1421) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xvii : Withowte process of lawe, drovyn and expellyd the same Rauf from his forseyd heryage [read: herytage].
- (1466-7) *Plea & Mem.R.Lond.GildhA 88.mem.2 : To ammeve and expelle from the same [house] for euermore.
2.
To dispel, eliminate, or cast out (abuses, vices).
Associated quotations
- (1444) RParl.5.73a : In repressyng and expellyng al maner riottes and extortions.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Gloriosa (Trin-C R.3.20)229 : Be þou oure socour, our vyces to expelle.
- ?a1450 Whane that phebus beemes (Cleo C.4)93 : All worldly plesures from vs to exspell.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.289 : How he myȝte expelle and avoide the envy of men.
- c1475 O lord omnipotent (Trin-C R.3.21)37 : The world thow dost enbrace, Expellyng vyce from the yates of oure credence.
- c1450(1446) Nightingale (Clg A.2)65 : Expelling clerly all..negligence.
3.
Med. To drive out or eliminate (bad 'humors', poison).
Associated quotations
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2751 : The vertu expulsif or animal..Ne may the venym voyden ne expelle.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)21b/a : Causez forsoþ of reume & deriuacioun of materie..viz. to þe fortitude or strengþ of þe membre expellyng or puttyng out..And to þe streytnez of þe expellyngz.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)118b/a : Of which þe cause efficient..was nature expellyng.
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)1721 : Alle Corrupt humors expelleth echoon With a letuarye Callyd Dionysoon.