Middle English Dictionary Entry
expleiten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | expleiten v. Also espleiten, esploiten, expleten, -pliten. |
| Etymology | AF espleit-er; infl. by L explēt-um, ppl. of explē-re fulfill, complete, etc. Sense 4. 'to explicate, etc.' is likely influenced by explien v. (L explicare). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To expedite, facilitate, or give good speed to (a journey); to favor or be propitious to (someone).
Associated quotations
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.1978 : Of Theodosie texpleite the passage Fill a myracle to his auauntage.
- a1456(?1417) Lydg.DTChaucer (Add 16165)8 : My maystre Chaucyer goodely to convey, Him to expleyten, and firþerne on his way With holsome spede.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)12223 : Yiff thow wylt in thy pylgrymage Be wel exspleyted.
2.
To fulfill or satisfy (a desire or request); expleiten nede(s), to satisfy or meet needs with appropriate action.
Associated quotations
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)139/29 : Than Esploite he [the king] the grete nedis.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)158/8 : To hym longyth nedes to Esplete..wronges to redresse.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6174 : I dwelle with hem that proude be..And grete nedes kunnen espleiten, And gon and gadren gret pitaunces.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.713 : He [Marcus Regulus] is repaired ageyn onto Cartage..texpleite ther lust certeyne.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.101 : This Dioclician was a subtile man of witte, in so moche that he cowthe explete [Trev.: fulfille; L explere, complere] his cruellenesse thro envy of other men.
3.
To execute or complete (a task, an order, a journey), finish (a declaration); accomplish (a purpose); to win (a victory).
Associated quotations
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.517 : Thi werk texpleite the laurer for to wynne.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)285 : My travaylle Was expleyted that no thyng did faylle.
- ?c1450 Trivet Constance (Harv Eng.938)241 : Withyn a lytell whyle kyng Alle had expleted the Victory in scotlonde.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)1.277 (v.1:p.10) : That man whom the angel apostata shal taken and intren in..to expleten and prechen his cautelous falshode, shal chesyn therto subtile, slye, and double men.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)78.131 (v.2:p.79) : Whan she had expletid this sentence with such wordis as she myght, she seid no more.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.IVMass (Trin-C R.3.21)544 : Hit maketh hem strong..Gracyously to explete theyr vyage.
- a1500(1444) Let.Curteys in RS 96.3 (Add 7096)272 : The materys comprehendid in þe said commission and prevy seelys shulde be in all haste possible labouryd and explaytyd.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)10 : She hadde fully espleyted his purpos.
4.
To unfold or give (an account), to relate or explain (something), explicate.
Associated quotations
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)152/18 : He prechyd meche a-geyn þe seyd creatur, not expressyng hir name, but so he expleytyd hys conseytys þat men vndirstod wel þat he ment hir.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)439 : As he þat ful weel and eke ful treuly can expleite þe message of crist.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)134 : Be cause þis cherch is dedicate to seynt nycholas, sumwhat of his lyf wil we expleite her.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)141.184 (v.2:p.399) : Gerardus .. in his omelyis explityth [L ostendit] this same processis by mannye diuers and coriously endytyd circumstauncys, the whiche for yt ys diffuhs and prolix I passe ouyr at this tyme.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)142.38 (v.2:p.406) : Barnard .. coriously .. explytid [L explanauit] this lessoun of Luc: 'Missus est...'