Middle English Dictionary Entry
fāǧen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | fāǧen v. |
| Etymology | Cp. MnE dial. fage flatter, etc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To flatter, coax, cajole; to beguile with blandishment, to trick or deceive with false praise; fagen falsli or fro the treuth; --with or without obj., or with to phrase.
Associated quotations
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.44 : It is manere of ypocritis..to fage and to speke plesantli to men, but for yvel entent.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.56 : Þei spaken fagynge wordis as ypocritis doen.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7989 : Me list nat lye..What schulde I feyn or fage fro þe trouþe?
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Judg.14.15 : Thei seiden to the wijf of Sampson, Faage [WB(2): gloss; L blandire] to thi man, and meue hym, that he [etc.].
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)22/6 : Many..like wer to scorpions, for with þere hede flaterand þai haue fagyd, & with þare tayl bakbytand þai haue smyttyn.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.4622 : For there is noon mor dreedful pestilence Than a tunge that can flatre and fage.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.OFools (LdMisc 683)74 : Another fool with counterfeet vysage Is he that can falsly ffage and ffeyne.
- c1450 MS Cmb.Ff.5.30 in EETS 75 (Cmb Ff.5.30)p.120 : Þo þat most fagen and plesen þee soonest goon awey and deysceuen þee.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)43b : Fageyng: Blandus, blandulus, blandiciosus.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)44/17 : Schamefully and lewdely thou hast fagyd hym.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.13 : Hire husband..sho broght him inne with faging wordes white.
2.
To soothe or assuage; indulge (the flesh).
Associated quotations
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)7622 : Saul..bi-gan to rage and dauid come him to fage [Vsp: suage].
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4669 : Ȝe bot fage ay þe flesche & felsen it wele.