Middle English Dictionary Entry
falwen, -ien v.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | falwen, -ien v.(2) Also falewen, falow, valewen, valui. |
| Etymology | OE fealwian. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of vegetation, fields, etc.: to lose color, turn yellow or brown; fade or wither; (b) fig. to fade, wither, die (as do leaves or flowers).
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)16414 : Faȝeden þa feldes & þat gras falewede.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)18318 : Falewede feldes of fæie blode.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)39 : Þer bloweð inne blisse blostmen hwite & reade..þer ne mei non ualuwen.
- a1333 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Add 46919)p.136 : Valeweth.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)123a/b : Alle þinges þat semeþ dede in wintir & falowid beþ renewid in springinge tyme.
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)110 : Roses..Þat [n]euere shulon falwon ne neuere fade.
- c1450(?a1400) Quatref.Love (Add 31042)208 : Þe seconde lefe..Sulde falowe and falle.
b
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)14/133 : Meiðhad is þe blostme..þah ha falewi sum chere..ha mei eft grenin.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)36b : Þe blisse of heouene þe neauer ne faleweð [Nero: valeweð], ah is aa grene.
- a1250 Mon may longe (Mdst A.13)6 : Al sel valui [vr. falwy] þe grene.
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)16 : Vnder molde hi liggeþ colde & faleweþ so doþ medewe gres.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)81 : Þis uayrhede..fayleþ and ualouweþ.
- c1440 Thre gude brether (Thrn)35 : This bethe þe worme þat schotte noghte, Ne kankire noghte ne falowe noghte.
2.
Of the face, etc.: to turn pale, to blanch; of the hair: to turn gray or white.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4163 : Falewede nebbes.
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)538 : Sone min, ich fele þad min her falewiþ.
- a1300 Loke to þi louerd (StJ-C A.15)5 : Faluet his feyre luer.
- a1400 Whanne þe ffet (Hrl 7322)5 : Whanne..þe hew ffalewetz.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1143 : Wymmen falwed faste & her face chaungen.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5308 : All falowis his face & his flesche trimblis.