Middle English Dictionary Entry
fēblishen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | fēblishen v. |
| Etymology | AF *febliss-, extended stem of *feblir; cp. CF foiblir. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To grow feeble; (b) to weaken (persons, animals, strength, etc.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Fran.(1) (LdMisc 108)432 : He drouȝ to-ward þe deþe and feblischede ful swiþe faste.
b
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.22.10 : If eny leene to his neiȝbore oxe, asse, sheep..and it were deed or feblishid.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)70 : Thou shalt be thanne feeblished with woundes.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)198 : I..am falle in age, Gretly feblysshed of old infirmite.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)240/3 : The prowesse is mollified, the constaunce broken, the strenght feblischid [CQ(1): brought in debilitee].., and the richesse wastid.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.15rb (1.4) : Perauenture þis man is 'calidus' & 'humidus' and in euen temperure atwene þe 4 qualites, but for alse mykel os in cas þe kynde of his compleccioun appeireþ and lesseþ and feyntiþ and feblisscheþ, and befalleþ perauenture þat his hete encreseþ and his moystehede vanissheþ and so he falliþ to be 'colericus' þere he was afornhand 'sanguineus.'
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.55ra (2.7) : It falleþ often tyme þat his fete ar colde & slepand, and his heryng feblissheþ.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.97vb (3.10) : Somtyme þe lyuer is feblisshed & fadid and vanysch awaie, and so his kynd mygh faileþ.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)23221 : And alle þe folk þat þai thre ledde So febliste war and so harde stedde, Gaf bak and fledde for flebes slik To þe britons of amorik.
Note: Antedate sense (b). New spellings: feblisshen, feblisschen; p. ppl. febliste.