Middle English Dictionary Entry
feining ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | feining ger. Also fening. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The act of making or inventing; also, the thing made; (b) the form of words spoken.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)311a/a : Peynture is y cleped pictura as it were fictura, feynynge.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)45a : Fenyng: factio, fictio, figmentum, commentum, figmen.
b
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)145/26 : Þe borewer..consentiþ with al his partinent willyngis..accordyng to þe pretensioun and þe feynyng and sown of his wordis, wiþout eny inward reclaym.
2.
(a) Fiction, a story or tale; the act of composing a fiction; (b) a legal fiction, a quibble at law; (c) a supposition; a false assumption, opinion, or statement.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.279 : Of þe bryngynge forþ of mawmetrie com wel nyh al þe feyninge [L figmenta] of poetrie.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.375 : And soche were þe feynynges [L fictitiæ; Higd.(2): seyenges] of Esyodus and of Orpheus.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)132a/b : Vlcanus was halt whanne Juno hadde þrowen hym to grounde, as feynynge [L figmenta] of poetis meneþ.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1712 : Þis clerke Ouide..List in his fables swyche þinges telle..yit God forbede we schulde ȝif credence To swyche feynyng.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Jer.50.38 : It is the lond of grauun ymagis, and hath glorie in false feynyngis [L portentis; WB(1): wndris].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)53a/a : Prosopopeya: feynynge of speche.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.1432 : Who can or may remembre..off poetis the feynyng to onfolde.
b
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)430/18 : Licinius ordand a law þat no man suld by our 1 acre of land; and he boght many ma. And vnder grace of a fenyng, he excusyd hym þerof & gaff parte þeroff vnto his son.
c
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)345 : Scarioth made oþir apostlis to erre in companye of Crist, and it were to fals a feynyng to seie þat holi Chirche hangiþ on þes.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.136 : Ȝif men loke to resoun, þei may wele se þat many siche feynyngis ben of þe fendis scole.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1010 : For ȝe schal fynde in experience, Withoute feynyng, sothe al þat I telle.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)208 : His verray blode vnder liknesse of wyne, substanciallye and holly with outen eny feynynge or disceyte; and not onely in figure, as the false heretike seithe.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)105 : Wilful feynyngis wiþoute sufficient colour or semyng in resoun ouȝten not be holden in eny mater of eernest.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)158/26 : Alle þat lacken her groundingis ouȝten to be taken as feynyngis and wilful forgingis.
3.
Pretense, dissimulation, hypocrisy.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.32.6 : The fool forsothe fool thingus shal speke..that he fulfille feynyng [L simulationem] and speke to the Lord gilendely.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.12.9 : Loue with oute feynynge [L simulatione].
- c1390 Form Conf.(1) (Vrn)340 : I knowleche me gulti..in alle þe circumstaunces of pruide: In veyn glorie..in feynynge.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.556 : Ne koude man by twenty thousand part Countrefete the sophymes of his art..Ther doublenesse or feynyng sholde approche.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1904 : With feynyng and with fraude.
- 1425(a1400) Spec.Chr.(1) (Lnsd 344)153/6 : Flatringe & fals feyninge [vr. fenyng].
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1556 : Ryght so dide he With feynynge and with every subtil dede.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12203 : This Vlixes..aunterit hym neuer..But with falshed & flatery, feynyng of wordes.
- c1500(c1440) C.d'Orl.My hertly love (Roy 16.F.2)225/133 : Ye schal not fynd feynyng or variauns As in my part.
4.
Reluctance, hesitation, evasion; without ~, without reservation, whole-heartedly.
Associated quotations
- c1410 Chaucer CT.Cl.(Hrl 7334)E.970 : I desire also ȝow for to serue and plese in my degre wiþoute feynyng, and schal euer mo.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3859 : Þei ran I-fere..Liche wode liouns..þer was no feynyng founden in her fiȝt.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1971 : Hoolly and pleyn Y yelde me, Withoute feynyng or feyntise, To be governed by youre emprise.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)225 : Forethy wythowttyn feynynge enforce ȝow þe more To feede ȝow with syche feble as ȝe before fynde.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)85 : Sire, bythoght fening, Take thy sone in my kypyng.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)1101 : I besette hyt To love hir in my beste wyse,..be my trouthe, Withoute feynynge outher slouthe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)250/224 : Com on! tryp on thi tose without any fenyng.
- a1500 Richardoune Stones (Add 34360)60/3 : Gentilnesse and curtesie wold be rewardede Of al creatures..Without feyneng or grucchyng of hert enhardede.