Middle English Dictionary Entry
fẹ̄nd n.
Entry Info
Forms | fẹ̄nd n. Also feond, fond, fund, feind, fiend, find, vend, veond, viend, fent, feont, veont, feynt. Pl. fẹ̄ndes, etc.; (early) feonden, funden, fende, vende, feond, veond, fond, fund, fiend. |
Etymology | OE fēond, fīond; pl. fīend, fȳnd, fēond. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who hates, an enemy; -- also said of worms; (b) an opponent in war; (c) an utter enemy, mortal foe; ful ~; most ~, greatest enemy; loð ~, hated enemy; frend other ~, friend or foe, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1118 : & mæst hine dryfdon his agene mæn þe..to his feondan cyrdon.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.Quadr.(Bod 343)46/12 : Þurh ðet heo earnoden..heoræ feond iseon besencte on ðare ylcæn sæ.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)4/39 : Þe sculen nu waxen wurmes be siden, hungrie feond þeo þe freten wulleþ.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5554 : Hu þe birrþ uppo þin fend All hatenn woh & sinne.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)373 : Ær we nulleð mid frescipe faren from ure feonden.
- ?a1300 Fox & W.(Dgb 86)159 : Ihc am to criste vend.
- c1330 Þe siker soþe (Auch)100 : Our fa haue founde we our flesche..& foursum of fendes.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)114 : To uoryeue þe on to þe oþre and louye oure uyendes.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)899 : Lechery, Slawth, & Glotonye, to mans flesch ȝe are fendis Fre.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)116 : And fowls he ordand..By erth and ayer þer lyfes to lede And same won withoutyn fynd.
b
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)13 : Euwer feond eou ne scal derian ne swenchen, ah ic eou ȝife siȝe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5632 : We heom sculleð fon on..feollen oure feondes [Otho: onfrendes].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)27667 : He isæh i þan fihte enne ueond fusen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)27789 : Þa ueond weoren abolȝen.
c
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1129 : Se eorl com mid him & wurðon þa alswa gode freond swa hi wæron æror feond.
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)231 : Him a þance befell to underȝeite wa..him were frend oðer fend.
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)219 : Wurst he deð his gode frond [vrr. gode wines, gode wine] þenne his fulle fond [vrr. fulle feonde, fulle uende, fiendes, loðe viende].
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)18/35 : Mine freond aren me..famen & feondes.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)27/280 : Al mi nestfalde cun þet schulde beo me best freond beoð me meast feondes.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)25b : Feond þe þuncheð freond is sweoke ouer alle.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)228 : Huo þet wyle by urend to þe wordle, he ssel by uend to god.
2.
(a) Satan; the ~, our ~, etc.; (b) the ~ of (in) helle, the Devil of (in) hell, Satan; (c) the foul ~, the Foul Fiend; the heigh ~, the Arch Enemy; the old ~, the Old Enemy, the Ancient Foe; envious ~, fals ~, ~ unfre, wikked ~, wrenchful ~, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)12386 : Þærþurrh hemm ofercomm þe fend & brohhte hemm unnderr sinne.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)237 : Forð aȝein mid þan winde þe feond hine ferede.
- a1225 Lamb.Hom.Pater N.(Lamb 487)67/230 : For ure fond nefre ne linnen for to fonden us mid sunnen.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1183 : He bicherde þene feont, & schrenchte þen alde deouel.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)43b : Þer he þolede þet te feond [Nero: ueond] fondede him feole weis.
- a1275 Þene latemeste dai (Trin-C B.14.39)81 : Wose seiþe [read: seiye] þene feind, hu lotliche he boe, Hornes on is heuet & hornes on is cnoe.
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)549 : Þat we mote at vre scrift þane veond schende.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)2841 : He wiþ þan feonde [Clg: þene wurse] spac.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.7 : Lest that the feend thurgh ydelnesse vs hente.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.12.12 : The fend [L diabolus] cam doun to ȝou.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.365 : Þe feend [vr. vend] by his evel wille tormenteþ evel men in helle.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.454 : Me fro the feend and fro his clawes kepe.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.522 : Saue the feend, noon wiste what he mente.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)21831 : Þat feindes [Frf: findis; Phys-E: fendis] cri..iudas herde.
- (1415) Hoccl.Oldcastle (Hnt HM 111)61 : Thow þat thy soule to the feend haast sold.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5907 : Þus þe fend first..toke Forme of a snake.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mat.4.5 : Thanne the feend [WB(1): deuyl] took hym in to the hooli citee, and settide hym on the pynacle of the temple.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)188 : Þe fend lettiþ hem fro prechynge of þe gospel.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)6/7 : The fende also has many þe whilk we trowe be gude.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.1513 : The Feend a while was to hym fauourable.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)500 : The sect of Paternyanys..helden that the louȝer parties of a mannys bodi weren maad of the feend.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)40 : Ogans þe fend, our fa, to fyght.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)9/273 : They Sende Ssathan, þat Ffynde so Ffelle.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)62/171 : All men was slayn..thrugh falsnes of the feynd.
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)14/28 : Ah þu wurchest..þine feader werkes, þe feondes [Roy: fondes] of helle.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)59/636 : Forðe al þi feaders wil, þes feondes of helle.
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)196 : To serve the fend of helle.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.598 : The cursede feend in helle.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.848 : He maketh sacrifice to the feend of helle.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)1481 : He forsoke the foule feende of helle.
c
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)7 : Drihten, þu..warpest þene alde feont.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)890 : Ah þe wrenchfule feont..weorp ham ut sone of paraises selhðen.
- c1300 SLeg.Theoph.(LdMisc 108)33 : Þene heie feond he fond þere, Maister of alle quede.
- ?c1335 Swet ihc hend (Hrl 913)p.82 : Þe fent vnfre halt al to gle Þis tre adun to rote.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)1 : Þe wycked uend.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1159 : This false chanoun, the foule feend hym fecche.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)205 : Þe fyrste felonye þe falce fende wroȝt Whyl he watz hyȝe in þe heven.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.28 : Þe foule fende and fals dome & deth.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)386/234 : Þou wikid feende, latte be thy dynne.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2145 : Þe enuiyus feynte, Sathanas.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)1/25 : Þan he ffallyth a ffend ful blake ffrom hevyn in helle.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)24/35 : The fals feynd Made hym with man wroth.
3.
(a) fendes egging (fleithing, fonding), the Devil's tempting; fendes chain, ~ craft, ~ lor, etc.; (b) fendes beyete (child, fode, foster, whelp), a child of Satan, the Devil's child; fendes kin, kin of the Devil; fendes lim, member of the ~, a limb of the Devil.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)6/37 : Þet beoð flesches lustes & feondes eggunge.
- a1225 Lamb.Hom.Pater N.(Lamb 487)69/242 : Aȝein þes fondes fondunge.
- a1300 Hit bilimpeð (Corp-O 59)33 : Bring us ut of wo & kare & of feondes fondinge.
- c1300 SLeg.Virg.to Devil (Hrl 2277)73 : He gan to sike sore For þe sinne þat he dude þurf þe fundes lore.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)692 : Fendes fleiðing wex wiðal, To wenden men fro godes reed.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3500 : Ne let ðu nogt min wurðfulhed forfaren in ðe fendes red.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)229 : Ac þurw eging of þe fend and Eue.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.571 : It is Cristes myght That helpeth folk out of the feendes snare.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1582 : For thurgh the fendes sleihte him thoghte..That Serapis spak to hom tho.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1134 : Enbracid in þe fendis cheyne.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)193 : Men moste be war þat..þei ben..not slouȝ ne ydel..for þat is þe fendis panter.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1369 : Þan thurgh eggyng of þe fende, A highnes in hir hert myght lend.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)282/297 : Thurgh his fantome and falshed and fendes craft, He has wroght many wondir.
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)6/6 : Bitimde..þet ter com..þe ueondes an foster.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)729 : Heo..com baldeliche biforen þes feondes an foster.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.137 : For youre synne ye ben woxen thral and foul and membres of the feend.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1056 : Bot caim was þe findes [Göt: feindes; Trin-C: fendes; Frf: a deyueles] fode.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.281 : Cambinhoy beres him coy, þat fendes whelp.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)3.42 : Tomorwe worth mede wedded..To on fals faithles of þe feendes kynne.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)357 : It falliþ ofte..þat a tryaunt and a fendis lyme is put bifore a lyme of Crist.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)2.40 : Now worth þis Mede ymaried..To one fals fikeltonge, a fendes biȝete.
- (1434) Proc.Privy C.4.223 : A disciple and leme of þe fende called þe Pucelle þat used fals enchantementes.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)422 : Þe fendis children..He is a leme of þe fend & no part of hooly chirche.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)92/12 : Þou fendys chyld, þys schall be redy token bytwyx me and þe.
4.
(a) the ~ me (you) fecche, the Devil take me (you); the ~ have (fecche) his soul, the Devil take his soul; etc.; (b) defenden (shelden) from the ~, to protect from the Devil; fendes werk, evil deed, sin; ful of the ~, full of the Devil, wicked; on fendes wise, in the Devil's manner, by sorcery; serven the ~, to serve the Devil, commit sins.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275 LSSerm.(Clg A.9)188/34 : Alle þeos false chepmen, þe feond heom wule habbe.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.1064 : Ellis the feend me fecche out of this place!
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1544 : The feend..yow fecche, body and bones.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.705 : The foule feend hym quelle.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.137 : He was a nygarde..þe fende haue his soule!
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)520 : To day, þat fleþe any fote, þe fende haue [vr. feche] his soule!
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)319/367 : I betake you all to þe fende.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11716 : The traytur..the fend hym distroy.
b
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)78/22 : Manie men þoruȝ þe feonde ihelde huy hadden also.
- c1300 SLeg.Theoph.(LdMisc 108)18 : Ho-so pene feond serui wolde.
- a1300 PMor.(Jes-O 29)177 : Þeo þat habbeþ feondes werk idon.
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)60 : Alle his wndres þat he doþ is þureh þene vend.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2961 : Him ðhugte he maden water blod; It was on fendes wise wrogt.
- a1325 Heil beo þou Marie Mylde (StJ-C S.30)8 : Þou bring me out of sinne, & schuld me fram þe fende.
- (a1333) Herebert Come shuppere (Add 46919)9 : Shyld ous from þe veonde.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)7.81 : He schal haue my soule..And defende hit from þe fend.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10248 : Þey haue..serued þe fende.
- a1425(a1400) Ihesu þat hast (Wht)11 : That traytour was ful of þe feende.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)834 : Þe cite had ben seised..Nad þe folke be so fers þat þe fende serued.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)1/14 : Hel is not ordent fore ryȝtwyse me, Bot fore hom þat here seruen þe fynd.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)2/37 : Þai be don aȝayns kynde And bene þe werkys of þe fynde.
5.
One of man's three Foes (the World, the Flesh, and the Devil).
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)2/8 : Monie martyrs..ouercomen & akeasten hare þreo cunne uan: þe ueont [Roy: feont] & teos wake worlt ant hare licomes lustes.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)1.38 : For þe Fend and þe Flesch folewen togedere.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)9.38 : Þorw þe fend and his Flesch and þe False world.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)893 : I am biset heeroute Wiþ my þreo fon al-a-boute: þe fend, þat wiþ me fihteþ euere, Þe world, my flesch.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2611 : The thre enemys of mankynde, that is to seyn, the flessh, the feend, and the world.
- a1450 Thenke hertely (Dgb 102)70 : Þe fend and fals world despise.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)56/7 : Þese greefis comen..fro þe feende or fro oure fleisch or fro þe worlde.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1737 : Byd þe Werld, þe Fend, & þe Flesche þat þey com to fytyn fresche.
6.
(a) One of the fallen angels, a devil; an evil spirit, a demon; a heathen god; an incubus; ~ in bed, a devil in bed, an incubus; reisen a ~, to conjure up a devil; (b) ~ of (in) helle, a devil of hell; (c) foul ~, a loathsome devil.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200(?c1175) PMor.(Trin-C B.14.52)283 : Þar ligeð ateliche fiend [vrr. fend, fund, feond, ueond] in stronge raketeie.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)22/26 : Feondes habbeð fearlac, & engles, of þin eie.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)26/2 : Þe feond þe wende to fordo me tofeol efne atwa.
- a1275 Doomsday (Trin-C B.14.39)38 : Goð, awariede gostes, feondes [Trin-C: funden] ifere.
- ?c1250 I-blessed beo þu (Eg 613)31 : Þat ich at min ende-dai ne habbe non feond to fere.
- ?a1300 Thrush & N.(Dgb 86)18 : He seiþ bi niȝte and eke bi day Þat hy beþ fendes Ifere.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)4073 : Ðe mestres of ðise hore-men Ðe fendes folgen and me flen.
- ?c1335 Þe grace of ihu (Hrl 913)162 : Hou þe fentis sul men har mone.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.430 : He semes as it were a fende Þat comen were out of helle.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)68.18 : Deliuer me..fram þe temptaciouns of fondes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.363 : In þe oon partie is ofte grete destourbaunce and discomfort of fendes [Higd.(2): of deuelles; L dæmonum].
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)1.112 : Þene fel he with his felawes and fendes bicomen.
- c1390 Deus caritas (Vrn)39 : And schild vs from þe fendes blake.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.603 : Ther fore bihoueth hire a ful long spoon That shal ete with a feend.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.861 : I haue yow told ynowe To reyse a feend.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)2303 : Feindes crepe þas ymagis widin.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)221 : Fellen fro þe fyrmament fendez ful blake.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5919 : Cursid ydoles..Ful ofte spekis be spirites..Whiche ar but fendis.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Tob.3.8 : Sche was ȝouun to seuene hosebondis, and a feend [WB(1): deuel], Asmodeus bi name, killide hem.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)612 : Sexty geauntes..engenderide with fendez.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)8089 : Incuby, demones, ys cald þer name, ffendes-in-bedde, as our bokes sayn, Þat many woman han forlayn.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)649 : So ȝe sacrifice don to selkouþe fendus.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)3 : Than ansuerde anothir fende and seide, 'I have power for to sowe seede in woman and make her conceyve.'
b
- c1225 St.Marg.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)13/27 : Mine ifan, þes feondes of helle, habben ne halden hare hoker of me.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)232 : Þet byeþ þe viendes of helle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.5335 : Asmod, which was a fend of helle.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10942 : God ȝyue me grace..To shame alle þe fendes of helle.
- a1400 An ernemorwe (Mert 248)4 : Þe uendus of helle beþ sorwuel & mad.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)974 : Five arowis..Were also blak as fend in helle.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)146/5 : Þat tyme the fendes of helle camen many tymes & leyen with the wommen.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)95/20 : It is oure enemyes, alle þe feendis of hellis, glading and plesing.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)589/34 : Infernas: a vende of helle.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)59/61 : All þe fendys of hell xall ben affrayd.
c
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3130 : Titli me telle..wheþer þou be a god gost..oiþer any foule fend.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1639 : And with that word, this foule feend hym hente.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)27026 : To niȝt þai salle þe focche away, þat is to sai, þe foule fende [Vsp: findes].
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.11 : Wiþ þe foule fendys for to dwell.
7.
A demon or devil which has entered into a person to cause madness; haven a ~, ben travailed with a ~, to be possessed, be insane.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.85 : Decius and Valerius were itravailled wiþ a fend [L dæmonio; Higd.(2): with a spiritte].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.437 : Oon þat hadde a fende [L dæmoniacus].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13976 : Seuen feindes vte of hir cast crist.
- a1400(c1340) Rolle Psalter (Hat 12)prol.4/10 : Þe sange of psalmes chaces fendes.
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)6/16 : Bifore his passioun he..ȝaf his disciplis myȝt & power ouer alle þe deueles & fendes.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)106/17 : It heleth him þat is lunatyk & hem þat the fend pursueth or trauayleth.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)95a : Hit is not in þe strenkeþe of an yuel spirit to caste þe feondes [Sal: vendes].
8.
(a) A monster, a devil in the shape of a man or beast; fend dragoun, monstrous dragon; (b) of persons: monster; (c) as (like, with) the ~, as (like) the Devil; as (like) a ~, as (like) a fiend.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1811 : Brutus & his gode folc under-ȝeten þeos feondes.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)25658 : Þer wes icumen a scaðe liðe..wel reordi feond.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)78/26 : Tweie dragones þat feondes weren, to heom huy cleopeden.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1464 : Oȝain þat fende dragoun A fot he tok þe fiȝt.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)745 : And Edippus anon smote of the hed Of this fende stynkyng and vnswete.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1996 : Wher that he dar, his lyf to kepe and save, Fyghten with the fend [Minotaur] and hym defende.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)881 : Þar filsnez þat fende..Appone the creste of the cragge.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)5564 : Þe schal come an hors to hande; Faire he is of body pyȝte..It is a ffeend as j þe telle.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)219 : He buskette him ȝare..Aȝaynus þe fynde for to fare.
- a1500 Eglam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)697 : Ther lythe a dragon..The fende ys of so grete renowne, Ther dar no man come nere the town.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)1035 : Thow the fyndes ey were owte, Fast he leyd hym abowte.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)540 : Thre heddes hadde he ther[e], A lyon, a dragon and a beere, A fowlle, feltred fende.
b
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)349 : For wo so seieð oðer god & ðenkeð iuel on his mod, fox he is & fend iwis.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2929 : For ðo fendes..Hadden ðo neddres ðider boren.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1411 : For y saw that fule fend Mine sistres slo with hise hend.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2229 : He with his hend Ne drop him nouth, þat sor fend.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.705 : This olde fend, this Sarazine.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.984 : He wol make hym doten..But it a feend be as hym seluen is.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.437 : If that I were a fend, To traysen hire that trewe is unto me.
c
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)50/438 : Heo as þe feond [Bod: þe deouel] sputte ham to don hit.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)2785 : Beliagog þe bold, As a fende he fauȝt.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)8.71 : He is Fals with [vr. as] þe Fend and defraudeþ þe neodi.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.320 : A wikked tonge is worse than a feend.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4476 : Now, certes, I were worse than a feend If I to yow wolde harm or vileynye.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4579 : They yelleden as fendes doon in helle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4885 : The vice lik unto the fend..cleped is Unkindeschipe.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.244 : Ye chiden as a feend.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.304 : Þe wiche serpent..Was lyche a fende comen out of helle.