Middle English Dictionary Entry
anent(es prep.
Entry Info
| Forms | anent(es prep. Also onefent, (early) onevent; anempt(es, anem(p)st; onent(es, onence, onon(t, anundes; anen, anend(es, anintice, anens(t, anence; enent(es, enens; inent(es, inence & (errors) auente(n)s. |
| Etymology | OE on efen, on-efn, on-emn beside, etc. ME anempt , anent, onent, onont derive the t from the article; anens, onens and anemptes, onentes, anentes have the adverbial -(e)s; anem(p)st, anenst have the adv. -s followed by the t from the article. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
Of location or movement: (a) next to (sth.), close to, up to; near, adjoining; (b) across from (sth.), over against, facing; (c) toward.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(Hrl 2277:Wright)137/241 : Ech other see anante [Ld: a-mong] ous..Nis bote a lyme of thulke see.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1136 : A wounde ful wyde and weete con wyse Anende hys hert.
- (1417) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8511 : For to dissevir a grounde of a tenement anent Al Halow Kyrk garth wall.
- (1420) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8516 : Anent the lede in the same werkhouse.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)2037 : Onnence hir lord sho gan hir set, Þat þai might of a platere ett.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)96/2 : Lybye..dureth [from Spain] vnto aneyntes Egipt & toward Ethiope.
- ?c1425 Craft Number.(Eg 2622)23/15 : Go vpwarde in þe same rewe tyl þou come a-nendes þe lasse diget in the lyft side.
- (1433) Agree.Troutbeck in Earwaker Hist.St.Mary31 : In wytnesse of the whech thynge..the parties forsaid, aither anendes other, haven set to their sealx.
- (1434) EEWills96/4 : My body to be beryed anenest the charnell of Poules.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.1094 : A milyair of leed..Anend the setis sette hit so withoute The fourneys.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)63 : When she cam anempst hym, she hyled hir face.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1849 : Bere þyn ost a-nont þy breste, In a box that ys honeste.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)98/17-18 : It will be moist there a-nemptis..thenne must on kerue the flesche anemptis the brech.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)975 : Bow vp towarde þys bornez heued, And I anendez þe on þis syde Schal sve.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)90/12 : In þe south, euen ynentes þis sterne, es þe sterne þat es called Pole Antartic.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)503/16 : Onone he was war on þe right side of þis man standand iiij white aungels enence þe fendis.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)7/19 : Þis lande [England] is in þe west ende of the worlde, anempste Germayne, Fraunce & Spayne.
c
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5130 : He sal com doun..Even onence [vr. ageyns] þe mount of Olyvet.
1b.
Of time: toward (morning).
Associated quotations
- c1225 St.Kath.(1) (Tit D.18)2531 : Þus wende..Katerine..to Criste..Fridai, onont te Under.
2.
Of an attitude or action: (a) toward or to (sb.); in behalf of; (b) against (sb. or sth.); (conceal) from (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- a1225 Lamb.Hom.Pater N.(Lamb 487)26 : Halde we godes laȝe..uwilc mon hes undernim to halden wel anundes him, for alswa god hit bit.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 5.45 : I am to accusinge ȝou anemptis the fadir.
- (1416) Let.War France in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)66 : Vp-on peyne of enprisonement and forfaiture of alle that they may lese anens oure souerain liege lorde the kyng.
- (1417) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.3.162 : How Duc Johan..governeth him anenst us.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.12.15 : The princis tolden to Pharao, and preyseden hir anentys hym.
- a1425 Christ.Belief (LoC 4)11/432 : Alle his trauayle auentens [read: anentens] many him may thing als losed.
- (c1430) Let.Christ Ch.in Camd.n.s.196 : That your attorneys here have none acquytaunce to discharge him anent you in tyme comynge.
- c1440(a1349) Rolle Bee (Thrn)55/23 : Many..never kane halde þe ordyre of lufe ynesche [read: ynence; Dur-U: anempts] þaire frendys.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)254 : We ouȝte be just anentis þee.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)471 : It nediþ not to hym forto forbere bi long tyme alle vertuose gouernauncis anentis hise neiȝboris.
- (1447) Invent.Monk-Wear.in Sur.Soc.29app.242 : Off yis grevaunce..compleyns ye Priour of Durham anence ye wirshippfull Lord, ye Baron of Hilton.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.248 : Þat so þe iugges vnto Mercy meven Anentes þeym whom wronges doth agreuen.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)430/1 : Ane emperour sulde be such a man outeward anence his commons, as he wold þai war inward vnto hym agayn.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)104/4 : Þou most meke the anempst hem that bene poure gostly; that is to seye, anempst synners, prayeng for hem and thonkyng God.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)105/9 : Euenheed & mercy er to be kepyd & holden ynens vche man leuynge.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Prov.2.1 : My sone, if thou vndertakest my woordis, and my maundementes hidist anent [WB(2): anentis; L penes] thee.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25312 : And þou hald wreth enents þi broiþer..þou bodes on þi-seluen wrak.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)84/983 : We knaw and wate oure trispas and oure gilt in god onence þi state, þat we þe wald haue spilt.
- a1425 St.Anthony (Roy 17.C.7)118/43 : Þis was of Antony a-nens þe dewelle þe fryste wyctory.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.232 : Than is þis gifte þe mede of alle goode..Ne anentes [NC: anyntice; Dc: a nemptes] it may þer no powere.
- (c1465) Let.Christ Ch.in Camd.n.s.1919 : The high displeasure that the Kings good grace toke aunempst my Lorde and us.
3.
Among (certain people, etc.); in (a certain country); in (someone's) company, with.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))3 Esd.6.1 : In the secunde forsothe ȝer..profeciede Agge and Sacharie..anent Jude and in Jerusalem.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Wisd.2.1 : Vnpitouse men..thenkende anent hemselue not riȝt.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Gal.1.18 : I cam to Jerusalem, for to se Petre, and dwellide anentis [WB(2): with] him fifteene dayes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14459 : Bot al þat he wit luue þam soght, Enentis þe Iuus al was for noght.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14878 : Til all þe nedi did he gode..Bot all for noght enent him stode, Til þai at end him did on rode.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)199/1 : Wylde bestes..þat slen & deuouren all þat comen aneyntes hem.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)55/17,23 : Bot anence [L apud] latyne men þis worde is appropriate to þe flux of blode of þe lure..þai ar called by oþer names anence lechez.
- (1443) Proc.Privy C.5.306 : See þat þe pees be kept anenst hem in alle manere wyse.
- (1461) Paston (Gairdner)3.274 : Heer in the Kyngs house annenst Howard..I am supplanted and cast oute from hym by a clamour of all his servaunts at onys.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.37 : Þer were viij maneres to calcle yeres; iij anendes men of Ebrewe, thre anendes the Grekes, oon at the Romanes, and oon now at Cristen men.
4.
In the opinion or judgment of (sb.); before (God).
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 1.30 : Thou hast founden grace anemptis God.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.2.11 : Accepciouns of persoones..is not anentis [L apud] God.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.107 : Supposynge..þat þey schulde..be gretter enence þe kyng.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10858 : O grace o luue in ilka stedd, þou has enent [Trin-C: Bifore] vr lauerd spedd.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)5/5 : Anentis God no þing is vnpossible.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Dom.III Adv.f.iv (Hrl 4196)291 : Grace hastow funden in al thing Onence my lorde, of heuyn king.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1355 : Þe worlde and worldes wysdome..Onence God is bot foly.
- (1434) Misyn ML (Corp-O 236)114/7 : Þe lawer a-nens hym-self he sall be supposyd, in als mikyll as a-nens men he is haldyn meruelus in abstinence.
- a1450(a1397) WBible(2) GProl.(Hrl 1666)p.1 : Al is o bok anentis Ebreyes..but anentis Grekis and Latyns these ben twey bookis.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)126/3 : Hely..wold not chastise his sonnes trepassynge; ther-for he smote hym-selfe and his sones with cruel dampnacion anemt that es rightful and streyt iuge.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)196/4 : He is not a wrech a-nemste cristen men.
- (1469) Paston (Gairdner)5.15 : And a nemps God, ye arn as gretly bownd to her as ye were maried.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)38.11 : My substaunce is anence the [L apud te].
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)20/28 : Þey profited in spirit and gate gret grace anenst god.
5.
(a) With respect to, as regards, concerning; as ~; (as) ~ me, etc., as for me, on my part; (b) in comparison with (sth.); comparable to, on a par with (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)60/646 : Al-swa passeð meiden, onon [Tit: onont] te mihte of meiðhad, widewen & iweddede.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)11/117 : Nulle ich þe her onont..buhe ne beien.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1109 : Godes sune, þe deide onont ure cunde, þat he hefde.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)2a : Quantum..ad obseruantias corporales..onont licomliche locunges.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)23a : Onont [Cleo: anonden] þis þing, wa is me þer uore.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)30a : He seh onont [Tit: oneuent] ham al his swinc forloren.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)44b : & hit onont [Nero: anonde, Tit: onefent] meiðlure mei leosen his halnesse.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)84b : As onont him is, he haueð islein ham alle.
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)22/77 : Wharefore, onentes the first of this sex thinges..Thare falles un-to the faithe fourtene poyntes.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Prov.3.7 : Ne be thou wis anent thiself; dred God, and go awey fro euel.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)1076 : Þauȝ þou heddest alle forward of me, And þou noldest holden hem as anont þe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6880 : I sal yow sceu al how it was Als enentes [Göt: enent; Trin-C: anentis] moyses.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23011 : Saint austin sais enent; Phys-E: inent; Frf: touchand; Trin-C: of] þat dai [etc.].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25326 : Forgiue til oþer þan most we nede, If we enent [Frf: a-nyend; Glb: onence] us self wil sped.
- a1425 Christ.Belief (LoC 4)13/480 : Now it is fulfilde in him auentes [read: anentes] vs þat Ysaye .. sais, 'Iusus perit & non est qui recogitet in corde suo.'
- a1425 Benj.Minor (Hrl 1022)169 : Als anentes oure ewen-cristen, vs ogh..to luf hym.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)186 : I dred onende quat schulde byfalle.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)697 : Anende ryȝtwys men..saytz..Dauid in Sauter [etc.].
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20216 : Anens þar treuȝ I salle þam deme.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)358 : As anentis þe secounde lawe of shrifte þat þe pope haþ made..it doiþ myche harm.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.14.22 : Þou has feith anentys þiself.
- a1425 Ordin.Nuns(1) (Lnsd 378)142/13 : Þat þu be noght propirtarij and falle in owrehegh daunger enence þi religiun.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)12209 : And I, for-sothe, anendis me, Schal do his wille.
- (?1426) Paston2.30 : That ye and I be discharged anemps the King, as for the debt of Steyard.
- (c1434) Drury Wks.(CmbAdd 2830)77/82 : Quan þu hast þus declarid þy consciens a-nemst þe sefne dedis of mercy..þan attende [etc.].
- (1444) Indent.Langton in Cmb.AC 4 (Baker 27)358 : To appropriate the said Churche..to the propre vse of the said College at the expenses of the said Chauncellier, as wele anempst the Kyng, as the Bishop.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)64 : She had also wisdom anempst god by heuenly contemplacion..whyche she declared playnly..wyth outen errour.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)735 : For na-þing, as a-nente me, þou has noȝt to mell.
- c1450 *Bonav.Medit.(4) (MSU 1)1 : As anence [L circa] þe fyrste, take hede how petur [etc.].
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)10/13 : Who euer anentis maters longyng to þe scole of dyuynyte is best and hiȝest leernyd man..he is best clerk.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)10.8 : Euennes is sen in his knawynge, ynentes bath the partis of goed and ill.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)427 : As anentis heresies of þe pope & his clerkis, supposen many trewe men þat he & hise ben heretikis.
- a1500(1428) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)42 : As anendeth the convention that shulde be betwix my lorde and the Duc of Bretaigne, my lorde hath appointed hit to be at Rouen.
- c1613(1463) Plumpton Let.7 : As anenst Scatergood, I hafe yett taken a longer continuance.
b
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)8/101 : As gentile wummon meast alle nu on worlde, þe nabbeð hwerwið buggen ham brudgume onont ham.
- a1250 Wooing Lord (Tit D.18)285 : Ȝif ich mihte a þusand fald ȝiue þe me seluen, nere hit nowt onont te þat ȝef þe seluen for me.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)2465 : Alle þe gud dedys þat we haf done Onence our syns sal þan sem fone.
6.
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1096 : Godes sune, þe onont þet he godd wes ne mahte drehen na deð.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1118-20 : He ne losede na lif, onont þet he godd wes, ne undedlichnesse onont his drihtnesse.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)194/8 : Nu isihð ðe deoul wel ðet, hwon þet fur is wel o brune & me wule ðet hit go ut, me sundreð ðe brondes, and he deð onond þet ilke.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4034 : Ȝe louerdinges..þat ich abbe in conseil & in batayle Ifonded, as uor anante me, þat nolde me neuere faile, Doþ nouþe al ȝour wit þer to me wel to consayle.
Note: New spelling
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)414 : Title of almes..is more willeful to þes sheep, & so more meedeful to hem..& on þe toþer syde, anentis þe herde, it turneþ hym to more mekenesse.
Note: Additional quote(s)
Note: Sense 3.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.5ra (Prologue) : As for þe langage of Englissh tong, as anentz a discrete man & him þat hath þe gift of tunge, trewe & parfite craft of ortographie is taugh in þis bok.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.16vb (1.4) : As aneþes man or woman or oþer beste, se anone in þe nexte condicioun folowing. As anenþes what age, þou hast aforn in þe 7 condicioun.
Note: Additional quots., sense 5.(a). New spellings: anentz, aneþes, anenþes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Consistency would require this entry to be divided into two, anent and anentes.