Middle English Dictionary Entry
fēsen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | fēsen v. Also vesen. |
| Etymology | Cp. A fēsan, WS fȳsan (from *fiesan). ME rimes show open ē (from unmutated OE *fēas-), which is reflected in such MnE dial. forms as faise, fease, vaze, vease (Wright EDD, under fease). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Drive or chase; spur (a horse); incite (to action); (b) put to flight, rout (an enemy); discomfit.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1335 Þe grace of ihu (Hrl 913)172 : Þe xi dai fure windis sul rise..Þat al þe fentis sal of agris And be ifesid in to helle.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.17 : Hit [gagates] feseþ awey [L fugat; Higd.(2): expellethe] serpentes.
- c1410 Trev.Higd.(Add 24194)1.339 : Veseþ [StJ-C: Powder of erþe of þat lond..vseþ awey [L fugat] wormes].
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)9200 : A stalworthe spere he to him sesed And smot his hors and him so fesed, He bar Achilles..Out of his sadel.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)967 : I fese folke to fyth.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)351 : Shal I com þen, Cristian, & fese a-wey þe Cat?
b
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.192 : Þise Sarazins were so fesid þat fled was Saladyn.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2842 : Bot they be fesede in faye, ferly me thynkes!
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)326/196 : Þer standerdes to stabill What freyke hym enforces, full foull sall he be fesid [rime: diseasid].
2.
(a) Pursue so as to frighten or terrify; frighten, terrify; (b) prosecute; punish.
Associated quotations
a
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)158 : Fesyn, idem quod feryn, supra [PParv. 156: Feryn, or make a-ferde: terreo].
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)132 : He was fesed witȝ levene and þunderblast Whech made him..a-gast.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)2.590 : It wulde yow fese..Your herte wolde drede.
b
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)106/101 : So rede I, we þa faiturs fese Þat dose till us any dissese.
- a1450 Spaldyng Katereyn þe curteys (BodR 22)p.540 : In fyre he wolde fees hem; But al dyd hit plese hem, For hurt hade þei none.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)124/40 : What foode..will ȝou feese, Þat sott full sone my selfe sall hym sesse.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)287/424 : To youre lawis longis it Þis faitoure to feese wele with flappes full fele.
- c1450 Lychefelde Comp.G.(Lamb 853)603 : Ful foule schulde þi foos be fesid, If þou myȝte ouer hem as y ouer þee may.