Middle English Dictionary Entry
fēsten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | fēsten v. Also festeien, festien. |
| Etymology | OF fest-er, -iier, -oier. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To entertain (someone) with food, drink, and amusement; provide amply with food; also, provide profusely (with property) [quot.: 1325]; (b) to participate or indulge in feasting, feast; also fig. [quot.: a1382]; (c) ?treat with reverence; ?endow with eternal bliss [cp. feste n., senses 4 & 5].
Associated quotations
a
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2938 : Hauelok..bigan..His denshe men to feste wel Wit riche landes.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2193 : Whan he had..inned hem euerich at his degree, He festeth hem and dooth so gret labour To esen hem.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.345 : I lete in lust and iolitee This Cambyuskan his lordes festeyynge Til wel neigh the day bigan to sprynge.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1548 : Þat can his gestis..cheren and festeye So liche a kyng.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3462 : Fortune..to his paleis gan..hym conveye And day be day ful richely festeye.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)13/191 : And so þat grete hunger he feste, To-tyme þat god þaire corn encreste.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.580 : How he men fested With two fisshes an fyve loues, fyue tousande peple.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.PPriests Benef.(Corp-C 296)249 : Here patrons..willen loke to be festid of siche curatis.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)158 : Festyn or make feestys and feede men: convivor.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12299 : He festid full faire all þo fre lordes.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)4519 : The kynge and all..that were fested that day.
- a1500(a1400) Cleges (Adv 19.1.11)64 : Thus he ffestyd..Many a knyȝt and squire.
- c1500 Melusine (Roy 18.B.2)98/5 : Wel he was there festyed and worshipfully cheryed of them of the toune.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Wisd.8.9 : I purposide this [Wisdom] to bringe to me to festeye [vr. ete] with me [L ad convivendum].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.418 : Heer may men feste and roialtee biholde And deyntees mo than I kan yow deuyse.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1574 : Ribaudes festeþ also wiþ tripe.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2157 : There feste they, there daunce they and synge.
c
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)372/478 : Lord..reyse thou this body [of the Virgin] to thy blysse..the sowle, here prest now to this blissid body, likyth it you to fest now.