Middle English Dictionary Entry
fēt n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fēt n. Also fait. |
| Etymology | AF fet, CF fait (from L factum). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) What one does or succeeds in doing; act, deed, doings; the working or operation (of the universe); (b) in fet, in fact, actually.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(a1376) *PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)1.160 f.4a : Þat feiþ wiþoute fait [vr. feet; B: þe faite, vr. feite; C: fet] is feblere þan nouȝt.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)11 : He schal not bringe forþ..so greet a fet and affect bi þilk wandring contemplacioun.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)450 : Textis..conteyned in holy scripture joyned to fetis of þe storie perteynyng þerto.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2464 : To Wylton he bytte ȝow gon To parforme þe fette..And take vp my body from þe vrthe.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)30 : Þai [Egyptian astronomers]..Of þe fold & of þe firmament wele þe fete cuthe.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)21 : Noise arose..of that horribill doyng and faite, of that at the said traitours hadde done.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)32 : Hem that fordoon Goddes forbode..Although Ypocrisie her faytys peynte.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)200 : Ioy thow and be glad in thy fete..In conceuyng and bryngyng forth..Suche oon.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1448 : In eche place was hys feete, Eche thyng obiecte he gan to counterfete.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)287/252 : How, all in fageyng? in fayth I know of youre featte.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1106 : For hit ferde freloker, in fete, in his fayre honde.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)317 : Þouȝ it so be þat crist made preesthode..and puttiþ forþ, in feet, certeyn persoons as þe apostlis into þilk preesthode.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)587 : Than shulde worshyp unto oure noble be, In feet and forme, to lorde and mageste.
2.
(a) A martial exploit, a feat of arms or valor; fet of armes, ~ of werre, a warlike operation or exploit; (b) a strategic maneuver; (c) bi wei of fet, by armed action, by violence.
Associated quotations
a
- (1439) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)10.724 : In al the Erthe..be not so mony Noble Princes, Knightes, and Squiers and Men of Fete as hav perisshed in the same Werres.
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)348/7 : Certeyne lordez of Scotlande com yn-to Englonde to gete worschip as by feet of armez.
- c1450(c1430) Brut-1430 (Glb E.8)398/23 : To don there ffetes yn the poyntis of werre ayens her enemyes.
- c1450 Royal SSecr.(Roy 18.A.7)37/13 : Often tymes it happith a poor man to doo as good a dede of armes or feete of werre as a lord.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)41/32 : Ther come mony knyghtes for to doo fetys of armys with the blak knyght.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1229 : Sende hym ellys where Sum myghti feet to doon.
- a1500(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Dub 213)31.817* : Twelf tried childer..fair enformed..of fight & fetez of armez.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.404 : The lord Egremount full stout in feate of warre.
b
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)480 : This feet is good when troubled is the felde.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)1064 : He was constreynyd clerely by duresse..to make..retret. all thyng consyderyd, hit was the best feet.
c
- (1425) RParl.4.296 : And noght sofre yat any of the said parties..procede or attempte by wey of feet ayens ye Kyngs pees..In kepyng of ye Kyngs pees and redressyng of all suche manere of procedyng by wey of feet and force.
- (1425) Proc.Privy C.3.175 : For eny cause..querel or matere of debat..he ne shal in no wyse attempte to procede by wey of feet ayenst þe persone of any of þe said lordes spirituel or temporel.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)87 : Suche maner off procedyng by wey off feit or force.
3.
Ability to do or practice something, know-how, skill; the practicing, the practices, or the skill (of a craft or trade); the methods or the art (of warfare, archery, writing verse, philosophy, etc.).
Associated quotations
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.429 : This Grisildis..Koude al the feet [vr. fait] of wyfly humblenesse.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1103 : For fetys of his fyngeres fonded he [Jesus] never, Nauþer to cout ne to kerve wyth knyf ne wyth egge.
- (?c1419) Proc.Privy C.2.259 : Be cause ȝe be not expert in the fait of marchaundisze ȝe wole ordeine to be called before yow..Suche marchauntes densyns..havyng knowleche of the faitz of marchaundisze in that cas.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)929 : He and his wolde entre shippes, grete Habilementis havynge and the fete Of see werres, that joyfull was to see Suche a naveie.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1529 : Masons full mony þat mykull fete couthe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6186 : Bowmen of the best..Well enfourmet of the fete.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13239 : My-self of þat sciens [Nigromansy] somwhat I can, Well enformet of the feate.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4366 : Ne foloȝe we na ficesyens ne philisophour scolis..all þare fete and þar fare in falshede it endis.
- (1451) RParl.5.225a : Yf eny persone ayenst whome such writte..shall be awarded be oute of this Reame by fete of Merchaundise or in the Kynges service.
- (1455) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)365 : The konnyng and fete of makyng of suche englisshe hornes..knoweleche and lernyng of the fete and science of the same craft.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.36 : I can no Retorik ne floresshed eloquence..of makyng I haue not the feete.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1475 3 Consid.(UC 85)193 : The vertue of witte and of science, whan a Prince hath it in hym..shuld be putte in feet and in effect by good werkys.
Note: in ~ phrase needs new gloss.