Middle English Dictionary Entry
fī interj.
Entry Info
| Forms | fī interj. Also fiȝ, fey. |
| Etymology | OF fi & L phȳ. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
An exclamation expressing contempt, disapproval, or indignation; transl. Bibl. va(t)h, rac(h)a; -- used (a) independently, or (b) as a noun.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)68/1465 : A! sire, sche saide, fi! fi! Hit is a foul man to liggen bi.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mark 15.29 : Thei blasfemyden him..seyinge Fyȝ [WB(2): Vath], thou that distroyest the temple of God.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mat.5.22 : He that seith to his brother Fy! [WB(1): Racha] schal be gilti to the counseil.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)55a/a : Racha: trupt, or fy.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)596 : 'Now fy, cherl!' quod the gentil tercelet, 'Out of the donghil cam that word ful right!'
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)149/290 : We, fy! fy! dewyls on thame all thre.
b
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)3.137 : Þow hast feffyd hure with fals; fy on suche law!
- c1435 Lydg.St.George (Bod 686)161 : O god þer is fye on þi ydolatrye.
2.
Phrases. (a) fi a (on) deviles, ~ a devil way, ~ on deviles name; (b) fi for shame; (c) fi on, upon, of, in (something or someone).
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1335 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913)st.19 : Fi a debles.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8015 : Fi a debles, quaþ þe King, wo sey a so vil dede.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)33/405 : Fy a debles [vrr. ffey a deuel way; fye on Develis name], seide sir Ercules.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)1280 : Fy-a-devylys for vylony.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.610 : Ha, nyce herte, fy for schame!
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1407 : O fy for shame, they that han been brent.
- c1450 ?Suffolk Myn hert ys set (Frf 16)64 : A, fye for schame, O thou envyous man.
c
- c1390 Frenschipe faileþ (Vrn)8 : Fy on a feynt frend!
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2490 : Fye vpon ȝour fals coward herte.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)345 : Fy of joye of ony womman, but ȝif sche haue joye oþer compenye of man!
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2903 : Fye on the, Sarasyne!
3.
An exclamation of exultation; -- transl. ML vah in the usual CL sense.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Job 39.25 : Where he shal here the trumpe, he shal seyn Fy! [WB(2): Joie!].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)4/104 : Fy, nygardy!
Note: Need date if 1.(a)