Middle English Dictionary Entry
finishen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | finishen v. Also fenishen. Ppl. finished, finshed, finisht, finist; perf. 3 is or hath finished. |
| Etymology | From OF finiss-, extended stem of finir (beside fenir); cp. L fīnīre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. finen.
1.
(a) To come to a close; end, terminate, stop; also, to end (in something); (b) to come to the end of life, die; (c) to leave off, cease.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3934 : Þus was þat ferli fiȝt finched.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)5398 : What þis faire fest was finischid at þe xv daies end.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Job 26.10 : Vn to the time that ben fynysht [WB(2): endid; L finiantur] liȝt and dercnessis.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)16/14 : And sua finise [L finiantur] matins.
- (1443) Proc.Privy C.6.17 : The ende of this terme wol not finisshe unto Candelmesse next comyng.
- (1447) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.41 : So that, the sayd terme of VI yer fynycht and fulle ended, the sayd Sampson schall be contente and payed of thre skore pounde.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)67b : For euerich opoun werre oþer contek, wiþ ynne twey houres or þre stryvinge hit is endid and finschid.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1107 : Þi ȝouthe [sal be] fenyst [Dub: fynyshytt] Lange or þou haue meten þe merke of þi mydill age.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8321 : The fight in the fild hade ben fynisshed for euer.
- a1475 Asneth (Hnt EL 26.A.13)920 : O myghty lord, wos goodnesse neuer schal fynyse.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.49 : Europa..is ioynede to the grete see and finischede [L finitur; Trev.Higd.: endeþ] in an yle callede Gades.
- a1500(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Dub 213)99/1766* : I sall..slaye þe..And so sall, fole, for þi folez be fenyshit on dawes.
- c1525 Rule & T.St.Francis(2) (Fst D.4)67 : Or the yere of probation fynyshed and endid.
b
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)808 : Doun he fell fra his fole & fynyst [Dub: fynyshit] for euir.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)150/10 : Then they discesed and finisshed to the grete sorowe and hevynes to theyr people.
c
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)54 : They sey thei shull neuer fenisshe till thei haue a-vengid the deth of Aungis.
2.
(a) To bring (a task or operation) to completion; complete, finish; (b) to carry (something) out successfully; accomplish, achieve; (c) to perform (something) properly; attend to; (d) to execute (a will); (e) to compose or settle (a dispute).
Associated quotations
a
- (1421) Indent.Catterick in Archaeol.J.758 : Quen yair werke is finyst And endede.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)552 : Whan Edyppus..Fynysshed hath fully his orysoun.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)16/35 : When it [þis ymne] is finist [L quo perdicto].
- (1429) Will Braybroke in Ess.AST 5303 : I wol that the brigge..be perfourmed and finysshed with my good.
- (1448) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1353 : If hit soo be that the edificacions of my saide Colleges..shal not be fulli accomplisshed and finisshed within the said terme of xx years.
- (1448) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1369 : A closette..vauted and finisshed vnther the soil of the yle windowes.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)1709 : Er this werke was fully fynysshed, Ȝ erys and dayes past.
- (1458) Let.Sou.in Sou.RS 22 (Sou SC.2/9/2)18 : He most haue yet xxx li. & more to fenysch thacompte.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.451 : To finische [L complere] that laboure.
b
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)53/30 : Ȝif so were þat his victori was fynisschid bi þe cruell fate of werre.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2144 : Quen I done haue with Dary & my dede fenyschid.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)128/20 : Sith that he had doone so myche, he wold fenyshe itt, what so euer befell.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)300/16 : I have undirtake..for to encheve your adventure, and so shall I fynyssh hit to the ende.
- a1500(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Dub 213)29/797* : Now er þe sawes into þi seluen fyneshit.
c
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)32/12 : Þabbes sal take gude yeme þat þe vris of godis seruise be finist [L compleantur] right.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)26121 : This Message ful fynyschd and don.
d
- (1429) Will Braybroke in Ess.AST 5306 : I wol that..al that is writen here aboue..be abated and finisshed by myn executours.
e
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3969 : With-in a felde only þat we tweyne..þis quarel may dareyne And it finyshe.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)135/25 : The matier be wele fynysshed to my plesur.
- (a1474) Stonor1.139 : To ffynysshe all maner matterres.
- -?-(1450) Doc.in Power Craft Surg.322 : Ȝef the conclude not and ffynyssh the same matter Whithin the said vj dayes [etc.].
3.
(a) To put an end to (something); (b) ?to eliminate (something); ?to finish up; (c) to finish off or decorate (a structure).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.4.58 : Yif that hir schrewednesse ne were fynissched at the leste weye by the owtreste deth.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)27b/a : Be it [the carbuncle]mundified with þe mundificatiue de apio..And afterward be it finisshed [L finiatur].i. ended with diaquilon.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)107b/a : If any þyng of þe materie be lefte, be it fynyshed & consumed with diuretic & tiriacle.
c
- (1434) Indent.Fotheringhay in Med.Mason246 : Every botrasse fynisht with a fynial.