Middle English Dictionary Entry
flẹ̄ten v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | flẹ̄ten v.(1) Also fleoten, vleoten, flieten. Forms: sg. 3 flẹ̄̆t (early), flẹ̄teth; p. sg. flēt, flǣt (early); flet(te, flẹ̄ted; p. pl. fluten (early), flēten, fletten, flẹ̄ted; ppl. flōten (early), flē̆t, flẹ̄ted. |
| Etymology | OE flēotan, sg. 3 flȳt, p. flēat. In ME the strong forms are gradually abandoned. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. floten.
1.
(a) To rest or move on the surface (of a liquid), float, drift; of a ship: sail; (b) of fish, persons: to swim; (c) to drift, float, sail in a ship; (d) to move (through the air); of arrows: to fly; (e) ~ or drounen, sinken or ~, to sink or swim; etc; -- often fig.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)21327-9 : Heore scalen wleoteð..þer fleoteð heore spiten.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)32033 : He sumnede ferde..& somnede alle þa scipen þa bi þare sæ fluten.
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)309,310 : Þat treo bigan to fleote [Ashm: flete; Vrn: fleoten]..þe giwes comen and founden þat treo fleotinde [Ashm: fletynge] þare.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)1032 : Alle þine sipes gode..fleoteþ in see flode.
- c1300 SLeg.Pilate (Hrl 2277)251 : Þat bodie flet vp and doun..Mid weder and tempest of water.
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)161 : Þe schip bigan to flete [Hrl: fleoten].
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1956 : The statue of Venus..Was naked fletyng in the large see.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.119 : A lanterne wiþ lyȝt fleteþ and swymmeth aboue.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3083 : Stark ded..sche syh Hire lord flietende upon the wawe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)310b/b : Anoþer kynde..is fletyng [L innatans] fome þat workmen gadereþ.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)135 : Schip fletes on the flode, And hali kirc..Fletes abouen this werldes se.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4780 : He sagh apon þe watur reme Caf flettand [Göt: Chaf cum fletand; Trin-C: Chaf com fletyng] dunward.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)387 : Syþen þe wylde of þe wode on þe water flette; Summe swymmed þeron [etc.].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)4 Kings 6.6 : And the yrun fletide [WB(1): swam].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)12.168 : Þe swymmere þat is sauf..Þere his felaw flet [vrr. fleteþ, flette] forth as þe flode lyketh.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.m.1.11 : Thanne moten thilke thingis fleten togidre whiche that the watir of the entrechaungynge flood bryngeth.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)166b/b : And þan þat water, wiþ þat grennez þat fleteth aboue [*Ch.(2): swymmeth aboue; L supernatat] with it, be cast away.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2552 : My body mote ye se..in the haven of Athenes fletynge, Withoute sepulture.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)803 : He brittenyd the bere..Lette hym fall in the flode, fleete whare hym lykes.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)28/14 : Þis watir..wyll fletyn abowyn all lycouris.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)41 : He lift the ex and mad it flete in the watir.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)856/4 : A grete stone, whych I saw fleete abovyn the watir; and therein I saw stykynge a swerde.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)9/32 : Ȝe schal se..a liquor of oyle ascende vp, fletynge aboue in maner of a skyn.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)30499 : Of þan uisce þer he wlæt, and of wurmen þer heo crepe.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)22/17 : Þe fisches..i þe flodes fleoteð wið finnes.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)386 : Cethegrande is a fis..ðat tu wuldest seien get, gef ðu it soge wan it flet, ðat it were an eilond.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)522 : I wile þat he drench[ed] be; Abouten his hals an anker god, Þat he ne flete in the flod.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1841 : Was na creatur in liue..Bot it war fisse þat flett [Trin-C: flet] on sund.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3068 : He nat aduerteth..to þe fysshes..Nor to þe se wher þei swymme & flete.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)6700 : Eche man on other schetis, As thikke as heryng fletis.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)110 : God bad that in the see suld brede dyuerse fysches to flett with fyn.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)28960 : Forð flet mid vðe folc vnimete.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)365 : Niȝen woukes and mare Þe mariners flet on flod.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.463 : Yeres and dayes fleet this creature Thurghout the see of Grece vnto the strayte of Marrok.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)24833 : Forþ þai flette [Vsp: floted] apon þat flode.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.4.67 : I shal wel fleetyn forth and escapyn.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3602 : Thare the false men fletyde and one flode lengede.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13154 : Þan toke I my tide, turnyt to ship..To Colofages I flet.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)8191 : She flettes forthe in the flode.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)313 : The lady fleted forth alone.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)137 : Aye the wynde was in the sayle; Ouyr fomes þey flett.
d
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3466 : Aȝȝ itt [the star] flæt upp i þe lifft.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1566 : Felle flonez þer flete.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)7.46 : The corn..shal trippe in, the chaf fletyng bihynde.
e
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2397 : For she that dooth me al this wo endure Ne reccheth neuere wher I synke or fleete.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1628 : Betre is to flete than to sincke.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)155b/a : Also in ysidaden is a ponde in þe which noþing fletiþ noþer synkeþ.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)24857 : Þai lete hit [the ship] wander to flete or droun & toke þaire gode maste doun.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)7 : Nat wot I wel wher that I flete or synke.
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)182 : Him rekketh never wher she flete or synke.
2.
(a) To flow; to be in a fluid or volatile state; fleting, liquid; (b) ppl. soft, flabby; (c) to be wafted (through the air); of dew or rain: to fall gently; (d) of garments: to trail.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)18093 : Se waterrstræm Aȝȝ fleteþþ forþ & erneþþ Towarrd te sæ.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)177 : Wat is folc bute fletende water?
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)644 : Ðe flod flet de dunes on.
- ?a1350 Recipe Painting(1) in Archaeol.J.1 (Hrl 2253)66 : Cast hit [melted lead] into an empti bacyn, other into whet vessel thu wolt of bras, that hit vleote abrod vorte beo thunne.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4311 : Vnder þe brigge þan flet flagot; On him ne may durye schip ne bot, So sterneliche he him renneþ.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Ezek.45.17 : Vpon the prince shuln be..sacrifice of offryngus of fleetyng thingus [WB(2): moiste sacrifices; L libamine].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)142b/a : Þe modir soukeþ blood and fletynge humour out of hire pray.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)198b/b : Water is of it self fletyng, but by strengþe of colde it is ytorned and ymade stondynge with fastnesse of cristall.
- a1425 Christ.Belief (LoC 4)16/613 : Kan you tell me hou þat tendre mater þat þou was made of in þi moderes vombe, hou summe þareof hardened into bones, summe fletyd into merygh?
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.570 : Þe bawme..gan aboute flete To euery Ioynt and eche extremyte.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.35.14 : He sacrifiede ther onne fletynge sacrifices [WB(1): sacrifice of licowres; L libamina].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Lev.11.34 : Ech fletynge thing [WB(1): meltynge thing; L liquens] which is drunkun of ech vessel.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.11.164 : The thinges that ben softe and fletynge [L liquentia], is watir and eyr, thei departen lyghtly.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.195 : I was born in Lidgate, Wher Bachus licour doth ful scarsli fleete.
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)1178 : Sho lokede vp-on his forhed swete And sy þe blod þer-on flete.
- a1450 Ch.Feasts (Roy 18.A.10)177 : Fele teres gan flete.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)p.92 : The holsom well euer doth flow and flete.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)159a/b : Bakke bones in fisshes ben nedeful to restreyne þe flesshe þerof, þat is fletyng [L fluidam].
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.54 : For þe secunde course..Take ryse and fletande fignade.
c
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)21 : Forsoþe þer fleten to me fele, To þenke hir color so clad in clot.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Deut.32.2 : My speche flete [vr. flowe; L fluat] out as dew, as lytil reyn on eerbe.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)SSol.4.16 : Blowe thou thorouȝ my gardyn, and the swete smellynge oynementis therof schulen flete.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.6.37 : The fletyng reyn bydeweth the wynter.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Corp.Chr.(Trin-C R.3.20)95 : God above list frome Jessyes lyne To make his grace, as golde dewe, doune to fleete.
d
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.39.19 : Whiche ryngis a lace of iacynt ioynede to gidere, lest tho weren loose and fletiden doun and weren moued ech from other.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Esth.15.7 : The tother of the seruantessis suede the ladi, and bar vp the clothis fletinge [vr. trailinge; WB(1): flowende; L defluentia] doun in to the erthe.
3.
(a) To move; ~ fro (from), to move away from, become separated from; ~ atwin, to move apart, fall apart; (b) to pass away, be transitory; ~ awei, to dwindle or pass away, disintegrate, disappear, vanish.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)714 : Fer floten fro his frendez, fremedly he rydez.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)12.211 : Yet pulle hem [pine nuts] rather than they flete atwynne [L patescant].
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)936 : Whanne Wrath gynnyth walke..Envye flet as a fox & folwyth on faste.
- c1450 In a noon (Lamb 853)37 : Þanne foond y me ful fer yflet [rime: leett], Al from god in maieste.
b
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)177 : Alle woreld þing ben fleted [?read: fletende] alse water erninde.
- a1300 Hayl mari hic (Dgb 2)29 : Wan þu comes, þai [þe warlais] flet awai.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Mac.9.7 : Manye withdrewen hem fro tentis..And Judas sawȝ for his oost flette awey [L defluxit; WB(2): fleet awei].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.187 : A man..is slow and heuy as þe erþe, and fleteþ away [L fluit; Higd.(2): floenge] as þe water.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)227b/a : Floure hatte flores, as it were floures fletynge and passyng, ffor þey falleþ soone and beþ soone y wasted.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Prov.3.21 : My sone, these thingis flete [L effluant] not awey fro thin iȝen.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.24.4 : The world fleet awei [WB(1): flowede doun; L defluxit], the hiȝnesse of the puple of erthe is maad sijk.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.34.3 : Hillis schulen flete [L tabescent] of the blood of hem.
4.
(a) Of persons, the mind: to drift aimlessly, vacillate; to wander or stray; (b) of fortune or fate: to fluctuate or shift; to proceed aimlessly; (c) ppl. divergent or loose (meaning of a word).
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)12a : Ȝe ahen of godd þenchen..þet ower þohtes ne beon fleotinde [Nero: uleotinde].
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.58 : What was to doone, in doute he gan fleete..Koude nat discerne to hym what was most meete.
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn:Horstmann)301 : Whene þe mouthe prayes and þe hert fletis owt in foule thoghtes & ydylle.
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.6.90 : Forthy weenestow that thise mutacions of fortunes fleten [L fluitare] withouten governour.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.m.1.21 : Right so fortune, that semeth as it fletith with slakid or ungoverned bridles, it suffreth bridelis..and passeth by thilke lawe..by the devyne ordenaunce.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.169 : May blisfulnesse..be had in mortal þinges here, Þat falsly faileþ, fletyng vp and doun?
c
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.3.78 : It nys nat governyd with no ledere (of resoun), but it es ravysshed oonly by fleetynge errour folyly and lyghtly.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)251 : Þei appropren wordis into special and streit significacioun for her vagabunde and abrode fleting significacioun.
5.
(a) To overflow; to flood (something); (b) to abound (in or with something); (c) of a speaker: to be effusive; of speech: ppl. profuse; (d) to be suffused or filled (with fragrance); to diffuse or shed (fragrance).
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)685 : He is chosen to be chef chyldryn fader, Þat so folk schal falle fro, to flete alle þe worlde.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Prov.18.4 : A stronde fletinge ouer [L redundans] is the welle of wisdom.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12560 : After a syde of the sea..Was a-party a prouynse..At the full of the flode flet all aboue.
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.2.27 : Who maketh that plentyvous autumpne..fletith with hevy grapes.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.m.2.22 : Whan evere the rather that it [covetise] fletith in large yiftes, the more ay brenneth in hem the thurst of havynge.
c
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)19a : Of a drope waxeð in to a muche flod..for wið þe fleotinde word tofleoteð þe heorte.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.2.33 : Be it ynewȝ for to haue said so myche of prefacioun..it is foly for to flete out [L effluere] or be longe, bifore the storye.
d
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1205 : Aurora..made þe rose with new bawme flete.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5202 : Anthenor..His tale gan..Makyng þe bawme outward for to flete Of rethorik and of elloquence.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)17 : Flora..Fletinge þe bawme on hillis and on valys.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.53 : Ful of bawme is fletyng every mede.
6.
Ppl. Causing seasickness, i.e. nausea (a literalism of translation).
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)162a/b : Forsoþ þer preperateþ to vomite many diuers metes: and swete, and fatte, and fletyng [L nauseatiua] metez or swymmyng.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(1438) GLeg.Assump.Virgin (GiL112) (Eg 876) 581/585 : I haue shewed the a walle to alle the worlde, an arche of sauacion, a brigge to hem that be fletynge [L fluctuantium], a staffe to the feble.
Note: Editor: "hem that be fletynge: fluctuantium LgA, 'of those tossed by the waves'. Senses of fleten, fleting in MED carry more neutral seses of travelling on water."
Note: ?New sense.