Middle English Dictionary Entry
fō indef. num.
Entry Info
| Forms | fō indef. num. Also fa. Comp. fāer. |
| Etymology | Cp.OI fā-r few. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) As adj.: few; but a ~; (b) as noun: a small number, a few people or things; but ~; (c) with of phrase.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)262/50 : For such folk beo nou ful fo.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8599 : Þair clathes was sa gnede and fa.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)14/37 : Ye sal mekely speke..and o fa wordis & stabil.
- c1440 Tales Contrition (Thrn)7/2 : Eftyr a faa dayes he apperyde.
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn:Horstmann)317 : Þe tung..glyddes lyghtly furthe fra faa wordes to many.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)107/86 : For ay þe mare þat þe perfeccion es, þe faer folowers it has.
- c1475(a1400) Amadace (Tay 9)p.55 : Ther is ladis now in lond fulle foe That wold haue seruut hor lord soe.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)106 : If þai be folke bot a fa, oft tydis þam þe better.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)270/393 : For freyndys has thou fo.
b
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2403 : An hundred ger and xxx mo Haue ic her drogen in werlde wo, ðog ðinkeð me ðor-offen fo.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8496 : Bot fa [Göt: fone; Trin-C: fewe; Frf: lite] it wist quat it wald mene.
- a1400 Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Rwl D.913)13100 : Fo þer were þat might ascape.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.58 : On his side were bot fo.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)107/84 : In þe fyrst degre er many; in þe toþer degre er ful faa.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)17.19 : Many ere cald, and fa chosen.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)23.3 : Ful fa ere that standis in the hill of rightwisnes.
c
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.242 : He went to play a wile with fo of his banere.