Middle English Dictionary Entry

fǒulen v.(1)
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms fǒulen v.(1) Also fulen, uulien.
Etymology OE fūlian decay, and from ME fǒul dirty, rotten, stinking, corrupt, sinful, guilty. Moreover, sense 4 is in part derived from OF fouler tread, trample; cp. ME fǒulis .

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

Note: Cp. foul adj., filen (2), & foulis.
1.
(a) To make (something) dirty, to soil, to pollute; (b) to be or become filthy; (c) to void excrement.
Show 11 Quotations
2.
To deform or deface (something), to make ugly.
Show 3 Quotations
3.
To pollute or sully (something) morally, defile; ~ soul, to defile the soul with sins.
Show 10 Quotations
4.
(a) To injure (something), damage, destroy; (b) to oppress (someone), treat unjustly; (c) to trample upon, crush; ~ under (with) fet, to tread under (or with) one's feet, to trample upon.
Show 9 Quotations

©2024 Regents of the University of Michigan. For details about this collection's copyright see the MEC copyright statement and the U-M Library Copyright Policy. Data last refreshed Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 13:27:00.