Middle English Dictionary Entry
apassen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | apassen v. Perf. 3 is apassed, ~ apast. |
| Etymology | OF apasser; only the p.ppl., a synonym of agō(n, is attested in ME. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. passen.
1.
(a) To move along, pass by; pass (over sth.); pass (to sb.); (b) to go by, vanish; (c) to pass away, die; (d) of time: to pass.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1712 : Y wil..drecchen him a stounde, Til ȝe alle be wel apast.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.5.35 : Your rychesses ne mowen noght passen unto moche folk withouten amenusynge; and whan they ben apassed [etc.].
- c1450(c1430) Brut-1430 (Glb E.8)432/29 : And drewe hem dounward to Temyseside, and wold haue apassid ouyr the watir.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)491 : The seide schryne, beynge on theire schulders..was..hevy..so longe as thei wente afore the place of the seide freres; and, that place apaste, the schryne..was lyȝhte.
b
- c1300 SLeg.John (LdMisc 108)484 : Þat clere liȝht..laste almest ane tyde..þo þis liȝth a-passed was [etc.].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.239 : Þe dome of water is apassed..þe dome of fuyre schal be.
c
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)20/4 : To pray for fadris þat beþ apassed out of þis lif.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2827 : [They wished that they] had been in bere, And were a-passid.
d
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1965 : A-passyd be twenty ȝere, Þat we to-gedyr haue lyuyd here.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)20.125 : And whanne þe Nyht was wel Apast, To-ward the Roche they Comen In hast.
2.
Ppl. (a) in time apast, in the past, in ancient times; a litel time apassed, a little while ago; apassed date, past the hour; (b) ben apassed, to be past (a certain stage).
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2832 : Hit is twelmonth and more apaste..þat my doȝtre hure loue to þe caste.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.54.15 : Thi comeling sumtyme apassid [L advena quondam tuus] shal be ioyned to thee.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)540 : Þe sunne watz doun & hit wex late..Þe day watz al apassed date.
- c1400 PPl.C (Vsp B.16)17.368 : A-passed [Hnt: As ich tolde þe..a lytel tyme passed].
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)75/2206 : In tyme apast ther ran gret renomaunce Of dido.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)70/6 : viij yere apaste & more.
b
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4215 : Y þe pray, paramour, Þat þis fest deleyed be Fort efsones..Þat ich am apassed þis hache &..in gode hele be.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)120b : To grete disport & daliaunce of lordes and alle worþi werrioures þat ben apassed, by wey of age, al labour & trauaillyng.
3.
Gram. Of the tenses: more than apassed, pluperfect; parfetly ~, perfect.
Associated quotations
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)112 : How many tymes be formed..of the tyme that is fullych agoo? Thre. Whych thre? The tyme that is more than apassed..the tyme that is parfetly a passyd..and the tyme that is to come.