Middle English Dictionary Entry
gein adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | gein adj. Sup. geinest, geins, gainest, gānest. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI gegn. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of a way, path: direct, short, quick; (b) at the geinest, by the shortest path; in the quickest way or manner, as rapidly as possible, at once; (c) near, nearby; (d) ?in place name [see Smith PNElem. 1.199].
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4189 : Þei..went forþ on here way..Euer þe geynest gatis to goo to þe soþe.
- c1390 Marie Mayden (Vrn)59 : Þe geynest gate greiþli he tas.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2148 : They gan to ryde By a geynpath that ley oute a-side.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1979 : Þe gaynest way ful sone he tase.
- a1425 Shrewsbury Frag.(Shrw 6)5/9 : To Emause wil we gang, And fonde to get the gaynest way.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)189 : Geyne, redy, or rythge forthe: Directus.
- c1440(?a1400) St.John (Thrn)144 : Þou..gafe þe to goo Till Ephesym..þe gates þat ware gayne.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3376 : Þorow a spye Belyn herde seye, & taughte Brenne a geyner weye.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)13309 : By o weye þat he wiste gayn, He passed hilles, wode, & playn.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)59/90 : Þat is hythyn thre daies iornay, The ganeste gate þat i gane goo.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)2725 : My wey..Strechched toward the ryghte syde, For other geyn path was ther noon.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)586 : Tway chylder wentt at morn to sodom the gaynyst gate.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)329/5 : He knewe nat the way but toke the gayneste way in that woodenesse.
- c1475 Brm.Abraham (Brm)331 : For onto Heuyn I goo now hom; The way ys full gayn.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)6219 : Forthe þey rode The gates, þat moste were gayne.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)1904 : Mordreit than toke A way full gayne.
b
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.317 : Suilk wardeyns..Destroied at þe geyns þat þei mot find or se.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1973 : He no drechch had For to f[e]rk þurȝ þe fryth, & fare at þe gaynest, bi greue.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)487 : Þey redene, and risted them neuer..Bot euere þe senatour forsothe soghte at þe gayneste.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3006 : Gudly sir Gawayne gydes his knyghttez, Gas in at þe gayneste, as gydes hym telles.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1318 : He..Springis out with a spere, spillis at þe gaynest [Dub: ganest].
c
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8004 : Agamynon was gayn at þis gret dyn.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5512 : He gessis it gaynir to god þan to þe grounde vndire.
2.
(a) Of persons: kind, helpful; ready (to help); loyal, reliable; (b) of actions or things: beneficial, profitable, helpful; excellent, pleasing, agreeable; (c) suitable, appropriate; convenient.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350 Bytuene mersh (Hrl 2253)37 : Geynest vnder gore, herkne to my roun.
- c1390 Mayden Modur (Vrn)284 : Þou art gayne To helpen vs at nede.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.134 : Þe ȝong kyng with gode man þat wer gayn Purueid his wendyng.
- a1550 Lament Duch.Glo.(Bal 354)p.207 : Hys grace to me was evermore gayne Thowgh I had done so gret offence.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)177/7 : Thou sende vs grace, if thou be gaine, to come to thee to nighte.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)878 : Wiþ þat was comen to toun Rohand wiþ help ful gode And gayn.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)299 : Ihesu made for to greiþe Iosaphe in þat geyn weede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1386 : Gain gifes [Trin-C: Gode ȝiftis] o þe holi gast.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)259 : Hit was þe forme-foster..To wham God hade geven alle þat gayn were.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)749 : He hit gayn þynkez.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1241 : Gayn hit me þynkkez.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)86/477 : Þe weders fand þai gude and gayne.
- a1475(c1441) Lament Duch.Glo.(Cmb Hh.4.12)81 : Hys grace to me was euermore gayne, All-thow I had done gret offence.
- a1500(a1450) St.Robt.Knares.(Eg 3143)696 : He toke..haly watter gayn and gode.
c
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)178 : A grene hors gret & þikke..To þe gome he watz ful gayn.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20240 : He clame vpon a litel montaine Þat for him was so eise and gaine.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)491 : The Emperowre calde syr Egravayne And syr Sampson þat was hym gayne.
Note: New spelling
Note: gl. gayne adj. = of persons: ready, well disposed
Note: Sense 2.(a)
Note: [ON geyn]