Middle English Dictionary Entry
gliffen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | gliffen v. Also gluffen. P. gliffed, (error) glysset & glifte, glufte, gleft, (error) glyste. |
| Etymology | Cp. MnE dial. gliff. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To slip or step to one side; ~ aside; (b) of a blow: to glance, turn aside; (c) ~ of, to make a mistake or blunder about (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Patr.(LdMisc 108)430 : For heo [hell-bridge] was narovȝ and slider and heiȝ, þat he ne scholde him so bi-telle, Ȝif þat he glufte [Corp-C: glide out] in ani half, þat he ne fulle in-to helle.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)9776 : Hem fiue a fot on hors he lift. King Ban aside glift.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)12a : Ȝef ȝe þurh ȝemeles gluffeð [Tit: gliffen; Recl.: forgluffeþ] of wordes, oðer misneomeð uers, neomeð owe venie [etc.].
c
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8990 : He wold his nek smiten eft, & þe dint a litel gleft.
2.
(a) To give a glancing look, glance up or sideways; ~ up; ~ eien, raise (one's) eyes; (b) ?to shine, dazzle.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2265 : Bot Gawayn on þat giserne glyfte hym bysyde.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)356 : He glyfte [Dc: gliffed; IrBl: glysset] vpe withe hys eghne, þat graye ware and grete..one þat birde bryghte.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3399 : Atte passage glyfte þey þer eyene; Agayns þe mone sawe þey schyne Helmes, hauberkes, scheldes vp-lyfte. Þenne were þe Romayns al a-glyfte [Petyt 511: oglift].
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)1657 : And euyr can feyre Florence slepe..Sche glyste [?read: glyfte] vp wyth þe hedeows store, A sorowfull wakenyng had sche þore.
b
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4599 : Ȝe say ȝour women has na wedis..Garlands ne no gay gere, to glyffe in ȝour eȝen.
3.
To become startled or frightened.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)849 : Þe god man glyfte wyth þat glam and gloped for noyse; So scharpe schame to hym schot, he schrank at þe hert.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)7310 : His hauberk than he vp lift, That saw [Clarionas] and glift.