Middle English Dictionary Entry
ap(p)ēren v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | ap(p)ēren v.(1) Also ap(p)ieren, ap(p)aren, appeiren. |
| Etymology | OF aper-, tonic stem of aparoir. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To come into view, be visible or perceptible: (a) of a natural phenomenon; (b) of a supernatural phenomenon, a vision, a dream.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275 Ken.Serm.(LdMisc 471)214/7 : Þet si sterre was seauinge of his beringe, swo a pierede te þo þrie kinges of heþenesse.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)3 Kings 6.18 : Alle with cedre tablis thei weren clothid, ne algatis a stoone myȝte apere in the wal.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.909 : The sonne Gan westren faste..and sterres for t'apere.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)3 Kings 6.18 : Al the hows..hadde..hise ioynyngis maad suteli, and grauyngis apperynge aboue [WB(1): ouerbeynge].
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.3.11 : Whan..that the firmament stant dirked..and that the sterres nat apeeren upon hevene.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.6.266 : Right so as alle thingis that apiereth or scheweth to the wittes.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)10/8 : [Of Troy] lytyll appereth..because it is so longe sith it was destroyed.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)119/32 : This sterre þat..we clepen the lodesterre ne appereth not to hem.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)9a/b : Þe neruous cordes þer be naked & apperyng fro þe flesh.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)46b/a : In þe same partie of þe lyuer is colde & hete togider..One materiale, þe toþer formale; One apperyng, þe toþer hidde.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)21.178 : For Nethir Of Schipe ne Man he Say, Whech that to him Aperid that day.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)52 : The same yere apperyd stella comata v wekys in Leynte.
b
- c1275 Ken.Serm.(LdMisc 471)215/28 : Þo nicht efter þet aperede an ongel of heuene in here slepe ine metinge.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)2328 : Oure lord aperede to ham [the eleven disciples].
- c1390(?a1300) Stations Rome(1) (Vrn)302 : In þe Rof, ouer þe popes se, A saluatour þer may þou se..Whon Seluestre halwed þat place, Hit apeered þer þorw godes grace.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2265 : Iesu Crist, whan he was risen fro deeth to lyf,appered..to a womman.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.3337 : Thei tuo to him slepende appiere.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1533 : Þer apered in paume, wyth poyntel in fyngres.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.3.2 : The Lord apperide to hym in a flawme of fier fro the mydle of a busshe.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)42 : How his auncestre.. Gan in his slep that nyght to hym apere.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)14/36 : A godd..apperid vn-till hym in his slepe.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)1780 : An aungel be-forne hyr gan a-pere.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2141 : Visablelyche to hurre modur he dude apere & spake to hurre.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)24/6 : Crist apered yn a bryght sterre to þre kynges yn þe est.
2.
Of persons: (a) to put in an appearance, present oneself; appear in public; ~ in presence; (b) to present oneself (before a tribunal, a superior, etc.).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.23 : While kyng Edgar lay on his bed to reste, on appered to hym and smot hym on þe breest wiþ a spere.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.3064 : Whan the day came that hise aduersaries sholde appieren in his presence.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.837 : Lat hym com forth and lerne multiplie..Lat hym appere.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1132 : Vnable Amonges folk for euere to appeere.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)405 : And when in hys place þou schal apere, Be dep deuote in hol mekenesse.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)1.188 : And appere in hus presence [whyle] hym pleye lykeþ.
- (1415) Hoccl.Oldcastle (Hnt HM 111)380 : The disciples of Cryst had hardynesse For to appeere; they nat wolde hem hyde For fere of deeth.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2491 : It is to hiȝe a routhe, A man to apere or dore schewe his hede After tyme whan his worschip is ded.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.env.94 : Go, litel bok..And be nat hardy to apperen in no place With-oute support of his magnificence.
- a1450(1411) Many man (Dgb 102)192 : At domesday..knaue, beggere..May apere wiþ pape and wiþ kyng.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)206 : With lefys þer priuates can thei [Adam and Eve] hyd, And playnly durst thei not apeyre.
- (1457) LRed Bk.Bristol2.185 : Euery man of the seid crafte that will nott appere after dew warnyng to the chesyng of the Maister [etc.].
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)914 : I nyl vsurpe in thy palays to apyer.
b
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)3.113 : Þenne was Concience I-clepet to comen and apeeren To-fore þe kyng and his Counsel.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.1030 : Afterward this knyght was bode appere.
- (1433) RParl.4.423a : Ye Communys of ye land, apieryng before ye Kyng in yis his present Parlement, made to be saide unto hym be yaire Speker, yat yei [etc.].
- (1440) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.1109 : And cited me to apere afore yowe wyth ynne þe fourtened day next folowyng.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)94 : Þat thou..Appere in his presens with thy price knyghtez..in payne of ȝour lyvys.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1093 : Pelleus..the peopull did warne To appere in his presens, princes and dukys.
- (a1460) Let.Stubbe in Nrf.Archaeol.2354 : John Also was cyted be offyce to a peryn aforn mayster Robt Popye in ye Byshopps chapel at Norwych.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.145 : Yff he appyre not with in vj monthys after the fyrst proclamacion.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.38b : That the said Robert, John and Thomas in their propre persones doo appiere afore the Kyng in his said Bench..to aunswere to all such Bille or Billes, Action or Actions.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)236/163 : Must we afore the pharisies appeare?
3.
(a) To come into being, arise, occur; (b) to exist.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.444 : Pride of the table appeereth eek ful ofte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.332 : Men sen diverse forme appiere Of fyr, the which hath sondri name.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)226/8 : Of an enpostym apperinge in þe mouþ of þe stomac.
- a1425 Methodius(1) (Hrl 1900)99/11 : Þese stryues firste apperide betwixe rewmes & rewmes vppon erþe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)44a/a : Þis we see openly in þat huge..mortalite þat shewed or appered to vs in Auinioun In þe yere of oure lorde 1348.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)45.271 : Thanne Aperyd there A voys anon, that they it herden þere Euerichon.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)162/5 : Þe tyme..In which goddys son xul Apere.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)168/5 : Vertuose dedis ben bodili dedis appering and sitting withoute forþ in my body.
b
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)3.3.49a : Some of hem were alle dryed and lene..þat nowt appered upon hem saffe only the bones.
4.
(a) To become apparent or evident; be revealed; (b) to appear or be of record; (c) to show (sth.) as of record.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.16.15 : I shal be fulfild, whan thi glorie shal apere.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Tit.3.4 : When þe benygnyte & þe humanyte appered of God oure Safyour.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5508 : Now apperith her folye.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.4.76 : So that it mai apiere that the prescience is signe of this necessite.
- (1440) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.23 : It apperes be ane obligacion, that ye sayd William ffencotes is bondon in to the sayd sir William Mauleuerere in C. marces.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)227 : It wole appere ful weel, how tho euydencis mowe be answerid to and assoilid.
- (a1450) Pet.Chanc.in Seld.Soc.10136 : As bi diuers true inquisicions hereof taken byfore certein Commissioners..hit pleinely epperith.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)293 : Let first appare And preve it wel that he be stronge & swift.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)128 : Hit shall apere that diuerse lordis off Englande haue also moch livelode off thair owne, as than shall remayne in the kynges handes.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)58 : Lo, it aperiþ how þei schal schap þe perel of þe charge.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)18/5 : Ech moral vertu is habitual loue, as schal appere in 'þe folewer to þe donet'.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)235/148 : Then the truth shall soone apeare and we putt out of dowbt.
b
- (1423) Pet.Sutton in Fenland NQ 7307 : The grete grevaunce and myschief that thei stonde in, as it apperes in a Cedule here to annexit.
- (1455) Acc.St.Ewen in BGAS 15151 : Imprimis, a crosse of syluer..four patriarkes, and other stuf as hyt apparethe.
c
- (1464) Paston (Gairdner)4.94 : The Shireff told hym that the Kyngs bokkes apperid whedir it was so or nought.
5.
(a) To have (a certain) appearance, seem; (b) to be symbolized (by sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.59.15 : Fallen hath in the strete treuthe..And the Lord saȝ, and euel aperede in his eȝen.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1198 : Som man, whan he most trewe appiereth, Thanne is he forthest fro the trowthe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2689 : On nyȝt, by false illusiouns, Somme appere wonder fresche and faire, Þat loke dirke a day-liȝt.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2058 : Kynde doth compasse Hem [mermaids] to apere femynyn of face.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)11.342 : Howe wynes yonge as olde shal appere.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)1676 : And mesyll lyke yt made his hand to apeyre in the kynges present.
b
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.88 : The þridde kynge..presented hym with pitee apierynge by myrre; For mirre is mercy to mene.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)542 : A thyng ferr of from all knyhtly desires, Straunge & foreyn to ther professions, For tapper at cessiouns or at shyres Bi meytenaunce of fals extorciouns.
Note: New spelling (contr.)
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(1438) GLeg.Luke (GiL149) (Eg 876) 772/240,241 : Seint Austin techithe..that it plese and that it apere [L pateat] and that it stere or meue. That it please, he shulde speke gaily, and that it apere, he shulde speke apertely, and that it shulde stere, he shulde speke feruently.
Note: Editor: "apere: pateat LgA, i.e. be clear; this sense is not quite covered by MED ap(p)eren v.(1), nearest being sense 4.(a), 'become apparent or evident'."
Note: ?New sense.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.17ra (1.4) : If þe vryn aperyn golden or citrine and þenne and clere and he be coleric complexioun, it sayþ helthe.
Note: Additional quot., ?prob. sense 5.(a). Editor's gloss: aperyn, v. pr. 3sg. subj. 'should appear'.