Middle English Dictionary Entry
ap(p)ōsen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | ap(p)ōsen v. |
| Etymology | Var. of oppōsen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To confront (sb.) with a question; to question or examine (sb., esp. about Scripture, doctrines of the Church, etc., or in court); -- often with of, in phrase or a clause; (b) to engage in a disputation.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)495 : [Jesus] gan with wordes strongue Þene Maister streite a posi.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)139/268 : Ȝef þe fal[þ] þrof to be aposed, Sey, god nys nauȝt in þer worldle aclosed, Ac hy hys ine hym.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.291 : Þe childe Iesus..in þe temple sittynge and apposynge [Higd.(2): inquirenge questiones of] þe doctours.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)8.127 : Þe Prest and Perkin þo Apposeden eiþer oþer.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)16.93 : Ich shal..a-pose hym [what] penaunce is and purgatorie on erthe.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)2892 : Ihesus syttand..Emang þe doctours of þe law, Apposand þam sad & sar.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)72 : In this mater appose thou the monkes, for thei kepen this serimonie more streiter than freris.
- c1410 Chaucer CT.SN.(Hrl 7334)G.363 : The sergeantz..hem byforn almache, þe prefect, broughte, which hem apposed [vr. opposed].
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)89 : Manye..if thei were weel apposid in eny of tho textis..couthe not defende and meyntene eny oon of hem.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)15.727 : He..Aposed me Of my saviour.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.405 : If his doughter dar take it on honde To be apposed of so many wyse men.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)111/7 : Þe Pope..say þe wytnesse and þe iurates what þei wer, apposed hem a-sundyr, and fond gret acord betwix hem.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.124 : As for the mater athwyx the parson..and the viker..sure that too witnesse which I knowe were apposed therin before a juge spirituall.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)10/32 : When he was aposet of þis, he vnswerd [etc.].
b
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)8/245 : In þe temple he [Christ] dede appose and answerd doctoris ryth wyse and sage.
2.
To ask (sb.) a question, to inquire of (sb.); -- often with of phrase or a clause.
Associated quotations
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)573 : Hem he aposed, on & alle, Whi his werk was so yfalle.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.193 : To speke wiþ an olde man of Egipte for to appose hym of his þouȝtes.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)1.45 : Whon þe peple him a-posede with a peny in þe Temple, Ȝif heo schulden worschupe þer-with Cesar heore kyng.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)3.5 : Ichulle assayen hir my-self and soþliche aposen What Mon in þis world þat hire weore leouest.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.222 : Pacience apposed hym fyrste and preyed hym he sholde hem telle..what crafte he couthe.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)902 : My perle, þaȝ I appose, I schulde not tempte þy wyt so wlonc.
- (?a1443) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xxx : And tolde me what I schulde saye to the Chyffe Baron of all thynges that y shuld be aposed of.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)9705 : A clerk..aposyd Merlyne of many a thyng..And what evere of merlyne he gan to freyne, Merlyne hym answerede anon, certeine.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)307 : Men of armes..whech apposed hem that cam rennyng in hast whedir thei schuld?
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)147/15 : When he was comyn þedyr, and apposyd of hys doyng.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)218/10 : When sche was aposid by hire parentes..by whome that sche conceyued, sche accusid a certeyne dekyn.
3.
To inquire into, investigate, or examine (sth.).
Associated quotations
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6555 : If men wolde ther-geyn appose The nakid text..It myghte soone assoiled be.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)128/154 : Þe busschop xal ȝour lyff appose.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)61 : Clerkes..as audytoures..have oversyght for the Thesaurers partie in every office..how it passith, as often as them seme nedefull to be seen and apposed of every thinge.
4.
(a) To accuse or charge (sb. of misconduct, etc.); (b) to bring (a charge against sb. or sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)54 : Bagot was apposid off certein maters and sent ayen to prison.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)2/44 : Oure lord gan appose þem [Adam and Eve] of þer gret debyte.
b
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7146 : They ne durste not answere By exposicioun ne glose To that that clerkis wole appose Ayens the cursednesse..That in that book writen is.
- ?c1425 Chaucer Bo.(Cmb Ii.3.21)1.pr.5.33 : Of the honeste or of the falsnesse of thinges that ben aposyd [vr. opposed] ayeins the, Thow hast remenbryd thinges þat ben knowyn to alle foolk.