Middle English Dictionary Entry
halsen v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | halsen v.(1) Also hals(e, halsien, halsi, halsiȝe, halsou. Forms: sg. 2 halst; p. halsed & halist; ppl. halsed, ihalset. |
| Etymology | OE hālsian & healsian. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To beseech (sb. that he do sth.) by invocation of God, God's name, etc.; entreat, implore, adjure; (b) to supplicate (Our Lord) for help; ~ after, pray for (sth.); halsinge bonen, supplicating prayers; (c) to ask (sb. a question); (d) ?to question (someone's words).
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)14/24 : Ic halsiȝe ðe þurh god sylfne þet ðu underfo minne sunæ.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)16/19 : On godes nome wit halsiȝæð þe þet ðu unc unne þet wit heom gretan moten.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)32168 : And ich inc halsi beien, þurh þan heouen kinge, þat unker æiðer oðer luuie swa his broðer.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)93/2 : Ich ðe bidde and ec halsiȝe, uppe ðare hali þrinnesse..þat ðu þis weork naht ne forlate.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)43/457 : Ich halsi þe o godes half & on his sune rode þet we se muchel ðredeð [read: dredeð].
- c1225 Lofsong Lefdi (Roy 17.A.27)305 : Ich bidde ant biseche þe ant halsi..bi his flesch founge of þin edi bodi..þat he [etc.].
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)62/7 : Þurh þe ilke neiles ich halsi [Nero: halse] ow ancres..Haldeð ower honden inwið ower þurles.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)1007-9 : Þe wif agros of þis answere & seyd, 'Haue þou no powere me to dere Ich þe hals a godes name!' On þat maner seyd his dame & halsed him also þare.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)400 : Þenne seis Iosaphe..'Vppon þe heiȝe trinite I halse þe to telle, Spek al þat þou const & let þe kyng here.'
- c1430 Chaucer CT.Pri.(Cmb Gg.4.27)B.1835 : I halse [Heng: halsen] the, In vertu of the holy trynytee, Telle me what is thyn cause for to synge.
- c1450 Trental St.Greg.(1) (Clg A.2)61 : He halsed hit, 'Þorow goddes myȝte..Sey me sykerly þe soþe soone.'
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)150/20 : Gred efter sucurs..wið halsinde [Tit: halsande; Nero: halsine] bonen o þin ahne ledene.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)151/9 : Nempne ofte ihesu; cleope his passiunes help; halse [Nero: halse him] bi his pine.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)169/12,14 : Wið þus anewil ropunge halseð efter sum help to þe wrecche meoseise..Ant ure lauerd ihalset swa, ne mei for reowðe wearnen hire.
c
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)1.71 : I..halsede [vrr. coniured, askyd] hire in þe heiȝe nome..What heo weore witerly.
d
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13242 : Vortiger wes swiðe strong, þe hæhste mon of Brutlond. nes þer nauer nan swa hæh þat his quides durste halsien [Otho: þat þis wolde wiþ-telle].
2.
To interpret (a dream).
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3074 : Sche..Hir swevene hath told hem everydel. And thei it halsen alle wel, And sein it is a tokne of goode.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)107 : Yeur swevyn turne to good! And I woll halsow it to the best.
3.
= heilsenv.: (a) to hail or salute (sb.) with reverence, greet; -- also without obj.; (b) to hail (sb.) with (a title of honor).
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)17819 : Þai halsid [Vsp: hailsed; Trin-C: heiled] þaim wid sueteli sare.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)8.144 : And Iosep mette merueillously how þe mone & þe sonne And þe enleuene sterris halsiden hym alle.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)12.79 : With þat cam a knaue..He halsed me.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1621 : When he com bifore þe kyng and clanly had halsed, Baltazar umbebrayde hym.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1983 : None aw þam do forto greue..Bot loutand hals þam wher þai go.
- ?c1450 Nicod.(1) (Sion Arc.L.40.2/E.25)1003 : Tille armathy þai come onane..Mekely þai halyst [vr. haylsed] hym onane.
b
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)324/276 : Þ[at] of Iosep was biȝute and of Marie ibore, Þat þou him halst Godes sone, þou sselt abugge þer uore.