Middle English Dictionary Entry
halven v.
Entry Info
| Forms | halven v. Also half(e. P. helfde; ppl. ihalved, halwed |
| Etymology | From half n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To divide (sth.) into two halves or equal parts; share (sth.) equally (with another); (b) to reduce (sth.) to half; (c) astron. to cross (the equinoctial), making days and nights of equal length; (d) arith. to take the half of (a number), divide by two.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.3/20 : This man..a-purposyng to halfe [L dimidiare] his dayes, that he myghte obteyne parfite and plenere pardoun and indulgence of his synnes..decreid yn hym self to go to the courte of Rome.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1246 : Wisseth me how to gete a golden salue; And what I haue, I wele it with yow halue.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)59b : To halfe: Dimidiare, mediare.
b
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)54.27 : Menslaer and swykel his dayes halfe sal.
- a1456 Compleyne ne coude (Add 16165)2 : Compleyne ne koude, ne might myn hert neuer My peynes halue.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3914 : Phebus was ascendyng in his spere..Halvynge in ver þe equinnoccial.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5091 : Whan Marche aprocheþ..& þe equinoccial Of wer is halwed.
d
- ?c1425 Craft Number.(Eg 2622)16/24 : It schal not happe but yf it were y-halued a-fore.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)38/20 : Yf thow wilt half any nombre, write that nombre by his differences.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)39/37 : If thow truly double the halfis, and truly half the doubles, the same nombre and figure shalle mete.
2.
(a) To live out half of (one's days); (b) to attain to the half of (a measure).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.54.24 : Men of blodis and treccherous shul not haluen [WB(2): haue half; L dimidiabunt] ther daȝes.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)274a/a : Þer is a maner wilde oxe þat..in eyþer of his hornes may half the mesure þat hatte bos.
3.
To part in halves.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7851 : Scipen gunnen helden, bosmes þer rendden..seiles þer helfden.