Middle English Dictionary Entry

haunten v.(1)
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) To frequent (a place), visit often, resort to; ~ to (til, in); frequent (wakes, tournaments, brothels, etc.); ~ scole, attend school; -- also intr.; (b) to travel (a road); (c) to visit (a place); (d) in surnames.
2.
(a) To stay in (a place); dwell in, live in; (b) ppl. haunted, full of people, inhabited.
3.
(a) To visit (sb.), frequent the company of; also, come together, assemble; (b) to seek (sb. or sth.); pursue (game); seek to acquire (goods); (c) to resort to (sb., someone's body) for sexual intercourse, have intercourse with.
4.
(a) To busy oneself with (an activity), engage in; practice (an art, a profession, trade, craft); take part in (wars, battles); ~ in; ~ armes (dedes of armes), engage in deeds of arms, follow the military profession; ~ enemites, engage in hostilities; (b) with inf.: to be in the habit of (doing sth.), be wont (to do sth.); (c) ~ to (in), to exercise (oneself, one's body) in (piety, martial deeds); (d) ben haunted, to be stirred or roused; ben haunted in, be occupied with (sth.), meditate upon; also, be tried by (temptations).
5.
(a) To practice (a vice, a sin, folly); (b) to practice (a virtue, righteousness, etc.); (c) to obey (a law), observe (a custom); (d) to obey or worship (a god); (e) of music: to follow (a course).
6.
To use (sth.), employ; exercise (power, authority, influence, a legal right).
7.
(a) To do (sth.), carry out, execute, perform; perform (divine service), go on (pilgrimage); ~ blessinge, bless; ~ contek, make war; ~ office, perform a function; (b) ppl. haunted, repeated, frequent, numerous.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1475 GLeg.Suppl.Aug.Cant.2 (Lamb 72)375/248 : After that he wax ful desolate and wantone of his speche and he infect the peple with iangelynge in the chirche and talkynge, so that his olde sykenesse hauntyd hym ayen bycause of his mysgydynge.
  • Note: Editor: "hauntyd: visited. MED haunten v.(1) does not record this sense in the context of illness."
    Note: Cf. OED haunt, v., sense 5. a.
    Note: New sense.