Middle English Dictionary Entry
hẹ̄ pron.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | hẹ̄ pron.(1) Also e, a, ho, heo, hie & (early) hæ, hi, hei & (chiefly SE) ha, ȝe, (error) ze. Contractions: hẹ̄s, his (= hẹ̄ his); hẹ̄t (= hẹ̄ hit). |
| Etymology | OE hē nom.sg.masc. Forms show confusion with hẹ̄ pron.(2); a & ha developed in unstressed position. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. his, him, hine.
1a.
(a) As anaphoric or pers.pron.: the male person referred to, he; het, he it; (b) pleonastic, or with emphatic repetition; (c) with appositional, or other, adjunct.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.654 : Þa comon to gadere heo & Oswiu, Oswaldes broðor cyningas..Saxulf wæs ge-haten; He wæs swyðe Godes freond.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)116 : His þrowungæ þe hæ eft on Ierusalem ȝefulde.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.107 : Loke he well þatt het write swa.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)230 : Asscanius..makede ane heȝe burh..heo nom þene mahum..in Albe Lingue he hine sette.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15636 : Þa wes Dinabus ful glad; e [Otho: he] wende þat he ilad weore limen for to leosen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)23113 : Sichelin king þer is ded..& hæ hafeð al his kineriche bi-queðe her Loððe.
- a1225 PMor.(Eg 613(2))149 : Hedde his a-fanded..he wolde eal segge oðer.
- a1200 PMor.(Trin-C B.14.52)56 : Þanne doð hes [Eg(2): he his; Jes-O: he hit] wel ihealden.
- a1250 Creed (Blick 6864)p.138 : Ich geleue..on halende crist..he was akenned þurh þe mihte of þan halge gast.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1475 : Wundere me þungþ..Þat e..miȝte..do hit to oþers mannes wiue.
- a1275 *St.Marg.(2) (Trin-C B.14.39)6 : In auntioge wif e ches..deue godes ant doumbe he seruede.
- c1275 Ken.Serm.(LdMisc 471)215/20 : 'Goþ,' ha seide, 'into bethleem.'
- c1275 Mon may longe (LdMisc 471)49 : In o stunde oþer tuo, a winnet him a þusend pine oþer mo.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)651 : Heo saȝ Rymenild sitte Also he were of witte.
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)18/331 : Þei horn were honder molde, Oþer elles qwere e wolde..Ne schulde ich him bigile.
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)86/1532,1534 : Hey lokede on hys gode Ryng..Hey ȝede op to borde Mid hys gode swerde.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)80/81 : Seint Matheu..ȝaf hire cristinedom; A made hire a-uouwe chastete.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2708 : Into egypte e wente a-gen.
- a1325 Man folwe Seint (Add 11579)3 : Loke in ihesu cristes face, How hee lut hys heued to þe.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)97/1961 : To þe patriark a wente cof, & al his lif he him schrof.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)6376 : For he him so miseise y-seye Of prisoun aschaped, bliþe was hye.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)3/63 : Ȝet senne-les ne may he nauȝt be, Ac a deyþe, and he not wanne.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)83/113 : Ha grade 'hely' to hys fader.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)120/169 : Þo ȝe was bote twelf wynter ald..to alle clerkes þat þer were He ȝaf answere and tale.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)138/238 : For ȝe hys almytty, ase ich er sede, Al-wys.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)56/29 : Huanne þe glotoun geþ in to þe tauerne, ha geþ opriȝt; huanne he comþ a-yen, he ne heþ not þet him moȝe sostyeni.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)117/8,9 : Vor ase zayþ salomon: Ze [read: Ȝe] þet ne heþ þise uondinges, he ne may noþing wel conne.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1036 : Þan william wax..a-schamed, & he & meliors mercy..hire criede.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)594 : A sterte to his helm, & pult him aan.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)97 : Þorwȝ þe grace of himself, gete him heo [Herod] ne miȝt.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1090 : This chanoun was my lord ye wolden wene?..It was another chanoun and nat he.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2642 : He ys wurþy to be shent, For a doþ aȝens þys comaundment.
- a1400(?a1325) Bonav.Medit.(1) (Hrl 1701)573 : Þey hye hym, and ho goþ withoutyn any stryfe.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.3.6 : And sche took..and eet, and ȝaf to hir hosebonde, and he [WB(1): the which; L qui] eet.
- c1425(?a1400) Arthur (Lngl 55)370 : He went ouer to þe hulle syde, And þere a fonde a womman.
- c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)415 : Till a clyffe þe sqwyere com sone, A sees a knyghte hewand hym one.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)2010 : Þe priour..Is come..but er ho fully cam The deuele..cried al a-loude.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)265/6 : He answered and seide þat a come out of a grete kyngdom.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)400/1 : He þat is withoute þe dure, þat is he.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.168/29 : Hee Allone whas i-ffeffid of the foresayde tenementes..while hee whas withinne Age.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)32/7 : 'I se yondir a kynge..be inclyned unto his felyship.' 'What ys he?' seyde the Kynge.
- a1475 Of alle þe bryddus (Brog 2.1)28 : Thow bare a chyld of gret powere; A neuer was fylyd witt no syne.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1492 : I brynge þe bodworde..Fro þe hye malster of mageste..A [Ashm: Þat] byddes þe noght be abaysed, he has þi bone herd.
- ?a1500(?a1475) Abbot & C.(Hrl 2380)131 : Þie abbott..ad gret ast Into þe hall, For fayne E wyst noȝt hou he fard.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)74/14 : He name to hym seuyn knyghtes of hys owne kyn, than that ho [Rwl: he] moost truste to har stalwardnesse.
b
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)3/12 : Ðes awerȝede gast, hie makeð ðane religiuse man..sari and drieri.
- a1200 PMor.(Trin-C B.14.52)35 : Þe wel ne doð þe hwile he mai, ne sal he þan he wolde.
- a1250(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(*Glb A.19-James)72/17 : Alfred he was on enȝelond a kinȝ wel swiðe stronȝ.
- a1300 Leuedi sainte (Add 27909)14 : Hwo-se understant wel his ende-dai, wel ȝeorne he mot spakie.
- a1350 Mon in þe mone (Hrl 2253)20 : Þis crokede caynard, sore he is adred.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)1097 : Oliuer ho slouȝ a noþer.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.1157 : And he that..nyl hym seluen do no gentil dedis..He nys nat gentil.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4055 : Ioseph he sagh a night in sueuen, þe quilk es worþie for to neuen.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)8.70 : He þat beggiþ or bit, but he haue nede, He is fals wiþ þe fend.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.91 : And Troilus to Troie homward he wente.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)880 : The God of Love..he can cherles daunten, he, And maken folkis pride fallen.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)19867 : Baldulf he was be þe ce side.
- c1425 Glo.Chron.A (Hrl 201)120 : Þe kyng he sende aftur hem, and grauntede al þis.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4262 : Bot when sir Arthure anon sir Ewayne he fyndys..He kawghte vp sir Cador.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)252/23 : Cesarius he seyth þat in theutonia was a knyȝt þat slowe þe fadyr of an oþer knyȝt.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)239/17 : One with a swerde the halse of the chylde he smote in too.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)771/34 : Than this knyght with the shylde he semed to be maystir of the ten knyghtes.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)17/16 : Who euer fulfilliþ þe first of hem whiche is hardir to fulfille..he schal fulfille þe ij oþire.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)264 : And he of suche one gret skorne he þowȝte.
- a1500(?c1400) Triam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)744 : The kyngys sone of Armony..To Tryamowre he ranne.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)92/215 : Yee, god he knowys all my doyng.
c
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)27 : He þencheð, þe deofel, þesne mon ic habbe itaken to mine aȝene bihosþe [read: bihofþe].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)27368 : Þe keiser isah þæne king fare..he Luces þa sæide, þæ lauerd of Rome, & spac wið his monnen.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3863 : Vp roos he Iulius, the conquerour, That wan al thoccident by land and see.
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)901 : Sertainly he þis es ane þat with Ihesu was wont to gane.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1294 : And yet som clerkes seyn it nys nat so, Of whiche he Theofraste is oon of tho.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.171 : Ȝit he skaped out, þe monk, of prisoun.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)17 : He is so clene in his corte, þe Kyng þat al weldez.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)405 : How fals eke was he Theseus, That, as the story telleth us, How he betrayed Adriane.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1466 : And by him stood..Of yren he, the gret Omer.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)333 : Thenne he stryketh a stroke, Cheualere Assygne.
1b.
(a) Used of things, abstractions, etc. (in early use, referring to grammatically masc. nouns): it, he, she; (b) used of animals of male or unspecified sex: he, it.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1110 : On Iunies monðe ætywde an steorra..syððan he ufor astah.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.MQuad.(Hrl 6258B)8/12 : Hortes horn ȝebernede drinc on haten watere; þa wurmas he acwellaþ & ut awyrfþ.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)1/13 : [D]eaþ mid his pricke pineþ þene licame..He sæiþ on his bedde, 'Wo me þet ic libbe.'
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.DD (Lamb 487)41 : He him sceaude an ouen on berninde fure; he warp ut of him seofe leies.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)22 : Æfter þan flode..þe al her a-quelde quic þat he [Otho: hit] funde.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)21,23 : Het [read: Bet] þuȝte þe dreim þat he were Of harpe & pipe þan he nere. Bet þuȝte þat he were ishote Of harpe & pipe þan of þrote.
- c1300 SLeg.Jas.(LdMisc 108)337 : Þe menbre þov most keruen of..Þe sunne ichulle for-ȝiue þe þanne ȝwanne he is fram þe i-cast.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3 : Engelond his a wel god lond..he stond as in an yle.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2524 : Þat was lo in þis lond þe verste washail..& so wel he [vr. hit] paiþ þat folc abute þat he nis noȝt ȝut vorȝute.
- c1350 Ye þat be bi comen (Rwl D.939)351 : Þe nexte planete þat comeþ aftur him, uenus is his name; He is good in alle þing.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)520 : Þanne haue i wited alle wrong þe werk of myn herte, For he has don his deuere dignely as he out.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Num.11.31 : A wynde forsoþe goynge out fro þe lord..& he lefte into þe tentys by þe wey as moche as oo day miȝte be made redy.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)7.5 : I haue an half Aker to herie..Weore he wel I-Eried, þenne with ou wold I Wende.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.867 : The philosophres stoon Elixir clept..For al oure craft..he wol nat come vs to.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)17/15 : A wounde þat is maad wiþ a swerd..must oþerwise be heelid þan he þat is maad wiþ stoon.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)523 : Bot þen hyȝes heruest..He dryues wyth droȝt þe dust for to ryse.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.2072 : For naturelly blod wil ay of kynde Draw vn-to blod, wher he may it fynde.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.17.1 : Tak the altitude of this sterre whan he is on the est syde of the lyne meridionall.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)9149 : The Ship I spak of..Full fast he [Add: he; Rwl: she] sayleth thorow the flode.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)119/23 : Þe vertu of þis herbe is þis, þat he wylle gladly kepe men and women chast.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.1379 : Yet was this fyre soo horryble, that hee Brente the wheles.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)690 : Lo, how nature makith for hem everichone! And as many as ther been, he forȝetith noon.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)54/98 : Byware of custom ffor he wyl dere.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.478 : The bagge sowked kyne in euery pasture Till he were laaden as a barell tight.
- a1500 Ouer all gatis (StJ-C S.54)p.95 : Ivy ys grene and wyl be grene, Qweresoeuer a grow in stok or ston.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)2277 : No liquor so necessarye as was water of crude mercurie, for he shall stande..for the water within our werke.
b
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)123 : Ða itimede þan deofle alswa deð mahȝe fisce þe isið þet es..þenne bið he gredi þes eses.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)26/4 : Hund wule in bliþeliche hwar se he i-vint hit open.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)834 : Þe cat..kan climbe suþe wel; Þarmid he wereþ his greie uel.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)2 : Ðe leun..& he man hunten here..To dele niðer wenden.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)122 : Ðanne ðe neddre is of his hid naked..If he naked man se, ne wile he him nogt neggen.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)2869-70 : Þat herde þe dragoun, þer a stod, And fleȝ awei ase he wer wod.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)35 : Þe couherdes hound þat time..fast þider fulwes..he gan to berke on þat barn.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.180 : Lat take a cat..Swich appetit hath he to ete a mous.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)287b/b : Fucus..is more þan a comyn bee..and haþ þat name fucus ffor he eteþ þe trauayle of oþere.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)605 : Tho gan the kokkow putte hym forth in pres..'So I,' quod he, 'may have my make in pes, I reche nat how longe that ye stryve.'
- ?c1450 *Horse(1) (Dc 291)136a : A hors that ys of thys entaille ne shall not faille that he ne schall be gode.
- c1460 Chaucer CT.Prol.(McC 181)A.145 : He [Heng: If that she sawe a Mous..if it were deed].
- (1467) Stonor1.95 : I send yow yowr hors by the brynger of thys letter..he wyll not be in pleyte as I wold have hyme, but he ys both herty and hoole.
- a1500 Horse(5) (Sln 1764)167 : Now to knowe the beawte of yis hors, se yt he haue a wyte sterre in the forhed.
2.
(a) Used indefinitely: one, someone, a man, a person; ~..~, one..another, this one..that one; (b) ~ that (the), ~..that (the), he who, the one who, such a one as; (c) used as rel. pron.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)29 : Hwet is scrift bute forlete þene deofel, and þine sunne..and habben in his þonke þe he nule nefre mare eft ȝe-don þeo sunnen..and cumen to þan preoste..and cweðen in his þonke þar hi bið.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)35 : Nis þas weorld nawiht, ȝe hit iseoð eow seluen; Ne beo he nefre swa riche, forð he scal.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2614-2616 : He rolleth vnder foot as dooth a bal, He foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun, And he hym hurtleth with his hors adoun.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.138 : Ȝe shal ete barly bred, and of þe broke drynke. But if he be blynde [or] broke-legged..He shal ete whete bred, and drynke with myselue.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1748 : Than dar ye naught; and whi? for she and she Spak swych a word; thus loked he and he.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)166 : It liketh hym at the wrastlyng for to be, And demeth yit wher he do bet or he.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.785 : Hym [L Alii; L gloss.: alicui] liketh best a daubed wough, and he [L gloss.: alius] Wol haue a wal of cley.
b
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)29 : He haueð þes deofles costes þet a festeð and a deð uuel.
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)144 : Swines brede is swiðe swete..alto dore he is abuh þe ȝefð þer fore his swore.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)119/26 : Ure aliesend..aros of deaðe, alswo he ðe was soð lif.
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)26/240 : He sit on heh þet is ow on helpe.
- a1300 Owl & N.(Jes-O 29)402 : Vor heo [Clg: he] is wis þat hardeliche Wiþ his fo berþ grete ilete.
- ?a1300(c1250) Prov.Hend.(Dgb 86)st.29 : He is fre of hors þat non ne haveþ.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)410 : Þanne dude he gret folie þat boþe me bitoke.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2186 : Þis is he þat fader myn ordeyneþ my lord to be.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4973 : The povere man this understod As he that wolde gladly winne.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)8.69 : He þat beggiþ or bit, but he haue nede, He is fals wiþ þe fend.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1242 : I be not now he þat ȝe of speken.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1660 : Ful sodeynly his herte gan to colde, As he that on the coler fond withinne A broche, that he Criseyde yaf.
- a1425 HBk.GDei (Arun 507)141 : Wepand & ȝelland..as he þat was wil of his herberi þat night.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)231 : He, or he þat: Ille, ipse.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1406 : Fyrst þow moste þys mynne What he ys þat doth þe synne, Wheþer hyt be heo or he.
- c1450 Dc.Prov.(Dc 52)p.56 : He that were wytty, were sely.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.1.2a : A wrecchedman ore wumman is he or sche þat lesiþ al þe inwardly kepyng' of hym self.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)19/372 : For he that sloys yong or old, It shall be punyshid sevenfold.
- a1500 *Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149:Hulme)258b : Ho that trespasseth agenst god schal be stoned to the dethe.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)88 : Hee þat reigneth in ryght reskueth troth.
c
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)95 : Armheorted is þe man þe swiðere reoweð his sinne, & he hem forlet & bet.
3.
As noun: (a) a male person, a man; (b) the male of an animal species; in cpds.: ~ asse, ~ cat, ~ lomb, ~ sparwe.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)690 : Þenne com he wiþ þe sore Arm.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1082 : Thou wilt gesse That it the same body be, Man or woman, he or she.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1407 : Fyrst þow moste þys mynne What he ys þat doth þe synne, Wheþer hyt be heo or he.
- c1450 Chaucer HF (Frf 16)2069 : And nat so sone departed nas That he fro him, thoo he ne mette With the thrid.
- (1472) Paston (Gairdner)5.156 : I mente weell..to hyr..as any he that owythe heer best wyll in Ingelond.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.49.15 : Ysachar an hee asse [WB(2): asse; L asinus] strong.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)291a/b : Of an hors and a sche-asse, oþer of a mare and an he-asse [L asino] is y-gendred a mule.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6067 : And siþen sal ilk hus in-take A clene he-lambe [Frf: lambe; Trin-C: lomb], wit-vten sake.
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)104 : As hic passer for the he-sparwe and hic passer for the heo-sparowe.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)571 : Catta: a hecatte.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)98/3 : Take an hee whyt goot, and fed hym iii dayes with Iuy.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)52/124 : Of cleane fowles seaven alsoe the hee and shee together.