Middle English Dictionary Entry

hēlden v.
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Entry Info

Forms hēlden v. Also hẹ̄lden, heleden, hielden, heild(e, heield, hilde, hælden, healden, halden, hold(e, hulden. Forms: sg. 3 hēldeth, etc. & helt; pl. hēlden, etc. & helt; p. hēlded(e, hēledide, heilded, hīlded, hēldet, hāldit, (error) haldenden & hēld(e, helt(e, heild, healde, hīld, hælde, hālde, heolde, heolede; ppl. hēlded, hīldid, hāldit, hēldit & i)hēld(e, i)helt(e, hāld(e, ihīlde, ihælde, ihālden, ihōlden.
Etymology OE; cp. WS hyldan, Merc. onhældan, Nhb. āhælda. Forms of p. & p.ppl. show signs of confusion with hōlden v. & hellen v. Forms helt(e, i)helt(e may belong to hellen; cp. OI hella, p.ppl. hellt.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
(a) To pour (sth.), pour away, spill; heap, pile up; throw out (ashes); ~ ful, fill (a dish) full (of blood); ~ in with, pour (water) on (sth.); (b) fig. to shed (grace, joy, light, etc.); waste (money), distribute (largesse); scatter, ruin; draw (a sword); let loose (anger), display (an argument), give utterance to (prayer, passion).
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1b.
Of rain: to pour down; fig. of God's glory: pour forth.
Show 3 Quotations
2a.
(a) To bend (sth.), incline, turn, push, push down; refl. bend oneself; ~ him up, raise himself up; (b) to obey (sb. or sth.), submit to; (c) fig. to yield (sth.); ~ up, yield up (sth.).
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2b.
(a) To bow, stoop, lean over, lean away; ~ on, lean on, rest on; ~ to, press on; (b) to yield, cease, give way; ~ to, submit to (sb.), obey (a command), indulge (a desire), agree to (a plan); ~ unto hond, obey; (c) fig. to incline mentally; tend (to do sth.); ~ to (til, with), incline to (sb. or sth.), agree to, support; ~ on, love (sb.); also, oppose (sb.) [quot.: c1350]; ~ of, defect from, rebel against; (d) to slope.
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3.
(a) To fall, sag, collapse, die; (b) fig. to fall (into hell, misfortune); (c) of a ship: to sink; of the sun: set; (d) to drop apart, decline, deteriorate, fade away, fail.
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4.
To move, go, come; refl. advance, turn oneself.
Show 8 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?a1350 Recipe Painting(1) in Clarke Lymmyng (Hrl 2253) 229/30 : Whan hit is wel ipuret and þe gleyr ihald out clene, þenne cast þerto þi gummet water.
    • Note: New spelling.

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