Middle English Dictionary Entry
hẹ̄̆nd(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | hẹ̄̆nd(e adj. Also heind, hænde, hind(e, hiende, ende, einde, eande & (as noun) hindin. |
| Etymology | OE gehende |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Having the approved courtly or knightly qualities, noble, courtly, well-bred, refined, sportsmanlike; ~ in hall; (b) as noun: a noble person; in direct address: good sir, gracious lady, pl. ladies and gentlemen; as (the) ~, like a gentleman (lady), politely; (c) of a ruler, kingdom: powerful, noble, royal; (d) beautiful, handsome; (e) valiant; (f) fine, pleasant, well-made, valuable, rich; as noun: a pleasant thing; (g) polite, smooth, complaisant, over-refined.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)25652 : Þa com him to an hende [Otho: hendi] cniht.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)25920 : He heo bi-burede, burden alre hendest, Eleine min aȝen uoster.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)110/820 : Floriz and his lemman hende.
- a1350 Flem.Insur.(Hrl 2253)90 : Y ȝelde me to þe, Peter Conyng by þi nome, ȝef þou art hende ant fre, þat y ne haue no shame ne no vylte.
- a1350 Ichot a burde in a (Hrl 2253)48 : Feyrore þen Floyres..hendore þen Hilde.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)465 : Roulond was hende..To smiten made he semblant non Er otuwel was risen & gon.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)165 : Preieth a pater noster..for þe hend erl of herford.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5710 : He wedded of his doghters an Sephoram, an hind womman.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)663 : He may neyþer mete ne drynk werne vs for schame, If that he be heende, and come of gentil blood.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)285 : He were so hende and wis That she ne myght al abate his pris.
- ?a1425 Const.Masonry(1) (Roy 17.A.1)716 : Ynto the halle when thou dost wende, Amonges the genteles, good and hende, Presume not to hye.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3879 : Þe hendeste in hawle vndire heuen riche.
- c1440(?a1400) St.John (Thrn)229 : Þat be-helde þat hendeste in hall.
- a1450(a1400) Athelston (Cai 175/96)558 : I graunte þe..my sustyr hende in halle.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2036 : Þey beron þis mayde Bytwene herre armus, þus ladyes heynde.
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)1 : Lordynges, þat bene hende and Free, Herkyns alle hedir-wardes to mee.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)287 : The Priores, as vomman tauȝt of gentil blood & hend, Assentid to hir counsell.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)199/3 : Sir Howell the Hende.
- a1500 Eglam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)1297 : Syr Egyllamowre prayed these lordys hynde, Home to Artas that they wolde wynde.
- a1500(?c1400) Triam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)1206 : Ther was non so hynde in halle.
b
- a1350 Horn (Hrl 2253)22/375 : 'Horn,' quoþ he, 'þou hende, to boure gyn þou wende.'
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)405 : Listneþ, lordinges dere, Who so better can say, His owhen he may here As hende.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2586 : Alas..wo is ous for þis hende.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)909 : Now, hynde..I wolde þe aske a þynge.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)896 : Alle þe haþeles re-hayted hym at onez as hende: 'Þis penaunce now ȝe take.'
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1255 : Hit ar ladyes..þat leuer wer..Haf þe, hende, in hor holde..Þen much of þe..golde.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2330 : Þer-fore, hende, now hoo!
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)149 : Herkens, hende, vnto my spell.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1952 : Umage made he to þat hende.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)2651 : Þe lady prayed him als þe hend, Þat he ham with þam wald wende.
- c1440-a1500 Eglam.(Schleich)124 : After mete dose als þe hende [Cmb: as hynde], Luke, þou to his chambyr wende!
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8380 : In a halle, þat was hoge, þere þe hend lay.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)212 : Bot will ȝe herken, hende, now sall ȝe here How he kide him in þe courete.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)2592 : Shippis had they stiff and strong..Hend, as ye may here.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)84 : A ryche present wyth hym he browght..He wellecomed hym as þe hende.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)11462 : He is swiðe hende [Otho: riche] gume.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12801 : Hiderward wende Costantin þe hende [Otho: ende] and al his uerde.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)24642 : Wes þisses londes folk leodene hendest [Otho: best] itald.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)395 : Þou art riche and hende, And king of gret pouwer.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11374 : Þai offerd him, þaa kinges heind, Wit riche giftes þat þai broght.
- a1400 Floris (Eg 2862)79/355 : His Fader was an hynde king.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)26 : Of alle..Bretaygne kynges, Ay watz Arthur þe hendest.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2292 : Hoope ye not, hynde fader..That I carpe thus for cowardys.
d
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6974 : Þes wes a swiðe hende [Otho: fair] mon.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7027 : Nes nan swa god wif..ȝif heo wes a wiht hende [Otho: fair and fore], þat he ne makede hore.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)28066 : Þa com an guldene leo..deoren swiðe hende þa ure drihten make.
- a1275 Wolle ye i-heren (Trin-C B.14.39)58 : Þes cnistes weren acneu iseten, & heret þet child of hende hewe.
- c1300 SLeg.Kath.(LdMisc 108)155 : Haue reuþe of þi noble bodi þat is so fair and hende.
- c1325 Byrd one brere (KC Muniments 2.W.32)6 : Hic am so bliþe..quan I se þat hende in halle.
- a1350 Ichot a burde in boure (Hrl 2253)57 : To Loue..y told him..hou þis hende haþ hent in honde on huerte þat myn wes.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)348 : Þemperour..comande þe couherde..to heue vp þat hende child bi-hinde him.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.628 : This ioly clerk Iankyn that was so hende.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4346 : To þe lemman, Hendes of all i mak mi man.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)475 : So comly, so cleane to clippe vpon nightes, So hardy, so hynd in hall for to se.
e
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3812 : Þu eært a swa hende [Otho: staleworþe] gome.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)28185 : Her ich wolle bi-leaue, Howel þan eande.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2378 : Helpes hastily, hende men, i hote, vp ȝour liues!
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3758 : Sone y-armed was al þe ost. Þoo seide Alisaunder, wiþ voice hende: 'Now shal Ich wite who is my frende!'
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2876 : Emynelaus..Hend & hardy of his hand, a huge man of strenthe.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)82 : Vnto þe forest þay weynde Þat was hardy and heynde.
f
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3559 : Bugge him..Þat him wes alre leouust metes & drinches & hende [Otho: riche] claðes.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4899 : Þurh his hænde craftes hird-men hine leouede.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)22912 : Ich þe wulle wurche a bord swiðe hende, þat þer maȝen setten to sixtene hundred & ma.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)23782 : Enne scaft stronge, þer wes a þan ænde a spærere swiðe hende.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1572 : Now agynneþ gestes hende.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5967 : Al þing aȝeins kynde Þat hem þinkeþ good and hende.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1083 : And rial ryngande rotes, and þe reken fyþel, And alle hende þat honestly moȝt an hert glade.
- c1400 I herd an harping (BodDon c.13)5 : His carpynge is ful hende bot al his sang is of sorow fram bigynnyng to ende.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)460 : As a hawke, I hoppe in my hende hale.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)76/394 : O, lord! this way is heynd; Now weynd we all at easse.
g
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)213/15 : Ne leaðie ȝe nane oþre to eoten ne to drinken..Nawiht ne ȝirne ich þet me..telle ow hende [Nero: hendi] ancren.
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(Hrl 2277)106 : Þis holi child newornde hire noȝt ac dude as þe hende.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)262/38 : Of þat craft þat ich i-leorned habbe, to eov ichulle beon prest and hende.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.409 : Hit is wonder þey beeþ so hende, And hateþ a crak of þe neþer ende.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1286 : A sire ye sholde be hende And curteys as a man of youre estaat.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.187 : Haddestow be hende..þow woldest haue asked leue.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.346 : Hende-speche het pees opene þe ȝates, 'Late in þe frere and his felawe.'
- a1450 Bot witt pas (Add 37049)63 : Of þi hode be þou hende, And specially to þi frende.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)34 : Yf he þe sette at gentilmonnes borde, Loke þou be hynde and lytulle of worde.
2.
(a) Of God, Christ, the Virgin: gracious, merciful, loving; -- also as noun; (b) of men: virtuous; ~ and god; run ~, q.v.; (c) gentle, mild, kindly, generous; [not always easily distinguishable from 2. (b)]; (d) humble, obedient, patient, tame, demure; ~ as hauk in halle (chete).
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)8/71 : Se hende is ure lauerd þet nule he nawt þet his icorene beon her wiðute mede.
- ?c1250 I-blessed beo þu (Eg 613)25 : Iblessed beo þu, lauedi so feir and so hende.
- ?c1250 Of on þat is so fayr (Eg 613)41 : So hende and so god he his, He hauet brout ous to blis.
- a1300 Hit bilimpeð (Corp-O 59)26 : Þat bred of hele & of lif, ihesu crist þe hende.
- c1330 Roland & V.(Auch)727 : Wele miȝt he be so hende, Þat he wald sende his sone.
- c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)604 : Serwe is medicine of þi gult, And God is wonder hende.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)104.7 : He was mined in werld ofe his wite-worde hende.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)647 : Þe fyue joyez Þat þe hende heuen quene had of hir chylde.
- c1440(?a1400) St.John (Thrn)80 : Þou helde þe ay with þat hende [i.e. Jesus].
- a1450 As I went þrow (Sln 2593)p.55 : Che hyld that hyndin in here rest..For verbum caro factum est.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)165/77 : With ȝow wyl I wende To se my savyour ende.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)162/44 : Thay heynd til vs take hede.
b
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)85/23 : Uein wolde þe hexte..makien ou fulitowen ȝif heo [read: ȝe] nere þe hendure [Tit: hendere].
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)26/1 : Seint Barnabe þe Apostle þat guod was and hiende.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)2934 : Ȝeo was þe ȝeongeste of þeues alre hendest.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)2284 : Opon him-self þe charge he nam and dude ase guod and hende.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1421 : Grim was wis, and swiþe hende, Wolde he nouth his soule shende.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)21/574 : He chaungeþ ous in hym To maky ous gode and hende.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)784 : Iantail knyȝt, of me take rewþe, as þow art god & hende.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)967 : Adam..O-mang þine oþer werkes hend, O þi winning giue me þe tend.
- a1425 Nicod.(1) (Add 32578)879 : Thurgh alle þe worlde I bid ȝowe wende..And baptise þat are gude & hende.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)1203 : Hende hirdmen he was sett amange; he saw aungels, with ioy and sange.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)5/143 : He xal wedde þat mayden hende.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)136/638 : Ryse, hyrd men heynd! for now is he borne That shall take fro the feynd that adam had lorne.
c
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)202/9 : Nam ich monne hendest, nam ich þinge freoest?
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(LdMisc 108)37 : Leoue sones..ichulle beon a-ȝein eov hende..ich can eou more sende.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2373 : He was so large & hende of is ȝiftes.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8347 : Ich abbe her biuore ibe hom god & hende.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)23093 : For ȝe to me were so hende Ȝe shul haue heuen wiþouten ende.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.261 : I am holden..as hende as hounde is in kychyne.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1098 : He heled hem wyth hynde speche.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)700 : Ful hinde wordes to him sho spak.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)7740 : To gyue hem leue a-wey to wende Wyþouten slaughter, as he was hende.
- a1450 As I went þrow (Sln 2593)p.54 : A semely song than herd I tho Of thre schepperdes that wern ful hynde.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)355 : He commend þe whene so hende For sho had bene þe wenche frende.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)159/610 : An angell..Bad vs, as heynd, That we ne shuld..home by herode weynd.
d
- ?c1335 Þe grace of godde (Hrl 913)15 : Seint Bernard in his boke..techiþ vs..To be hend, if we wold loke, Wel file hit is þat of us come.
- a1350 Weping haueþ (Hrl 2253)28 : Heo..are al hende ase ha[u]k in chete.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)184 : I stod as hende as hawk in halle.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)10/535 : Þan loued he god with wurdes hend.
- a1450 Pride Life (ChrC-Dub)9 : Now stondit stil & beth hende, And prayith al for þe weder.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)36/44 : Come, brother Cayme, I wolde we wente with hert ful hende.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1491 : She wold sikirly, All the dayis of hir lyff, be to hym as ende As evir voman was to man.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)68/136 : Thou speke to hym Wyth wordis heynde, so that he let my people pas.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)59/272 : Thou wilt turne againe to me..for of all fowles..thou art most meke and hend.
3.
(a) Skilled, clever, crafty; of a blow: skillful; (b) helpful.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)18707 : An ald mon swuðe hende..and ræh on ælche dome.
- ?a1300(c1250) Prov.Hend.(Dgb 86)st.2 : Loke þat no man oþer werne To ben ful wis and hende.
- ?a1300 Sirith (Dgb 86)154 : Leuen al his muchele kare To dame siriz þe hende.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2628 : Roberd saw þat dint so hende.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)173 : Herhaud of Ardern..was hende & wele y-tauȝt, Gij to lern forȝat he nauȝt.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3199 : This clerk was cleped hende Nicholas, Of derne loue he koude and of solas.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2536 : I holde you both wyse and hende.
- a1450 I herde a carpyng (Sln 2593)p.42 : Stronge thevys wern the chylderin non, but bowmen gode and hende.
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2583 : Nere þe help of heuen king & þe hende best, oure liues hadde be lore.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3345 : I Hadde a felowe faste by, Trewe and siker, curteys and hend, And he was called by name a Freend.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1134 : Envye þou art boþe good & hende, & schalt be of my counsel chefe.
4.
Near, close by, handy; somer ~, next summer; fer and (ne, other) ~, far and (nor, or) near.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13974 : Biuoren wende Hengest & Hors him alre hændest.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)29672 : Sone uolc gadere to Austin þan gode..and bigunnen þer to bulden bl þan watere þa was hende.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)806 : Loth him ches..ðat herðe hende ðe flum iurdan.
- a1350 Most i ryden (Hrl 2253)42 : Hire teht aren white ase bon of whal, euene set ant atled al, ase hende mowe taken hede.
- c1330(?a1300) KAlex.(Auch)425/200 : He þouȝt to Aufrike wende, After in þe somer hende [LinI: eynde].
- c1330 St.Greg.(Auch)857 : Ȝif þou al niȝt wer me hende, Þou wost do me vilainie.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2513 : Nade his help hende ben we hade be ded ȝore.
- c1400 St.Alex.(3) (LdMisc 622)374 : Þe most wrecche fer oiþere hende Certes now am I.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)1214 : Þey boden clerkys fforþ to wende To euery kyrke fer and hende.
- (1456) Paston (Gairdner)3.90 : Ye were hender the londes at the begynning of your sute thanne ye be now.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)81/267 : Goddys foyson is evyr to his servauntys hendyr þan we wende.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)423 : Whenne bale ys aldermest, bote ys ful hende.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)370 : He louyd nothyng but it were trie, Neþer fer ne hende.
5.
In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1256) Assize R.Nhb.in Sur.Soc.8813 : Hendeman, Juliana uxor Rob.
- (1280) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)1.599 : Felicia Hende.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10126 : Thom. le Hende.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10186 : Henr. Hendman.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10195 : Willmo Hendeman.
- (1358) Doc.Newcastle in Sur.Soc.35344 : Johanni Hendhachet, sementario.