Middle English Dictionary Entry
hē̆st(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | hē̆st(e n.(1) Also est(e, hes(e, has & (early) heast(e, hæse & (?errors) ese, oste. Pl. hē̆stes, heastes, (?error) hostes & hē̆sten, heasten & hē̆st(e, heast(e, hāste, hēs(e, hease, hās & hē̆sne. |
| Etymology | OE hǣs. Forms with -t suf. (from nouns like yifte, might, etc.) begin to appear c1200 and become the usual forms by c1300. The early pl. in -ne may be a variant of the -en pl. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. bihēst(e, ihēse.
1.
(a) A command, order, bidding, instruction, admonition; breken ~, to disobey (a command); don (holden, werken) ~, don at ~, carry out an order, follow instruction; highten ~, issue a command; to ~, at (someone's) summons; (b) pl.; (c) a decree, law, precept; godes ~, God's commandment; holden ~, to obey a law; breken ~, break a law; (d) pl.; the ten hestes, the Ten Commandments; godes hestes; breken hestes; don (holden, kepen) hestes, to obey laws or commandments; (e) power of command, authority, jurisdiction, control; haven heste(s, to exercise authority; haven ~ of, haven at heste(s, haven in (under) ~, control (sb. or sth.); at (unto) ~, under hestes, subject to the authority (of sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- 1123 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1123 : On þa ilca tima ferde se ærce biscop Ðurstan of Eoferwic to Rome þurh þes papes hese.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)24/19 : He mihte hælen mid his hæse his sune.
- c1200 Wor.Serm.in EGSt.7 (Wor Q.29)122 : Ich [a]m king imaked þurþ min fader techinge, is este to done.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3537 : All swa se þa wass sett Þurrh þatt Kaseress hæse.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2494 : Þa hehte heo ane heste..þat me sculde þat ilke water..clepien hit Auren.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)49/528 : Ti sire sathanas þet tu leuest up on & ti feader hatest & his heaste forðest.
- c1230 Ancr.(Corp-C 402)131/20 : Vre meistre haueð iwriten us as in heast to halden.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)102/610 : He..het him go..For to wite whi heo ne come To his heste suthe sone.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)14612 : Nolle we neuere more..to þine heste [Clg: hirede] come, ne þe for kinge holde.
- c1300 The milde Lomb (Arun 248)34 : Seint Iohan..hir understud þurw hese of criste.
- a1325 SLeg.Aug.Cant.(Corp-C 145)35 : His heste was fol wel iholde; me aueng hom vair inou.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2319 : Þo he was king ymad, is heste he made anon Þat clanliche to vortiger is men buyde echon.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)508 : Þousandes þer were anon..For to do þe kinges hest.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)572 : Þou miȝt m[e] sle..þine hest [c1475 Cai: commaundement] ichaue to-broke.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)140/27 : Þe hassasis..ys bliþe huanne he heþ þe heste onderuonge of his maistre.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2250 : A cri has be cried..þurth hest of þemperour, þat haþ rome to kepe.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.27.5 : He was gone awey into þe felde þat he fulfylle the heste [WB(2): comaundment; L jussionem] of þe fader.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2532 : The peple preeseth thiderward..to herkne his heste and his sentence.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.137 : Cartage in Affrica was i-bulde..by heste [Higd.(2): commaundemente] of þe senatoures.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.382 : I wol doon at youre heste [vr. requeste].
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1039 : I am..at your wylle, to worch youre hest.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)16a/a : Commonefacio: to lerne heste.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)32b : For tessara is as moche for to seie as an heste oþer a comaundement.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)6969 : After þe batayll do by myn hees [vr. do thyn ese]; With the Sowdan thou make thy peas.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)528 : So fale folewen þe folk to fonde þi heste, Þat with hure drinkinke-drawht..Ȝe maken stinte of his strem a stronde ful huge.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)596/34 : Monicio: an heste, or warnynge.
b
- c1225 Wor.Bod.Gloss.(Hat 113)22 : Bebodu [glossed:] heste.
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)229 : He awende water to uine..and he ȝestilde windes mid his hesne.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)19415 : Bruttes..duden swiðe vnwraste..alle his haste.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)31561 : Nulle he..no þine heste iuorðen [Otho: þine hestes onderfon].
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)48 : He..sende heaste [vrr. heste, heast] & bode [L edicta]..þet poure ba & riche comen þer.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)746 : Alle þe bischopus..he het beon þare..is hestes [Hrl: al his heste] for-to do.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1335 : I breke as be that weie Hire hestes and hir comandinges.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.529 : Lordes hestes [vrr. heste, hostes, behestys] mowe nat ben yfeyned.
- a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)p.48 : Also, fowre seriauntes sholde be in þe town y-swore, ȝerdes berynge, for to don þe hestes of þe meyre and of þe baylyues.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.419 : I wol alwey thyn hestes alle kepe.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6048 : We youre heestes shal fulfille.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)6398 : 'Sir,' she seide, 'with good wille All thy heestes y shall fulfille.'
- a1500 Awntyrs Arth.(Dc 324)235 : Here hertly my honde þes hestes to holde.
c
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)85 : Hit nis noht heste of hali chirche.
- a1300 PMor.(McC 123)246 : Þe þat..litel lete of godes hest [vr. bode] & of godes worde.
- a1350 Harrow.H.(Hrl 2253)171 : We þin heste [vr. comaundement] dude forleten þo we þen appel eten.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)810 : Whi artu more ashamed to speke A word þan godes heste to breke?
- ?c1350 Why werre (Peterh 104)p.13 : Thus thei pyneth her bodyes To hold Crystes hest!
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3754 : Nabugodonosor was god seyde he..Agayns his heste no wight dorste trespace.
- c1390(a1325) Ipotis (Vrn)249 : He wrouȝte aftur his oune wille And held not after þe heste [Brm: oste] of gode.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.641 : How that the seconde heste of hym is this: Take nat my name in ydel or amys.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)57/15 : Þat is þe comaundement & heeste of þe newe lawe as it is writen.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)51b/a : Preceptum: an hest.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.38 : Breking of þis heste brekiþ þe ten comandmentis.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)16/169 : What lyfe þay leedon, Goddus heest to fulfyl.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)181/11 : Þi fader, þi moder þou worchip ay..Fore þis is Godis est and His bidyng.
- a1450(a1401) Chastising GC (Bod 505)195/13 : And bi þe heeste of god eche man is bounde to loue his neiȝbor as hymself.
d
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)9 : Al swa is nu iclepet al cristen folc þa ilke þa haldet cristes heste.
- a1200(?c1175) PMor.(Trin-C B.14.52)296 : Þe [hem] nes naht of..godes hease [Dgb: hesne; Eg(1): hese].
- a1200(?c1175) PMor.(Trin-C B.14.52)349 : [Þ]a narewe pað is godes has [Dgb: hesne; Eg(1): hes; Eg(2): hese; Jes-O: heste]; þar forð fareð wel feawe.
- a1225 PMor.(Eg 613(2))348 : Ðas leteð eal heore aȝen will for godes hese [Jes-O: hestes; McC: hesne] to fulle.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1788 : Þeo..haldeð his heastes [vr. heasten].
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)8/8,11 : Haldunge of þe alde ten heastes [Nero: tene olde hesten; Recl.: þe ten hestes]..ne beoð nawt monnes fundles..ah beoð godes heastes [Nero: hesten].
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)18/4 : Þe ten heastes þe ich ibroken habbe.
- a1300 11 Pains(1) (Jes-O 29)172 : Such pine hi habbeþ imet Þat breken þe hesten þat weren iset.
- a1300 No god (Em 27)12 : Þe on þat haueþ þes worlde i wolde Þes ten hestes us biddeþ holde.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)965 : Ȝif þat ȝe loueþ me, myn hestes ȝe do.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)88/58 : Þe man þat healdeþ þys two Of charyte þe heastes [rime: gestes, bestes, festes], Al he folue[1]þ þe lawe of gode.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)5/1 : Almiȝti god yaf ten hestes ine þe laȝe of iewes.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.20.6 : Doyng mercy..to hem þat..kepen my heestis [L praecepta].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.325 : In þe scrowes were þe ten hestes i-write.
- c1390 Mirror St.Edm.(1) (Vrn)862 : Of O Matere ben þeos two hest And þe seue vertuwes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.640 : Bihoold and se that in the firste table Of heighe goddes hestes.
- a1400(?a1325) Bonav.Medit.(1) (Hrl 1701)323 : Fadyr, þyn hestes y haue fulfylt.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.65 : Prelates ne no prestes, non of þam lyued wele, þe did not Goddes hestes bot brak þam ilk a dele.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)8.167 : Be þou neuere þe baldere to breke þe ten hestis.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)1 John 2.4 : Who þat seiþ þat he knoweþ God, and kepeþ noȝt his hestes, he is a lyer.
- a1425 Alle þt thenke (LdMisc 463)p.197 : Þe ten hestes þei sholde holde.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)189 : Þe beste lif for prestis is holy lif in kepynge goddis hestis.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)465 : In vein thei worschipen me, teching the doctrines and the heestis of men.
- a1450(a1401) Chastising GC (Bod 505)139/15 : Þei bien enhaunsid bi perfeccion aboue al obseruaunces of hooli chirche, aboue hestis of god, aboue al goddis lawe.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1363 : Thay been..The bolder for þaire badnes and breke þe tenne hestes.
- a1475 Cross of ihesu (Rwl B.408)14 : Late us be neuer to hym unkynde..þat made vs..No more to kepe but his heestis ten.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Conf.(Dub 245)339 : Men þat breken goddis hestis, and maken not a-seeþe þerfore, moten nedis be dampned in helle.
e
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.963 : Swa ic hit freo þet nan biscop ne haue þær nane hæse, buton se abbot of þone minstre. And ic gife þone tun..swa freolice þet ne king ne..eorl..ne haue þære nane hæse.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)14791 : He wollde hemm brinngenn ut Off Faraoness hæse.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)211 : Þou ssalt haue þi wil of al Egipte londe; Ssal neuere no man þine heste astonde.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6588 : Bote þe heie king of heuene..haþ heste of water & of erþe al so.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)9/126 : He schal haue al þe wardes Vnder hest and vnder hond Of þempire and al þe lond.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)495 : Nis he holly at my hest in hard & in nesche?
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.15 : Ȝisterday he hadde þe peple at his hestes, and now þe peple haþ hym at here heste [Higd.(2): lordeschippe].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.189 : Pompeus was i-sent wiþ heste [L cum imperio] to þe legiouns.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.29 : Sche þat was assentynge to þe kynges likynge schulde no more be under þe hestes of cruel lordes.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.910 : Ferst unto the mannes heste Was every creature ordeined.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.114 : My lige lord..sendeth yow..By me that am al redy at youre heste This steede of bras.
- a1400 Cato(3) (Frf 14)124 : Suffre þou þi fader heste.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)85.15 : Gife heste [L imperium] to þi childe in to wone.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1745 : Love that of erthe and se hath governaunce, Love that his hestes [vr. heste] hath in hevenes hye.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.6 : Theodorik Schulde regne in Rome and holde his at hys heste [vr. as hym lest].
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2901 : To me, þat am prouost, & have in charge & hest All these fyve Shippis.
2.
(a) A promise, vow, agreement; also, what is promised, conditions offered; dusi ~, rash promise; lond of ~, the promised land; holden (kepen, performen) ~, to keep a promise; breken ~, break a promise; hoten (bihoten, maken) ~, make a vow or promise; ben ihoten mid ~, be sworn; (b) prophecy, forecast, warning.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)242 : Þa þe gode biheten heste and nolden hit ileste.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)108/10 : Alswa is dusi heast [Nero: biheste; Recl.: hest] oðer folliche ipliht trowðe.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)24662 : Þe wifmen were ihote mid grettere heste þat non take ne solde louerd..bote he were þries ifonded in fihte.
- c1300 SLeg.Patr.(LdMisc 108)126 : Þov..on Ihesu crist wolt þenche, Ne for heste..ne for wo fram him þou nelle blenche.
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)2172 : Þai had bene comen ryght To þe land of Hest þat þam was hight.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1064 : Holdeth youre heste [vrr. hestes, behest, promisse]; the rokkes been aweye.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1636 : I schal halde þe þe hest þat I þe hyȝt have.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1090 : Wyl ȝe halde þis hes here at þys onez?
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2559 : So þat ȝour dede acorde with ȝour heste.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2694 : Ȝif it so be þat ȝe ȝour hestis kepe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2824 : Iuno..With al hir tresour & hir hestis faire Refusid was.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6549 : Þei wolde her feith kepe..As þei wer sworn, & her hestis holde.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3643 : Hit was best..to parforn his heeste mad to-forn.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.355 : She nyl hire heste [vr. hestes] breken for no wight.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4477 : Whanne heest and deede asunder varie.
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)442 : Swiþe bliþe was Olimpias Of Neptanabus gile-ful has.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2880 : It doth ther fame trouble..Whan a prynce is off his heste double.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4544 : Thai..heghten hertely þere hestis to kepe.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)178 : I by-hete the a heste and heghely I a-vowe.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3122 : If he be..vencust of oure violence, quat vailis him his hestis [vr. heestes]?
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)715 : What hest to hym that ȝe hath heght leffe yt noȝt for luf of me.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)22008 : Kepe thyne heeste to me, off trouthe.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)2688 : To batayle hathe he made hys hest [rime: lese, pese, Rese], Or ellys neuer to torne A-gayne.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)359/186 : The hestys hyghly that he me hight, he has fulfillid in worde and dede.
- a1500 Parton.(1) (RwlPoet 14)5535 : Yef ye þus departe fro me, And breke youre heste [vr. beheste].
b
- c1300 Evang.(Dlw 22)202 : Þo ilke soulis..In fre prisun þan was þer sete To abide þe este [c1425 (BodAdd): bihest] of þe prophete.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3181 : Love holdith his heest to me right wel, Whanne peyne he seide I shulde fel.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)3.1308 : Vndisperid the hest shal not varie Of the prophete, awhile though it tarye.
3.
Purpose, intention, inclination.
Associated quotations
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)487 : He come þer þe Kyng was Seruede of þe firste mese; To hym was þe maste has Þat þe childe hade.