Middle English Dictionary Entry
hitten v.
Entry Info
Forms | hitten v. Also hit(te, hutten, hetten, heten. Forms: sg. 3 hitteth, etc. & hit, het; p. hit(te, it, hutte, het; ppl. hit(te, hut. |
Etymology | LOE hyttan, from ON; cp. OI hitta. The ME evidence indicates that the ON i became a rounded vowel in LOE, esp. in S & SW. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To strike (sb. or sth.); strike a blow; deliver (blows); ~ in, cut into (sb. or sth.); ~ on, beat upon (sb. or sth.); ~ on the hed of the nailes ende, hit the nail on the head, speak the truth; (b) ~ with (mid), to strike (sb.) with (sth., a weapon, a blow); (c) ~ after, to strike in the direction of (sb.); strike at; ~ out, knock out (someone's eye or teeth); (d) to spur (a horse); (e) to come into forceful contact with (sth.); intr. collide; of a weapon, missile, etc.: strike (sb. or sth.); of a falcon: strike (its prey); (f) to touch; ~ in, touch (the neck); (g) to thrust (sth.), put; ~ in, thrust (one's head) into something, thrust (sorrow) into (the heart); (h) fig. to afflict (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)26060 : Þe eotend smat after biliue & noht hine ne hutte [Otho: hitte].
- a1350 Horn (Hrl 2253)605 : Þe sarazyn he hitte [Ld: smot] so þat is hed fel to ys to.
- c1330 KTars (Auch)197 : Alle þat he hit [Vrn: hutte], he maked blede.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1209 : Non may is sterne stroke wiþstande þat he hittes.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2647 : Kyng Emetrius..Is born out of his sadel a swerdes lengthe, So hitte hym Palamon er he were take.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)532 : He mette a gome on an hors with a gret route; He hente vp his hachet and huttes him euene.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4305 : With the staf she drow ay ner and ner, And wende han hit this Aleyn atte fulle.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.808 : And yet eft soones I hitte [vr. smote] hym on the cheke.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)301b/b : Þay ben yuel to sle but þay ben hitte in þe hedes.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)1629 : And al þat euer þat he hytteþ Vn-to þe grounde he slitteþ.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2153 : Þorouȝ shelde and breny and þorouȝ þe herte, Arethas he het [LinI: hutte]; nou he is ded.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2296 : So now þou hatz þi hert holle, hitte me bihou[e]s.
- c1400 SLeg.Geo.(2) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)103 : Agayne þe dragon wit herdy herte faste he come..& hytte hym full ryghte.
- a1425 Siege Troy(1) (LinI 150)1397 : And anoþir he huttes [Suth: smyteþ] on þe scheld.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1149 : Arthur..hittez euer in the hulke vp to þe hiltez.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1368 : He gryppes hym a grete spere and graythely hym hittez.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1115 : Who-so make with me debate, I schal hym hyttyn on þe pate.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1198 : Þe seueþ hitteþ on hym an vnhende dynte, þat þe brayn out brast.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5937 : He swappit at hym swithe with a swerd felle; Hit on his hede a full hard dynt.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)839 : Þan Alexander..So hard him hittis on þe hede his hernes out weltid.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)51 : He can not speke in termes ne in tyme nother..But euer he hitteth on þe heed of þe nayle-is ende, That the pure poynt pricketh on þe sothe.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)196/1395 : Achilles an erle of troy hitt.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)187 : To Hitte: vbi to stryke.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)1509 : Ȝyf y the hytte anothyr sythe, thy lyf hys adoun feld.
- c1450 Libeaus (Clg A.2:Ritson)1631 : Whan they togydere mette, Ayder yn other scheld hytte, Strokes grymly greete.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1550 : Al þat he þer mid hitte [Otho: hutte], al hit a-dun healde.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)27680 : He..þene admiral hitte mid smærten ane dunte.
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)733 : Sone bote þe flette, Wit swerd hy wole þe hette.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.231 : Þan Markus resede too, and for he myȝte nouȝt hitte þe dwerf wiþ wepoun, he kauȝte hym.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)7.168 : Pers..hutte hongur þer-with A-midde boþe his lippes.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2353 : He hitte Amanas Wiþ his spere, þat sharp was.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4177 : He..Gan to pricke..Toward Nestor & with a spere hym hitte.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)1699 : Þay in hurtelyng had ben hitt With dynttis of swerdis.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)845 : To him fast he rode And it on the helme with his mace.
c
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)19.120 : Þat libera uoluntas dei lauhte þe mydel shoriere, And hitte after þe fende.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)21.386 : And ho so hitteþ [vr. hit] out a mannes eye oþer elles hus for-teþ.
d
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2153 : Þe wyȝe..Hit þe hors with þe helez as harde as he myȝt.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2916 : He..hit his horse sharply in þe side.
e
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)302a/b : Þe slegge falleþ aȝein and hitteþ him on þe eere.
- a1450-a1475 Lydg.TB (Bergen)3.1575 : At coupyng so sore þei han hit, Þat eueryche oþer to þe erþe smyt.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)803 : Josophus..sette on þe walle side sakkes myd chaf Aȝens þe streyngþe of þe stroke, þer þe stones hytte.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)223 : Fawkons þay founden freely to lighte; With 'hoo' and 'howghe to the heron', þay hitten hym full ofte.
f
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)242 : Hyt, or towchyd: Tactus.
- a1450 Where-of is mad (Dgb 102)22 : Ȝif a man take ordre of knyȝt, Þe coler in þe nekke het [rime: set].
g
- a1450 The tixt of holy writ (Dgb 102)31 : Þat sorwe is so in myn herte hit, I trowe to deþe y mon be brouȝt.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)512 : Þan wendis þar-out a litill worm & wald it eft enter And, or scho hit in hire hede, a hard deth suffirs.
h
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)23.175 : Elde auntred hym on lyf, and atte laste he hitte A fisician..þat he fel in a palsye.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5479 : God..Hath Anthenor quyt for his rewarde; For with þe same he was after hit For his falshede.
2.
(a) To strike (sb. or sth.) with a missile, arrow, stone; hit (sb. with a dart); shoot arrows; ~ a balke (the marke), hit the target; ~ the prike, hit the center of the target; fig. ~ the pin, hit the mark, be correct, guess right; (b) to throw (sth.), cast.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.450 : For evere his bowe is redi bent; And whom he hit, I telle him schent.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5492 : He shal ben hit wiþ þe same dart.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.209 : At which the God of Love gan loken rowe..He kidde anon his bowe nas naught broken; For sodeynly he hitte hym atte fulle.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1811 : And faste thanne I avysede me To drawe out the shaft of tree..So sore it stikid whanne I was hit, That by no craft I myght it flit.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)58/1 : A wikked man..kest a brynnand fyrebrand at oure Lord..and hitt him on the heued.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3686 : Archers of Inglande full egerly schottes, Hittis thourghe þe harde stele full hertly dynnttis.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)17b : Þe moderes ne woleþ noȝt no day ȝiue hir ȝonge sones hir dyner til þei haue wiþ her slynges y-slunge þerto and hut it.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1065 : And þan comande him þe kyng kenely to schote, Bot þar was na man so nemyll þat him hit couthe.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)54 : I hallede to the hokes and the hert smote, And happenyd that I hitt hym by-hynde þe lefte scholdire.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)173/7 : To sheete aferre at a marke is but a lite thinge, but it is ful harde for to hitte it.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)40/157-65 : Þat tyme ȝe had ȝoure bowe bent in honde..ȝe wolde þe pryk han hitte if ȝe ny had stonde..my bow xal I bende wyght and..þe marke xal I hitt.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)129/189 : Now, be myn trowth, ȝe hytte þe pynne.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)196 : I dar lay with hym ale Þat whoso sonyst hittys a bauke, For to haue þe toþer haut To what thyng he will hale.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)242 : Þer is no wilde foule þat will flyne But i am sicur hym to hittyne.
b
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)5.172 : Þenne Clement þe Cobelere caste of his cloke..And Hikke þe Ostiler hutte [vrr. hitte, caste, threwe] his hod aftur.
3.
(a) To meet; ~ on, come upon (sb. or sth.), meet with, encounter, find; (b) ~ to haven, to happen to get (sth.), obtain by chance; (c) to come true, be verified; ben hit, be fulfilled.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7152 : Thre hundreth fox he samun knitt; I wat noght hu he on þam hitte.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17817 : On þir tua breþer þai hitt [Trin-C: mett] in hi þar þai can in þair beddes lij.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21365 : If wit chance man on þaim hit, Quilk þai suld haf þai suld noght wijt.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)12.114 : Ac yf þou happe..þat þow hitte on clergie..Sey to hym þy-self oueer-see my bokes.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)132 : Þe wyȝ to wham her [Fortunis] wylle ho waynez Hyttez to haue ay more and more.
c
- a1450 When adam delf (Cmb Dd.5.64)25 : Of welth & witt þis sal be hitt, in world þat þou here wroght.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2071 : Thow se not þat sothely said ys of olde, And oft happes to hit qwo so hede tas.
4.
(a) To make one's way, go; ~ in, place oneself in (a spot); ~ into, enter (a place); fig. enter (the heart); ~ on, mount (one's horse); ~ to, come to (a place); (b) to fall or come down; ~ to (on), fall to (the ground); (c) of ships or seamen: to arrive; ~ into, enter (a harbor), arrive in; -- also refl.; ~ to, arrive at (a port); ~ unto, reach (land).
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)289 : With þat he hitte to a hyrne & helde hym þer-inne.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)380 : Of a hep of askes he hitte in þe myddez.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2913 : Wemen are wount in Wantonhede yet, With a likyng full light in loue for to falle, That hetys into hertys and hurtes sone after.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7242 : Achilles also afterward rose, Hit on his horse, hurlit into fight.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)445 : So many prouynce to pas..Þat he sall hit with his hede in-to þe heghe est.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)479 : Ho hittez on þe eventyde and on þe ark sittez.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)427 : Þe fayre hede fro þe halce hit to þe erþe.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)58/1 : Þe..brand efterwardes hitt on the erthe and stakk still þerin.
c
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)991 : Þai turne into Tessaile with-outen tale more, Hit vp into a havyn all the hepe samyn.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2027 : Þat hym happint with hele hit vnto londe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3245 : Þai..Hit hom into hauyn, as hom hap shope.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13492 : Þan hym happit in haste..To hit into havyn with his hoole flete.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13495 : The hauyn, þat he hit to, was hard by the cave.