Middle English Dictionary Entry
họ̄flēs adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | họ̄flēs adj. Also hofelæs, (error) holes. |
| Etymology | From họ̄f n.(2); modeled after the ON (cp. OI hōflauss). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Immoderate; unreasonable, senseless; ?as noun: something unreasonable [quot.: HMaid., St.Marg.]; at ~, excessively.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)6224 : Swa þatt ȝitt nohht att hofelæs Ne mede þeȝȝm to swinnkenn.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)38/641 : Son se þu..hauest of ei ouerhohe & þuncheð hofles & hoker of eawt þet me seið þe oðer deð ȝetten, þu merrest þin meiðhad.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)40/3 : Us þuncheþ hokerlich & swiðe holes [Roy: hofles] þrof.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)57/13 : Muchel hofles [Nero: hofleas] hit is cumen in to ancre hus..forte sechen eise þrin & meistrie.
- c1230 Ancr.(Corp-C 402)58/6 : Bihofde nawt þet swuch were leafdi of castel; hoker & hofles þing is þet a smiret ancre & ancre biburiet.
- c1230 Ancr.(Corp-C 402)134/15 : Ant nis hit muchel hofles, hwen godd beot his hond forð, puttinde hire aȝein segge, 'Ne kepe ich hit nawt.'