Middle English Dictionary Entry
họ̄veren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | họ̄veren v. Also ovir. |
| Etymology | From họ̄ven v.(1) & -er- suf. (3). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To hang fluttering in the air, hover; (b) to stand protectingly (around sb.); (c) to wait, stay; (d) to be in a state of indecision, hesitate.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)153/9 : Fewles of þe cuntree..commez þider and houers abouue þam, as vowltures..and oþer fewlez of rauyne.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)8/260 : The holy gost xal ouyr hym on.
b
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)9268 : Many a man aboute him houered [rime: couered], His body al for to fende.
c
- ?a1425 Siege Jerus.(1) (Lamb 491)871 : Hovere [Ld: Whan we schul houe & byholde & litel harme wirche].
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)53/252 : A twelmothe..Have we be houerand here.
d
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)88/352 : It may not helpe to hover na hone.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)3446 : When gedion saw þat ys [Lngl: it] was so, his hert be gan to houer and hone.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)75/363 : Let hym go, els wyrk we wrang, It may not help to houer ne hone.