Middle English Dictionary Entry

īdel n.
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
A useless thing; something vain or false, vain things, vanity.
1b.
In phrases: (a) in (on, an) ~, for nothing, to no avail, useless(ly, in vain; of no use; without cause, without purpose; (b) in (on, an) ~, in jest, lightly, carelessly; holden in (taken on) ~, to treat (sth.) lightly; (c) in (on, with) ~, falsely; esp. profanely; taken in (with) ~, nemnen in ~, sweren in (on) ~, to take (God's name) in vain; (d) in (an) ~, ?falsely, deceptively.
2.
(a) Idleness, laziness; ?unproductiveness; (b) idle or lazy person(s; (c) in (an) ~, in idleness, idly; at complete rest, inert.