Middle English Dictionary Entry
kēnen v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | kēnen v.(1) Also kenien; p.ppl. i(kened(e. |
| Etymology | ?OE *cenian; cp. cennan. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. kennen v.(2).
1.
(a) To engender (offspring); also, conceive (a child); (b) to be conceived, be engendered; (c) to generate (sth.), develop; (d) to grow, develop.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)721 : A smal weob it bi-cluppez al-a-boute..Fram þat hit is formest i-kened [Corp-C: ikend] forto hit beo i-bore atþe laste.
- c1300 SLeg.Patr.(LdMisc 108)532 : Of wrechhede we beoth i-kened [Corp-C: ikenned] and of sunful blode i-come.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1545,1547 : He wolde wite & ise hou vair þe chamber were War inne he was ikenede [vrr. ikened, ykenned] ar is moder him bere..Hou vair þe inewarde was þat he kened [vr. kenede] was inne.
- a1350 In a fryht (Hrl 2253)5 : Y wolde wyte in world who hire kenede [rime: fremede, glemede, gremede], þis burde bryht.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5724 : Þou most..be-lyue on gode sone, Þat in marye y-kened was.
b
- a1300 From heouene in (Jes-O 29)6 : Edy beo þu mayde..Þer schal a child in þe kenyen and springe.
c
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)708 : Þis beoth þe þreo hexte limest [read: limes] þat formest i-kenede [Corp-C: ikenned] beoz.
d
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)704 : Formest þare keniez [Corp-C: kenneþ] þar-of smale bollene þreo.