Middle English Dictionary Entry
kẹ̄p n.
Entry Info
Forms | kẹ̄p n. Also kepe & koep. |
Etymology | From kẹ̄pen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Attention, heed, notice; taken (nimen, yeven) ~, to take notice, take heed; (b) i)taken ~, to take note (whether, that, or when sth. is the case, how sth. is done, who sb. is); also, observe (sth.), take note that (sth. is the case), remember; take note of (what is said or done); yeven ~, keep track of (sth.); (c) taken ~ of (to), yeven ~ til, to pay attention to (sb.), listen to; i)taken ~ to, yeven ~ to (til), taken (nimen) ~ of (to), take note of (sth.), pay attention to.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Sayings St.Bern.(LdMisc 108)58 : Ȝif þou wolt nime wel guod kepe, Þou ne findest bote a foul doung hepe.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1333 : Bi-aften bak, as he nam kep, faste in ðornes, he sag a sep.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2258 : Ȝif ȝe tentifly take kepe..I woI winne our warisun.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.503 : Shame it is, if a preest take keep, A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)79.1 : Þat steres Irael, take kepe, Þat ledes Iosep als a schepe.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.66 : Þis vision is ȝit to drede, þink & gif Gode kepe.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1284 : He cam first to Arge, Into the porche wher polymyte slepe, Of auenture ere he toke eny kepe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.486 : His sorwe Gan multiplie, that, whoso tok kep, It shewed in his hewe both eve and morwe.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)21/5 : Allas, what sory þing þus haueþ vs blent; take now kepe, & I þe schal say.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)388/19 : Herkyn, breder, and takys kepe; lazare..is fallyn on slepe.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1031 : Tak kepe that a man hath nede of thise thynges generally.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10384 : Hu [he] þam delt, ta nu god kepe.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2222 : And who hym þrewe, he name gode kep.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3425 : To a water hij beþ ycome, Þere hij habbeþ herberewe ynome, For hij habbe[þ] ytaken kep Þe ryuere is cler and dep.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3471 : On a day þe kyng name kep Þat þe water was swift and dep.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.350 : I toke kepe how pekokes bredden.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6279 : Þe false Greke Synoun In Troie waker gan to take kepe Þe hour whan men wern in her first slepe.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1590 : And right in þis þan toke he kepe, Into court come a damysele.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)69/16 : Take good kepe þat I sey wiþholden & not wiþdrawen.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)4736 : Þe noumbre of foules gaf noman kep, So fele þer were.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)423/73 : Take goode kepe what I schal saie.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)147 : Take kepe þer a wounde or a sore ys euele heled..hit is perilous.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)383 : Lest þu trow þis to be sayde not of trowþe, take kepe what crist saiþ in þe gospelle.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)59b/a : But here þou muste take good kepe wheþir þe pacient be hurt in ony of þe twelue signys of þe zodiak.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)130/34 : Take kepe in whate tyme hath yeftis most nede or defaute.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)158/14 : Take no cure of the Seyere what Persone he is, but take kepe what menyth that he sayth, 'Many a pore man shewyth wysdome and reysone.'
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)486 : Ye Iuges, takith keep What that I sei her innocence texcuse.
c
- a1300 Worldes blis ne last (Rwl G.18)24 : Al þe blisse of þisse liue þu shalt, mon, henden in wep, of huse ant home ant child ant wyue; seli mon tak þer-of kepe [vr. koep].
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)779 : Of þat chaunce mani nam kepe & wiþ eiȝen sore wepe.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3757 : But tak kepe of the deeth of Oloferne.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.33 : For þe fifte, take kepe of fyue manere of lyuing.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2604 : Thow ne hast nat wel ytaken kepe to the wordes of Ouyde.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)431 : Iosep of dremys had ȝyue no kepe, what hym was shewed yn hys slepe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)20498 : To þis ferli tas all nu kepe.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)54.1 : Take kepe to me, and here me.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)2472 : Þy gode wille fro me þou tok, When y blamed my doughter ȝyng, & gaf no kepe til hure kennyng.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.17.34 : Tak kep of these latitudes north and south, and forget it nat.
- a1450 Vnkynde man (Cmb Dd.5.64)1 : Vnkynde man, gif kepe til me and loke what payne I suffer for þe.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget (Gar 145)19/38 : If he take kepe eke of my payne and of my sayntes..he shall verely vnderstonde that seth I asked so grete streteness of my-selfe, [etc.].
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.50.34b : Take kepe of Hym for to here Hym speken.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)59b/b : In the firste visitacioun of a newe wounde, þou must take good kepe to þe signys of þe zodiak.
- c1475 *Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)150/24 : The noble men take so litle kepe therto that they suffer thaimself to slide in ordinaunce of othir men.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)76/3 : First seyth ypocras þat a leche xal take kep of þe mone, wanne he is atte þe full.
2.
(a) Care, concern; taken ~, to be concerned; be concerned (that sth. is the case, where sb. goes), take care (that sth. be done, to do sth.), be careful (how sth. is done); (b) taken ~ to, yeven ~ to (unto), taken ~ of, to be concerned about (sth.), have concern for, bother about.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Assump.Virg.(1) (Cmb Gg.4.27)113/72 : Hire sone to serui was al hire kep.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.179 : Every lond himself deceyveth And of desese his part receyveth, And yet ne take men no kepe.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.321 : We loue no man that taketh kepe or charge Wher that we goon.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)36/18 : Take kepe þat, [ȝif] þe wounde be not depe, þi sowynge schal be nouȝt deep.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6992 : I holde hym wood þat takeþ any kepe To done to hem any obseruaunce.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2405 : Makyng her wymmen ek to taken kep And wayt on hym anyghtes whan he slep.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Luke 10.40 : Lord, takist thou no kepe that my sistir hath left me aloone to serue?
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)5b : It is not hard if he take keep wiþ good avisement in his owne writyng to sette suche wordis in such an ordre as his owne conseit acordiþ wel to.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)2.406 : This fish & lard & flicchis salt to kepe In iuste confeccioun, now takith kepe [L gloss.: attendite].
- a1450(1411) Many man (Dgb 102)208 : God dede þe sende; Tak kep how þou it spende.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)39 : Who dare weel say that lordeshype shulde take kepe..to kepe aboute the see?
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2144 : Cuthbert walde alsone wepe; Þe synful man he moght take kepe For his awen synn þan forto grete.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2356 : He toke no maner kepe, & þouȝt of no þing aftir.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)191/2 : Where nyght fallys on you, loke ye there abyde; be hit felle other towne, I take no kepe.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.1411 : Euer an ebbe cometh after a floode; Remembre therfore and take good kepe, And set neuer thy herte on good to deepe To forsake thy Lorde that thy maker is.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)209/8 : Take kepe that thay Parcewe not that thou haste mestere of thar consaill.
b
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.98 : Þe coueitouse swelewen þe richesses þat þe gode Men of holy chirche leten & lyuen in pouert & ne ȝiuen no kep vnto hem.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)69.1 : Ȝeue kepe, God, to my helpe, and haste þe, Lord, to helpe me.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.398 : Of nyce conscience took he no keep.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3085 : Sche, which tok of deth no kepe, Anon forth lepte into the depe.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)85/5 : It nediþ þe to take kepe to alle þese þingis tofore seid.
- a1400 Primer (1891) [OD col.] (StJ-C G.24)p.42 : Lord ȝif thow take kepe to wickednesses..ho schal susteyne?
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3809 : Of none woundes ne took he kep.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gal.4.10 : Ȝe taken kepe to daies and monethis, and tymes and ȝeris.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)21966 : Arthur of his slepe he wok, To þis vision kepe he tok.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11907 : To þe gawdes of the grekes gefe he no kepe.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)273 : Aftir the Princes deth, it was left in the Kyngis tresory, and nevir man tok kep thereto.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)218/1 : Y toke kepe to thynges wych y was enclinet to.
3.
(a) Precaution, protection; nimen ~, to take precautions; nimen ~ of, watch over (sth.), guard (oneself); yeven ~ on, protect (sth.); taken ~ to, guard against (sth.), keep (sb.) in safe custody; (b) vigilance, caution; taken ~, to be on the watch, be alert; watch (whether sth. be done); taken ~ to bien, exercise caution in buying (sth.); (c) scrutiny; taken ~ of (toward, upon), to see (sth.), notice, watch; taken ~ unto, watch (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)946 : Euerilc of ðese he delte on two..And of ðo doles kep he nam.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)23/499 : Hit wil wel sone ben ido But þou take kep þerto.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4677 : Or Charlis tok oȝt myche kepe, Of frenschemen had he slawe an hepe.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2688 : And er that Arcite may taken keep, He pighte hym on the pomel of his heed.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1179 : Er eny man may take kepe, Whil that the Cite was aslepe, Thei slowen al that was withinne.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3358 : Of þi-self nyme þou kep!
- a1425 Hayle bote (Wht)274 : Whethir þat I wake or slepe, On thise two mytes gyf þow kepe.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.3314 : Hir lord was slayn; alas, he took non keepe.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)214/24 : Loke that ye take kepe to thes noble presoners. What chaunce so us betyde, save them and yourself.
b
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3475 : I went Unto the hay..to sen the fresh botoun..And Daunger tok kep if that I Kepe hym covenaunt trewely.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)32/32 : A man oughte to take gode kepe for to bye bawme.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)483 : For false Cristis and false prophetis schulen rise..to disseyue..ȝhe hem that ben chosen; Therfore take ȝe kepe.
c
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2602 : Maria..ful feren stod, And ghe nam kep to-ward ðis flod.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.156 : I abreide..And therof tok sche riht good kep And bad me nothing ben adrad.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2398 : A man that waketh out of his sleep, He may nat sodeynly wel taken keep Vpon a thyng.
- a1400(?c1300) LFMass Bk.(Roy 17.B.17)268 : Take gode kepe vnto þo prest; when he him turnes, knoc on þi brest.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)17.158 : Tak kepe of this lawnce..And whanne this lawnce gynneth to blede Dropes of Blood..Thanne Aftir Sone scholen ȝe sen there Of the Merveilles that I Rehersed ȝowe Ere.
4.
(a) Service; taken ~ of (to, unto), to attend on (sb.), see to the welfare of (sb. or sth.), look after; also, ironically, kill (sb.); taken ~ upon, look after (sb.); (b) amorous interest; taken ~ of (on), to exhibit fondness for (sb., a mate); (c) deference, obedience; nimen ~ of, to obey (sb., a command), be deferential toward (sb.); taken ~ of (unto), be deferential toward (sb.), obey.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3672 : Thei that token of him kep, His chamberleins, be sone there, And maden redi al his gere.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24250 : It es þi kind for me to care..Bot ta to iohn nu kepe.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)5729 : Moyses þat time tok kepe To his elde fadris schepe.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4124 : Ȝiueþ kep To Bulciphal my destrere, And abideþ me riȝth here.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)20.74 : He..took two pans to þe hosteler to take kepe to hym.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5496 : Þer dide apere..An holy angel to Ioseph..And bad hym ryse & also taken kep Vn-to þe childe.
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)458 : Þe qweene and dam Katerine were in þe kynges Harry gouernaunse, And Officeres of þe kyng were ordeyned to take kepe vp on hem.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)156 : Take kepe to thoos lordez To styghtyll þa steryn men as theire statte askys.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)97/35 : When Tholomeus had herd þis onane, he garte take kepe of Candeolus.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)245/14 : Than he commaunded sir Launcelot and sir Bors to take kepe unto their fadyrs landys.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)171/82 : Awake good wyff..and of ȝour childe takyght good kepe.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)158 : Syr Gy tok out hys sword & toke of hym gode kepe; The hed..he smot of.
b
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)14.145 : Reson..suwen alle bestes In etynge..in gendrynge of kynde, After cours of concepcion non tok kepe of oþer.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)1920 : This fayre lady of [vr. on] hym takyth keepe, And kyssith hym swte.
c
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)939 : Of godes bode he nam god kep.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)968 : Of hire leuedi nam ghe no kep.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1001 : His sonnes..of disdeyn tok of hym no kepe.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)291 : Vnto no hird þai wil tak kepe, Bot raykes forth als raueand schep.
5.
A fastening, buckle.
Associated quotations
- (a1362) Cellarer R.in Nrf.Archaeol.7164 : In pectine equino et uno kepe pro uno capistro.
6.
In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1260) Abbrev.Plac.Hen.III149 : Radulfus Kep.
- (1291) Close R.Edw.I180 : William Attekep of Sende.
- (1312) Leet R.Norwich in Seld.Soc.557 : Robertus Kep.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10116 : Thom. atte Kepe.