Middle English Dictionary Entry
lāk(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | lāk(e n.(1) Also lac(e, laik, lack(e, (early) laca & leke. Pl. lākes, etc. & lāken. |
| Etymology | OE lacu (from L) & L lacus & OF lac. Also cp. OI lœkr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An expanse of water, a lake; also as surname; bi lond and ~, everywhere; the Flood [quot.: Cleanness 438]; (b) a pond, pool; cistern, reservoir; small artificial pool or basin; (c) in proverb.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.656 : & swa forð þurh ælle þa meres & feonnes þa liggen to ward Huntendune porte, & þas meres & laces, Scælfremere & Witles mere, & ælle þa oþre þet þar abutan liggan, mid land & mid huses þa sindon on æsthalfe Scælfre mere.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1279-80 : Eeuer heo drowen west & norð ouer þen lac [Otho: lake] of Siluius & ouer þen lac of Philisteus.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.520 : Als swift als winde þat bloweþ on clouþe, As white as lilii on lake.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.7.19 : Stretche þi honde oute vpon þe waters of Egipte & vpon here flodis & here ryuers & merschis & all lakes of waters [L omnes lacus aquorum], þat þei ben torned in to blode.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.61 : Þerefore lakus, ryueres, pondus, and oþere fresche wateres [Higd.(2): a lake and other waters; L nec lacus nec amnes] noþer ebbeþ ne floweþ as occean doþ.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.29 : Þis ryuer Dee renneth and comeþ out of a lake þat hiȝt Pymbilmere; In þe ryuer is grete plente of samoun, neuerþeles in þe lake is [neuere] a samoun i-founde.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)156a/a : Oute of þe heede welle, by rennynge of the lake [L mediante riuo], comeþ ryuers and lakes [L lacus].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2863 : Þar þaa fiue cites war won to be es noght now bot a stinkand see, þat semes als a lake of hell.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5053 : Amyddes þe pleyne was a laak, And þe water þere-of was blaak.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5436 : Foules blake..houeden on heiȝe ouere þe lake..and of savmouns Token and eten grete foysouns.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)438 : Þen he wakened a wynde on watterez to blowe, Þenne lasned þe llak, þat large watz are.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1023 : Forþy þe derk Dede See hit is demed..For hit is brod and boþemlez and bitter as þe galle, And noȝt may lenge in þat lake þat any lyf berez.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)126/31 : In þat yle is a ded see, þat is, a lake [Man.(2): lowgh] þat hath no ground.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)177/5 : Þat see of Caspye goth out be londe vnder the mountaynes..And allþough it be clept a see, it is no see, ne it toucheth to non oþer see, But it is a lake, the grettest of the world.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)15/7 : In Cipre þer es a laake half a myle fra þe see, þe water of þe whilk..congelez in to gude salt.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)98/12 : In þat ile es a grete mountayne, and..on þe toppe þeroff es a grete lowgh full of water..In þe grund of þat lac [Man.(1): lake] er funden faire precious stanes.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)313 : Erthe, and eyr and tre and every lake So ful was, that unethe was there space For me to stonde.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)285 : Lake, or stondynge watur: Lacus.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Cock (Hrl 2255)89 : The cormeraunt wyl daryn in the lake.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1084 : Mykyl myrthe þou wylt me make..be londe & lake.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1259 : Þer is pore nor ryche, be londe ne lake, þat alle þese vij [sins] wyl forsake.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)799 : Þar is a grete lake nere hand, Þai call loichauan in þat land.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1150/21 : He had dyed..had not bene one of the ladyes of the lake.
b
- ?c1335 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913)p.157 : Hail be ȝe, brewesters, wiþ ȝur galuns..Beþ iwar of þe coking-stole, þe lak is dep and hori.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Jer.38.6 : Thei toke Jeremye and threwen hym in to the lake of Elchie..that was in the vestiarie of the prisoun; and thei putte doun Jeremye in cordis and in to the lake, in whiche was not water but clei.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11934 : Iesus..yode biside þe flum to gamen..And lakes [Göt: laikes; Trin-C: demmynges] seuen he made o clai, And til ilkan a fur he made Þat suld be þaim to watur lade.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11943 : Þe water wissing can he ditt, Þat water to þe lak broght.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12018-20 : A prist sun..Brack þe lackes [Göt: lakes] al bi-dene; Bath he ditted þe water lade And temed lakes þat he made.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)p.682 head. : How ihesu come in-to egipt and þer a childe [spilt] his leke.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4436 : Of hir þei han þe dede cors y-take, And cruelly in a profounde lake [L in quodam magno stagno aquarum] Þei han it cast.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)116/12 : And before the mynstre of this ydole is a Vyuere in maner of a gret lake [Man.(2): a poonde or a vyuer; F viuer ou vn lac] full of water.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)5342 : Ector wiste..Polydomas was feld and taken; He stroke his stede ouer the laken; Er he come ther, wold he not lette.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.700 : Eke make ffor hem, if other water wont, a lake [L lacuna].
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2149 : Facez feteled vnfaire in filterede lakes, All craysed, fortrodyn with trappede stedez.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.269 : Ne noon so grey goos goth ther in the lake As..wol be with oute make.
2.
(a) A stream, brook; river; ~ frith, ?the duty of obeying or enforcing the local laws concerning a stream; ~ rift, a ravine or gully worn by water; (b) a ditch, drain; conduit, sewer; vessel or tube which conveys blood to the heart; (c) ?a marsh, slough; also fig. ~ of sinne.
Associated quotations
a
- [ a1350 Langtoft Chron.(Jul A.5)1.22 : Le lake de Tamyse n'est pas ublyez. ]
- [ a1350 Langtoft Chron.(Jul A.5)1.238 : Le ray e sire Edwyn..S'en alaynt dedure al lak de Duglas. ]
- (1235-52) Cust.Glastonbury in Som.RS 5141 : Et debet servare Lakefrithe.
- a1300(OE) Deed Crediton (CotR 2.11)119 : Þanne east on þan paþe on þan litel gore estward; suð on þan dede lake on cridia.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.177 : Þe raþer welles beeþ now but lakes oþer more vereyliche dreye chanels wiþ oute watir [Higd.(2): the nowble welles now be as ryueres with owte water; L qui ante fontes fuerant nunc rivuli].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)156a/a : A lake hatte riuus..oute of þe welle [L fonte] oþer oute of þe lake [L riuo] stremes [L fluuius] beþ yladde to wete..gardeynes.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4351 : 'Quyk, quyk, passe we þis lake!'..Quyk he smyteþ ouere þe foord.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)536 : Þe fox..to þe fryth wyndez..And lyounez and lebardez to þe lake-ryftes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3507 : For blind Baiard cast pereil of no þing, Til he stumble myddes of þe lake.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Pass.(Hrl 4196)166/782* : Þe kinges tre, I rede, ȝe take, Þe whilk ȝe laid ouer þe lake.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)960 : Weryd worthe þe wyghte ay, that þe thy wytt refede, That mase the to wayfe here in þise wylde lakes!
- a1500(c1050) Chart.Crediton in Anec.O.74 : Fram Wolfpytte by þe streame þat þe lake tolythe.
- a1500(c1298) Cart.Boarstall in OHS 88179 : Apud le lake que vocatur Wodetonehoo.
b
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)229 : To the ȝate ȝaply þei ȝeoden wel ȝare, And he lift vp þe lach and leop ouer þe lake.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)64a/b : The veynes..haue þat name for þey bene weyes, conditis, & lakes of stremes of fletynge of blood.
- (1467) *Chamberl.R.Winch. : Pro iibus peciis meremii pro cooperacione [?read: coopercione] unius Lake.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)954 : I cast it [medecine] in a fayren, a commen lake, goynge to the ryver which doth ebb and flowe.
c
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)32/25 : Ich..i þe leiuen & i þe ladliche lake of þet suti sunne.
- ?c1335 Swet ihc hend (Hrl 913)p.84 : Rise and wake Of þe hori sinne lake; If þou be þer in itake, Iwisse þou schalt to helle.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)178/20 : As An hound turneþ aȝeyn to þat he haþ cast up tofore; and as A sowe in a lake of clei.
- c1450 Bi west (Add 31042)326 : To slepe als a sowe dose [Sim: a swolle swyn] in a lake.
- ?a1475 LDirige(2) (Dc 322)329 : I walke in a lake Of dedly synne that doth me tene.
- c1475 Guy(4) (Cai 107/176)9037 : Fro thens hys wey hath he take, And walkyd thorough fryth and lake.
- a1500 When nettuls (BodPoet e.1)p.269 : Whan whytynges do walke forestes to chase hertys..And marmsattes morn in mores and in lakys.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)144/291 : Lye there, lydder, in the lake [Add 10305: lacke].
3.
(a) A pit, shaft, hole; also fig.; a grave, sepulcher; ~ of liones, lion pit; a pitfall, trap; also fig.; (b) an underground prison or dungeon; (c) the pit of hell; hell as a place of punishment; helle ~, the Limbus Patrum where the just awaited the atonement [quot.: 1372]; (d) the vat of a wine press.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Body & S.(5) (LdMisc 108)p.53 : I miȝte have ben in erþe kest And ileiȝen and iroted in a lake.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.6.16,17 : Thei ledden to Danyel and senten hym into the lake of lyouns [L in lacum leonum]..And a stoon is brouȝt to and is putt on the mouthe of the lake.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.6.24 : Thei camen not fully vn to the pament of the lake tyl the lyouns rauyshiden hem.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)153a/a : A pitte is y-clepid puteus, and puteus is a lake y-digged and y-dolue & hath þat name, puteus, of potu, drynk.
- a1400(?a1325) Bonav.Medit.(1) (Hrl 1701)347 : Þey to my soule deluyn a lake; A vyleynys deþ to me þey shape.
- c1400 Wycl.Dominion (Dub 244)292 : Also bi goddis lawe a man schulde for charite drawe his enemyes beste oute of þe lake.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)2742 : We haueþ let make Amydde þe towne a gret lake; Al þilke, þat deed doþ falle, In þat lake we casteþ hem alle.
- c1425(c1400) Primer (Cmb Dd.11.82)p.65 : Þe lord..ledde me out fro þe lake of wrecchidnesse [L de lacu miseriæ].
- (1441-2) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103712 : Alloc. supervisori minere de Raynton pro le lake et waste, 4 li.
- (1442-3) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103712 : Sholez, Gliders, et pro le lake et waste.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)22.88 : Thike Cave..was bothe ful dirk & blak & hidows On to looken, with many A lak.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)99 : & þe Badde Aungyl man to hym takyth..tyl Deth comyth foul dolfully & loggyth hym in a lake ful lowe.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)324/1556 : Whan he [Christ] dede ryse out of his lake, þan was þer..An erthe-quake.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)333/8 : Maria magdalene goth to þe graue..and seyth:..'Myn owyn dere lorde..I kan nat se..he is stolyn awey owt of þis lake.'
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)359/122 : He..sent Abbacuc with mete..In to the lake of lyonys to danyel the prophete.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)370/429 : Let vs..ley it in the graue..now insence ye, and we schal put here in this cave..Now reste we vs, brether, vp-on this pleyn lake.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)7.16 : Lacum aperuit & effodit eum, & incidit in foueam quam fecit: The lake he oppynd and vp grofe it, and he fell in the pit that he made.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.7 : And Daniell in ye lake of lyouns.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.101 : The folk of the lande of Babiloigne in to the lake hadde puttid Daniel..forto bene devoured of seven lyons hongry & cruwelle.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.40.15 : Mercy þou schalt do with me, þat þou make sugestyoun to pharao þat he lede me out of þis prisoun, for..here a innocent I am sent in to a lake [vr. laak; WB(2): in to prisoun; L in lacum].
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)2524 : Shettyn he hir dyde hastly In a therk presoun..And as sone as Cristyn þus entryd was In-to þat horribyl & lothful lake, Þre aungellis aperyd.
c
- 1372 Maiden & moder cum (Adv 18.7.21)29 : Mi bodi deyȝet for mannis sake, Senful soules in helle lake -- To hem i go, awey to take.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.38.18 : Helle shal not knouleche to thee, nor deth shal preise thee; and thei shul not abyden thi treuthe, that gon doun in to the lake.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18314 : Lauerd..I cald on þe, þou has me bett; Þou has me werd all fra þe wrak O þaim þat lepe vn-to þe lake.
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)898 : Thi face turne not me fro! I schal be lijk hem þat fallen in lake [L in lacum]; Þe dampnyd men may wel sey so, That are bitauȝt þe feendis blake.
- c1425(c1400) Primer (Cmb Dd.11.82)p.74 : Þei þat gon doun in to þe lake schulen not abide þi treuþe.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)164 : Nowe I am a grisely gaste..With Lucefere in a lake, lawe ame I lyghte.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)214 : In brasse and in bromstane I burne als a belle..This es it..to luffe paramoures and lustis..That gerse me..lenge so lawe in þis lake.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)288/497 : I xal go warnyn helle..þat þei make redy chenys to bynd hym with in lake.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)27.1 : Assimilabor descedentibus in lacum..i sall be like til thaim that lightis in the lake: that is, til thaim that ere halden in hell.
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)302 : We are dampnyd dulfully into þe depe lake..My soule may sitte þer in sorow..in þat derke dethe, þer dawes never morowen, Hungrie inwith helle-hole.
d
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.118 : And þe aungel sette þe sykel in þe erþe & carf of þe vynes of þe erþe & leyde hem in þe grete dyche of þe wraþþe of god..And þere come out blood of þe lake [vr. lakis] vnto þe bridel of þe horses.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.14.19 : The aungel sente his sikel in to erthe and kutte of the vijneȝerd of erthe, and sente in to the greet lake [L lacum] of Goddis wraththe.
4.
(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.8].
Associated quotations
a
- (1200) Feet Fines Oxf.in ORS 1210 : Willelmus de la Lake.
- (1204) Fine R.King John211 : Stephanus de Lacford.
- (1209) Pipe R.Winch28/45 : Osberto de la Lake.
- (1262) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames115 : Walt. Attelake.
- (1275) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames115 : Will. de la Lake.
- (1294) Court R.Ramsey228 : Gunnyld atte Lake.
- (1327) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames229 : Will. atte Whytelak.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3223 : Willelmus Lack.
- (1333) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames115 : Thom. atte Lake.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4402 : This storie is also trewe I vndertake As is the book of Launcelot de Lake.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)65/14 : Ther com into the courte the Lady of the Laake.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)125/4 : She was one of the damesels of the Lady of the Laake, that hyght Nenyve.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)267/5 : Sir Launcelot du Lake.
b
- (c1160) EPNSoc.23 (Oxf.)81 : Sepelac.
- (1163) EPNSoc.23 (Oxf.)81 : Sipelaca.
- (1234) in Madox Form.Angl.(1702)307 : Ad..rivulum qui vocatur Cheldewilleslake.
- (c1250) EPNSoc.2 (Bck.)258 : Sutlake.
- (1250) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)90 : Chaldelacke.
- (1277) Deed Norris in LCRS 93164 : [Following] le Blakelake [which falls into Dogles].
- (1285) in Ekwall Dict.EPN270 : Laken.
- (1337) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)583 : Le Oueretharwerelake.
- (1341) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)438 : Fernelake.
- (1348) EPNSoc.2 (Bck.)258 : Berlake.
- (c1360) EPNSoc.24 (Oxf.)329 : Stanelake.
- (1368) EPNSoc.24 (Oxf.)366 : Babbelake.
- (1398) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.234 : [A meadow called] Lakemede.
- (1419) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)438 : Waltereslake.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.180/9 : In the litull Riuer that is i-callid Karsewelle lake.
- -?-(1377) Tenants in Som.Dor.NQ 13274 : Thei of Lye and Chetnolle shall not comyn to north the Downe lake and the Grene Wey lying to stake Voods not or Michaell eve.