Middle English Dictionary Entry
lā̆rǧen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | lā̆rǧen v. P.ppl. i)lā̆rǧed, larched. |
| Etymology | From lā̆rǧe adj. Also cp. OF largir. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To enlarge (a hole, an opening, a wound), spread (sth.) outward in curves; ~ bones, enlarge punctures in bones; (b) anat. of a cord or tendon: ben larged, to be thickened or broadened; ?also, be broadened and flattened; (c) to open wide (the hands); larged honde, a hand slack in discipline.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)60b/b : Sinuo: to large or wrynge.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)42a/a : If forsoþ þer wer so mych streytnesse þat he myȝt noȝt swolwe, be þer put ventosez al about þe necke, þat þe canale be amplied or larged [L amplietur].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)53b/b : 5a. [instrument] beþ directe persours for to large þe bonez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)92a/b : If þe fistule forsoþ be inossate, i. in þe bone in þe gyngyuez, be þe teþe remoued and be þe hole dilated, i. larged.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)97a/a : Ȝif þe wounde be not gret ynouȝ, but streite, þen large þe wounde.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)33/14 : For þe mouþe of þe vlcere was ouer streit, first I put aboue of vnguento ruptorio..for to large þe mouþe of the fistule.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)48/7 : He smytiþ wiþ þe mal on euery syde þe stake to large þe hole, þat it depper synk.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)71a/b : It largiþ ech streit wounde and openeþ a blynd puncture.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)77b/a : If it may not fully be drawen oute, it remolliþ & largiþ þe place þat þei moun be drawen out wiþouten hurtynge.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)9a/a : A muscle aboue þe middes of þe adiutorie, ffro þe which goþ out a corde which..is ylarged, & it comprehendeþ al þe cubite.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)9b/a : Cordes or thenontes..bene made brode or larged whilez þai come to þe articulacion.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)14a/b : Also þer bene in þe arme many ligamentez which descendeþ fro þe bonez & passeþ by þe iuncturez, & wt larched [L amplificatis] cordes þai holde þam bounden.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.33.26 : Bred, and disciplyne, and werk to a seruaunt. He werketh in disciplyne, and the largid hond to hym [WB(2): slake thou hondis to hym; L laxa manus illi] secheth to resten, and secheth fredam.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)45/26 : We must aspiee to flee þise perellis..larging oure handis in dedis of mercy.
2.
(a) To extend (boundaries), expand (an area); also fig. [quot.: Spec.Chr.(2)]; (b) to expand (a concordance).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.12.20 : Þe lord, þy god, shal large þy termys.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.19.8 : Þe lord, þy god, haþ larged þy teermys.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 370)1 Par.18.3 : He wente for to largen [WB(2): alarge; L dilataret] his empyre vnto the flode of Eufraten.
- a1450 Forest Laws (Dc 335)241 : Yf ther be ony man that..largeth his oune grounde and streyteth the kynges grounde.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)40/16 : Almes..noblez the mynde; it largez [L dilatat] the termes bothe of temperal gudys and of gostly.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)22a/a : Þe ffelawe de sancto floro..at parise amplied or larged [*Ch.(2): made large; L ampliauit] wele ynoȝ þe concordancez of Johan de sancto amando.
3.
(a) To increase (a number); increase the number of (people), multiply; (b) to make an increase.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)7337 : Whan þe folk ar woxen & larged, & þe lond ys ouer-charged.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)56/30-1 : Þe nombre of knowal vertues owiþ not to be largid, neiþer may be largid bi settyng of wijsdom vnto hem.
b
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Conf.(Dub 245)341 : Whenne a man..shriueþ him..þenne his voice..may be called a sacrament..and þus we largen in sacramentis, for iche good sensible dede þat we don..may be callid a sacrament.
4.
(a) To extend (sth. to sb. or sth.); (b) to extend, expand, or increase (action, emotion, etc.); ~ forth; (c) to extend (a law, rule, etc.); (d) more ~, to amplify (a reputation).
Associated quotations
a
- c1410 Visit.Infirm.(1) (UC 97)451 : Þerfore þank thi god, and specialliche that he hath largid to synful men his mercy aboue his wrathe.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)117/5 : Þe fende wiþ hise cautels haþ largid þis couetise to alle þre astatis.
- a1416(c1340) *Rolle Psalter (Bod 953)142.6 : Expandi manus meas ad te..I sprede myn hondes to þe..þat is, I larged my wille & my werkes..to þi praysyng.
b
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)46/8 : For whanne a man largeþ his loue in ony þing more þan God wolde þat he dide, he haþ undurfonge þe deuelis hed.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)27/23 : Þere ben martris þat..suffrid peynes to large her ioye.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)52/12 : Þei largen her long preiars, as nettis þat ben spradde abrood.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)74/17 : We must large forþe schrifte of mouþe, sorow of herte, & amendis makyng.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)80/11 : Summe suffren peyne & largen her mede.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.248 : For his propre or pryvy avauntage shulde not man lette to large þis love.
c
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)310 : Certeyn vertuose gouernauncis of lawe of kynde..ben larged and strecchen hem wijder bi occasioun of þe bifore seid feiþes.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)447 : Oure reule and oure lawe is not largid ouer þan it schulde be.
d
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)3 Kings 1.47 : God more large [WB(2): make large; L Amplificet] the name of Salomon vpon thi name.
5.
To raise the voice in praise; ~ mouth aboven, triumph over (sb.), exult over.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.50.20 : And thei largeden, synging in ther voises [L amplificaverunt psallentes in vocibus suis].
- ?c1400(c1340) *Rolle Psalter (Sid 89)Cant.An.2 : Dilatatum est os meum..larged [L Dilatatum] is my mouthe obouen myne enemis.
6.
To relax (a strict regimen).
Associated quotations
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1446 : The hard religioun, whech was kept ful fast And ful streit, is now larged sum-dele.