Middle English Dictionary Entry
lasken v.
Entry Info
| Forms | lasken v. Also lask(e, leasken, lesken. Contraction laskit (= lasken hit). |
| Etymology | OF laskier, lasquier, vars. of laschier. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. lachen.
1.
(a) Med. To weaken or diminish (blood, body fluids, tissues); (b) to alleviate (pain, sickness); (c) to reduce or thin (the blood by bloodletting); (d) to shorten (one's life); (e) to diminish (privilege or authority), lessen; (f) to grow weaker; to decimate or exhaust (an army); (g) ~ of, to grow less fervent (in one's esteem or affection).
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)280/13 : Summen seien þat olde men ben able to be kutt, for her blood is miche laskid [L diminutus est] & her hete.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)287/30 : Eueri avoidinge laskiþ miche þe spiritis.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)126b/a : And whane þou lousist þe wounde on þe morne & fyndist þe corneris þerof swollen, þe signe is good as ypocras witnessiþ in hise afforismus, for sich maner of swellynge in a wounde takiþ not gladly þe crampe; but if þou fynde hem deed & laskid, þe signe is yuele.
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)950 : I wol a litel and litel laskit in hast.
- c1400 St.Alex.(3) (LdMisc 622)50/681 : He shal be kepte wiþ honoure, His peynes forto lask.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1624 : Þaȝ he say he wole not do so, Ȝet penaunce make hym to do; Hyt schale do gode here or henne, Laske hys peynes or cese hys synne.
c
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)296/4 : Þou schalt laske [L minue] his greet blood wiþ blood-letyngis.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)298/2 : Blood-letyng is a craft for to laske a mannes blood þat is in his veynes.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)196/21 : For þis superfluyte mayst þou neuere ben heyl in soule tyl þis blood be leskyd in blood-letyng.
d
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)570 : Heiȝh heuene king to gode hauene me sende oþer laske mi liif daywes wiþ-inne a litel terme.
e
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.189v : God forbede hit of any Xristiene man that of thulke Dorobernes so any thing be lesked or chaunged, now or in tyme to comyng, whiche of oure predecessoure oure lorde the pope Gregory beþ iordeyned -- how so ever mannes doynges turne --, or be toquasshed but more by the [?read: but by the more] auctorite of Peter Postelene Prince.
f
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)219/19 : And Sir Andrew of Herkela saw [vr. saw þat] Sir Thomas men of Lancastre laske and slake [vr. lasked & slaked].
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.108r : Estangles and Northumbres gonne ayen to wexe rebell þourgh enticement of summe of hure kyn lafte in the countre but they profytet litell ffor the enmys were lasked by werre in Fraunce and for whi they were the slowgher to assoyle Englysshmen.
g
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)208/1 : Vndeore he makeð godd..þet for ei worltlich þing of his luue leaskeð, for na þing ne con luuien riht bute he ane.