Middle English Dictionary Entry
ac conj.
Entry Info
| Forms | ac conj. Also ak, acke, ake & ah, auh, auȝ. |
| Etymology | OE ac & ah. ME ac occurs in N, EM, & S texts until c1375, ah chiefly in early SW texts. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Used between contrasting expressions: but, yet, however, nevertheless; -- (a) between clauses; (b) as an introductory expression.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1106 : Se steorra..wæs litel geþuht and deorc, ac se leoma þe him fram stod wæs swiðe beorht.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)102/7 : Deofel ongan haliȝe bec to reccan, ah he þa sone þone forme cwide leah.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.45 : Icc hafe sett..maniȝ word Þe rime swa to fillenn, Acc þu shallt findenn þatt min word..Maȝȝ hellpenn þa þatt redenn itt.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)53 : Þos men..habbeð þe nome of cristene, ah þah heo beoð cristes unwines.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)403 : His broþer heo him wolde binimen, ah he ne mihte speden.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)25a : Ich nalde..þenche fulðe toward te..ah þah [Nero: auh þauh] ich hefde isworen hit, luuien ich mot te.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)64 : Þis breþren wendeþ afeld..Ac Iosep leuede at hom.
- ?a1300 Fox & W.(Dgb 86)106 : I was woned to ben wiis, Ac nou of me I don hit hiis.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)18 : Symon..mesel was longe, Ak oure lord him hadde yheld.
- a1350 Horn (Hrl 2253)541 : Ichulle don al þy wille, ah her hit so bitide mid spere ichulle ryde.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)860 : Fayn sche wold..haue fold him in hire armes..ac sche dred it to done for oþer derne aspyes.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)49 : Al on murȝþe was he ysete wiþ a fair baronye, Ac or he hadde þane half yȝete, on herte him gan to nuye.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26772 : To crist þou hald þi penance fast, Ac [Frf: ne] do noght als dos naman þat wenis scrift þar scrift es nan.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)1/11 : Many þere weren þat nolden nouȝth hym resceyuen; Ac þo þat hym resceiueden, he ȝaf hem grace.
- a1450(a1400) SLeg.Corp.Chr.(Bod 779)308/79 : It [the manna] rotid faste; ac þat flesch & þat blood rotiþ neuere-mo.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)1117 : Wel nyȝe he hadde hym slawe..Ac sire Artok tho cam And sauyd hym fro vylonye.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)2/11 : Ac him cwæð þe Hælend to [etc.].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)610 : He wende..þat Brutus hefde þa men..for þære muchele biȝæte. Ah Brutus dude betere read.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)83/14 : Acc nu ic bidde ðe..ðat tu ne forwerp me.
- a1250 Orison Lord (Nero A.14)200 : Woa is me þet ich am so freomede wið þe! Auh [Lamb: Ah] ase þu al hauest licamliche iwend me from þe worlde, wend me ec heortliche.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)6 : Ac þe ilke þet zuereþ hidousliche..þe ilke zeneȝeþ dyadliche.
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)285 : Þis þouȝt is good..Ac ȝif a man may not liȝtli haue sauour ne deuocion in hit, I halde hit not spedeful.
2.
Used after a negative statement: on the contrary, but rather, but; -- (a) followed by an indep. cl.; (b) followed by a word or phr.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)35/9 : Ne cume he on nane cyle þe hwile þe he seoc beo, ac beo hym on wermum huse.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)14/23 : Ne beo þu to swiðe iunrodsod for þissere untrumnesse, ac ȝeblissæ on þine drihtine.
- c1225 Sanctus beda (Wor F.174)16 : Næs deorc heore liht, ac hit fæire glod.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)25312 : Na gauel he nule bringen, ah [Otho: ac] þe seoluen he wule binden.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)10/114 : Godd ne scheop hit neauer swuch, Ah adam & eue turnden hit to beo swuch.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)27a : Ne fed tu nawt wið uten þine gate tichnes, ah [Nero: auh] hald wið innen þin hercnunge, þi speche, ant ti sihðe.
- a1250 Lofsong Louerde (Nero A.14)211 : Ich liuie, nout ich, auh crist liueð in me.
- a1350 Harrow.H.(Hrl 2253)245 : Let vs neuer be forloren..ah bring vs out of helle pyne.
- ?1316 SMChron.(Roy 12.C.12)19 : In thilke time..nes yfounde Ne toun ne houses..Ah al wes wode ant wildernesse.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)147/509 : Nys nauȝt malyce, ac hyt hys laȝe.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)1.2 : Blesced be þe man þat..ne sat nauȝt in fals iugement. Ac [L Sed; vr. Bot] hijs wylle was in þe wylle of oure Lord.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)110 : Werwolf was he non wox of kinde, ac komen was he of kun þat kud was ful nobul.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4413 : Buþ noȝt agast, Ac holdeþ forþ ȝour way an hast.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)3.183 : In Normandie nas he not anuyȝed for my sake, Ac þou þiself soþliche schomedest him þere.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.119 : Wilneth neuere to wite..Ac bileue lelly in þe lore of holicherche.
- a1450 SLeg.Fran.(2) (Bod 779)179 : Nele is neuere her-after on þe I-caste my triste, ac al myn hope chal here-after be on my lord Jhesu criste.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)2/31 : Þa men ne losien þe on him ilyfæð, ac habben heom þat ece lif.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)52/17 : Nis na þeo dædbote be þare ȝeare itæle idemed, ac bi þare biternesse þæs modes.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.83 : All þeȝȝ shulenn takenn itt Onn unnitt & onn idell, Acc nohht þurrh skill, acc all þurrh niþ.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)10312 : Nohht ne comm þatt laþe flocc Till Sannt Johan forr gode, Acc forrþi þatt teȝȝ haffdenn niþ.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)5 : Nalde he..forþon uppon þa muchele assa, aȝc uppon þa lutthle fole.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)26390 : And ȝif þu nult aȝenwenden, ah iwurðien þin iwillen.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)6/31 : Nawt of lah on eorðe, ah of þe hehe in heouene.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1176 : Þe hule ne abot noȝt swiþ longe, Ah [Jes-O: Ac] ȝef ondsware starke & stronge.
- a1300 Hit bilimpeð (Corp-O 59)14,24 : Inne þe nis lac ne lest, auȝ alle holinesse..Let þu neure cumen vs neȝ þene feond..Ach bind him honden, fet, & þeȝ.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)618 : Peteres panes..Þe pope nere nouȝt on isend, ake þe kingue euerech-on.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7554 : Hii ne ssolde noȝt wurne, Ac toke him ostage.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)6 : Naȝt kueadliche, ake liȝtliche.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)37 : Þe priue þyeues..ne steleþ naȝt of oncouþe, ac of priues.
3.
(a) Used to make an exception to a statement: except, except that, but, but that; (b) to limit or narrow a statement: but, but only; (c) to express a concession: although, but; (d) nought one..~, not only..but also.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)39/17 : Næfre hy ne swycaþ, ac þanne hi hungrie beoþ.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)145 : Alle we beoð in monifald wawe..hwat for ure aȝene gultes, ach god almihtin us freureð.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)295 : Engles & sawlen..ahten & mahten endin þurh cunde, ah he þurh his milce..makeð ham þe ha beoð in eche buten ende.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)94 : Quellen him hi wolleþ..Ac Ruben, þat o broþer, he spac atte frome.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)2285 : Þe yren sche hadde y born, Ac mark forȝaue þat day And dede.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)8.55 : He ȝaf..witte a [read: and] fre wille, to euery wyȝte a porcioun..Ac man hath moste þerof.
b
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)73.14/1 : Þeos wyrt..hafað leaf swylces wulfes camb, ac hi beoð mearuwran & hwitran.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.26 : Icc itt hafe forþedd te, Acc all þurrh Cristess hellpe.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1098 : Godes sune..deide, ah fleschliche.
- c1350 Ayenb.App.(Arun 57)266 : Ich yseȝ god, ac be ane sseawere ine ssede.
c
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)24/16 : Næs þe kyng alles buton Cristes ileafæn..ac he næfde swa ðeah alne ȝeileafan.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1891 : Þatt wass i Marrch, acc Marrch wass þa Neh all gan ut till ende.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)252 : Þis child hefde his eames nome, ah [Otho: ac] lut ȝer he leouede.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)1a : Monie cunne riwlen beoð, ah [Nero: auh] twa beoð bimong alle þet ich chulle speoken of.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)81 : Hi beþ in one felde hatte Dotaym, Ac lutel er hi weren in Sichem.
- ?a1300 Fox & W.(Dgb 86)66 : He wes stille ne spak namore, Ac he werþ aþurst wel sore.
- a1350 Horn (Hrl 2253)120 : Ofte hade horn be wo, ah [Ld: Bute] neuer wors þen him wes þo.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)42 : Vele þer byeþ oþre zennes..ine symonye. Ac hi belongeþ more to klerekes.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)220 : Þe uerste stat is of þan þet..habbeþ wel yloked hire maydenhod; Ac alneway hi ne byeþ naȝt y-bounde þerto.
- c1350 Ayenb.App.(Arun 57)267 : Ich y-zeȝ, ac uollyche ich ne myte al yzy, þe innumerable uelaȝrede of þe holy martires.
- c1400 St.Alex.(3) (LdMisc 622)54/761 : Alexius þo write bigan; Ak þere was non bifore þan Þat wist he couþe in book.
d
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)12a : Neome hire secnesse nawt ane þolemodliche, ah do swiðe gleadliche.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)115/31 : Nout one on his schonken, auh ȝeond al his leofliche licome.
4.
Used with very weak adversative meaning, or none at all: moreover, yet, and, also; -- (a) followed by indep. cl.; (b) followed by phr.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1104 : Willelm eorl of Moretoin heonon of lande into Normandig for; ac syððan he afaren wes, he wið þone cyng geworhte.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)102/21 : Crist..hine ofercom mid mennisce rihtwisnesse, na mid þam anwealde his godcundnesse; Ac he us þa bysene onstealde þat we sceolon..ðuldelice forberæn.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)3/15 : Nu heo hi dæleþ heom imong, doþ þe wiþuten; Ac nu heo beoþ fuse to bringen þe ut of huse.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)11 : Cursed be þe man þe leueð upen hwate. Ach ich wile segen..hwat makeð swilch letten.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)25475 : He wes Arðures mæi, of aðelen his cunne; ah cniht he wes wunder god.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)4/17 : Hire flesliche feder Theodosie hehte..patriarche & prince. Ah [Roy: &] heo, as þe deorwurðe drihtin hit dihte, into a burh wes ibroht.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)107b : Ah ha is þreouald, i widewe had, i spus had, i meidenhad þe heste.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)83 : Þi bile is stif & scharp..& þat is on of þine fonge, Ac þu þretest to mine fleshe.
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)193 : Ake ȝwenne þe Aungel was i seiȝe Of þe folk..Ech on is side was in fere.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.73 : Therfore God..uvel ending me doth sende; Ac [Ld: And] ich douti for mi wrecche gult that wors schal beo the ende.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)2889 : Þe swerd out drawe he gan fond, Ac for nouȝt out it cam.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1281 : Riȝt fewe went awey vnwoundet or take, ac hadde þe day last lenger..no wiȝt awei hadde schaped.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)5.254 : Ak [B, C omit] what fel of þis Feloun, I con not feire schewe.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)1.62 : Hure monye & marchaundise marchen togederes; Ac [B: For; A omits] sutthe charite hath be chapman..Many ferlies han fallen.
- a1450 SLeg.Fran.(2) (Bod 779)118 : Ac þo his fadir wiste..he toswal wit wraþþe.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)958 : For ȝerne thay lokeden..ȝyue god send eny grace of Ricer of normandye. Ac nemes hym be-went & loked in the playn.
b
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)9/1 : Euerich on sigge hire vres [!]. siggeð in his time, auh [Corp-C omits] er to sone þen to leate.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)19 : Wateres he haþ ek inouȝ, ac [B: &, bot] at uore alle oþere, þre.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)16 : He begyleþ..generalliche ech manere of uolk, ac specialliche þe greate lhordes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1200 Wor.Serm.in EGSt.7 (Wor Q.29)11 : Ach þurch his milde vuille he us alesede.
- c1275 Ken.Serm.(LdMisc 471)217/87 : Hac hye spac to þo Serganz.
Note: New spelling