Middle English Dictionary Entry
asking(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | asking(e ger. Also haskin(g, axinge, -unge, acsinge, aschinge, easkunge, escunge. |
| Etymology | OE āscung, āxung. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Questioning, inquiry; question; asken, maken ~; (b) querying; (c) gram. noun of ~, an interrogative.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)38/11 : Steu þe & stille beo..of þin easkunge [vr. escunge].
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)17b : Ȝef eani god mon is of feorren icumen..ondswerieð wið lut word to his easkunges.
- c1300 SLeg.Chris.(LdMisc 108)176 : Þe wommen Answereden to his Ascingue.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)702 : Þe oþer doȝter he esste þo þulke sulue askinge.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)595 : His asking is euer newe, In trauail and in pes.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)129 : Þri oþre acsingges made he be enne of his angles.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.423 : This was his axynge: 'What maner womman artow?'
- ?c1400 Wycl.CGosp.Matthew (Add 41175:Hudson)9/34 : 'But to whom schal Y gesse þis generacioun lyk?' .. Crist vsiþ here an axyng.
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)10/9 : Wiþout eny axing why & for what cause, anoon he most be obedient.
- c1425 Evang.(BodAdd C.38)1173 : Þe prince him made his askyng of his disciples & of his teching.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)21/6 : Þyn askyng is so honest..þat y wole seche my wittis þi questioun to satisfie.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)127/2 : This argument is sideling to the askyng; so shall I make the in this poynt a traversing discrecion withowt fourme of answer.
b
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)11 : Clepenge and ascinge..and fele swilche deueles craftes.
c
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)109 : How many nounes of askynge haste? viij, viz. quis, qualis, [etc.].
2.
(a) Petitioning, requesting; petition, request; also, the thing asked for; don, graunten, yeven ~, grant a request; (b) praying, prayer; begging; almos ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)2956 : Crist..me defende Þat ich þe wern ani þing Of what þou makest axing!
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1374 : Finde me min askeing, Mine fiftend som of kniȝt.
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)650 : Better were to graunt hir asking Þan his liif for to spille.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)198 : He deþ bet þet yefþ wyþoute aksinge.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.339 : He wolde Make his axinge of worldes good.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)5/5 : Þis ȝoure axing & ȝoure desire is ful chargouse to me.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Judg.8.24 : Oon askynge Y aske of ȝow: ȝeueth to me the eere ryngys.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)2288 : He graunted at hir askyng Þat..Þai suld na power haf hir to dere.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20947 : If his haskins might granted be.
- (1442) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2193 : To sende hither lettres testimoniale witnessing his said axing.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)52.956 : Myn Askynge ȝe mown ful Esely do.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)52.1000 : I ȝow beseche..that ȝe wolden fulfillen now myn Axyng.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)294/11 : Now aske ye..and ye shall have your askynge.
- a1500 12 PTrib.(2) (Rwl C.894)404 : Who sch[a]l geve me myn askynge & who schal graunt me þat I abyde?
b
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)19.6 : Our Lord fulfille al þyn askynges.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3494 : In lacke of askinge of merci He scholde nevere come in Helle.
- a1425 Templ.Dom.(Add 32578)692 : In þe pater noster here Ben 7 askynges.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)2442 : God wyll graunt all his askyng.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)406/4 : The shipman bad hym lefe his almos-axking, for þai had noþyng þer bod stonys.
3.
(a) A demand, command, or order; at the ~; ~ demand, making of a demand; (b) wanton or unjustifiable claiming, imposition; (c) requisitioning; impost, levy.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)289 : 'Graunte..þe batayl to me'..Alle..wondrede þo of is bold askyng.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2062 : I merveile the askyng this demande..wherfore shulde ye Ostages or borwis aske of me?
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)6898 : Oure lorde Saladyn..Sendis the now this askynge.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)388/12 : Sir Trystrams bade hym yelde hym..sir Palomydes..drad his buffettes so that he graunted all his askynges.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)42/4,14 : Þe wilke booke Aristotel..made at þe askynge of kynge Alexander..he durste nought..aȝeyn say þe wyl and þe askynge of swylke a lord.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)39 : Þe uerþe boȝ of auarice is acsynge, þet is to yerne opo oþre mid wrong.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)49b/a : Petulancya: ryot, vnskylful askynge.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.97 : Canute..graunted it fredome for al askynge [L omni praestatione].
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)24 : In spoilinge pore men with vniust axingis or tallagis.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)67/4 : That al the landis of holy church and har Possessiones of al Erthly askynge be quyte.
4.
Law (a) Claiming, suit at law; a claim; (b) arraignment.
Associated quotations
a
- c1460 Oseney Reg.23/18 : Þe chanons of þe foresaide church..been quyte..of all maner sutes of my cowrte..and of all demaundis or axynges.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)47/30 : As the lawe iuggyth, he to leue of hys askynge & peticion.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)48/16 : We assoyle..the Abbas..fro the vnryhtful askynge of the seyd Robert.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)1.3.4b : Theder [before a judge] will I go, for my cause is good, and grete right have I in myn askyng.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)1.9.6a : In eueri rightful court skele is þat the auctour be admitted to make his complaynt, and purpose his askyng.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.16.22 : The asking [L interrogatio] of men is in the ful ending.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 28.18 : Romayns..whan thei hadden axinge of me, wolden dismytte me, for that no cause of deeth was in me.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?1482 Rev.Monk Eynsham2638 : He neuer denyed hem her petycyons and askynges.
Note: Glossary: "askynges pl. 'prayers, supplication'."
Note: Additional quot., sense 2.(b).