Middle English Dictionary Entry
launcen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | launcen v. Also launce, lance, launsen. |
| Etymology | OF lancier |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To thrust; throw (a dart); ~ to, thrust or throw (a weapon) at (sb.); thrust or strike at (sb.); ~ hond unto, thrust the hand to or towards (sth.); pierce (sb. or sth.); ~ thurgh, transfix (sb.); (b) ?to slash or cut (a garment).
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)2394 : Þe Almaunis him asayl hastiliche, Y-loken he was hem amidwerd; To him þai launced boþe spere and swerd.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)3520 : A gode dart on hond he bar, & to him he launced heteliche þar; Þer-wiþ he smot Ebban þe king.
- c1390 Disp.Virg.& Cross (Vrn)331 : A swerd swapped hire þorw þe brest; Out of þe cros þe knyf com þo..Þe swerd of loue þorw hire gan launce.
- a1400(?a1325) Bonav.Medit.(1) (Hrl 1701)857 : A spere he sette to crystys syde; He launced and opun[de] a wounde ful wyde.
- c1415 Chaucer CT.Sum.(Corp-O 198)D.2145 : Doun his hande he launceþ [vrr. launseþ, launcheth] vnto þe clifte; he hopede þere for to fynden a ȝifte.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)290 : Lawncyn, or stynge wythe a spere, or blode yryne: Lanceo.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3439 : Þe Romayns were nought desmayed; Þey launced darte, bowes drowe; ffele þey felde & manye slowe.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)3485 : 'They bee benethe and we aboue, Lete vs vpon theim smyte, for goddis loue.' To theim they launceth egirly, And they to theim greuously.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)10257 : He lawncyd to hym dartys thre.
b
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)551 : Beþ nouȝt þise [friars] i-lyke Fully to þe Farisens..Þei schapen her chapolories & streccheþ hem brode, And launceþ heiȝe her hemmes, wiþ babelyng in stretes; Þei ben ysewed wiþ whiȝt silk & semes full queynte.
2.
(a) To jump, leap, spring; rush, hasten; gallop (on horseback); of a horse: jump, rear; ~ up, kick up (the feet); (b) of a plant or tree: to spring, sprout, shoot; ~ up, spring up; bring forth (blossom); also, of fire: ~ up, spring up; (c) ?to dip, incline.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2755 : Hent eche man a spret or an ore & launced luþerly after him, his lif to haue reued.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.94 : With a herde þei mette, a herte þerof gan lance.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1175 : Þe lorde for blys abloy Ful oft con launce & lyȝt.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1464 : Þe lorde on a lyȝt horce launces hym after.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1561 : Þe lorde ouer þe londez launced ful ofte.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)16688 : Pirrus prikes aboute & praunses; Fro man to man aboute he launses Al his strengthe for to assay.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)946 : The carte-hors gonne wel espye That he koude no governaunce, And gonne for to lepe and launce.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5810 : Vlixes..Launsit as a lyoun..And of the ffrigies fell.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)323 : Thenne here horses ronnen forth..Euur Feraunnce byforne and þat other aftur; Feraunnce launces vp his fete and lasscheth out his yen.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)587 : He drough his swerde and launced in a-monge the other..and smote so Antidolus..that he slitte hym down to the teth.
b
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)109 : Þe lilye, þe louache, launsyng with leue [Hnt: launcyng ful evene; Clg: lawnced fulle leue].
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)13.185 : And þorw þe grete grace of god, of greyn ded in erthe Atte þe laste launceþ vp wer-by [we] lyuen alle.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)13.222 : Þat lyghtliche launceþ vp litel while dureþ, And þat þat raþest rypeþ roteþ most saunest.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)19.10 : 'Þe tree hihte trewe-loue,' quaþ he, 'the trinite hit sette; Þorgh louely lokynge hit lyueþ and launceþ vp blossemes.'
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2291 : I make a fer in mans towte, þat launcyth up as any leye; þese cursyd colys I bere abowte, Mankynde in tene for to teye.
c
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)27.236 : There the yl Into the Se gan lawnce [F avaloit]..So that the water Encresid so hye Into the heyghthe of the yl Sekerlye.