Middle English Dictionary Entry
lẹ̄ n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | lẹ̄ n.(1) Also leo, legh & (early) lehe, leohe & (in place names only) lei-, lew-, leve-, loe-, lowe-, lue-, luwe-, lughe-, li(e-, liwe-. |
| Etymology | OE hlēo (infl. hlēow-) & hlēowan, hlȳwan.?For sense (b), cp. OI lega lying in bed. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A place of shelter or protection; -- used of a lion's den, heaven, a castle, etc.; (b) a bed; (c) a protected state or condition, peace, tranquillity; ?salvation [quots.: 1607]; (d) the sheltered side of a ship or a land mass; ~ haven, a port sheltered from the wind; a ~ (half, q.v.); (e) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.251].
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1827 : Crist..fedde hire..as he dude Daniel..i þe liunes leohe [vr. lehe; L lacu].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23326 : Þe wicked alsua þe gode sal se Wit-in þair gammen stad and gle, þat þai þe sorfuller sal be, þat losen folili has þat le.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)277 : He lurkkes & laytes where watz le best.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1893 : Now hym lenge in þat lee, þer luf hym bi-tyde!
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1446 : We hafe bene chased to daye and chullede as hares..And we lurkede vndyr lee as lowrande wreches.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)188/18 : Þet an is pinsunge i flesch wið feasten..wið heard werunge, heard leohe [Tit: lehe; Nero: leouwe; Recl.: lair].
c
- c1390 Serm.GEd.(Vrn)10 : Þe Mon þat þenkeþ to liuen in le, Schrift to taken, and þat be tyme; We haue no Borwes heer to be.
- c1390 Treat.Mass (Vrn)58 : Þen most Merci be Mayster most..And lenge wiþ vs in leo and lede.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)849 : Wel hym semed..To lede a lortschyp in lee of leudez ful gode.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)280/248 : My lorde, þat is luffull in lee, I am boxsom and blithe to your blee.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9399 : And so þai lyue þere in legh.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2060 : And vneth limpid him þe lee..Fra his faes with a fewe þe filde to de-voide.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5615 : He lengis in lithis & in lee to his lyues ende.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)306/625 : Alas! my love! my lyfe! my lee!
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)430/78 : The paynes that I haue long in bee, as hard as hell -- saue hope of Lee -- agayne to goe neuer suffer me.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)442/423 : You shall apertly se..good to ioy and full great Lee, the evill to Damnation.
d
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2806 : Paris with pyne, & his pure brother..Shot into ship with shene men of Armys, Lauset loupis fro the le lachyn in Ancres.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4675 : There þai fastnet the flete & the furse shippes..And logget hom to lenge in þat le hauyn.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)348 : On a tyme he toke þe eyr..The wedur was lythe of le.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)834 : They drowȝ vp sayl..The weþur was lyþe on le.
e
- (1194) in Fägersten PNDor.154 : Liwella.
- (1200) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)59 : Leoford.
- (1205-6) in Wallenberg PNKent452 : Ledene.
- (1288) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)428 : Levedon.
- (1292) in Wallenberg PNKent452 : Ledene, Lydene.
- (a1300) in Wallenberg PNKent452 : Liden, Leydene.
- (1304) in Wallenberg PNKent452 : Lyedene.
- (1307) in Sundby Dial.Wor.136 : Leebury.
- (1327) in Sundby Dial.Wor.136 : Leobury.
- (1335) in Sundby Dial.Wor.136 : Loebury.
- (1346) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)484 : Lughedon.
- (1378) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)428 : Luwedon.
- (1396) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)484 : Luedoun.
- (1423) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)484 : Lowedone.
- (1425) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)59 : Lyweforda, Lewfordmede.