Middle English Dictionary Entry
lẹ̄th n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | lẹ̄th n.(1) Also lēth, lethe, letht, leithe & (early) leoð(e, lioþe, leowþ. |
| Etymology | OE; cp. WS hlȳwþ, A hlēowþ. Also cp. ME lēthen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Relief from pain, peace; mercy; don ~, show mercy (to sb.), obtain mercy for (sb.); withouten ~, without relief or respite; (b) calm, ceasing of a storm; warmth, sunshine [1st quot.]; (c) refuge, shelter; the lair of a deer; (d) stopping; outen ~, without ceasing; (e) peace, friendship; gon a ~, ~ maken, to go in peace, make peace.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)35 : Swilche pine ic habbe þet me were leofere þenne al world..most ic habben an alpi þraȝe summe lisse and summe leðe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5572 : To þat lede him did na leth!
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23260 : Firend bandes es þe nind..Þat al þair limes ar bunden wit, Witvten leth [Phys-E: leþe; Trin-C: ese] of ain lith.
- c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)1233 : Thus sal man in heuen ay fynd ioye and leth, Aboue him, withinne him, aboute and beneth.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4593 : Þa þat lepros ere & lame, þat neuire of leth knewe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)232/142 : Oone worde myght thou speke ethe, yit myght it do the som letht.
b
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)552/9 : Apricitas: leowþ.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)160 : Þer watz busy ouer-borde bale to kest..Her kysttes & her coferes, her caraldes alle, & al to lyȝten þat lome, ȝif leþe wolde schape.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12022 : Heo droȝen to ane ait-londe, þer heo leoðe [Otho: lioþe] hafueden.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)7 : His houndes þat shul þis day be fynders shal come to þe leiþe [F au lit].
d
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3348 : Wið ðis mete weren he fed fowerti winter vten leð.
e
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5307 : We wullet gan a leoðe, and leoue we wulled wurchen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)9504 : Ȝif he wule a leoð gan [Otho: pais makie] & halden me for lauerd..þa bet him scal iwurðen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)26414 : He scal alle leose buten he leoð [Otho: pais] makie.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)26437 : And ȝif [þu] gæst him a leoð, þu miht libben þa eð.