Middle English Dictionary Entry
lī̆tel what phr.
Entry Info
| Forms | lī̆tel what phr. Also litles hwat, littles what, littel whattes. |
| Etymology | Cp. lī̆tel adj. & what pron. Also cp. OE lȳt-hwōn. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. what litles & lit what.
1.
A little bit, only a little; small things [quot.: a1121]; a small matter, a trifle [quot.: a1300].
Associated quotations
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1070 : An cyrce weard..nam þa be nihte eall þet he mihte..mæsse hakeles & cantelcapas & reafes & swilce litles hwat.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)6952 : Forrþi þatt teȝȝ þatt time Ȝet unnderrstodenn littlesswhatt Off all þe rihhte trowwþe.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8649 : Nafe icc nohht..Wiþþutenn mele..An hanndfull inn an fetless & littless whatt off elesæw Inn elesæwess fetless.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)95 : He..cumeð ut al newe buten, alitel wat is tat, his muð is get untrewe.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 6.7 : The looues of two hundrid pens suffysen not to hem, that ech man take a litle what.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.75 : He wolde ete a litel what [L modicum] of mylk and oon hen ey and a litel what [L parvo] of mylk i-melled wiþ water.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.259 : Þe kyng..ȝaf hym eche day a litel what of enchetes to lyve by.
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)25/12 : Ȝe seeþ þat, whanne ȝe ȝeueþ a lytel what to þe kyng, ȝe biggeþ ȝoure owne sauacioun.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)2 Cor.11.1 : Wolde god ȝee schulde susteyne a lytylwhat [L modicum quid] of myn vnkunnyng.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)171b/a : And be it inspissed with whete mele or barly or with a litel mele of linsede and a litel what [*Ch.(2): a litel wiȝte; L parum quid] of mele of fenigrec..he addeþ with decoccioun a litel what of wyne & hony.
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)225 : Thoo þat spedfully will spare and spende not to grete, Lyve appon littill-whattes, I lufe hym the bettir.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4392 : And of þi lare a litill-quat likis me to write.
2.
As adv.: a ~: (a) somewhat; (b) for a little while.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Cor.11.16 : Ellis take ȝe me vnwyse, that and I haue glorie a litil what [L modicum quid glorier].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.99 : Þe þridde Seynt Edward regned þere ynne þre and twenty ȝere and a litelwhat more [L et paulo plus].
- a1425 *Trev.Barth.(Mrg M 875)37b/a : Kyndely flewme is colde..a litill what swete in sauoure.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.9 : And thanne sche, a litel what smylinge, seide, 'Thou clepist me,' [etc.].
- a1500(1413) ?Hoccl.Poems PS (Eg 615)p.xxix/31 : But thei haue repented..Some of hem, but at hire lyves ende; & somme of hem a litel what be-fore Be-gan him selfe somwhat to amende.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.191 : And so he reste a litel what [Higd.(2): a litelle season] sittynge.
- ?a1475 LDirige(2) (Dc 322)662 : Therfore, lord, suffer thow me A lytell what.