Middle English Dictionary Entry
liven v.(1)
Entry Info
Forms | liven v.(1) Also live, livi(e(n, liwe(n, lif(e(n, liffe(n, līf(en, lifve(n, (error) lyfne & libbe(n, lib, (early) libbæn, libba(n, libbenne, lẹ̄ve(n, lēve(n, lewen, lefe, lef(fe, leiffe, (early SW) levie, leovie(n, leofven, liovie, luvien. Forms: sg. 2 livest, livies & lēvest; sg. 3 liveth, lived, lives, lī̆feth, lī̆fes, liffes, (early SW) livieð, livied & lẹ̄veth, lē̆veth, lẹ̄ves, lẹ̄fes, leffes, (early) leoveð, leofeð, leofað, leofæþ, (early SW) luveð; pl. liven, livies, liffes, etc., (early SW) livieth & libbeth, libbed, libbet, libbes, (early) libbað, libbæþ, libeð & lẹ̄veth, lē̆veth, lẹ̄ves; pl. impv. liveth, etc. & (early SW) livieð, luvieð; p. lived(e, livet, lī̆fed(e, liffed(e, lifved(e, (early) livode, lifode, lievede, (early SW) lifde & lẹ̄ved(e, lē̆ved(e, lẹ̄vet, lẹ̄wed, (error) levenden, (early) lē̆fede, lefde, leofede, leofedæ, leofode, leouvede, (early SW) leovede, lefvede, luvede & (?by confusion with leven "to remain") left(e; ppl. i)lived, (error) lyud, lywith, (N) lī̆fed, (early SW) ilivet & i)lēved, lẹ̄ved, lẹ̄vet, (error) leyd, (early SW) ileoved & ilive, (N) lī̆fen. Contractions: livestou (= livest thou), talived (= to have lived). |
Etymology | OE; cp. A lifgan (= lifian), lifiga; sg. 3 leofeþ, liofaþ; p. lifde; WS libban; sg. 3 lifaþ; p. lifde; LOE leofian, leofode. Also cp. līf n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To be alive, continue to live, survive; also, be alive spiritually; (b) ~ longe, to live for a long time; ~ leng (lengere, longere), live longer, live longer than someone else; ~ litel whil, live a short time; ~ to elde, live to old age; ~ yeres fele, live many years; (c) to live (a specified length of time); (d) to live (forever); ~ ai (echeliche, ever, ever-mo, ever-mor, o), ~ for ever (for ever-mor, lives ende, on echenesse, withouten ende), etc.; (e) al that ~, tho that ~, all living things; ani man that live, any man that may live, any man at all; he liveth not, is no lede that liveth, there is no man; non man the tho livede, no man who lived then; no mannes pouer that liveth, no man's power; the foulest womman that liveth, the ugliest woman that lives, the ugliest woman on earth; the heighest that mighte ~, the noblest man of all; who-so-liveth, whoever lives, any man.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)28/5 : His men..cyddon him..þæt his sune leofode.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)1/13 : He sæiþ on his bedde, 'Wo me þet ic libbe!'
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)299 : Þis child leuede [Otho: leued] & wel iþei.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2245 : Þa ȝet leouede [Otho: lieuede] Corineus.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3658 : Wha swa wulle libba, alde þas sibba.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4668 : Ȝet leoueð [Otho: leueþ] þi broðer.
- a1225 Lamb.Hom.Pater N.(Lamb 487)63/159 : Þenne mei ure saule lifen, þet ure lauerd us haueð iȝeuen.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)45/490 : Þe reue het lokin ȝef ha liuede.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)65/701 : 'Wumme, þet ich libbe!' quoð he.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)179/23 : Ich liuie [Tit: liue; Nero: libbe], nawt ich.
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)120/480 : Hwile þine daȝes duȝen & þu þe-selwen liue mowe.
- a1350(c1307) Death Edw.I (Hrl 2253)22 : Y deȝe; y ne may lyuen na more.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)974 : Bred haue i non..For to helpe þe to liue.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.187 : Þe þre ȝates to þe westward bitokneþ þe prechyng þat shal be preched til hem þat lyuen [vr. lyf] in þe last endyng of þe werlde.
- (a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Bod 959)7.24 : I wote..þat my forbigger lyfiþ [vr. lyueth].
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)9.49 : But ȝif I may liuen [vrr. lyfuen, lyue, leue] and loken, I schal go lerne betere.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.171 : So stant the pes unevene parted With hem that liven now adaies.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)647 : Mote he lybbe and þenne goo, Many man he shal do woo.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)7.67 : Sholde no lyf lyuye þat on hus londe passede.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3220 : Þat he shal leue, I wele..To ȝoure desire fully condescende.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)9617 : Pray for hym..Þat, if he lyf, God safe hym harmles.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)346/10 : I wil not þe deeþ of a synner, but I wil þat he be turnyd & lyue.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)66/27 : What mon long Y wold sofir to se, Fore hys syn himselfe to sle Ȝif he myȝt lif aȝayne.
- (1434) EEWills101/16 : To Iohn Woderof my beste goune..if so be that he leue that time.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)99/19 : Do so þat þou lufe god, aftyr þi deed if þou wylt lyfe.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)356 : Butte þou me lese with þi lawes, I lif neuyr more.
- a1475 Mourn.Hare (Brog 2.1)5 : Dere-worth god, how schal I leve And leyd my lyve in lond?
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)33 : Þat he go fro his wickid weies and lefe.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)73b : To lyffe [Monson: Lywe]: Conuersare, degere, spirare, victitare, viuere.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)54 : And þou shalt lyke full wele yf þou may lyfe aftur.
b
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1137 : Gif he leng moste liuen, alse he mint to don of þe horderwycan.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2680 : Ebrauc leofede [Otho: leuede] swiðe longe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3330 : Ne luueðe [Otho: liueþ] he no wiht longe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6859 : Ah Lador ne luuede [Otho: lefde] buten ane lutle wile.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10231 : Luces þe leod-king leouuede wel longe.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)199 : Þe nedre..haueð longe liued.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)33/21 : Gif ðu liuedest swa lange swa ðes woreld ilast..ne mihtest ðu of-earnin swa michel eadinesse.
- a1275 *Body & S.(4) (Trin-C B.14.39)29b : Bodi, þu hauist iliuid to longe.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1192 : Ich wot ȝef men schule libbe longe.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)2/23,27,28 : Ȝef he schel libbe to elde..Ȝet meni ȝong man weneþ longe leue, And leueþ wel litle wyle.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.719 : Why lyuestow [vr. leuest þou] so longe in so greet age?
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1447 : No lenger wolde she lyue after his day.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17724 : Lauerd, liued [Ld: levid] haf i lang.
- a1425 Body & S.(5) (Add 37787)282 : My wonyng here so mury I wroht And wend had leuyd ȝyt ȝeris fele.
- (1430) EEWills87/6 : Yf she leve so longe.
- (1439) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.18 : And whedersneuer lyffes lenger, sal pey to ye seyd jon..apeny of rent ȝherele.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)79/11 : Ane of vs leues na langere þan an-oþer.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2207 : I may no lenger leuyn.
- c1450 Dc.Prov.(Dc 52)p.49 : As long leuyth a mery man as a sory.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)145/11 : The ijd cause is it schall cause bodely helthe and schall cause hym to lyfe longe.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)174/2 : 'That shall ye fele to-morne,' seyde the duke, 'and ye leve so longe.'
c
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1052 : Se abbot Arnwi lifode syððon viii wintre.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1066 : Þa lifede he litle hwile þær æfter buton þry gear.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1103 : On ðisum ylcan geare Mathias..forðferde, se ne lyfode na leng þan an geare.
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1128 : Oc se eorl..sone þear wearð munec & liuode siððon fif dagas.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)22/15 : Dauid leofedæ seofen hund wintra of ðam dæȝe ðe he þa ȝyrdæn on ðone put asetten het.
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)225 : He lefede nigon hundred ȝiere.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8982 : Ne leouede [Otho: liuede] he neuer seoððen buten seouen ȝere.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)9088 : He luuede [Otho: lifuede] here twa & twenti ȝere.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)147/27 : Þu scalt ȝiet libben fiftene ȝear.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)4306 : Fif ȝer hii leuede þus.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1458 : On hundred ger and xxxvij Liuede ysmael.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)1/13 : And hondred winter ȝef a leueþe, Þat his lyf mid þe lengeste.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)71/5 : Þaȝ he leuede a þousond year.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.169 : And þai þat ne hane nouȝth honoured þe beest..shullen lyuen & regnen a þousande ȝer.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.537 : Thre dayes lyued [vr. leuede] she in this torment.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.83 : Preostes þat ete of þe apples..lyued [Higd.(2): lyffede] fyue hondred ȝere.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.361 : He levede [vr. lyved] after Plato his deth foure and twenty ȝere.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.978 : Ther koude no man writen..Thogh that he myghte lyue a thousand yeer.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11345 : Anna..liued [Göt: leuid] had foursith tuenti yeier.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)5420 : Iacob þar liued [Frf: left] seuentene ȝere.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.63 : Fourty wynter folke lyued [C: leueden] withouten tulyinge.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)483 : Þou lyfed not two ȝer in oure þede.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2734 : This merveile I, How man..Myght lyve a month, such peynes to fele.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)2a/a : Ipocras liffed 95 ȝere, And he wrote many bokes of Cirurgie.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)172/15 : Þou leuedust after..xv ȝere.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)259 : Þou salle lyffe [vrr. lyf, leve] bot a starte.
- c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)120 : Bot if ȝe mende hym of his fare He leuys [vr. lyues] noghte þis seuenyghte.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3921 : Iugenes lyued bot seuen ȝer.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)63/21 : And so sche leuede in erthe lx yer and on, and iii monethis.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)12/20 : Þouȝ I myȝte lyue a þousande ȝeeris & myȝte eche day suffre as bittir peyne as he suffrid for me, it were not to þat loue þat he haþ schewide to me.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)119/3568 : I leue an hundrid wekys in distres.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)5 : Whanne he had lyved nyne hundred ȝere and xxx, he deied.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)13 : After the bysi computacion..this Methusale schuld a leved xiiii ȝere after the Flood.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)368/352 : Now I haue levyd this thre skore yer.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)24/58 : Sex hundreth yeris & od, haue I..In erth..liffyd with grete grevance.
d
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.Quadr.(Bod 343)48/28 : Þas ðing us dafenæþ ȝefyllan mid þæs fultume þe mid Fæder & mid Sune & mid þam Halȝe Gaste leofæþ & rixæð þurh alræ woruldæ woruld.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)6/13 : Þa ifullode faræð to heofenum..& libbæð a syððan.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)76/32 : Ðe ðe leofað on ecnesse mid his Almihtiȝæ Fæder & þam Halȝan Gaste.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)122/34 : Mid þam heofenlice Kynge, þe leofeð & rixæð on alræ worldæ world.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)7495 : Adam & Eve wærenn don I Paradisess riche To libbenn a wiþþutenn dæþ.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)151/21 : Se ðe is on soð godd..se ðe leueð [altered to: liueð] and rixeð aure ma a woreld.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.Creed (Trin-C B.14.52)23 : Alle men shullen cume to libben echeliche.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)706 : Tu schalt sone etsterten..& libben [vr. libbe] liues ende wið Iesu Crist.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1754 : Þet leadeð to liue, þer as me liueð aa [vr. ai] in blisse.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)159/3 : He haueð islein ham alle ant haueð, þear as ha liuieð [Cai: liuied] aa, leaððe of ham alle.
- a1250(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Mdst A.13)91/180 : Drihten scal lifen [vrr. libben, liuin] efre.
- a1275 *Body & S.(4) (Trin-C B.14.39)29b : Ic wende ever to libben.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)591 : Leue we ðat he liueð ai up on heuen riche.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)218 : Crist worþ wiþouten ende and lyue shal eueremo.
- ?c1335 Swet ihc hend (Hrl 913)p.81 : Prince and king, what weniþ þai To libbe euir more?
- a1350 Body & S.(4) (Hrl 2253)40 : Nou aren mi dawes done; y wende ha lyued ay!
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.36 : Þise foure beestes ȝelden..blissyng to þe lorde þat sat vpon þe throne & lyueþ wiþouten ende.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)5394 : Þus was þe kowherd..kindeli holpen, he & his wilsum wif wel to liuen for euer.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Eccl.9.4 : No man is that euermor liue [WB(2): that lyueth euere].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.197 : Manis soule schal neuere deie but lyue for euere more.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1031 : He most ay lyve in þat loȝe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1081 : And frendes love, that shal ye han of me..al sholde I lyven evere.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)37 : Swa sal he..mak endyng Of alle þing bot..of man and fende and aungelle, Þat aftir þis lyfe sal lyf ay.
- c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)39 : Thar he and all that come of him myȝt leue withouten deyng.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)2672 : I wold wet what it may þe auayle To forsakyn þe goddys wych leuyn ay.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)142/26 : Þe same Lord schal lede us..to ioye, wher he lyuyth and regnyth euyr mor.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)1019 : He gaff to hem so gret ffraunchyse Talyved euere.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)155/33 : And yche man schuld haue dwellyd in erþe withoute deþ tyl he hadde comyn and fulfilled the nombre of hem that schuld leeue withouten ende.
e
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1115 : Ðises geares wæs swa strang winter mid snawe & mid forste, swa nan man þa þa lifode ær þan nan strengre ne gemunde.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)10520 : I þa þatt lifenn winndweþþ Crist..hiss whæte.
- a1300 Leuedi sainte (Add 27909)12 : Hwao-se lifeð þat wakerur beo, þencþ of mine lore.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)19/316 : Horn is fairer..Þane eni Man þat libbe.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1080 : Y shu[l]de his douthe[r] yeue Þe hexte þat mithe liue.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.147 : Al were it the fouleste cherl or the fouleste womman that lyueth and leest of value.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)4.283 : Is no lede þat leueþ, þat hue [read: he] ne loueþ mede.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)99/27 : He lives not that I wolle haue, bot you.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)7/217 : Many thyngys he has the giffen, and maide the master of all that liffen.
- a1500 Story Alex.(Dub 213)281/66 : Þat ye axie of me is in no mannez power þat leueth.
2.
In common phrases & clauses: (a) ~ lif, to live (one's) life, live; also, live (in a certain way or a certain condition), live (a certain kind of) life; ~ daies, ~ lif-daies, live (one's) life; (b) ~ or dien (sterven), dien or ~, ~ other lien, to live or die; ~ and dien, ~ ne sterven, slen and ~, ther liveden mo than dieden; (c) leten ~, to let (sb.) live, spare the life of (sb.); (d) the whil men liveden, as long as men lived, for all time; the whil the ich live, whiles that ich live, whilest ich live, while I live, as long as I live; ther-whiles that thou livest, ther-whil that he liveth, whiles thei liven; whil (that) he livede, while he lived, as long as he lived; whil he liveden, as long as they lived; etc.; (e) as longe as i live (he liveth, ye liven), as long as I live (he lives, you live); as longe as he (ye) livede, as long as he (you) lived, all his (your) life; (f) ~ to sen, to live to see (sb.); ~ to heren, live to hear (of sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)70/19 : He leofede his lif buton synnum.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.VA (Lamb 487)115 : He scal..for godes eie libban his lif rihtliche.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)7 : Þa apostles itacned..þa wise witega þe beoð nu ouer þe halie chirche and libbed gastliche heore lif.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)129 : Her heo leueden al heore lifdaȝes on kare and on pine.
- a1250 Orison Lord (Nero A.14)202 : Ich liuie nout ine liue þet ich liuede [vr. leuede].
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)2402 : Swuche men..Ne schullen nouȝt halue heore dawes libbe.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)2404 : Ȝuyt ne libbeth heo nouȝt half heore lif.
- c1300 SLeg.Patr.(LdMisc 108)554 : Here we scholden alle habbe i-beon i-bore, and i-leoued [Corp-C: iliued] ore lif al-so.
- ?c1335 Þe grace of godde (Hrl 913)71 : Hit nis ilend him bot alone Fort to libbe is lif iwisse And help þe nedful þat naþ non.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)214/4543 : Ichaue leued me lif Longe wiþ outen werre & strif.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.64 : Of hem þat ben tourned to þe bileue shullen ben lorne a grete partye þorouȝ wicked lijf þat þai lyuen [vrr. leuen, lyueden].
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)686 : Þou hast y-lyued þy lif to longe.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5779 : Þan myȝtou..libbe þy lyf on godes lawe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.197 : Manis soule schal..fonge mede for þe lif þat he lyuede here.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)5.217 : He..gon..gret deol to make For his wikkede lyf þat he I-liued [vrr. lyued, leued, lyud] hedde.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)8.81 : Þei þat lyuen [vr. ledyn] þus heore lyf mouwe loþe þe tyme.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.780 : This tresor hath fortune vn to vs yeuen In myrthe and iolitee oure lyf to lyuen [vr. leuen].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1560 : He goth a glad lif forto live.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1284 : A wedded man in his estat Lyueth a lyf blisful and ordynat.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)58/31 : Þenche we opon þe harde peynes..and lyue hard lyue.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)10175 : Sua haly lijf þai liued [Ld: levyd] euer.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)9.63 : And alle þat lyuen good lyf aren like god almiȝti.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)261 : Sir, ȝe lif an anly life.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6121 : I wole and charge thee To telle anoon..what lyf that thou lyvest also.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.73 : He lyvede not mannis lyfe.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2500 : We were lever to suffr dede Than lif this life.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)40 : What lyfe he lyffyd, þe treuth ys tald.
- a1500(?1382) Wycl.Wks.Mercy (NC 95)171 : Prestis shulde lyfne [read: lyfue] a pore lif.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)477 : Ichon of hem haþ told me a tale of þat oþer, Of her wicked lijf in werlde þat hy lybbeþ.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5869 : We eow wulleð bi-foren libben oðer liggen.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)70/30 : And þe ilke aryȝt is ycleped wrechche, þet ne can lybbe ne ne dar sterue.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.472 : Han noght oure myghty princes to me yeuen, Ye, bothe power and auctoritee To maken folk to dyen or to lyuen [vr. leuen].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Num.4.19 : Þis dooþ to hem þat þei lyfyn & deyȝen not ȝif þei touche þe holy þyngys.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.14.8 : Wher we lyuen or deien, we ben of the Lord.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.127 : O thou Cupide, O thou Venus..Now doth me pleinly live or dye.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1086 : Chese he for me wher he wol lyue or dye.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1337 : In yow lyth al to do me lyue or deye.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.17 : To þe kyng Egbriht alle were þei gyuen, For þer heritage þer to die or lyuen.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)1.102 : Þat lewede men in misbylyue leuen & deien.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2382 : Whom þat ȝe may hooly..To liue or dye, at ȝour lust restreyne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4862 : And do no force wher he lyue or sterue.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)11/24 : Þe nobill duc of Braband With him went into þat land, Redy to lif or dy.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.427 : But as hire man, I wol ay lyue [vr. leue] and sterve.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1152 : And whethir that he lyve or elles sterve.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1594 : For who is that ne wolde hire glorifie To mowen swich a knyght don lyve or dye?
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.593 : And lyve and dye I wol in thy byleve.
- a1425(?a1400) Penny (Glb E.9)74 : He may both lene and gyf; he may ger both sla and lif.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)23027 : Þai helde up hende to life and die, And armede þam ful hastelie.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)101a/a : Þei þat vsed þis cure seide þat þer lyueden mo þen dieden with þis cure.
- (1425) Paston2.20 : He wolde nedys ben Priour of Bromholm, to levyn and deyin ther upon.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)16344 : Osewy sone herdit seye How Penda on hym wold lyue & deye.
- (a1450) Doc.in Legg Coronation179 : I Bycome ȝour man..to ȝow schal bere aȝens alle men yt mow lyfe and dye.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)40 : He tok in pacience to lyve or dye.
- c1450(c1400) ?Clanvowe Cuckoo & N.(Frf 16)162 : In that beleve I wil bothe lyve and dye.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)75/1 : To knowyn if a man..schal lyuen or deyen.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)92/4 : For to knowyn whethir a man schall lewyn or deyin.
- (1459) RParl.5.370a : The said Lord Stanley and his felysship shuld lyve and dye with the said Erle ayenst his resistours.
- a1500(?c1370) ?Chaucer Comp.A.(Benson-Robinson)79 : Ever have I been, and shal..Outher to live or dye, your humble trewe.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)1680 : Y schall holde with Mahoun and all oure mametrye, therwhyle my lyf wyl last to lybbe & to dye!
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)143/95 : And, certys, for to lyf or dy, I shall not fayll.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)25/7 : And in this, lywe or dye, we manly wynn the Pryce.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)41/14 : Ȝif þou wolt y-wyte whare he shal lyue or deyȝe.
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)14691 : Abraham..let hiss sune libbenn.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)18049 : Ich hine wullen griðien & latten hine liuien [Otho: libbe].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)19723 : Godd þe lete longe libben.
- a1275 On hire is al (Trin-C B.14.39)46 : Let me liue [vrr. liuen, libbe] and amendi.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)4097 : Alle ðise wapmen dor god let liwen; Ðe lond hoten sal hem ben giuen.
- a1350 My deþ (Hrl 2253)16 : Þou lete me lyue ant be þi luef.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1541 : For-þi lete god þam lijf [Göt: liue] sua lang.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1869 : Whare he comes, he lattes nane lyfe.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)534 : Lat hym leve al this nyght.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)2771 : And late hym lybbe tyl to morwen.
d
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1140 : Te king sculde ben lauerd & king wile he liuede, & æfter his dæi ware Henri king.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)128/10 : Heo for Criste hit letæn nolden þa hwile þe heo lifedon.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)7 : Þis witeȝede dauid..þa wile he liuede.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2241 : Þa while þe ic libbe, oðer nulle ic habben.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4557 : Þa wile þa ich leouie [altered to: liouie].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7904 : Swa heo þer boȝeden þe wile þe heo luueden.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14873 : Þa we sculleð sceonien Þa while þa we luuien [Otho: libbeþ].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)16974 : He þohte wurche þer a werc..þæt a sculde ilasten þa while men luueden.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)17002 : Þu mihtest þis weorc makien strong..þet a mihte ilæsten þa while men leoueden [Otho: lefuede].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)23750 : Þa while þe ich liuie.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)12 : Ich hit þonkie ðe..And þonkie wulle þe hwule ðet ich liuie.
- ?a1300 11 Pains(1) (Dgb 86)404/189 : Hoe nolden ben Isriven þe wile þat hoe mosten liuen.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)9015 : Þe wile þat ich leuie.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)12383 : And euere wil hii lifde, lofue ȝam hi wolde.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2457 : He ben smered ðor quiles he liuen Wið crisme and olie in trewðe geuen.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)194/30 : Offre to god worþi offringe þerhuyls þet þou leuest.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)214/14 : Þerhuile þet he leueþ.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1001 : Oþer lud, whil i liue, schal i loue neuer.
- c1390(?a1300) Stations Rome(1) (Vrn)507 : Seint Luik, while he lyuede in londe, Wolde haue peynted hit.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2946 : Ne yeue thow neuere myght ne maistrie of thy body whil thow lyuest.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.917 : They may nat be departed in al hir lyf that is to seyn whil that they lyuen [vr. leuen] bothe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4770 : It schal ben hires while I live.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1114 : Þaȝ þou be..al tomarred in myre whyl þou on molde lyvyes.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2423 : He wold be hir seruaunt and hir knyght Whyl he leueth.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.784 : Ye nolde Hym nevere falsen while ye lyven sholde.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)64/7 : While a man lyueþ, ech man may tilye and labore his vyneȝerd.
- c1430(c1395) Chaucer LGW Prol.(2) (Benson-Robinson)471 : Thow shalt, whil that thow livest, yer by yere The moste partye of thy tyme spende In makynge of a gloryous legende.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)126/20 : I vse but comownycacyon & good wordys, & þat wil I do whil I leue.
- c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)1042 : Will þou hafe a wyfe, Whills þat I lyffe, my sone so dere?
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)16/21 : I hafe..made athe to Darius þat, whils he leffez, I schall neuer bere armes agaynes hym.
- c1475(a1400) Amadace (Tay 9)p.48 : Here a gifte schalle I ȝo gife, Halfe my kyndome quiles I life.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)2/33 : He was cause, whil he lyued, with his tonge..þat many a soule is ledde þe rith weye to heuene.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.381 : Seynte Mauricius..didde bere the stole of Seynte Benedicte abowte his necke while that he lyffedde.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)63/17 : Þei ȝeven to gider..her bodies..indepartabili, whilis þei lyuen, into bigetyng of children.
- a1500(c1370) Chaucer Comp.L.(Benson-Robinson)62 : And whilst I lyve, I wol ever do so.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)24 : I may not..while the kynge leveth.
e
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)239 : Ȝe seneȝden alse lange alse ȝe lefede and ȝe scule birne alse longe as ic lefie.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)7.17 : For I schal lene hem lyflode..As longe as I liue [vrr. lif, leue].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.340 : This thyng may nat faile as longe as he lyueth.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)356/9 : For alwey as longe as ȝe lyue, ȝe ben able to encreessen in staat of perfeccioun.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)139/14 : Also longe as he leuyd & had þat church.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)47/27 : Als longe als he leuyd was Alexander valiant.
f
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1249/17 : Alas..that ever I shulde lyve to hyre of that moste noble kynge..thus to be oversette with hys subjette.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)72/23 : Þat I may leve to se hire, god graunt me.
3.
(a) Of things or abstractions: to last, endure; be, exist; ~ ayen, live again, come back to life; (b) of things: to be conscious; (c) of one's spirit: to revive, regain consciousness.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)18797,18800 : Forrþi lifenn aȝȝ occ aȝȝ & lasstenn alle þingess I Godess herrte, i Godess witt, Þatt lifeþþ æfre & lassteþþ.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1299 : Al that euere in denemark liueden On mine armes faste clyueden.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.7.9 : With oute the lawe, synne was deed..but whanne the comaundement hadde comen, synne lyuede aȝen.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.215 : Hire deeth shal alwey lyuen [vr. lyfe], and hir ende shal euere mo bigynne.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.11.124 : For nature yeveth to every thing that that is convenient to hym, and travailleth that they ne deie nat, as longe as thei han power to duellen and to lyven.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.11.40 : But if so were that the norysschynges of resoun ne lyvede yplounged in the depe of your herte.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.59 : Her lendys were lene and leued with hunger.
b
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)6 : To god alle þinges lyven & her creature feelen.
c
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.45.27 : Whanne Jacob hadde seyn the waynes and alle thingis whiche Joseph hadde sent, his spirit lyuede aȝen [L revixit].
4.
(a) To dwell (in a place); live (in water); dwell (at home); (b) ~ in (on) erthe (this world), ~ in lond (lede), ~ on (upon) molde, ~ on this middel-erd, ~ in world (al this worldes regioun), to live on earth, be alive; (c) ~ bi, to live in (the air), reside near (a well); be close to (the ground) rather than upright; ~ biforen, be in the presence of (sb., someone's face); ~ under, live under (God, Christ, the throne of God, the sun, moon, stars), live or exist (anywhere); be or live under (the ground); ~ under sheld, be under (one's shield) -- empty tag; (d) ~ in, to dwell or be in (sb., someone's heart); (e) ~ with (mid), to dwell with (sb.); ~ bi, live by (oneself), live alone; ~ togeder(es, dwell together.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)82/33 : Englæs..libbæð on heofene.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)84/5 : Þa fixas nabbæþ nan lif buton wætere; ne we ne maȝon libban noht longe on watere.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)14575 : All mannkinn wass drunncnedd ta, & alle cwike shaffte..wiþþutenn all þatt maȝȝ I waterr ben & libbenn.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3236 : Leir king..luuede [Otho: liuede] iðisse londe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6904 : Na lengere þene seouen ȝere ne mosten he luuien here.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6927 : Ah longe leouede [Otho: lifde] here Cherin.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)11775 : Whul liðe londe on to libbenne [Otho: ine for to wonie].
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)75/5 : Ðu miht ðar wel libben.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)264/117 : Of alle þe seuene-and-þritti ȝer þat heo leouede [Corp-C: lyuede] þere, heo ne saiȝ noþur best ne man.
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)451/78 : In Perce hi hadde ilyue.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3696 : He som hurne of þe lond grantede hom þere, Warinne hii leuede.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)525 : Þe soueraynest burne þat levis in ani lond.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.185 : Also foules mowe not lyue [vr. libbe] þere, for þe aier is to clere.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)364 : Alle þat lyuyes here-inne lose þe swete.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)27712 : None þat here lifes may fle enuy.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)9/3 : Þerfore may na beste ne fewle liffe þare so es þe aer drye.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)150b/b : And he schal ete..off no grete foule þat lyueþ in þe water.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.396 : The hooli hermyte..Lyued in desert, ferr out in wildirnesse.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)4272 : We..in an ylde lyue [vr. lif] & lende.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1916 : Preualy furth sal þai wyn Þat þei let none þat lefes þerin.
- ?a1450 When Rome (Cleo C.4)p.249 : The iijd schalle recuire..That haiit lywith in Lowthe many longe days.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13385 : And Vlixes with lykyng leuyt at home.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)440 : Þey lyueden in egipt.
- a1500 Earth(3) (Tit A.26)19/24 : Than shalt thou lyffe in heuyn as a knyght.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5033 : & te birrþ lufenn iwhillc mann Þatt lifeþþ her onn eorþe.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)11 : We on þisse middelerd liuien.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)85 : Fuwerkinne mannisshe liuen on þis woreld.
- a1250 Wooing Lord (Tit D.18)273 : Luue iwile þe, þa swete ihesu, as te gentileste lif þat eauer liuede on eorðe.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)177/28 : Þreo manere men of godes icorene liuieð [Tit: liuien; Nero: beoð] on eorðe.
- a1275 Doomsday (Trin-C B.14.39)32 : Alle heo sullen hem isen þat liueden in londe.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)23 : Iacob liuede in londe.
- a1350 When þe nyhtegale (Hrl 2253)10 : Whil y lyue in world so wyde, oþer nulle y seche.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)8/3 : Worþssipe þine uader and þine moder, uor þu sselt libbe þe lenger ine yerþe.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2844 : Right as ther deyed neuere man..That he ne lyued [vr. leuede] in erthe in som degree.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)2.161 : I haue no while to telle þe Tayl..Of so mony Maner Men þat on Molde [vr. erthe] liuen [vrr. libbeþ, lybbet, libbes, levys].
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)556 : I shal þe make þe rychest man Þat lyueþ in world.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)588 : Wyser clerk ne lyued non Jn al þis werldes regioun.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)558 : Þe Soverayn..sore forþoȝt Þat ever he man upon molde merked to lyvy.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.3 TDWorld (Corp-C 296)183 : Symple men supposen no more riȝtwisnesse in ony man þat leueth in herþe.
- a1450(?1409) Vision Staunton (Roy 17.B.43)60 : Diuers men bi sight apperand to me, þe whiche leveden as by shap in the world and as bi colour of them.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)47/1 : For they dredyn neythir God ne the Soudon ne no prynce ne no lord that leuyth in this world.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)376/68-70 : Me liste no lengar to liffe in lande. Þis light þou hast purueyed To folkes þat liffis in leede.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)47/119 : Ther may no man þat levyth in londe haue more sorwe.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)88/12 : Alle men which euer lyueden in erþe schulen rise.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)97/16 : Wheþir þei lyuen in þis worlde or in þe oþire worlde.
c
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)84/5 : Ealle heo beoþ alytene & lybbæþ bi þare eorþan, ac þe mon ane hæfð uprihtne ȝeong.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)122/28 : Þæt we clæne beon & libben moten beforen ure Hælende.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)27779 : He ifunde Luces þene kaiser leouien under scelde.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)38/26 : We liuieð bi þe lufte al þet measte deal.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)653 : Bi þis welle ich habbe I-leoued.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.842 : Ther is no man that lyueth [vr. leueþ] vnder the trone Of god that sholde lyue so myrie as I.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)244b/a : The roote leueþ yhidde vnder grounde.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15610 : Of his soru mai naman tell þat liues [Trin-C: lyueþ] vnder þe mone.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23940 : Þou do þam haf þi suns grace To liue [Phys-E: leuin] be-for his luueli face.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.174 : Thei ben as voide of vices..As any men that lyven [vrr. lyueth, leuyn] under the sonne.
- a1425 Siege Troy(1) (LinI 150)556 : Y schal þe make þeo rygheste man Þat lyueþ vndur god alone.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)405 : I acounte no kynge þat vndyr Criste lyffes.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1731 : That gaynez till any gome that vndyre God leuez.
- a1500 When thonder comeþ (Cmb Ff.5.48)5 : Þou shalt haue..Myche frute and gret werre Of folke þat life vnder sterre.
d
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)179/22,24 : Godd liueð [Tit: liues] in hire heorte..crist liueð [Cai: liued] in me.
- a1250 Orison Lord (Nero A.14)202 : Ich liuiee, nout ich, auh crist liueð in me.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Gal.2.20 : I lyue now, not I, but Crist lyueth in me.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)166/8 : Jn þis man oiþer womman liueþ god.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)518 : He clansed men of yvels and of synne Wiþ his worde, þat lyueþ him ynne.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)17.50 : Lord lifes in my hert.
e
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6235 : We wulleð þine men beon..& þe leofuen wið.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10849 : Mid Brutten heo luuuede [Otho: wonede] here.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)2275 : Þu maht in alle murhðe longe libben wið me.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)178/25 : Ah þeo pilegrimes..schulen liuien [Tit: liuie; Nero: libben; Recl.: lyue] wið him i wunne buten ende.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)16/168 : Þou schalt wiþ ous go & liue wiþ ous euer-mo.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)2.25 : And al is liȝeres ledynge þat heo leuen [vrr. lyuen; liȝen] to-gedere.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)4.158 : And also longe as I lyue [vrr. lyffe, libbe schal], leue [vrr. libbe; abyde, dwelle] we to-gedere.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)9.84 : Ȝe wyse, soffreþ þe vn-wyse wiþ ow for to libbe [vr. leue].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.345 : They sworen and assenten euery man To lyue [vr. leue] with hire and dye and by hir stonde.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.438 : For-þi lyue we forth with lither men.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416:Everett)45/13 : Be þou strong..tellinge hem þat liueþ wiþ þe..hou ȝif þei wollen haue þe condiciouns of Marie, þei schullen conceiue Crist.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)1 Kings 25.15 : These men weren good ynow..and no thing perischide in ony tyme in al the tyme in which we lyueden [WB(1): han dwellid] with hem in deseert.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Wisd.8.9 : Therfor Y purposide to brynge to me this wisdom, to lyue togidere.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)121/284 : Þat ȝe schul euer haue leuyd with me.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)250 : Hee wedded hirre..And lyveden togydir in solas.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)276/21 : He went vnto wildernes & liffid be hym selfe.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)29/16 : Tho went he to Simpliciane and prayed him..to graunt certeyn persones of his felauchip, whech he wold lede on-to his cuntre..and leue þere with hem in holy conuersacion.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)9/22 : And [they] leued longe togederes worshipfully.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)359 : Þey leeuen wiþ lordes wiþ lesynges y-nowe.
5.
(a) To live (in a state or condition); ~ in (i, on, at, a, mid); (b) ~ in flesh and bon, ~ on bon and blod, to live in the flesh, live the earthly life; ~ on lif, live a life; also, be alive, live; (c) ~ i clennesse (maithhod), ~ on maidenhod, to live a celibate life; ~ in fightes, be in battles, participate in fighting; ~ i fleshes lustes, live in carnal lusts; ~ i god lif, live a righteous life; ~ in sinne (wikkednesse), live in sin (wickedness); ~ withouten lif (herte), live without life (a heart); ~ withouten (out of) wo, live free from woe.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)64/22 : Þa ðe ne ȝelyfæð libbæð on blindnesse.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)96/1 : He mæȝ æfre libban on murhðe mid Gode.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8598 : Þær Drihhtin Godd himm hafeþþ don To libben þære i blisse.
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)200,204 : Nere namon..sec ne nan unsele ac mihten libben [vr. libbe] eure ma a blisse and a [vrr. on, an, in, myd] hele..We libbeð [vr. libeð] alle in sorȝe and in swinke.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3261 : He mihte..libben on lisse [Otho: ine blisse].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7057 : Mid blisse he luuede here.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)12/174 : Eauer euch wif þet is hire were þreal & liueð i wurðinge, he & heo baðe.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)183/2 : Ȝef we libbeð [Tit: liuien; Cai: libbet; Recl.: lyue] i scheome..for his luue.
- ?a1300 Thrush & N.(Dgb 86)105 : Hy liuieþ in longinginge [read: longinge].
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)2222 : Mani a fair dai he hadde i-leoued in care and in wo.
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)158 : Euere he liuede in sore.
- ?c1335 Lollai lollai (Hrl 913)3 : Hit was iȝarkid þe ȝore euer to lib in sorow.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5129 : Hii..libbeþ mid alle ssame.
- a1350 Bytuene mersh (Hrl 2253)5 : Ich libbe in loue-longinge.
- c1330 St.Greg.(Auch)111/576 : Schame it is..For to libbe in sorwe and siþ.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)130/34 : Ine huet trauail he heþ yleued.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3467 : They lyued [vrr. lyueden, leueden] in ioye and in felicitee.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1028 : And ther he lyueth [vr. leueþ] in ioye and in honour.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.21 : Þat lond is wel at ese, As long as men lyueþ at ese [read: in pese].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1228 : We wedded men lyue in sorwe and care.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11308 : Pouer gift can sco for him giue [Ld: yef], Þat com in pouert for to liue [Ld: lef].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27022 : Þou has soght..Werldes welth to lijf in pese.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3829 : And many Greke..after liveden in captiuite.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1098 : And he..out of the Cyte Lyve [vr. life] in exile and in pouerte.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2690 : In a prince, it is ful gret offence..Suffre his puple lyven at [vr. in] mescheef.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)214 : Hir semed to have lyved in langour.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)21585 : It er paste now yiers fife Þat we haf lifen in delices.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.4.35 : For he lyveth in sikernesse of any sentences put ayens hym.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)92 : Þei seyn þat þei lyuen in þe staat of cristis apostlis.
- 1445 Now wold I (Ashm 191)23 : Wher-for y pray..That she may cast alle car a-way And leue in rest.
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle Luf es lyf (Cmb Dd.5.64)73 : In myrth he lyfes nyght and day.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)36/11 : Þei become anoon þralles to þe feend..þat euere miȝt haue lyued in ioye & in blisse.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13105 : Þo mighty..lyuet furth in Lykyng a long tyme after.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3171 : Ȝit me is better..in bataile be slayne Þan..ay leue [Dub: lefe] in sorowe.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)28/822 : For gyf y iuge, who leffe in such a shenke, Hit nys but even of loue myracle lo.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)182/820 : He leveth in mornyng and strife.
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.31 : Thay leve in hope to have mercy and grace.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.266 : Rewlers..Were not yffoundid..To leue al at likynge and lust of þe world.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)2499 : Tylle he wiste to leffe in pes.
- c1500 Castle Love(3) (Ashm 61)184 : For defaute Adam les That he myȝht haue leuyd in pes.
- a1500 Thayr ys no myrth (SeldSup 52)15 : Thane shuld I leyffe in Rialte.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)132/27 : Þeah he libbe her on life a þusend wintræ.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)39 : Al þis lif þe we on liuen is to nihte iefned.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)1472 : And þar he liues [Trin-C: lyueþ; Vsp: es] in fless and ban.
- a1500 Tundale (Adv 19.3.1)1595 : Too kynggis..wer sum tyme of greyt poste Tho whyle they lewyd on bon and blod.
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)2286 : Nass næfrær, Biforenn Sannte Marȝe, Nan wimmann þatt forr lufe off Godd I maȝȝþhad wollde libbenn.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)15261 : Þatt oþerr lott iss all þatt follc Þatt lifeþþ i clænnesse.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)49 : Alle þo mugen offre clennesse þe libbeð clenliche on maiden-hode.
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)30/286 : Ich beheolt þe cunfessurs hird, þe liueden [Tit: lifden] i god lif.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)70/15 : Alswa fleschlich ancre, þe liueð [Nero: luueð] i flesches lustes.
- ?c1250 PMor.(Eg 613(1))206 : For in synne we libbet alle, in sorewen and in swinche.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4981 : He biþoȝte him of pes, to libbe wiþoute [vr. libben out of] wo.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.148 : By þe marchaundes ben bitokned þe grete þat lyuen [vr. leueþ] in þise þre synnes.
- c1390 ?Hilton Qui Habitat (Vrn)88/3 : Louers of þe world..lyuen [vrr. leuen, lywen] in dedly synne.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4358 : Ȝe wene þat God shal ȝow ȝeue, Yn wykkednes long to leue.
- a1400 Cursor (Phys-E)24164 : Hu sal I lefe wit outin life.
- c1450(?a1400) Siege Milan (Add 31042)288 : Þay wende he hade bene kynge of fraunce Þat lyfede in þase fyghtis.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)27/797 : Hit wondir doth me thynke How y haue leyd this many yere agoo Without an hert.
6a.
To live (in a certain manner): (a) with adv.; ~ ethe, to live more at ease, live better; (b) with adj.; ~ chaste, to remain chaste; ~ weri, grow weary of living; ~ young, remain youthful; (c) with phrase or clause.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)68/17 : Þis is þet edlean þare rihtwisæ monnæ þe rihtlice leofedon.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)124/8 : Þæs mon iu on þissre worlde wunsumlice lyfede.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)26438 : And ȝif gæst him a leoð, þu miht libben þa eð.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)29847 : Æluric luuede murie.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)57/27 : Sume libbeð unorneliche on mete and on claðes.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)42/24 : Luðerliche ich liuede.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)23/24 : Ȝef me deien wið him & arisen in him, worltliche deien, gasteliche libben [Recl.: lyuen].
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)171/16 : Þe þeof o rode..hefde aa iliued [Cai: iliuet] uuele.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.8 : He ordeyned..his wyf hou heo libbe scholde.
- ?c1335 Þe king of heuen (Hrl 913)p.123 : Whan he weniþ liuie wel, Mid deþ adun fal he schel.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)128/13 : Þe guode mannes zone..leuede lecherusliche.
- c1350 Ayenb.App.(Arun 57)265/29 : Lybbe we sobreliche.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.583 : Or lyue as scarsly as hym list desire.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.75 : What brothir or sistir so falle in pouerte [þt he can] nouȝt helpe hym-selfe to leuen resonably.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)prol.26 : To penaunce putten heom monye, For loue of vr lord liueden [vrr. lyuede, lyfuyd, leueden, leued, leuenden] ful harde [vr. streite].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.1122 : This child Maurice..lyued [vr. leued] cristenly.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.1176 : Thanne am I gentil whan that I bigynne To lyuen vertuously and weyue synne.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10392 : Þe prest þat lyueþ nat ryȝt, Of hys preyer ys lytyl prowe.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.43 : Alle þe puple hadde pardon ynow þat parfytliche lyueden.
- (?c1400) Wycl.7 Heresies (Dc 274)443 : But iche man life bisili.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)55/18 : Þou schalt..se him lyue ful feyre amonges his disciples.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)28666 : Þis man..has lifed so ill.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.73 : Þei lyven al amys.
- (1425) Doc.in Sur.Soc.45325 : And I behete to lyfe stabely in this avowe duryng my lyfe.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)1/22 : He þat leuys here ryȝtwysly..His soul neuer schal ponyschyd be.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)122/334 : Þay..leuyn here vnryȝtwysly.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)7/15 : He þat wole be herd of God in his preier, aforce hym þat he lyue riȝtwisly aftir þe wille of God.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3512 : Qwyle ye lawfully lefe may & your lyf haue.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.17/15 : After þe purpose of reguler lyfe religiously to leve and to þe almyȝghty lorde been knowe to serue.
- (1472) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8524 : Laurence of Lawe..lyffez suspeciouslye agayns lawe.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget (Gar 145)27/17 : What longeth it to me how other men lyff?
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)13/20 : He lyueþ beestly.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)237/35 : Tho men whych..lywen temprely bene more hole of body.
- a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193)27 : How hast thou lyvyd and disposid thee in erth that thou dost here aske mercy of God?
b
- a1325 SLeg.Cross (Corp-C 145)36 : Icham weri yliued [Ashm: ileued]; ich wilny muche mi deþ.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)151 : He ȝaf him..paradys to wonen in And euere to libben iliche ȝong.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)12/8 : Sche mygth not levyn chast.
- (1471) Doc.in Sur.Soc.45341 : I, Agnes Overton, wydewe..vowe and promytt to lyve chast fro this tyme forward.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)30/38 : Yf ȝe wyl lyff sad and sure.
c
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.VA (Lamb 487)117 : Ȝe beoð swilche forliȝeres ȝif ȝe libbað butan steore.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1878 : Lef me for to libben swa þet ich ne leose nawt him.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1012 : Hi nabbeþ noþ win ne bor Ac libbeþ al so wilde dor.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4802 : Sone were þe ladies to an hermitage brouȝt & liueden þere in god lif.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.127 : We schulde..lyue [vr. lybbe] alway as þey we schulde be demed to day oþer to morwe.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)252 : We hafe as losels liffyde.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)288 : We..Leden clanliche our lif and libben as simple.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9760 : And fele other fre kynges frusshet to dethe, Þat might haue leuyt as lordes.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)2/8 : He..liffid as a seculer man.
6b.
(a) To conduct oneself (according to laws, a religion, a rule, teachings, a will or purpose, etc.); ~ after (bi, in, under, upon); (b) to live (according to, or for the sake of, the flesh, the spirit, one's desires or pleasures, etc.); ~ after (bi, in, to, up, upon); ~ bi that he laghte, fare according to what she caught (i.e., her pregnancy); (c) ~ after (bi, in, to, up, under), to live for (sb.), live under the power or control of (sb.); ~ after, live in the manner of (sb.) [quot.: ?c1430].
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)98/13 : He..wrat on twam stænene bræden, & þam folce sende, & het þæt heo alle þeræfter lyfedon.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)9/79 : Þu wult leauen þe lahen þet tu liuest in.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)67/719 : Lustnið lustiliche hali writes lare, & liuieð [Roy: luuieð] þrefter.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)22/28 : Þe wurmes & te wilde deor..libbet [Roy: libbeð] efter þe lahe þet tu ham hauest iloket.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)5/11 : Þeo beoð rihte þe luuieð [Nero: libbeð; Recl.: lyuen] efter riwle.
- a1350(1307) Execution Fraser (Hrl 2253)12 : Betere hem were han y-be barouns ant libbe in godes lawe, wyþ loue.
- c1330 Roland & V.(Auch)29 : Alle þat leued in godes lawe, He lete hem boþe hong & drawe.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1261 : And for to lyue vnder that holy bond With which that first god man and womman bond.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)146 : God bigan þe law hym gyfe Þe quilk the Iuus in suld life.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)15614 : & folow him, our fader is, to liue a-pon his lare.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.246 : Haueth none envye..but lyueth after ȝowre rewle.
- a1400 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Pep 2498)p.19 : By Iezabel ben bitokned þe maistres heretikes þat lyuen aftere þe wille of her flessch and techen aȝein þe godspell.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2336 : He shal be leef ay for to yeve, In Loves lore whoso wolde leve.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4905 : He chaungith purpos and entent, And yalt [him] into som covent, To lyven aftir her emprise.
- a1425 Ordin.Nuns(1) (Lnsd 378)142/5 : To forsake þine awne propir will & liffe vndir obedience.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)4 : Whoso will be perfiȝt and lyue aftir þis chapitil, do as Catoun seiþ.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)18/1 : Þis reule..God haþ sette to man for to lyue by.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)391/322 : And all þat likis to leere My lawe and leue þer bye Shall neuere haue harmes heere.
- a1500(1448) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)102 : W. Frutes and Agnes Knoghton, poure creatures and of vertuous conversacion, pourposyng to leve under the lawe of God in th'ordre of wedlok.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)84/2 : I..bihote to god..& to alle seyntis, in ȝoure hondes, moder, to lyue after þe rule.
b
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)135/5 : No mann ne leueð to [h]is aȝene be[h]ofte ane.
- a1350 In may hit murgeþ (Hrl 2253)45 : Al to late is send aȝeyn when þe ledy liht byleyn ant lyueþ by þat he lahte.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)53/6 : Þe uerste libbeþ be þe ulesse.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)54/4 : Þo þet libbeþ be fisike, hy healdeþ þe mesure of ypocras.
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)44/201 : Our gastly fadirs..techis us how to lif til hele of our saules.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Gal.5.25 : If we lyuen by spirit, by spirit..walke we.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)1 Pet.4.2 : That he lyue not now to the desijris of men but to the wille of God.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1107 : For he ne wol no travail take To ryde for his ladi sake, Bot liveth al upon his wisshes.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)174/3 : Sche..lyued after her delices.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)55a : Þey beþ suche þat..haue nouȝt moche ben in trauaile of werres bot lyued in here lustes.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)48.319 : And Oþer..lyveden aftyr lust of here body.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)55/15 : We ben dettours to oure fleisch, but we schul not lyuen aftir oure fleisch.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)43/8 : But lete me leve evyr to þi pay.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.57.38b : Ȝif ȝe lifen vp ȝore flesch, ȝe schullen dien.
c
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)109/1 : Ha libbeð [Tit: libben; Cai: libbed] to þe feond & beoð alle in his hond.
- a1250 Lofsong Louerde (Nero A.14)211 : Ich to þe world beo dead and euer liuiie [read: liuie] to þe.
- a1250 Orison Lord (Nero A.14)202 : And makien me liuien to þe.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2496 : Hure sinne ðu him for-giue Wið-ðanne-ðat we vnder ðe liuen.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.1 : Alle þoo þat willen pytiuosli leuen [F vivere] in iesu crist shullen suffre persecuciouns.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.14.7,8 : No man of vs lyueth to hym silf..where we lyuen, we lyuen to the Lord.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)1 Pet.4.6 : That thei lyue up [WB(2): bi] God in spirit.
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)90a : Lyue aftir god in spyryt, firste pistle of petr.,fourþe cap.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)92 : Þei leuen not..aftir crist & his apostlis.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)21/31 : Or at þe next is forto lyue to god goostly.
6c.
To live as (sth.), be or continue to be (a maid, a sot, etc.).
Associated quotations
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)237 : He wes acende of þe clene mede, þe efer þurh lefede mede.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)22/339-40 : Hu murie þu maht libben [Tit: liuen] meiden i þi Meiðhad ouer þet heo libbeð [Tit: libben].
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)8/31 : He liueð kinebern icrunet in his kinedom.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)581 : Þaȝ þou a sotte lyvie.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)20/26 : And after his deth, she lefte [vr. lyued] widue.
7.
(a) To feed (on sth.); also fig.; ~ bi (in, of, thurgh, with), eat (sth.) in order to live; sustain life, or spiritual life, with (sth.); (b) to get a living (from a benefice, city, an estate, income, office), live (on wages, goods, etc.); ~ bi (of, on, upon, with); (c) to get a living (from work, an occupation, hunting, fishing, trickery, robbery, etc.); also fig.; ~ bi (upon, with); ~ bi (with) bodi, live by (one's) body, be a prostitute; ~ bi hondes, live by the work of (one's) hands; (d) ~ in (bi), to live by the grace of (God, Christ); ~ on (bi), live off (sb., the people), be a parasite upon; (e) ~ on, to live on (air), live by breathing (air).
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)84/16 : Ða nytene..libbæþ bi gres, & heo Godes ne ȝemeþ.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)100/17,18 : We witen þæt monnes lichame sceal bi mete libban..swa sceal eac þeo sawle libbæn bi Godes wordes.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)7775 : Cullfre ne lifeþþ nohht bi flessh.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11344 : Boc seȝȝþ þatt nohht ne maȝȝ þe mann Bi bræd all ane libbenn.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)466 : Leouere heom his to libben bi þan wode-roten..þane heo þine þeowedomes lengre iþolien.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)31882 : Þat folc flah in to wuden..& liueden [Otho: leuede] bi deoren.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)25 : He fet alle..þing þe bi mete liuien.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)179 : Þe more fishes in þe se eten þe lasse, and bi hem liuen; Swo don in þis woreld þe riche..struien þe wrecche men..and naðeles bi hem libben.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)211 : Þe michele deor heneð þe little and bi hem libbeð on þe wilderne.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)89/3 : Ðe mann ne leueð naht he [read: be] bread ane, ac leueð bi ða wordes..of godes muðe.
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)32/297 : Se swote smeal ham folheð..þet me mahte libben [Tit: libbe] aa bi þe swotnesse.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)656,658 : Ðe culuer haueð costes gode..ge ne liueð nogt bi lagt..ðe wirm ge leteð & liueð bi ðe sed.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2166 : We ben sondes for nede driuen To bigen coren ðor-bi to liuen.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)23/257 : In somer he liueþ [vr. lyuys] bi wild frut.
- ?1316 SMChron.(Roy 12.C.12)30 : In grete hulles hy woneden her Ant livede by herbes ant wilde duer.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)62/31 : He is ase þe gamelos, þet leueþ [Vices & V.(2): lyueþ] by þe eyr and naȝt ne heþ ine his roppes bote wynd.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1807,1830 : We schul liue bi oure loue..þer-for is fairer we be stille & bi frut to liue.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.4.4 : A man lyueth not in breed aloon, bot in euery word that cometh forth fro the mouthe of God.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)7.21 : And alle maner of Men þat bi [vr. on; B: þorw] Mete liuen [vrr. libbiþ, libben, libbes, leuyth, leuys].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11109 : In þat wildernes he bade..And liued [Ld: leuyd] wit rotes and wit gress.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12949-50 : Man mai noght liue allan wit bred, Bot wit word man liues elles.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)12949 : Men lyueþ not bi breed one.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5765 : Alle hij lyueden by raw fyssh.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6584 : Hij comen on londe in somers tyde..And libben [LinI: libbeþ] þan by flesshe and fyssh, Als oþere men don.
- c1400 Wycl.DSins (Bod 647)159 : And so mony drinken wyne þat were better lif wiþ ale.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)10 : Þei [hares] lyuen of corn and wiþ wedis..of leves, of herbis.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)328 : But foul that lyveth by sed sat on the grene.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)171/14 : Sche felt a wondyr swet sauowr & an heuynly, þat hir thowt sche myth a leuyd þerby wyth-owtyn mete or drynke.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)99a : Me vseþ to putte out of walled strengþes alle olde & feble men, wommen, and ȝonge children for drede of devourynge..of vitailles, þe whiche men of armes most lyue by.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)121/15 : Othere foulis..leuyn by carayn.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)246/21 : When that he was an infawnte and lyued with the pappus of his modur, he wold noȝt towche hem but ones in two dayes of the weke, scilicet, the Wedenysday and Friday.
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1102 : Se arcebiscop Ansealm heold gehadodra manna sinoð..& ægðer manige Frencisce & Englisce þær heora stafas & rice for luron, þe hi mid un rihte begeaton oððe mid woge þær on lifedon.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5129 : Bred & wyn..& gold & syluer haþ he send þe, lordlyche to lyue þar-by.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.343 : He restored þe abbay..[to þe noumbre of fifty monkes], þat hadde riȝt inow to lyve by.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.581 : To make hym lyue [vr. leue] by his propre good, In honour detteles.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Magd.(Phys-E)p.16 : He hafd Inoh quar of to lif [vr. inouh oune to lyue].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.296 : For þe good þat þow hast geten bigan al with falsehede, And as longe as þow lyuest þer-with, þow ȝeldest nouȝte.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.44 : And ich lyue in londene and on [vr. by] londen bothe.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)83/2 : Sche hadd offred more, for sche hadde offred al þat sche hadde to libben by.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Serv.& L.(Corp-C 296)242 : Also many ietteris of contre..han litel or nouȝt to lyue onne.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)67 : The trewe comoners desireth..that thees worldely clerkes..that aren so worldly lordes, that they be putte to leven by her Spiritualtes.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)117/27 : Ponthus gave theym goode enughe to lyve vpon.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)368 : Þai schuld be clerkis soudyoures, and lyue by her wagis.
- (c1455) Paston3.54 : He hath had no liflode to life opon sithen my lady, his moder, deed.
- c1475 *Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)78/16 : We lif with [*CQ(2): leve of] suche goodys as we fynde.
- a1500 Tundale (Adv 19.3.1)2226 : Save that aght to hym selfe only, Hee laft hym noght to lyve by.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)90/126 : Yea, looke thou het hym gold great wone and riches for to lyve upon.
c
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)91/30 : He ne hafð bute ðurh his handiswinke bi to libbenne.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)213/12 : Hali men sumhwile liueden bi hare honden.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)623-4 : A monek liuez [Hrl:Wright: lyveth] muche bi swunche of mannes honde, Ant þou liuest bi godes grace ant þoruȝ is owene sonde.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)944 : Þat we miȝte..libbe bi oure swenche.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4810 : Alle leuede [vr. lyuede; B: liueden] bi hor suench.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)37/11 : Þe þyef commun and open byeþ þo þet be zuiche crefte libbeþ.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.311 : Þey schulde..lyve [Higd.(2): lyffe] by þe craft.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)8.64 : Laborers þat libben [vrr. lyuen, libbet, leuen, leue] bi [B, C: with] heore hondes..Hedde þa same Absolucion þat sent was to pers.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.445 : I wol nat..make baskettes and lyue ther by.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1429 : And therfore by extorcions I lyue; For sothe, I take al that men wol me yeue.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)259a/a : Þe attrecop..lyueþ by hontynge of flies.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4928 : By þe water is her wonynge, And hij libben al by fysshynge.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.280 : A feloun was sauid, Þat hadde lyued [vrr. Ilyvyd, leued] al his lyf wiþ lesinges & þeftis.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6788 : He..wolde ich reneyed begging And lyved by my traveylyng.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6813 : These lyven wel nygh by ravyne.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)19/15 : He wende sche hadde ben a woman that hadde leuyd by her bod [read: bodi].
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)477 : Bot twenty men had he wt hym no mo; By fysshyng and hondynge ȝet leuedone þere þey.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)381/160 : He leuys with gaudis and with gilery.
- a1450 Seynt Nicholas was (Sln 2593)p.218 : Ye must with yowre body leue.
- (1472) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8524 : Item, that one Patryk..is a vacabound and hath no craft used then lyvelode to lyff uppon..Item, Laurence..uses no craft to lyf by.
d
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 17.28 : In him we lyuen and ben moued and ben.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416:Everett)162/18 : In þis semede charite of God in us, for his Sone he sende into þis world þat we lyue bi him.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)360 : Curatis..shulden lyue on þe puple in good mesure.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Pseudo-F.(Dub 245)300 : Þei shulden not bilde hem castels & liue oon pore men bi beggerye.
- c1475 *Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)46/15 : The labour of myn handes susteyneth the cowardes..and they make me werre..They lifen by me [*CQ(2): lyve vpon me], and I dye for theim.
e
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)94/12 : Nis þeo eorðung þe we ut blawæð..ure sawle, ac is þeo luft þe alle lichamlice þing on libbæð.
8.
?To endure (sth.), live through.
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)67/725 : Al nis bute a leas wind þet we i þis worlt liuieð.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1450 Sel.Rosarium Theol.(Cai 354/581)86/14 : A prechour ow for to luffe like or conformely as he techiþ.
Note: New spelling
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.201 : Ȝif a man betake hys beste to a pore man to hyre or to kepyn in comenant uttyrlyche þat ȝif it dye, it schal dye to þe pore man and lyuyn to hym, for he wil han as good þerfor, it is wyckyd usure.
Note: liven ~ (sb.)
Note: Quote not covered by gl.--per MJW.