Middle English Dictionary Entry
lọ̄king(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | lọ̄king(e ger. Also loeking, luking(e, (early) locunge, (error) loken. |
| Etymology | Cp. OE þurhlōcung. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
(a) The action of looking, glancing, gazing, staring, etc.; (b) a look, a glance; (c) in phrases: casten ~, to direct (one's) glance; fastnen ~, fix (one's) sight; with ~ of an eie, in the twinkling of an eye.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)145 : Þer scal beon..Lokinge wið-uten winkunge, song wið-uten lisse.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)28/452 : Hwel he bið et hame, alle þine wide wanes þuncheð þe to nearewe; his lokunge on [Tit: lokinge on þe] ageasteð þe.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)218/20 : Lah locunge habben.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)242/5 : Þer me ssel abide to his helþe wyþoute lokinge ayen.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)459 : Whom schal i it wite but mi wicked eyiȝen, þat lad myn hert þrouȝ loking þis langour to drye?
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3591 : Bitwixe yow shal be no synne, Namoore in lookyng than ther shal in dede.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.853 : The firste fynger is the fool lookynge of the fool womman and of the fool man, that sleeth right as the basilicok sleeth folk by the venym of his sighte.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.936 : A wyf sholde eek be mesurable in lookynge and in berynge and in lawghynge, and discreet in alle hire wordes and hire dedes.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.680 : Ypocrisie..with his fals pitous lokynge..wolde make a womman wene To gon upon a faire grene.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1785 : He wolde hise yhen hyde Fro lokynge on that fole wyht.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.236 : He noght with wantowne lookyng of folye His eyen caste on hire, but in sad wyse.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)267a/a : Suche addres greueþ..now wiþ styngynge, now wiþ lokynge and sight.
- a1400 Heart & Eye(2) (Mert 248)p.198 : Þou vs ast shend þoru þi fol loking.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.344 : Þanne was it soiled With lykyng of lecherye as by lokyng of his eye.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1049 : Þurȝ woȝe and won my lokyng ȝede.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)232 : Ther watz lokyng on lenþe, þe lude to be-holde.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)121/19 : Temperaunce, whanne a man passeþ not mesure in etinge ne in drinkinge..lokinge ne heringe, slepinge ne wakinge.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.143 : Mannis wittis shal ever last for lokynge in þe first myrour.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.4.164 : The lookynge, by castynge of his bemys, waiteth and seeth fro afer al the body togidre.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)141/12 : If þai luke apon a man with ane irous will..þai sla him with þaire lukyng as þe basilisc duse.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)361/2 : Euery lyme & euery membre traueliþ in þat werk which is ȝoue to him for to labore in yn his parfiȝt staat, þat is, þe iȝe in his lokyng, þe eere in his heerynge.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.196r : He was of sterne lokyng, beryng vp the hede, byholdyng him that stode by hym with a thretyng eyȝe, and with a wilde and angrye wys answeyryng him that speke to him.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)43 : Wel j haue tauht thee that to thi lokinge, ne to thi sighte, thow shuldest no trist haue.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)230/38 : Tho that in lokynge or in rewardynge ficchyth hare syght and hit holdyth stabill, they bene studyous and of good vndyrstondynge.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)64/22 : She [a maiden nourished with venoms], by here assiduell and hoge lokynge yn þe faces of men, hadde slayn hem.
- a1500 St.Brendan Conf.(Lamb 541)9/114 : I haue synnyd in..leccherous seynge and lokynge, in leccherous kissynge.
- a1500 *Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)6/8 : Hir yghen sparkeled as the fyer; Hir lokyng was merveylously sharpe.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)30/19 : Nabbe ȝe nawt te nome..of totilde ancres, ne of tollinde locunges, ne lates.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)54/15 : Of a ȝung swete locunge, oðer of a swote herunge, oðer of a softe felunge, waxeð a stincinde lust & a ful sunne.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1102 : Ful was the feste..Of many an amorous lokyng and devys.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1578 : Dauid..On Bersabe for a sodeyn lokyng, To slen Vrie cauhte occasioun.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)30 : Hem þinkeþ þat þei may vse siche spekyngis, lokyngis, touchyngis, handlyngis, kissyngis, and siche tokenes of fleschli loue with-oute perel.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)111/4 : Yif they lokyn vpon a man with an egre wil and a wrothful..thour wertu of that ston they slen that man with a lokyng.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)125 : These speres..haue here issue..for to make me caste venyme bi myne eyen and envenyme my neghebores bi oonliche oon lookinge.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)64 : He sigh she hadde taken hede of his lokynges.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)10/46 : Now, good lady..blisse of paradys arn thy lokinges; joye and comfort are thy movinges.
c
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2171 : As a leoun he his lookyng caste.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.3.5 : I sette myne eien on hir and fastned my lookynge.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.500 : Lat men beholde..Opne ther eyen, cast up ther lookynges, To considre & see weel in certeyn, Who trusteth Fortune, his truste is but in veyn!
- a1450(a1387) PPl.A(2) (RwlPoet 137)96 : Þou shalt be lauȝth into lyȝth with loking of an eye.
- c1450(c1390) Chaucer Ven.(Benson-Robinson)29 : Now certis, Love, hit is right covenable..doun to cast visage and lokyng.
1b.
A specified kind of vision; ~ asquint, strabismus, squint.
Associated quotations
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)119/14 : Euel accidentis..as..þe flix of þe wombe, or ellis crokidnes, or ellis lokynge asquynt of þe iȝen.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)290 : Envie, in that peyntyng Hadde a wondirful lokyng; For she ne lokide but awry Or overthwart, all baggyngly.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)176 : With purblynde eyen and thwartinge may not be hool lookinge [F regart].
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)127a/a : Or ellis flux of þe wombe, or ellis crokidnesse, or ellis lokynge asquynt of þe yȝen.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)222/29 : The tokenesse of a dredful or a feynte man bene x..the v Is febill lokynge of the egh and closynge.
1c.
(a) Power of sight; (b) range of vision, presence; (c) visual attention or regard, notice.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225 Lamb.Hom.Creed (Lamb 487)75 : Heore fif-falde inihte [?read: mihte] hom wes al binumen, þet is, hore lust, hore loking, hore blawing, [etc.].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.763 : That other [Tiresias] were levere Have had the lokinge of his yhe Than of his word the prophecie.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.4.204 : Thei ben lyk to briddes, of which the nyght lightneth hir lokynge and the day blendith hem.
b
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Serv.& L.(Corp-C 296)231 : Þe kyng þat sittiþ in sete of dom distroieþ alle euyl in his lokynge.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2332 : They wol yeue yow audience and lokyng and supportacioun in thy presence and scorne thee in thyn absence.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Say.Nightingale (Trin-C R.3.20)197 : For mannys looking fulfilled with outrage, And for his tonge ful of detraccyoun, I alloone souffred þe damage.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)217 : Pouerly þe knyȝt to hors gan sprynge; For to dryue away lokynge, He rood toward þe west.
2.
(a) Appearance of the eyes or facial expression; also, personal appearance, aspect, mien; (b) ~ of faces, the art of physiognomy; (c) astrol. aspect; ~ ayen, retrogression.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1797 : His lokyng and his fface was as red so eny ffur is.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4350 : Wele hij seyen bi his lokeing Þat he is sori & swiþe wroþ.
- 1372 Als i lay vpon (Adv 18.7.21)5 : Hire loking was so loueli, Hire semblant was so suete, Of al my sorwe sikerli Sche mithte my bales bete.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.11.30 : Camelion..is a beste var[yed in to] dyuerse colouris after dyuerse lokyngis.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.28.3 : Sothli his lokyng [L aspectus] was as leyt, and his clothis as snow.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.514 : Al drery was his cheere and his lookyng.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)285b/a : Þe kyde haþ ful scharp sight and symple lokynge [L aspectum].
- a1400 Cursor (Vsp A.3)986/108* : His lokyng was als briȝt os is þe rede lempninge.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.19 : Sche [Fortune]..With lokyng pleyn & chere of flaterye, Vnwarly can blere a mannys eye.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2113 : Vlixes spak no more, But held his pes, ful hevy in lokyng.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.173 : In beaute first so stood she, makeles. Hire goodly lokyng gladed al the prees.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.182 : Simple of atir and debonaire of chere, With ful assured lokyng and manere.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Dan.2.31 : Thilke ymage..stood bifore thee, and the loking [WB(1): biholdyng; L intuitus] therof was ferdful.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)920 : Swete-Lokyng cleped was he.
- a1425 Lament Virg.(Bod 596)456/5 : His lokyng was paal, & his chere was gostful & al his body chaunged.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)95/35 : To hem þere schal be dreedful chaungyng of lokynge.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)139 : Thow arte þe lordlyeste lede þat euer I one lukyde; By lukynge, withowttyn lesse, a lyon the semys!
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)8/19 : This ilke horse was called Buktiphalas bicause of his vgly lukynge.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)17 : The other ladyes..made a pitous and lamentable noyse with full hevy lokyng and chere.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Lamb 633)195/20 : I..besili beheld that damsell and hir contenaunce & hir lokinge.
- a1500 In a mornyng of May (Cmb Ff.5.48)82 : Clerk, as þou art wyse, þou louyst wel hir lokyng.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)7410 : His lokyng was not disdeynous, Ne proud, but meke and ful pesyble.
b
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)501 : With othir Crafftys which that be secre..lokyng of ffacys and piromancye.
c
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2469 : I [Saturn] slow Sampson, shakyng the piler..My lokyng is the fader of pestilence.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1634 : Whan þe mone was equat and stood In þe fifþe or in þe seuenþe hous, And was fortuned with lokyng gracious.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)51 : Thus be they [Venus and Mars] knyt, and regnen as in hevene Be lokyng moost.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)86/5 : And loke of þe lokynge aȝeyn of þe sonne to þe mone vp-styand.
3.
(a) Mental or spiritual insight; also, an insight; (b) foreseeing, foresight; precaution; biforen ~, foresight; divine ~, divine prescience; (c) expectation.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)245/25 : Þe yefþe of onderstondinge..makeþ knawe god and þe gostliche þinges, ase be ziȝþe and be simple lokinges.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.10.19 : Or elles alle the thinges..ne scholden not cleren the lookynge of your thought, but hiden rather your blynde corages withynne here derknesse.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.m.3.15 : The thought of man..ne mai nat be fyr of his derked lookynge (that is to seyn, by the vigour of his insyghte while the soule is in the body) knowen the thynne subtile knyttynges of thinges.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.4.181 : Resoun surmountith ymaginacioun and comprehendith by an universel lokynge the comune spece that is in the singuler peces.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)272/26 : Þei knewe wel bi siȝt and bi symple lokyng of vnderstondyng and of kyndeliche skille.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)24.16 : Myn eghen euermare til lord..That is, the loekyngs of my hert ere ay vpward til ihesu crist my luf.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.977 : Ful fer abak wit was sette behynde, Prudent lokynge, and avisenesse.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3159 : To caste a-forn by gode discrecioun What was to do, with lokyng ful prudent.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.1.12 : The thinges that thou [Philosophie] hast seid me hidirto ben to me so cleer and so schewynge by the devyne lookynge of hem, and by thy resouns, that they ne mowen nat ben overcomen.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.82 : Lat the unfoldynge of temporel ordenaunce, assembled and oonyd in the lokynge of the devyne thought, be cleped purveaunce.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.2.31 : The soules of men moten nedes be more fre whan thei loken hem in the speculacioun or lokynge of the devyne thought.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.6.168 : Ryght so thanne the devyne lookynge, byholdynge alle thinges undir hym, ne trowbleth nat the qualite of thinges that ben certeinly present to hym-ward.
- c1425 Glo.Chron.A (Hrl 201)p.314 : He made a gret parlement, & broȝte heye men þerto, As wo seyþ ynele noþyng wyþoute lokyng do.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Mum.London (Trin-C R.3.20)149 : Prudence haþe eyeghen three, Specyally in hir lookynges To considre three maner thinges.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)54/11 : Al þat he doiþ, as in gederyng of gresses & temperyng & makyng of salue, alle þese he ordeyneþ þoruȝ grete bifore lokyng & temperyng hem in mesure.
c
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1245 : Al here lokyng and here goostly desere Is sette his lernyng and doctryne to here.
4.
(a) Guarding, watching; guardianship, custody; in (on) ~, under guard or in custody; (b) guarding or restraint of speech; ~ of the mouth; (c) a charge or duty (to do sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)21/342 : Aylmar, þe gode kyng, Dude him on mi lokyng [Hrl: dude him me in lokyng].
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2206 : Al þe help & lokinge is in oþer mannes hond.
- c1330 Body & S.(5) (Auch)p.36 : In þi [the soul's] lokeing, y [the body] was laft, To wissi after þine owhen wille.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)8/13 : Þo þet habbeþ þe lokinge of oure zaules and of oure bodyes.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)19/2 : Þe guodes of suo grat pris and þe timliche guodes þet he heþ ine lokinge.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)65/15 : He deþ him out of þe helpe and of lokynge of god.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)128/22 : Þe zeneȝere is ase þe ilke þet is ine prisone in ysnes and ine ueteres and ine greate lokinge [F m[u]lt de gardes].
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)256/1,2 : Ich sette guode lokinge to þe mouþe aye mine yuo, þat is þe dyeuel. Þe lokinge of þe mouþe, þet is skele and discrecion, þet exameneþ þe wordes erþan hi guo out ate moþe.
c
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)8/11 : To ham þet habbeþ þe lokingge ous to teche and ous to chasti, ase byeþ þe ouerlinges of holy cherche.
5.
A decision, judgment, decree, award; stonden to (at) the ~, to abide by the decision.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1875 : Þat heo don sikernesse forto stonde at holi churche lawe And to þe lokinge of holi churche.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6885 : Ac ȝif heo hire skeri wole of ech of þis þinge, And heo hire skeringe do after mi lokinge..Icholle..grante þat mi dignite me be al binome.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7409 : Vpe þe popes lokinge of rome, he ssolde it do.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11530 : Hii were acorded..To stonde atte lokinge of þe bissop water Of wircetre, [etc.].
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11965 : Hii were at norþhamptone to hure & at stonde To þe lokinge of þis tuelfe of þe stat of þe londe.
- (1370) Doc.York in Sur.Soc.35182 : He sall be chastyde with abatyng of his payment, atte ye loking ande devys of ye maistyr masonn.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6698 : Til hir husband men aght to giue Mendes þat men sais es right, Wit loken o lelmens sight.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.52 : Þe barons portiond þe lond euen þam bituene..To þat ilk lokyng boþe þei consent.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.86 : Philip..askid if þei wild stand to þer lokyng.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.216 : In alle þis barette þe kyng & Sir Symon Tille a lokyng þam sette, of þe prince suld it be don.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.314 : No tille prince no kyng it is no maner told To mak eft lokyng, ne deme þat dere was sold.
6.
Miscel. senses: (a) reading; (b) ~ on, a reference to (sth.); (c) paying regard, giving heed; (d) a monastic observance; (e) endeavoring, endeavor; (f) to the ~ of, in comparison with; (g) taking aim with an arrow.
Associated quotations
a
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)110 : Thow hast the so wel born In lokynge of myn olde bok totorn..That sumdel of thy labour wolde I quyte.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)26 : Olde stories..May be solas to sum þat it segh neuer..By lokyng of letturs þat lefte were of olde.
b
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.309 : Þis lokynge on lewed prestes haþ don me lepe fram pouerte.
c
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.4.102 : Schrewes ben more unsely whan thei ne ben nat punyssched, al be it so that ther ne be had no resoun or lawe of correccioun, ne noon ensample of lokynge.
d
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)7/4 : Quantum scilicet ad obseruantias corporales, þet is, onont licomliche locunges [Nero: lokinges].
e
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)16.7 : Charite..is a ful trye tree..Þe blosmes beth boxome speche and benygne lokynge.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.156 : In scole ys loue and lownesse and lokynge to lerne.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)19.10 : Þe tree hihte trewe-loue..Þorgh louely lokynge hit lyueþ and launceþ vp blossemes.
f
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)108/35 : Þanne uint he pays and reste and solas and blisse zuo þet him þingþ þet al þe wordle by an helle to þe lokinge [Vices & V.(2): regarde; F regart] of þe ilke clyernesse and of þe ilke pays þet he uint ine his herte.
g
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)178b/b : Þey [Ethiopians] vsen principal lokyng and siȝt [L contemplatione] of Arwes.