Middle English Dictionary Entry

abak adv.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) Of motion: to the rear, backward, back; away; gon bak, stirten ~, throuen ~, fallen ~; drauen ~, withdraw; (b) of direction: back; loken ~; speken ~, reply; (c) of position: holden ~, keep away, detain.
2.
Fig. gon abak, recede, abandon; putten ~, set aside, neglect; set back, hinder, impede; turnen ~, turn away, desert; werpen ~, cast away, renounce.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1425 PPl.A(1) (UC 45)6.67 : Þan schalt þou see blenche abak, 'bere-no-fals-witnes'.
  • Note: New collocation
    Note: Vrn: Þenne schaltou Blenchen at a brok ber-no-fals-witnesse.