Middle English Dictionary Entry
macch(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | macch(e n. Also mach(e, mecche, mech(e, metche, mehche. |
| Etymology | OE ge) mæcca, gemecca. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. make n.(1).
1.
(a) A husband or wife; of birds: a mate; also fig., of the soul: bride of Christ; (b) a homosexual lover.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3035 : All þurrh Godess ȝife itt wass..Þatt ȝho wiþþ childe wurrþenn wass Wiþþutenn iwhillc macche.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)13733 : Ta forrme menn, Adam & Eve hiss macche.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)586 : Vre sowle atte kirke dure ches hire crist to meche.
- a1450 The tixt of holy writ (Dgb 102)152 : [My soul] folweþ hym [Jesus] in al degre, And countrefeteþ to ben his macche.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)831 : Philip..Had wed him anoþer wyfe..'Fadire..Now þou..macchis [Dub: þi mache] changis, And I to consaile vn-callid, I can noȝt þaron.'
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)306 : He broȝt a heron with a poplere, Curlews, boturs, boþe in fere, Þe maudlart and hur mech.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)695 : Uch male matz his mach a man as hymselven.
2.
(a) An equal, compeer; finden ~, to meet (one's) match; pl. macches, equals; (b) a mate, comrade, companion; (c) an opponent.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Jas.(Hrl 2277)48 : Þe schrewe fond his macche þo; ic wot he scholde abide.
- (?1406) Hoccl.MR (Hnt HM 111)307 : Go we now to wacche By nightirtale out of al mesure, For as in þt fynde kowde I no macche In al the priuee seel with me to endure.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)394 : Peere, metche: Par.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)307/29 : Never or this tyme founde I no knyght his macche.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)581/19 : 'I gyff you leve to go where ye lyst.' 'Gramercy,' seyde kynge Marke, 'for ye and I be no macchis.'
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)1607 : I haue foughte in many A lande..And neuyr yit er my mache I founde.
- a1500 PParv.(KC 8)331 : Mehche [Win: Way: fela]: Par, compar.
- a1500 Theoph.(RwlPoet 225)p.7 : Tiofle, whi art þu swilk a wrecche? & welthe was neuer þi meche Of power ne of lore.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.9.22 : Riȝtwis men be þei to þee macchis [WB(2): gestis, ethir mete feris; L convivæ] & in þe drede of god be to þee gloriyng.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.35,47 : Pacience and I were put to be macches [vr. mettes] And seten by owre selue at a sydeborde..Conscience..comaunded scripture Bifor pacience bred to brynge, and me þat was his macche.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)124 : And þay bigonne to be glad þat god drink haden, And uch mon wyth his mach made hym at ese.
- a1425 Celestine (LdMisc 463)488 : Wenes þou beo borwed?..amonges vs shalto drecche; so longe hastou ben oure mecche, Day and ȝere.
c
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)9329 : Bothe parties In the feld were prest..Eche man rides vnto his macche.
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)809 : There es no mache vn-to me, And þat me lykes ille.
3.
(a) An equivalent or matching object or action; a counterpart; (b) an equal contest; (c) equivalence, equality.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)6680 : He..fel adoun in swonyng..She..made the mach..She swonned..Fifti tymes.
- (?1474) Stonor1.147 : Furste, j stondyng Cuppe of sylver..Item, þe macch of þe same cuppe.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)783 : 'Hit is skorid here on a tayle'..'Þerof i ne rech; Iwisse, i haue þerto no mech!'
b
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4070 : Sexty thowsande men..of þe ferre laundes..And all Arthurs oste..Bot awghtene hundrethe..This was a mache vnmete.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1324 : A felle fight..fell hom betwene, But vnmete was the Macche at þe mene tyme. The Grekes were..of a grete nowmber, And lite of þat other lede.
c
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.109 : It is no mach of thyn unworthyness To hir hie birth, estate and beautee bryght.
4.
As surname.
Associated quotations
- (a1300) Doc.in HMC Var.Col.7236 : Ricardo Le Meche.