Middle English Dictionary Entry
as(s)wāǧen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | as(s)wāǧen v. Also asu(w)agen, eswagen. |
| Etymology | OF assuag(i)er |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To mitigate, alleviate, relieve (sorrow, pain, illness); (b) to be alleviated, relieved; (c) to relieve (an affected part or member of pain).
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)424/132 : Þat wolde aswagi þe hote goute.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.587 : To assuage The peine of deth.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)242a/b : Jus þerof..aswageþ and abateþ strong wombe ache.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2398 : Taswage his peyn.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.1.55 : The whiche..ne asswagen noght his sorwes with none remedies.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.18 : Þe seknesse to aswage.
b
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)195/42 : I-ne schal so sone..In pine beo i-brouȝt, Þat it nele a-swagi [etc.].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.835 : Consolacioun Thurgh which hir grete sorwe gan aswage [vrr. swage, eswage].
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2874 : I hope that her hevynesse Gan asswage ful sone.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)245a/a : Feet and gowty places beþ aswaged of sore and ache.
2.
(a) To appease, soothe, soften, temper (anger, anxiety, the heart, etc.); chasten (pride); (b) subside, grow calm; (c) to placate, soothe (sb.); (d) of a person: to leave off, desist.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3834 : Saue wyn and wommen, no thyng myghte aswage His hye entente in armes and labour.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.300 : To Striuelyn suld þei go..his wrath forto asuage.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4134 : He thouȝt he wolde þe grete pompe aswage Of hem of Troye.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5104 : So indurat..He was alweie..Whos herte myȝt asofte nor aswage Nouþer praier nor waymentacioun.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)100 : This welle..wolde aswage Bollyn hertis.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)133/23 : The goodnesse of the woman..aswagith the wrathe of God.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)43/17 : Geete the many freendys, and thei shull aswage thi thoughtis.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1614 : Attempre thi corage Fro Wraththe and let thin herte assuage.
- c1475(?a1449) ?Lydg.7 Counsels (Trin-C R.3.21)725/33 : Dyffer vengeance tyll þy wraþe aswage.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.61va : I praye the lord that thy wrath may aswage [Vulg. Exod.32.12: quiescat ira tua], and be thou pleysid and benygne vpon the wickednes of thy peple.
c
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.12.18 : The songes that hadden overcomen alle thinges ne mighten nat asswagen hir lord.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.157v : He ofte through his holynesse .. aswaged the kyng, comfortyng him to good thynges warde and makyng him drede his vuell thynges.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)87/31 : Loke thu suffre him paciently durynge the tyme of his angre, and aftir that aswage him graciously.
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1438 : Remembrance That thei toke of his worthinesse..made hem assuage, And dorsten noght slen him for fere.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.78 : William the Conquerour..repentis of his ille, & of his crueltes he gynnes forto assuage.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)283 : Hee..swore swiftlich his othe, aswage hee ne sholde With all þe maine þat hee might too merken hem care.
3.
(a) To mitigate, lighten, allay (trouble, harm, adverse circumstances); (b) to relax (a harsh law); (c) to give (sb.) respite (from adversity).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1400(a1338) *Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Petyt 511)7a [892] : I trowe, he suld all our seruage to fredam bringe or asuage [Lamb: a-suwage].
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1230 : But she hym holpe his harm to aswage.
- c1450(?a1422) *Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)1.13 : Thylke sterre, That with hir bemys..May al the trowble aswagen and asofte Of worldely wawes.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1418 : Þat þe kyng wolde a-swagi and bi-leue is luþere lawene alle.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)166 : Þanne shalle I a-swage the lawe in him, and yitte fulfille hit.
c
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)93.13 : Þatou asswage [Dub: slake; L mitiges] hym fram iuel daies.
4.
(a) To lessen or moderate (sth.) as to amount or intensity; reduce (swelling), abate (thirst), etc.; (b) to be or become lessened, moderated, abated; subside.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)5.100 : Al my breste Bolleþ..May no Suger so swete a-swagen hit vnneþe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)138a/a : Rayne makeþ londe bere fruyt..and aswagiþ and tempreþ strengþe of hete.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3016 : Some putten her swerdes in her mouth..Taswage her thirst with the yren cold.
- c1450 Lover's Mass (Frf 16)159 : Water or wyn..to asswage the grete dryhnesse of ther gredy thruste.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)213/22 : Þe swellynge aswagide miche.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5069 : Breme wynter with his frostis hore Gan taswagen of his bitter colde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2931 : Phebus gan aswagen of his hete.
- c1450 From þe tyme (Lamb 853)10 : Take hede..How fast ȝoure ȝouþe dooþ asswage.
- c1450(1446) Nightingale (Clg A.2)9/233 : When all the flood was aswaged and cesed.