Middle English Dictionary Entry

medlen v.
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
(a) To blend, mix; mix (sth.); blend (one thing with another); mix (sth. in another); ~ among (to); mix (things) together; ~ togeder(es; ~ with, mix (sth.) with (sth.); of a substance: mingle or blend with (sth. else); (b) fig. to temper (one virtue, attitude, emotion, etc., with another), modify; medled with venim, infused with hatred; (c) to join, unite; also, be joined; join (one thing with another); bring (things) together; harmonize (one note with another); cement (stones in a wall); medled with, accompanied by; (d) to intersperse (people or things), mingle, intermingle; intermingle (others' verses with one's own); alternate (different works, different ornaments); -- also refl.; (e) to blend (peoples, one people with another), miscegenate; (f) to compose (sth.) by blending; mix (a drink), mix (sth. into a paste); ?chop up (bread); (g) to become confused; mix up (sth.), confuse, throw (sth.) into confusion; ppl. melled, involved; (h) to assemble (troops); engage (troops) in battle.
1b.
Ppl. medled, as adj.: (a) having a mixed constitution; (b) of cloth: = medle adj.; also, medle n. 2. (a) or (b); (c) blended, mingled; of color: gray; (d) composed by blending; compounded; (e) thickened, congealed.
2a.
(a) To do something, busy oneself, exert oneself; ~ with, be concerned with (sb. or sth.), deal with; engage oneself in (sth.), work at (sth.), work on; ~ in (of), be concerned with (sth.), occupy oneself in (sth.); ~ among, busy oneself; ~ among of, work on (metal); never nil i ~, ?I'll give up hawking!; (b) to interfere, be officious, meddle; ~ to muche, make a nuisance of oneself; (c) to intervene; ~ of (in), join in (sth.), take part in; ~ among, interpose among (people); (d) to set to work, set forward; set out (to do sth.); (e) ~ with, to eat (sth.), take (medicine); (f) to work, have an effect; (g) to associate (with sb.); have to do (with sb.); (h) to speak; utter (words) [?error for melen v.].
2b.
Refl.: (a) to go to work, take action; go about (to do sth.); conduct oneself; ~ among; ~ aboute (of, with), address oneself to (sth.), have to do with, undertake; (b) to interfere, intervene; ~ of (with), interfere with (sb. or sth.); (c) to work (sth.); make use of (sth.); (d) to associate (with sb.).
2c.
(a) To concern oneself with (sth.); administer (property); eat (sth.); (b) to join with (sth.), link with; ben medled with, be mixed up with (sb.), be associated with; be engaged in (the office of a bishop); (c) to effect (sth.), work, cause.
3.
To fight; also fig.; strive, struggle; ~ with (ayen).
4.
(a) To join sexually, have sexual intercourse; ~ with; (b) to have sexual relations with (sb.); -- also refl.
5.
(a) To include (sth. in a book, in a diet); ppl. medled, contained; (b) ppl. in literal transl. of L lita: annointed.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • (1467) in Black Leathersellers33 : [Item..in the dressing of their wares, the ware wrought of one manner leather be not] medled [with the ware wrought of an other manner leather..but that the ware wrought of one manner leather..be dressed alonely upon it self].
  • Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.
    Note: Gloss: to mix (different commodities) together, either in the course of their preparation or afterwards.
  • ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)105/18 : Formyca is an euel pustle..Wherof þer ben two spices..Þat oþer..is made of more gret colre, in so moche þat it semede..flewme to be medled to colre.
  • Note: Needed for phrase: sense 1.(a) has bold-faced phrase ~ to, but no examples.
  • a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)129/5 : Otheris sayde that the grecanys..ne shold not be scomfite, forthy so few Pepill wolde not meld in battail, but a-noone thay wolde be al fallynge dovne, and take of the gastnys Of So grete an hoste.
  • Note: New form: Also..meld.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 2a.(c) (to the bold-faced phrase ~ of (in)).
    Note: Gloss: to engage in (battle) take part in.
  • (?c1440) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.12078 : Item it is ordand..that noon of the said craft shal make no capez of webb garn nother blew ne meld nor noon other collour.
  • Note: Additional quot. for sense 1b.(c).
    Note: Slip originally found under medle n.(2) and moved here.
    Note: Could be variously construed as p.ppl. of medlen v. or as oddly spelled variant of medlē adj., or possibly even as medlē n.(2).

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)102b/b : Euel þat is componed of contraries schal be heled wiþ componed medicines..aȝeynes an hote cause, nediþ colde medicine; & aȝeines colde, nediþ hote meticine; aȝeines medlid cause, nediþ medlid medicynes.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1b.(a)
Note: Revise gloss: (a) having a mixed constitution, compound.--all supplement notes per MLL

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?c1500 Hrl.2252 Artist.Recipes (Hrl 2252) 80/27 : Worke redde on blewe and þat ys murrey. Redd on grene and þat ys medylte, yelow and blewe and þat is grene.
  • Note: New spelling (p.ppl.) = medilte. ?Prob. sense 1b.(a) or (c).
  • ?a1525 Dc.54 Artist.Recipes (Dc 54) 264/11 : Take þat þat ys meldit yn the dysche an put yt yn the watyr and styr hyt well aboute.
  • Note: New spelling (p.ppl) = meldit. Postdates sense 1a.(a).

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1525 BodEMus.52 Artist.Recipes (BodEMus 52) 188/30 : Take .j. li. sal armonak, and .j. li. vertegres, mele þem sotell with veneger and put þem in a glase, and put it in a fornese with hote asches.
  • ?a1525 Dc.54 Artist.Recipes (Dc 54) 263/1 : To wryte with gold. [T]ake ardemont and mel hyt with wyneger on a ston, and wryt with, and hyt schal be fyne.
  • ?a1525 Dc.54 Artist.Recipes (Dc 54) 263/33 : Take di. vnce of wyte coperose, and di. vnce of alyme, and salpetyr..and yf þu wylt haue thy skyn rennynge, take to hanfullys of rye mell, and then mell all thes togedyr smal, and then cast them yn warme watyr and styr hyt well abowt.
  • Note: Postdates senses 1a. ?Sense of 'To blend, mix' here, possibly combined with that of 'To grind, pulverize'. Cf. MED mollen v., sense (d).