Middle English Dictionary Entry
mēnen v.(1)
Entry Info
Forms | mēnen v.(1) Also mēn(e, meanen, meine(n, mennen, manen & (early) mǣnen, mæinen & (error) meonen. Forms: sg.3 meneth, etc. & menyht; p. mēnede, etc. & mē̆nt(e, mant & (error) maute; ppl. mēned, etc. & mē̆nte. |
Etymology | OE mǣnan |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To intend to convey (sth.), mean; also, intend a certain sense (of a word); i mene thus, this is what I am getting at; (b) of a word, words, or a written passage: to mean (sth.), signify; mean (sth.) allegorically or figuratively; of an action or situation: symbolize (sth.); of something symbolic: mean (sth.); (c) to imply (sth.); of a word or passage: mean (sth.) when fully analyzed; what hit meneth, what are the full implications; (d) to refer to (sb. or sth.), speak of, mention; thou wost ful litel what thou menest, you do not know what you are talking about.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)26/19 : Heo æt hire witon wolden hwæt heo mid þam worde mende, þet heo crist nemnen scolde.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)11 : Her we seien..wat þe holie apostle meneð þo he nemnede niht and niehtes dede..Niht bitocneð her unbileue.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)6/29 : Ich habbe a deore ȝimstan..mi meiðhad i mene [vr. meane].
- c1230 Ancr.(Corp-C 402)107/22 : Ne þurue ȝe nawt wundrin ow ne þenchen hwet ich meane.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)434 : Ðe mikle ne maig he to him dragen; ðe mikle, i mene ðe stedefast in rigte leue.
- a1300 Þo ihu crist (Jes-O 29)27 : Heo nuste hwat heo mende..Heo nuste noht þat heo spek of þan holy gostes froure.
- a1325(?c1300) Caiphas (Sln 2478)63 : Þe prophecie þt ich seyde þar..Ich nuste what ich mende.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)560 : Ȝif i..told him..þe entecches of myn euele..he ne schold in no wise wite what i mente.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.207 : But we wolde mene [Higd.(2): but if we vnderstonde; L Nisi forte velimus intelligere], as Marcianus seiþ in his Astrologie, þat Capricornus..makeþ somer to þe Antipodes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3771 : Som gay gerl..Hath broght yow thus vpon the viritoot; By seint Note, ye woot wel what I mene.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.1024 : Wherof divided anon ryht Was the langage..Ther wist non what other mente.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12631 : 'Ne wat ye nedings most i do þe thing þat falles mi fader to?' Bot quat he wit þis wordes ment, Graithli wist þai noght þe entent.
- (c1422) Hoccl.Dial.(Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)313 : Thogh a strong fyr..be..swept away..yit aftirward bothe the herth and plate Been..warm..right so I meene.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.932 : I mene thus: whan ich hym hider brynge..So shapeth how destourbe youre goynge, Or come ayeyn soon after ye be went.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)5/16 : Nouȝt I mene þat þe souȝle schulde of quantite be gret but gret of kunnynge of goodnesse & of manhod.
- ?c1425(c1412) Hoccl.RP (Roy 17.D.6:Furn.)2116 : In that place square Of the lystes, I mane þe eschekere, A man may lerne to be wise.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)167 : He seide..'Wepeth not, for the wenche is not dede bot slepeth.' And than thei skorned hym, for thei vndirstood not what he mened.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)421 : Þis y seie not, lord, to meene and vndirstonde þat religiose lijf and conuentual lijf schulde be reuokid or vndoon.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)390,391 : Ellis both Crist and Poul hadden meened aȝens open resoun..Also ellis Crist..schulde haue meened aȝens him silf.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)13 : Þei seyen..as Seynt Poul seyde..But þei meene not as Poule mente; þei vndirstonde not hise wordis.
- c1450(c1400) ?Clanvowe Cuckoo & N.(Frf 16)108 : Methoghte, I wiste al that the briddes mente And what they seide and what was her entente.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)397/10 : One lady..rebuked sir Trystrams..that he wolde..se a lady so shamefully takyn away..but she mente that eythir of hem loved other with entyre herte.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)34 : Se how þe hede þe members dayly do magnyfye. Who ys þe hede forsoth I xall yow certyfye: I mene Owr Sauyowr, þat was lykynnyde to a lambe.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)43/25 : Thus..Seynt Thomas herd a bryd þat wyst not what he seyde ne mant, moche more..he heruth hom þat callyth to hym wyth all hor hertys.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)11328 : Foules and beestis crieþ by-dene, But þei ne witeþ what þei mene.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)12/15 : Nu sceole we ihyræn þat haliȝ godspel..& eac we sceolen witen hwæt þa word mænen.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.34 : Affterr þe Goddspell stannt Þatt tatt te Goddspell meneþþ.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)823 : What hit is for to mene: 'Wassheþ ou, and beþ clene.'
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.4 : Seint Iohan seiȝ..nouȝth onlich þe figures, ac he vnderstood what it was to menen.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3398 : This hand..Wroot Mane, techel, phares, and namoore..magicien was noon That koude expounde what this lettre mente.
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)2161 : Þir wandes mene Þe Trinite þam thre bi-twene.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.15.17 : He clepide þe name of þat place Ramathlei, þat is to meenyn [WB(2): which is interpretid; vr. that is to sey; L quod interpretatur], þe heuyng vp of þe chekebon.
- c1390 Bi west (Vrn)11 : A merlyon a Brid had hente..Hit couþe not speke, but þis hit mente, How Merci passeþ alle þinge.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.667 : The kynges swevene..that the wiseste of Caldee Ne cowthen wite what it mente.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)257b/a : Thise tweye verses meneþ þat felles and hulles and grapes hatte vinacia, and a pepyn hatte acinum.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)1604 : But alle þat þis worde here & sene Woot what hit is to mene; þis word was a prophecye.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)8.138 : Sire king, þi sweuene is to mene Þat an vnkynde kniȝt shal come þi kingdom to cleyme.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)951 : Jerusalem..Þat nys..no more to mene Bot 'cete of God', oþer 'syȝt of pes'.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416:Everett)62/7 : Modur, to knowe what þis [turning of water to wine] schulde mene..wite þou wel þat þis was þe maner of Cristes techinge.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)354/1798 : Bote for hit is so derk þyng Þat Merlyn made in his seyȝyng, Fewe men..Konne vndurstonde what hit may mene.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.380 : She fel not fro þe feiþ, ne fro þe wordis of hir sone, but kepte hem wel in her herte and caste wel what þei menten.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)89 : Ryn we suld whyls we haue day..Þat mens, we suld lyf wele ilkane Or we with dynt of dede be tayne.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)12 : Þe proude Genosophistiens were þe gomus called -- Now is þat name to mene 'þe nakid wise'.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.17 : Bitwene þe lettres myghte I see like a laddire, what þat euere it mende.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)23 : Þe toþer half cursing meniþ hem þat, for drede of torment filling þe lawe, comun to þe hille.
- ?c1475 *Trev.Nicod.(Sal 39)130b : 'How cryde þe cyldrun in here ebrewe?' 'Osanna'..'wat ys þat to mene?' quaþ pylatus.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)13 : Such Ioye or such liȝt as þou spekist of, sawe I neuer, and þerfore I knowe not what it meenyth.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.280 : Thou schalt hiere The vices, and to thi matiere Of love I schal hem so remene, That thou schalt knowe what thei mene.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2761 : My fader, of tho pointz me longeth To wite pleinly what thei meene, So that I mai me schrive cleene.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)293 : Þre wordez hatz þou spoken at ene..Þou ne woste in worlde quat on dotz mene.
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)26/11 : Ȝif..ȝe reste vnder her wynges..& do hem no socour wiþ ȝoure riches in help of her coste, þanne it semeþ þat ȝe wolde mene þat onliche ȝe beþ verrey lordes.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)103/30 : Ilke ane a drye wande On heght helde in his hand, And I ne wist what it ment.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)122/119 : I haue herde..Of connyng clerkis..That bountith aftir rewarde; Nowe, watte ȝe what I mene.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)53/71 : Þou xalt haue..noon other god but þe kyng of blysse. Vndyrstonde wele what menyth this..sett neuyr ȝour hert..Vpon þis werdlys vanyte.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)153/7 : He in so seiyng meeneþ þat oonli þe þing which was signified bi þe comaundement abidiþ.
- a1500 Octav.(1) (Cmb Ff.2.38)76/219 : When the emperowre had hys tale tolde, The kyng of Calabur answere wolde; He wyste not what hyt mente.
d
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)62/18 : Me were..leouere þet ich isehe ow..hongin on a gibet..þen ich sehe an of ow ȝeouen anlepi cos eani mon on eorðe swa as ich meane [Nero, Cleo: mene].
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)755 : Þu nost neuer wat þu menst [Jes-O: menest], Bute lese wordes þu me lenst.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)21 : Þe gode ben al oway Þat our elders haue bene..Of akniȝt is þat y mene, His name it sprong wel wide.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.309 : 'Ne menestow nat Vrban,' quod he tho, 'That is so ofte dampned to be deed?'
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.71 : Marii victoriæ. What þis writinge is to mene, som dele I doute [L Quod quid sit haesito]; but it were so þat some of þe Combres leie þere somtyme, whan þe consul Marius hadde i-putte hem out of Itali.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)937 : That mote þou menez in Judy londe..Þat is þe cyte þat þe Lombe con fonde.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)960 : It was hym-silf that Iocasta mente.
- a1425(a1349) Rolle MPass.(2) (Upps C.494)51/3 : I fynde no swetnes but speke as a Iay, and nouȝt wote what I mene.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1257 : Thi moder ek, Citherea the swete, After thiself next heried be she, Venus mene I, the wel-willy planete!
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.178 : Þei seien..þat þei passen bishopis and popis, and certis þei seien here þe soþe, if þei menen passinge in synne.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)173 : Good man, þou woste but lytyl what þou menest; In þe liþe not redresse my nuysance.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1890 : Mekenes is þat modyr þat I mene, To hyre I brewe a byttyr bonde.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)743 : Thou wost ful lytel what thou menest; I have lost more than thow wenest.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)450 : When this mylde..was..set Betwene hir fader and þe freke þat I first ment.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.13 : I mene, of þe hertis, þat hautesse of ȝeris..Whan þey han hoblid on þe holte an hundrid of ȝeris.
- c1475(c1447) Epitaph Duke Glo.(Hrl 2251)52 : For the love of hir that at thy feete stoode -- Thy moder, I meane.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)746 : Ȝe witen ful litel what ȝe mene. Þe false forein ȝe haue forsake, And to oon ful dere God I me be-take.
2.
(a) To intend (sth., to do sth., that sth. be the case), plan; mean (mischief); aim (a stroke at sb.); ~ on (of), be intent on (sth.), be bent on; what menen thei, how can they do such a thing?; (b) to intend (in a certain way), aim, plan; badde-mening, wel-mening, q.v.; (c) to desire (sth.), want, strive for; (d) to go (toward a place); ppl. mente, bound, going.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7089 : Segremor, no his fer, No miȝt flen..& hadden ment hem to ȝeld.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)2441 : Þai playden ai betvene Þo tvo; So long of loue þai mene Þat mark seiȝe it was so.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)137 : Estuȝt of leggers..to otuwel a strok hadde ment.
- c1330 St.Greg.(Auch)133/742 : Out of þe chaunber þai toke þe way; Þan alon sche left þer inne; Non wist what sche ment.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2990 : Greet was theffect, and heigh was his entente; Wel wiste he why and what therof he mente.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.15 : That is love, of which I mene To trete.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.926 : Bot he, that alle untrowthe meneth..all his wille of hire he hadde.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.522 : Swich was this ypocrite, bothe cold and hoot..That, saue the feend, noon wiste what he mente.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)21168 : His lorde to serue euer he tent; to wraþ him neuer he ment.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)974 : Iosep..At bryng to mary þan has he mente A medwyf.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1273 : He is brother sclowe..Al be that he to hym no malys mente.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)14/1 : Minot with mowth had menid to make Suth sawes & sad for sum mens sake.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)75/1 : A lityl worde of o sylable, whan it is not only spoken or þouȝt, bot priuely ment in þe depnes of spirit.
- a1425 Nicod.(1) (Add 32578)727 : A newe bargayne ȝit haue þai ment Þat sulde turne þaim to trye & tene.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)23357 : Menes on your franchis to maintene!
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)446 : The othere Apostilis entendiden, meeneden, ordeyneden, and baden that bischopis schulden be making..preestis.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)29 : Þei seyen ech of hem to oþer, þat þei meene not but good.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)10792 : Þat mater meynys he forto mere; Þe prophett gart he slay ryȝt þore.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)13/13 : Herland mervellyd..bethynkyng hym what sche mente, and doubted.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)106/26 : I mente the stroke unto the.
- a1475(c1441) Lament Duch.Glo.(Cmb Hh.4.12)58 : All was but mischeue that they ment.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)38/92 : Ow what menyht this mys-levyng man whiche myn hand made?..Synne so sore grevyht me.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)156/140 : Here comyth..kyngys thre..what thei haue ment, ne whedyr thay arn bent, I can not se.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)171/79 : Cruel knyghtys þi childe haue ment with swerde to sle.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)66/51 : What deuyll is that thay meyn that thay so fast incresse?
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)73/301 : Vncowth meruels shalbe meyt And he of malice meyn.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10722 : For þi bak is ne [read: he] not a-dradde, But for þi visage wole he stinte To do perchaunce þat he had mente.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)370 : To fullfyll my bargayn have I ment.
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)641 : Oþer-wise wold sche nouȝt wissen here ladi bi what maner che ment.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1819 : It were a botles bale, but beter haue i ment.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2287 : To hym that meneth wel, it were no charge.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.183 : Falsely for to feyne, To schewen other þan he mente in herte.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.337 : For wel I woot, thow menest wel, parde.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)332 : Menyn yn herte, wel or evyl: Intendo.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1986 : But how I speke, algate I mene weel.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)6/139 : Þer mighte es for-marryde þat mente all o-mys.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)1604 : With the keye cloge þat she caught, With goode wille she maute [?read: mante] than, Such a stroke she hym ther raught The brayne sterte oute of his hede.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)12701 : Sant Elysew wyst how þei ment.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)13/12 : We do wel & mene wel.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.137 : The remanant That menen wele and ar noght variant For otheris gilt and [read: ar] suspect of untreuth.
c
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)29 : Whanne her hertis ben þus homely accordynge to-gider, nedis þei mosten schewe outward sumtyme bi oþere tokenes þat semeþ not myche yuel, what þe herte meneþ.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)799/10 : That is a wondir thynge..what ye meane in thys contrey, for ye have many straunge adventures.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)40/15 : For all the wisdom that he ment, ffull dere that bargan has he boght.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)8819 : Of þe mannes hete comeþ her appetite And makeþ wymmen in greet delite, But whanne he haþ done as he haþ ment..His hete slakeþ and goth away.
d
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)1784 : Lordynges, whens come ye And whider ye are mente, telle vs this tyde.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.34 : With shippes xii to Italy had they mente.
3.
(a) To say (sth.), assert; speak (the truth), express (one's thought); assert (that sth. is the case); (b) to say, speak, mention; say (to sb.), tell; of a book or document: narrate, provide information (to sb.); ~ of, tell about (sb. or sth.), talk about, refer to; ~ bi, speak about (sb.); as i mene, as I say; (c) to tell (sth.), narrate, describe; (d) to forecast (sth.), prophesy, proclaim; (e) to count (sth.), name, specify; (f) to indicate (sth.), mark; (g) to ascribe (glory, a murder, to sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)16310 : Wel ȝe hit maȝen imunen þat ich wulle mæinen: betere beoð ure fifti þænne heore fif hundred.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)2313 : Þe king, as þe þet wes fordrenct wið þes deoules puisun, nuste hwet meanen.
- a1275 Nu þis fules (Trin-C B.14.39)14 : Þare gretinke þat angle hauede ibrout he gon to bi-þenchen and meinde hire þout.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)92 : Þu art lodlich & unclene; Bi þine neste ich hit mene.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2218 : As it dawed liȝt day, to mene þe soþe, þai hadde a semli siȝt.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1673 : Al is this ruled by the sighte aboue; This mene I now by myghty Theseus, That for to hunten is so desirus.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.345 : Þey poetes mene [Higd.(2): feyne; L contendant] þat Iupiter gildede Saturnus..neuerþeles þe storie of Rome seiþ þat Saturnus gat Picus in Itali.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1539 : And there he hoveth and abod To wite what sche wolde mene.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)35b/b : Auicenne wole mene þat praxina is I-gendrid of ȝelow colera.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)187a/a : Dyte of seculer profytes..mened þat þis Ilondes ben paradys, and þat is errour.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)7229 : Of swych, here wombes are here Cryst; Þat ys here loue..Alle þys he meneþ..For man þat loueþ moche glotonye.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)8159 : 'Qui ne war i alsua hal..Als..to niht?' vnese had he menid his mode þat a lem fra þe wandes stode.
- c1400 PPl.B (Trin-C B.15.17:Skeat)3.36 : Mened [Ld: he mellud þis wordes].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.283 : Who so leueth nouȝte þis be soth, loke in þe sauter glose, In miserere mei deus, where I mene treuthe.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3478 : The kyng..full louely hym menys: 'Whedire wilnez thowe wye, walkande thyn one?'
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)65/286 : Here a worde what I wolde mene.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2560 : Wentton [to] meyte..Maden all mery, menyt þere speche.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)14/395 : Hit shulde be doon, y-wis, as sone as ment Or souner.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1190/6 : A, thou false knyght..that thou menyst by sir Lamorak.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)3695 : Full-fyll thys forward that thou has ment.
b
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)10/55 : Þet beoþ þeos bearn, so so bec mæneþ.
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)400/98 : Wel hopede þo þe king þat he dude bi him mene.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)126/337 : Þat hy hys quen, ase ich er mende, Here grace hy may doun to ous sende.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)940 : While Meliors in here maner mened to hire-selue, alysaundrine a-non, [etc.].
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1925 : I wol minge of a mater i mennede of bi-fore.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.293 : Cesar Augustus..was i-slawe by tresoun of his wif Limia, oþer by venym, as som men wol men [Higd.(2): reherse].
- c1390 Whon Men beoþ (Vrn)121 : I haue wist, sin I cuþe meen, Þat children haþ bi candel liht Heor schadewe on þe wal i-sen.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1210 : Forthi, my Sone, as I thee mene, It sit the wel to taken hiede That thou eschuie..Ipocrisie.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)307b/b : In temperate contrees..blomen [L ethiopes] geteþ children temperate in colour as macrobius..and auicenne meneþ [L dicit].
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)22427 : Now mot I nede of hem mene þo cruel dayes.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)29/61 : Of his meruailes of[t] men mened.
- ?c1425 My lord whan (Roy 17.D.6)10 : Enprente hys worddys and al heye entent..ffollow yt, for he hathe trewlly mente.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.4726 : He meneth off women that be born in Crete, Nothyng off hem that duelle in this contre.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)74 : Now wille I of þis mervelle men, ȝif I mote.
- c1440(?a1400) St.John (Thrn)28 : Of thi mekenes mare With mouthe will I mene.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1715 : Þen he menyt of þe mater..And touchet his entent.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8974 : When..this tru..was to end, Two monethes meuyt, as I ment first.
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)1107 : Grete batells to-gedir gan hye With mouthe als I ȝow mene.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)4679 : The noble sentence of Caton Which comaundeth, thus I mene, A man to preysen in A mene.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.6 : Boecius, þis same of whom I mene..was a noble senatour.
- c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.7 : Thus lau am I lyȝte, take wittenesse by me; For alle ȝour fresche forur, That menes of ȝour merur [Thrn: Now moyse one this mirroure], Kynge, Duke, and Emperoure, Alle thus schalle ȝe be.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)492 : Þe whilk ȝit þe citezenes Schewes, as þair story menes.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)1470 : Þai þat herd wist his entent, how þat by him self he ment.
- (1454) Paston2.327 : Whedder the jantylman that yowr Lordchip menith of be on of hem or nay I dowth.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)363/231 : We may syhyn..for these tydyngis ment.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)44/23 : Þilk worldlihode of whiche ȝe meenen in þese..pointis.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)22 : Of a wondir thinge I wold you mene.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1615 : Þai amervale þaime mekyll as menys me þe writtes.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.153 : Hamshire, Barkeshire..Shropshire..& Gloucester..All these were called Westsex, as Bede ment.
c
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)72/14 : We nyton, þeah he mende þat micele wundor, þat nan synful man ne mihte swylce tacnæ wyrcæn.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22427 : Bot i mai nagat bot i mene þaa cruel dais and þaa kene.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1635 : Fyrst telle me þe tyxte of þe tede lettres, And syþen þe mater of þe mode mene me þerafter.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)35/2 : That Lord of Lyffe..Whos myght vn-mesured is to meyne.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)75/121 : Go, make þe message haue I mende To hym þat þam so harmed hase.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11249 : If þou will mel of this mater, mene hit till vs.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)141/37 : The myght of me may no man mene.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)2782 : I am depely distryssyd þis dede for to wirke, And made þis mischeff to mene [Ashm: myn] mawgra my chekez.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)79 : Now Jhesu yow sawe..To send vs hys hyhe ioyes of hevyne; There myght ys withouton mynde to mene.
d
- a1425 Shrewsbury Frag.(Shrw 6)1/11 : Sum merueles wil hit mene Þat mun be here in hy.
- 1448 Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58)522 : Me troweth he was the lynx al þyng thurlyng, of whiche Merlyne meneth of.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)115/105 : For suth, it is my sone so free, be whame Balam gon meene.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)11 : To speke with that woman, and ask of here what sheo wold, and what thyng sheo ment with her lowd crying?
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)294/34 : Adam, my husband heynd, This menys solace certan; Sich light can on vs leynd In paradyse full playn.
e
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.326 : Tuo knyghtes were þer in..& tuenti of honour, without page & portere..& no mo men to mene þat felle to telle of pris.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)15405 : Þe date of Crist þus fele to mene [vr. neuen] Sex hundred & euen fiftene.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)630 : Dame Dido..Dame Cand[ac]e..Penelopie..And othere moo than I may mene, or any man elles.
f
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)9026 : Þen preied he men þey scholde hym leye At Stonhenges in a graue, His byriels for to mene & saue.
g
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.207 : Somond haf þei Jon..To tak his Jugement..His dede to him þei ment, Arthurs þe Bretaynie.
- a1456(c1425) Lydg.Eagle (Trin-C R.3.20)53 : Fredame, bountee, honnour, and gentylesse --Which wee þee mene by gracyous allyaunce To sette in pees England and Fraunce.
4.
(a) To remember (sb. or sth.; that sth. happened); ~ on (of), remember (sb. or sth.); (b) impers. me meneth, I remember; also, I remember (that sth. was the case, sth. happened); me meneth of, I remember (sb. or sth.); (c) to keep (sb.) in one's thoughts, concentrate on (God); ~ of (on) keep (sth.) in mind, bear in mind, mull over; also, take note of (sth.); (d) to believe, have faith; believe (that sth. is the case); opine (sth.); me meneth, it seems to me, I believe; (e) to devise (sth.), determine (a course of action); (f) to discuss (sth.); refl. take counsel; ~ of, discuss (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6674 : Abraham spak as yn vpbreyde, 'Sone, menest þou nat what y er seyd?'
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)5916 : Þe first vengans he on him send, Men sal mene vnto the worldes end.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)8252 : For thritti winter wex þat tre..Of cerklis þat he tok away Offrand he made to mene on ay.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Hrl 1770)8.5 : What is man þat þou menes him [Vsp: mines ofe him; L quod memor es eius]?
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5740 : Ignorancias meas me [read: ne] memineris. Loverd..ne mene þou noght Of my freyle unknawynges.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)310/679 : Þat godman þo can heom schryue Of al þat þey couþe þenke or mene.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)229 : Gyffe me grace for to..mene the with messes and matynnes one morne.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)15485 : Þen on þat mone has he ment þat Gabell borowd of hym by byll.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)17734 : Þe jews makes hyr in mynd euer more to be on ment.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)6.5 : He is noght in ded that menand is of the [L memor sit tui].
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)15.4 : Na i sall be menand on thaire names thurgh my lippes.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)76.11 : Menand i was of the werkis of lord.
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)151 : Þer is no lede opon lyfe..Þat may mene in his mynde þat suche a mon regnyd.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)2956 : Anepo..on Alexander alway byholdes, Þen menys [Ashm: mynes him] onys in massydon he had þe man knawyn.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)16889 : Vs meins [Göt: menis] quils he was in lijf þat we herd him sai þat he suld..rise.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)5274 : Ne menis [Vsp: minnes; Trin-C: þenke ȝe] ȝou noght..Of a drem ful lang siþen gan?
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)27 : Ioseph..was his sire, and mari vs menes his moder hight.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)945 : Menes ȝow noght of þe message Of þe Damysel Savage, Þat in hir lettre to ȝow send?
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)89/765 : Ne menes þe noght Of a woman þat wikkedly wroght?
- c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)1323 : I sall giff hym my doghetir Organata: Me menys þat þou hir wane.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)256/52 : I haue goode knowlache of þat knafe; Marie, me menys, his modir highte.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)9689 : Moyder..meynys yow noyȝt..how Ioab and he wunders wroyȝt to make hym kyng and call be name?
- c1450(?c1425) St.Eliz.Spalb.(Dc 114)118/7 : Onees atte a dewe oure, and, as me meniþ, bytwix sexte & noon, hir moder broghte hir a litil mylke.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1625 : In þe marche of masydon me menys [Ashm: mynes] on a tyme, Suche a segh in my slepe me sodenly appered.
c
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Monk fr.Death (Phys-E)p.32 : Quen this was said, awai he went, And his felawe ful mikel him ment.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)283 : All made þai myrth þat þerof mende.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)123 : Of Emperoures..þis was used..for folk suld on [vr. of] þair menskes mene.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)16/4 : Lift up þin herte vnto God..& mene him-self, & none of his goodes & þerto loke þee loþe to þenk on ouȝt bot on hym-self.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)25118 : Seuin askinges er þarin to rede þat makes vs mene on all oure nede.
- a1425 Shrewsbury Frag.(Shrw 6)5/25 : Right is þat we reherce by raw Þe materes þat we may on mene.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)23345 : Menes on qwat yie bifor has sene, In how fele batails yie haf bene.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)136/635 : On these thefys yit I mene.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1690 : Þis conquerour..made to byde in þe burgh a berne of hir awne, A messynger to meyn [Ashm: myn] on qwat men of hym sayd.
- ?a1500 Lychefelde Comp.G.(Lamb 306)221 : Of sodome and gomer the ought to meene, howe I made fyre and brymston falle.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)205b/a : Þey þat vseþ ydromancy meneþ that þey mowe haue answere of god more herde by þat þan by oþere precious stones.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14686 : 'Þou mas þe godd, and þou art man.' 'Soth it es,' coth iesus þan, 'Bath i am, qua right wil men [Frf: Myn], For sundri mai we neuer tuin.'
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25597 : In þat ilk time was tan Dun o þe cros in flexs and ban, Als it me mai mene.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)50/19 : Hit semeþ þat mayster Joon de Polliaco menede þe contrarie herof.
- a1425 PPl.C (Cmb Ff 5.35)6.53 : More-ouer now me meeneth wel [Hnt: more-ouer me þynkeþ, syre reson, Men sholde constreyne no clerke to knauene werkes].
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.1.51 : They ne undirstoden ne meneden it nat by God..but thei casten as a maner foundement of subject material.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)1058 : It is na meruaile forto mene Þat god walde..Refreyn an othir fra werkes wilde.
e
- a1500(?c1400) Triam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)348 : Ther jurney þen they thoght euyll sett, But they wyth the lady not mett, They wyste not what to mene.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)198 : A mater..Mervelously yt ys ment in mynde.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)454 : Thys ys masterly ment, thys matter thus to meue; And with owr strokys we shall fray hym as he was on þe rood.
f
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3493 : In þer restyng, þey gan hem mene, A parlement made þem bitwene.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)197 : But Jazon and Jazdon, a mater wollde I mene.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)213/217 : Mary, of mirth we may us meane, and trewly tell betwene us twooe of fearly sightes that we have sene.
5.
(a) To advise (sb. to do sth.), admonish; urge (sb.); recall (sth. to someone's mind); (b) to threaten (sb. or sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.425 : Þe scourge meoneþ [Higd.(2): moneschethe; L monet] þe to take hede to þy lore.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)13/4 : What meneþ þe but vanite þat þou wolt þat men talede of þe þat were come of higȝe blod?
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1799 : He sent me..ffor to mene to your mynde..The harmys..hym happit of yow.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3284 : He..menyt hir..hir mournyng to voide.
b
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)4172 : Gret schame it is..That we durst neuere Troye mene, Ne neuere durst we hit ones se.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7111 : He..comaundit hom..To go bake fro þe batell..And mene hym no more, ne hor men kylle.
6.
(a) To be caused or explained by (sth.); what meneth this, what is the cause of this ?what is the reason for this?; (b) to cause or entail (consequences); (c) to guess at (sth.), comprehend; ~ of, understand (sth.); (d) to explain (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)597 : Hwat is þat lith in vre cleue?..up grim, and loke wat it menes, Hwat is þe lith as þou wenes?
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.155 : I wote what þis menes; þat was a fals brefe & forged wele, it semes.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.126 : Ich..am wendyng to wyte what þis wonder meneth.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)234 : Vch mon had meruayle quat hit mene myȝt, Þat a haþel & a horse myȝt such a hwe lach.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)945 : Considred ek the woundes that appere Vpon ȝoure fete, and woot not what they mene.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)43.456 : The Enemy supposede..A dedly Man he hadde ben..and thryes he gan hym forto Assaye..but Evere he fond hym so hard & Clene that he ne wyste what he dyde mene.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)224 : What meneth this? What is this mystihed?
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)52/17 : A mercy, god, what menyth ȝon syte [the burning bush]?
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)4883 : They brought hym to his sepulture. Quod Serenydes, 'beholde them'..And what it ment she wold a wist fayn.
b
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)12073 : And now þei say, what so yt ment, þat þei wyll pay swylk payn no more.
- (1475) Paston5.234 : Some of them be but yonge sawgeres and wote full lytyll what yt meneth to be as a sauger.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)225/663 : I am commen to socoure the; thou art aspyed, what so it menys.
c
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)6888 : Lord..ȝow þar nought wene, Why y am comen ȝe may wel mene.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)67/102 : What man may of yond meruell meyn?..A bush I se burnand full bryght.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)877 : For that serpent, the deuyll, ys full strong, Meruelows myschevos for man to mene.
d
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)80/242 : Mercy, my makere, how may þis be ment? I am þe sympelest creature þat is levynge here.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)66/324 : To lowe þat lorde I helde grete skyll, That tylle his menȝe þus has mente.
Note: None of the senses in our entry works for this - most take an intr. sense of 2.(b) intend or 4.(e) devise (sth.) - the latter perh. better.--per MJW.