Middle English Dictionary Entry
nikken v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | nikken v.(1) Also nick(e(n, nik(ke, nic, nich(en; p.ppl. neked. |
| Etymology | LOE niccan, from nic, from ne ic 'not I'. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. nich n.
1.
(a) To deny (sth.); ~ nai, deny (a fact); deny something to (sb.); ~ with nai, deny (sth.), give (sb.) a negative reply; (b) to make a denial; deny acquaintance with (sb.), disavow (sb.); nikkest ther no nai, there is no denying it; (c) to refuse (to do sth.); ~ (with) nai, refuse (sb. a request).
Associated quotations
a
- a1350 Weping haueþ (Hrl 2253)55 : Euer wymmen ich herie ay..ant euer at neode y nyckenay þat y ner nemnede þat heo nolde.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6604 : Yee sai þat yee ne made it noght..Ne yee it honur neuer, yee sai, Bot all þer-wit yee nik me nay [Frf: alle nikkis me wiþ nay].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21078 : Þat erth, þai sai, vmstund Men sais vprisand fra þe grund..Þe landes folk it wil noght nick.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)706 : Al nykked hym wyth nay, þat neuer in her lyue Þay seȝe neuer no segge þat watz of suche hwez of grene.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)26/451 : Seche and þou schalt fynd..Nyk not þis with nay.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)89 : Canste þou any cur or craft vpon erþe To softe þe grete sore þat sitteþ on my cheke?..Nathan nyckes [vr. nykkede] hym with nay, sayde, he non couþe.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)28 : The Qwene nykked hym with nay and seyde, 'It is not to leue.'
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)158/27 : Hit nis nawt i godes curt as i þe schire, þer as þe þet nickeð [Tit: nicken; Cai: nichet] wel mei beon iborhen.
- ?c1335 Elde makiþ me (Hrl 913)p.170 : When eld me wol feld, nykkest þer no nai.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)15566 : Do wai, leue freind..þu sal me nickin [Vsp: nite; Frf: for-sake]..Ar þe koc him crau to-night.
c
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)2188 : No wold þai nick him wiþ no nay, What so euer he asked.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4145 : Ȝif sche nickes wiþ nay & nel nouȝt com sone..I wol..fecche hire with fin forse.
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)148 : Ȝif I nikke hem with nai, hit helpeþ me nouȝt.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3917 : Laban o leue þam nicked nai.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23816 : Qua ne dos noght quen he mai, Quen he wald, men sal nick him nai [Frf: men sais him nai].
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)19773 : Peter nikkid ham noȝt nay.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)16376 : Askes þan ȝur king, and i ȝu sal noght nic it nay [Vsp: nick wit nai; Ld: not sey nay].
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2471 : He nikked hym naye; he nolde bi no wayes.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)1024 : Ȝerne he prayes hym to too His nyne sonnes, with hym to goo; He nykkes hym with nay.
- a1450(a1400) Athelston (Cai 175/96)503 : On here knees þey kneleden adoun And prayden hym off hys benysoun; He nykkyd hem wiþ nay.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2339 : For & ȝe nyk now, to myn empire ȝour nekis for to bowe, Þan bos ȝow biggis [read: bigger] to be þen all my bald princes.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)323/571 : Whome sekys thou? say me thy wyll, And nyk me not with nay.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1460 : For alexander aw almost he dyes, And for he hed nekyd hym with nay [Ashm: nite him a nerand] in a new tyme.