Middle English Dictionary Entry
nīten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | nīten v. Also nite. Forms: p. nī̆t(te & nītede; ppl. nī̆t(te. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI nīta. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To deny (sth.); ~ nai, deny (sth. to sb.); refl. deny (oneself to be sth.); (b) to deny acquaintance with (sb. or sth.), disavow; make a denial; (c) to refuse (sb. a request); ~ with nai, refuse (sb.); ~ fro, withhold (sth.) from (sb.); conceal (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.50 : Sain Ion him prophet nitte, And said prophet nan am I.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)883 : Al þat i sai, mai sco noght nite [Göt: gain say].
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)6604 : Bot all þar-wid nu ȝe nite [Vsp: nik] me nay [Trin-C: make hit nay].
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)21823 : Ne forþi i will noght nite [Vsp: wite] þat ȝeit i ne sal þi dedis quite.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15566,15572 : Leif frend..þou sal nite [Göt: nickin; Frf: for-sake] me oft are..Ar þe cock him crau tonight, thris þou sal me nite [Trin-C: forsake].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15997 : Petre..had nite [Göt: nitt; Trin-C: forsake] his lauerd thris.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19093 : Mighti godd..His sun..has he blisced sua; Yee suak and nitt [Phys-E: nit] be-for pilate.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)20871 : Petre..Nitand [Trin-C: denyinge] he fell; wepand he ras.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21828 : Þou sal nite þi iesu nam.
c
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.137 : Wit resoun mai þou godd noht wite, Yef he the silc askinges nite.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19200 : For sothfastnes es noght at nite [Trin-C: to deny].
- ?a1425 Dial.Bern.& V.(1) (RwlPoet 175)431 : For to knaw more of my care, Fro þe sall I nyte ryght noght.
- c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)129 : Trewly in his entent, In batelle ne in tournament, He nytyde vs neuir wyth naye [vr. seyde vs neuyr nay].
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1460 : For Alexander aȝe almast he..deis, For he had nite him a nerand [Dub: nekyd hym with nay].