Middle English Dictionary Entry
atwin(ne adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | atwin(ne adv. Also otwin(ne. |
| Etymology | From on twinne; cp. twin. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) In two, in two parts, in separate parts, etc.: biten ~, bite in two; casten ~, scatter (fuel); departen ~, separate, divide (sth.); lousen ~, open (the lips); twicchen ~, tear apart; etc.; (b) delen ~, allot winnings (in a game).
Associated quotations
a
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)195 : Ðe corn ðat ge to caue bereð, al get bit otwinne..er ge it eten wille.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.245 : Romulus..departed atwynne [L in duas partes] þe grete and þe mene, and cleped eiþer partie Classis.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)49 : Louse þi lippes a-twynne..& vois schul springe of þi tonge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)328a/b : Þe euene nombre may be deled euene atwynne..but þe odde nombre may nouȝt be y deled euene atwynne wiþouten oon odde.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)8219 : Þe rotes honest To gider grewen..Miȝt no mon hem atwyn wynne.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.28.28 : That the breest broche and the coope mowen not be seueryd atwynne [WB(2): ech fro other].
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)99/60 : Þe vayle þer-of a-twyn was twyȝt.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)132/235 : With his swerd he swapt atwyn His mantil.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)162/9 : As sone as þe brondes ben cast atwyn..anon þe fure of loue qwencheþe.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)1451 : Then they muste be departed atwynne.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)325 : Tristem deleþ atvinne. He dede al so þe wise: He ȝaf has he gan winne In raf.
2.
Asunder, apart: (a) departen, parten, gon, wenden ~, to part company, part; (b) departen ~, come apart; cleven ~, of the heart: break; (c) ben ~, hangen ~, be separated, separate, or apart; departed ~, distinct; setten ~, set (a certain distance) apart.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)398 : Wiþ wretþe þai went atvinne.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)1202 : Þus þe were þere boþe at on, Er þei wolden o twinne gon.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)orig.draft 522 : Or we departe a-twynne, al hol þou schal me fynde.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 15.39 : Forsoth dissencioun is maad, so that thei departiden atwyny [vr. a twynne; WB(2): a twynny, vr. atwynne].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2750 : Er we departe atwinne.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)317 : I wil not þat þis compaignye parten atwynne.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)61/80 : When bode and soule schal part an-twyn.
b
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)405 : As thyn hert cleef a-twynne With doolful deth on the rode tre.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.11.163 : The harde thinges, as stones, clyven and holden here parties togidere ryght faste..that thei ne departe nat lyghtly atwynne.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3589 : Thy wyf and thow mote hange fer atwynne, For that bitwixe yow shal be no synne.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)46a/b : Bestis wiþ fewe teeþ I sette þynne & a twynne ben of schort lif.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)108a/b : Þise paralelli beþ I liche fer atwynne.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)85 : Þese twey wurdys þat beyn otwynne [Dlw: a twynne], Do hem to gedyr, ys handlyng synne.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.124 : Whan þei were o tuyn, þer schip ferd on þe flode.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)19.191 : Þre persones in o pensel..Of o wit, of on wil, were neuere a-twynne.
- a1425(c1340) Rolle Psalter (LdMisc 286)25.1 : We are fere otwyn [vr. sunder] in soul.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.134 : Too fote & half yf they be sette atwynne.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)11 : Thilk..trouthe..schulde be bildid vpon ij fundamentis Of which the oon is dyuers atwyn fro the other.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)32 : Grammer and dyuynyte ben ij facultees atwin and asondir departid.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)571 : Thei sone fle that be to fer atwynne.