Middle English Dictionary Entry
north adv.
Entry Info
Forms | north adv. |
Etymology | OE norþ adv. For forms, see adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) With reference to motion, direction, or extent: to the north; northward; right(es ~, due north; west and ~, toward the northwest, bothe south and ~, both from the south and from the north; naut. south and ~, ~ and south, on a line or course lying north-south; (b) with reference to location: in the north; on the northern side; (c) bothe) ~ and south, est and west and south and ~, est west ~ and south, etc., in every direction; everywhere; ~ er..south, in any direction, anywhere; south ~ ne west ne est, nowhere.
Associated quotations
a
- a1126 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1124 : Of þa oðre swa fela swa him þuhte he sende norð & suð to hise casteles on heftnunge.
- c1150 Wenne Wenne (Roy 4.A.14)3 : Þu scealt north [h]eonene to þan nihgan berghe.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)12125 : He mihhte þære shæwenn Crist Þa fowwre daless alle Þatt Æst, & Wesst, & Suþ, & Norrþ Þiss middellærd bilukenn.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1278 : Eeuer heo drowen west & norð.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)17019 : Summe heo uerden riht norð, & summe heo uerden suð forð.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)20223 : He ferde uorð and droh him forð rihtes nord [Otho: norþ].
- a1275 Body & S.(3) (Trin-C B.14.39)9 : A-moruen, boþin sout & norit Me nimit þat bodi & berrit hit.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1255 : She lokede noþ [read: norþ] and ek south.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3914 : Ðis folc him slog and his lond tok, Suð fro arnon, norð to iabok, And westen al to flum iordan.
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)40/26 : The quantite..is the latitude of the mone fro the eclyptik, be it north, be it sowth.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.Lear (Göt Hist 740)265 : Fro Humbar north all the contres Marglaune þame had, cites and fees.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.20.14 : And yf it so be that thilke degre be northward fro the equinoxiall, than is his declinacyoun north; yif it be southward, than is it south.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)529 : Another yate & signe..oponeth north, or westward, as I gesse.
- ?c1475 Direct.Sailing in Hak.Soc.79 (Lnsd 285)11 : Berwik lieth south and north of Golden stonys..And fro Vamborugh to the poynt of the Ilond the cours lieth north and South.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)5834 : The clipse of þe mone..Is nyhe þe fulle of þe mone..And whanne þe fulle mone stondiþ southe, Þe sunne is north.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3443 : Leir þe king wende forh to is dohter, wunede norð.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)278 : Min fligt..ic wile up-taken; Min sete norð on heuene maken.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)p.1 : Northe: Belyal skaffold.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)29536 : Þa iwende seint Austin vorð, æst and west and suð and north.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)921 : Ac ich fare boþe norþ & soþ, In eauer euch londe ich am cuuþ.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)99 : Fare he norð, er fare he suð, leren he sal his nede.
- c1300 Body & S.(5) (LdMisc 108)p.47 : Þou let me rekyn north and south, And haven al my wille on wold.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)829 : Est and west, and suð and norð, Al ðat god wile sal wel gon forð.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.493 : The foure spiritz of tempest..power han tanoyen lond and see Bothe north and south and also west and est.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.873 : For by this werk south, north ne west ne est [vr. souþe, norþe, este & west] Ther nys yfostred man ne bryd ne beest.
- a1500(a1400) Libeaus (Lamb 306)2100 : Este, west, northe and sowthe, With maystres of her mouthe, Many man con they shende.