Middle English Dictionary Entry
o prep.(1)
Entry Info
Forms | o prep.(1) Also a. |
Etymology | From of prep. under very weak stress. Some of the quots. here may belong to o prep.(2). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) From (a place, a thing), out of, away from; also, out of (a state or condition); doun ~, oute ~; bringen ~ gate, to lead away from the path; (b) bringen, (don, fellen, reven, terminen) ~ lif, bringen oute ~ lif, bringen ~ lif-dai, don ~ dai, to deprive (sb.) of life, kill; broughte ~ might, deprived of strength; (c) cesen ~, to cease from (doing sth.), stop.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)210 : His hors o feld him bare Alle ded hom in his way.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)89/1754 : Þe medwe squauȝte of her dentes, Þe fur fleȝ out, so spark o flintes.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10888 : Þe lorde shal þe shepard hate þat wasteþ hys store and bryngeþ o gate.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2842 : Our lauerd raind..Dun o lift fire and brinstan.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5138 : Þair fader lai vnfer in bedd, Þat he ne moght stir wel o þe stedd.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5856 : Quat es he..þat i suld..lat þe folk vte o mi land?
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11596 : Wit naghtetale he went o [Trin-C: out of] tun Wit maria mild and þair meine.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15024 : Branches þai brak o bogh, And sum þai kest þai clothes dun.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25596 : Suete iesu..was tan Dun o þe cros in flexs and ban.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)17236 : Sho sett ȝyng men to ȝeme þe ȝate..To kepe hyr in þe euyn late, for þat tyme wolk scho wend o town.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)4592 : His cors at haly Eland lay; Þe bischop busked to wende away And it o lande to lede.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)1199 : Þey ne schull o þennes on lyue neuere gon.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3210,3213 : On her fomen smiten anon, O liue þai reften mani on Wiþ scharpe speres..Tventi score and fiftene O liue-dawe þai brouȝten þere.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)587 : He no wist whider to go, So was he brouȝt omiȝt.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1035 : Ȝyf þou do any man o dawe On þe halyday for any lawe, Swyche men greuusly werche Aȝens þe state of holy chyrche.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1070 : Hyt ys comaunded yn sum lawe þat swych men shulde be doun o dawe [vr. schulde be slawe].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5284 : Putifers wijf..wald a don me o mi lijf.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)12478 : Quen ioseph herd, he ran bliue, wen þis maistre war done o liue.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)802 : He brittenyd the bere and broghte hym o lyfe, Lette hym fall in the flode.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1139 : Latte neuer ȝone fende fell hym o lyfe.
- c1440(a1401) Life Bridlington in NM 71 (Yale 331)p.142 : Odir slepe ful oft he woke, Prayand to God ful besily.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1282 : Pollux..prickit to anoþer, One Eliatus, a lede, and hym o liue broght.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1228 : Arystes..Spirris out with a spere..And many bald, or he blan, broȝt out o-lyue.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1304 : All þe tulkis in þe tild he termens o lyue.
c
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)6373 : Þe movand heve[n]s with-outen dout Sal þan ceese o turnyng obout.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12427 : When ho [Cassandra] sesit o sicken, & sorow abated, The kynges into councell callit hir.
2.
Expressing origin, source, or cause: (a) ~ the sonne, of or from the sun; ~ qualm, from or by disease; comen (ben) ~, to descend from (sb.), originate in (sth.); boren ~, born of (sb.); (b) bonen ~ drihten, to pray (for sth.) from the Lord, ask (sth.) of the Lord; geten (heren) ~ me, receive (hear) (sth.) from me.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2248 : Þai wroght sa hei, Þe hette o þe sun moght þai noght drei.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2656 : If þou halds mi techeyng, O [Trin-C: Of] þe sal com bath prince and king.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9869 : Sin he sua wald be-com man, O womman most he be born þan.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10701 : Þar hight es made, it cums o will, And ned-wais man most it [ful]fill.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14340 : Fader, i wat i am o þe, And an ar we þou all thre.
- c1435 Chaucer CT.Kn.(Bod 686)A.2014 : A qualm [Heng: Yet saugh I..A thousand slayn and noght of qualm ystorue].
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)694 : Ta wass cumenn time..Þatt Zacariass, Godess preost, & oþre gode preostess..O Drihhtin haffde bonedd.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)460 : O me seruis sal he non gette.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)9/33 : [Þ]urz þe wordis ye here o me, þan ah ye at be meke.
3.
Belonging to (sb. or sth.); associated with or found in; located or residing in (a place), native of; ~ the neue, of something new, new.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7185 : Sampson..bar þe yates o þe tun.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24984 : I tru in..felauscip o halus.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)2/7 : Rennes fast do wilis ye haue liht, þat þe mirkennes o ded our-take þe noht.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2498 : Thare sall weende to þis viage..The capytayne oo Cardyfe.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)167/138 : That folke o grece bene I-comyn.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)3340 : Men..merueilden þerof vchone, for þat sight was o the nwe.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)221/29 : Of the complexcione o voyce als hit folwyth her nexste.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)109/292 : Ihesus onazorus, Crucyefixus, Morcus, andreus, God be oure spede.
4.
(a) Composed of (sth.), consisting of; (b) expressing the relation between a general class and a specific example of it; (c) manere (forme) ~, type (form) of (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.139 : A straunge successour sholde take Youre heritage o wo.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5924 : Ne was in hus na vessel fre Þat watur hild, o stan ne tre.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21315 : Þe first his greff of irin was, Þe toiþer..was wroght o bras.
b
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)674 : Nembrot..helde Þe tur o babel in his hond.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)p.316 : His Modur dremed þat heo sawe..Al þe Muchele water o Temese Ron in þe Bosum of hire kemese.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1576 : Al þair luf þai gaue to lust..Þe lau o kind þai sua for-did.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)683/14 : On a day, a lytil afore the moneth o May, sir Trystram chaced an harte.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)185/23 : Irland..to the ryght of Seynte Petyr and the churche o Rome appartenyth.
c
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)13/1 : Of þe ferþe maner o mekenes spekys sain benet.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)13 : A sentence of cursyng is seid to be ȝeuun justli..wan it is don onli up on comyn form o lawe.
5.
Concerning (sth.), about: haven sighte ~, to have sight of (sb.); connen ~, have skill in (speech); connen insight ~, have understanding of (sth.); seien ~, explain (beta); waiten ~, perceive (the plight); witen ~, know (most) about (sth.).
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3437 : Þe Calldeowisshe þeod..cann innsihht o steorrness.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)707 : Þe king heihte his wise men þe wel cuðen a speche [Otho: cuþe of speche].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15222 : In-siht he cuðe a winde and a mone [Otho: of wind and of mone], of þan uisce..and of wurmen.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12425 : Bot sai þou me first o betha, And siþen i sal þe sai alpha.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23330 : To þam se þaa maledight, Bot þe seli sal o þaim ha sight.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25577 : Suete iesu..þou was on rode done, And had sufferd pine, Þou þat wat o mightes mast.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3636 : Sone as ser Porrus of þe poynte & o þe plite waytis, Þan was he tangid with tene.
6.
(a) With adjectives of quality: with respect or reference to (sth.); (b) with reference to a person: characterized by (almsgiving, a prudent mind).
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)69 : In þis ilke burh wes wuniende a meiden..feier & freolich o wlite & o westum.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2505 : Þei garte bringe þe mere sone, Skabbe[d] and ful iuele o bone.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3577 : So wurð he wroð, o mode sarp, His tables broken dun he is warp.
- c1330 Horn Child (Auch)754 : Þan was Horn as fain o fiȝt, As is þe foule of þe liȝt, When it ginneþ dawe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3730 : Moght i not be sua light o fote.
b
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2330 : Ic am o wol witter ðogt?
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27685 : Þof man es gret faster, O grett almus and grett praier.
7.
Expressing a partitive relation: (a) with an expression of quantity or a numeral, denoting one of a number or a part of a whole; (b) some of (sth.); ~ the best, among the finest.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)181 : Þider comen manie of fremede & o kinne For to gladen Iacob.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)353 : Nu wot adam sumdel o wo.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5006 : How es þis, Þat o mi childir an i misse?
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9544 : Þe first o þam was cald merci, Þe toþer was hatten sothfastnes.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)292 : In his oratory he lay Mikel o þe nyght to pray.
b
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)77 : Þer weore Pope-iayes prest, Nihtyngales vppon nest, Bliþest Briddes o þe best In Blossoms so briht.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7116 : His wijf, fader, and moder he gaue O þis hony at ete þe laue.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4781 : Qua so fangis o þis frute bees fey in a stounde.
8.
(a) Expressing the relation of the doer, with a gerund or a noun of action: on the part of, by [cp. the subjective genitive]; (b) expressing the relation of the object, with an action or agent noun [cp. the objective genitive].
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5 : Man yhernes rimes for to here..O grece and troy the strang strijf.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11329 : O þis child com sua fain He was, þat he him went again, And for gladnes he gaf a cri.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24985 : I tru in..vprising o flexs and lijf witvten end.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24984 : I tru in..for-gifnes o sinnes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3267 : Fra þe makare o mold..many man haue erryd.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5898 : Þair conciens þaim remors, What for trauell, what for drede O ded, and for vytails nede.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)9.10 : Thai..knawis it be provynge, noght..be sight o boke and tellynge of mouth.
9.
In expressions of time: time ~ night, during or in the course of the night; time ~ non, at nones.
Associated quotations
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10298 : Stalworth men..rise in time o night To lok þair bestes ai in nede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25574 : Suete iesu, at time o none..þou was on rode done.
10.
In phrases: (a) with nouns, forming adj. or adv. phrases: ~ bast, illegitimately; ~ pris, precious; ~ purpos, purposely; ~ kinde, naturally; (b) with verbs: bisen ~, to take care of (sb.), provide for; haven hold ~, have help from or the support of (virtues); reuen ~, feel compassion for (sb.), pity; (c) ful ~, filled with (sth.), full of.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7634 : Bast Ywain he was yhote, For he was biȝeten o bast.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ruth 2.16 : Of ȝoure, forsoþe, handfullys þroweþ o purpose [WB(2): of purpos; L de industria], & suffre ȝee to abidyn stille, þat with oute schame sche gadere.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)125b/b : He schal fynde in þe toppe of þe schulder ane obstakel of þe schulder bone, þe whiche letteþ þat þer is none naturel pitte as þer ouȝte to ben o kinde.
- a1450(1412) Glade in god þis (Dgb 102)15 : Here raunsom was his blod o prys.
b
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1196 : Ðo wulde god bi-sewen so Of olde abraham and o sarra so Ghe wurd wið childe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10009 : Þas er four vertus principals..All oþer vertus o þam has hald.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23332 : Þof þai se þam, wijt you wele, O þaim þai sal noght reu a dele.
c
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)110-11 : Ouer ðat [is] so ful i-wis An-oðer heuene ful o blis And ful o lif ðe lested oo.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2556 : Summe he deden in vn-ðewed swinc, For it was fugel and ful o stinc.