Middle English Dictionary Entry
obeishen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | obeishen v. Also obeish(e, obeshe(n, obeiȝshen & obeise, obes, obeisse, (ppl.) obesiound & obeiche, obeche, obiche. |
| Etymology | From OF stem obëiss- of obëir. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To obey (sb.); be subject to (sb.); obey (a command); (b) ~ to, to be obedient to (sb. or sth.); be governed by or subject to (sb.); comply with the desires of (the people); haven obeished..into, have become obedient to (teachings); obeishinge (obeished) to, obedient to (sb. or sth.); (c) to be obedient, be submissive; ppl. obeishinge, obedient, compliant.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Esd.4.10 : If he seie to plaunten, þei plaunten, & alle folc & vertues hym obeshen.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Heb.11.8 : Þoroȝ feiþ Abraham, y-cleped, obeysched to gon in-to þe place þat he schulde vnderfongen for erytage.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2416 : I, kyng Philip son þe fers..Honoured Olimpades..I obesche maste.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)27 : Þe disciple axiþ, 'Is it not for to obeissche & reuerence preestes for her ordres?'
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)57/5 : Þay lere þaire children yn þaire ȝouthe..to loue, honoure, obeisse, and doute þe kynge.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Bod 959)3.14 : We ben distruying þouȝtes..aȝeynst þe cunnyng of god, & cheytyuyng alle vndrestondyng for to obeysch to crist.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.42.24 : In alle nede alle thingis obeshen to [WB(2): obeien to; L obaudiunt] hym.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 15.22 : Wheþer wile þe lord brente sacrifices or slayne offryngis and not more þat it be obesched to þe voice of þe lord?
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.26.18 : Ȝif forsoþe & so ȝe obesche not to me, y shal adde ȝoure correccyons seuenefold for ȝoure synnys.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.17.4 : Þe euel man obesheþ to þe wicke tunge.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Mac.8.16 : Thei bitakun to oo man her maistrie..for to be lord to al her lond, and alle obeishen to oon.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.8.27 : Men wondreden, sayinge, 'What manere man is he this, for the wyndis and the see obeishen to hym?'
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.1.30 : Thei do tho thingis that acoorden not..not obeischinge to fadir and modir.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Rom.6.17 : Ȝe habbeþ y-ben seruauntes of sunne, but nowþe ȝe han obeysched of herte in-to þat forme of techynge..& ȝe beþ ymaad fre of sunne & seruauntis of riȝtfulnesse.
- c1400 Wycl.Let.Urban (Bod 647)506 : Bot [God] has nedid me to þo contrarye, and tauȝt me more obeche to God þen to mon.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)351 : And no drede, ȝif cuntreis turne fro þe oo pope to þe toþir, þe freris wolden turne also, for þei obeishen to þe puple.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.6.12 : Þerfore regne þer no synne in ȝoure deadly body, to obesche to his wilnynges.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.53 : Man trowiþ in God..whan al his wittis and alle his strengþis ben obeshinge to resoun.
- ?a1425 SLeg.(CmbAdd 3039)87/351 : Be obeichande to þi lorde.
- ?c1430(?1383) Wycl.Curse (Corp-C 296)327 : Men in oure rewme ben bounden to obeche to þe kyng and his riȝtful lawes.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)90 : He mot leue goddis comaundement vndon & obiche to hem at here wille.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)420 : Poul witnessith the same..seiyng thus: 'Seruauntis, obeische ȝe to fleischli lordis.'
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)13/20 : Wherfore that hym thougte that they shulde obeyse to his ordenaunce of holy cherche as to the verry successour of Seynt Petyr.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)57/20 : They resseyued me fayre and wel and alle myne felawis, obesiound to myn askyng.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)368/12 : How miche of myghte is þat vertue..with-oute ende, to þe whiche alle-maner mater obeychith and seruith atte wille.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)15/23 : A man is not obeiȝsaunt, as riȝt wolde, to hem þat hee scholde obeiȝschen to.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)529 : To his moder he sone assent..He walde obeysand be to hir.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)63 : He..doþ no þing aftur his oune arbitracoun, but obeyschiþ to þe lawe.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)50/22 : It most nede be of force þat ilk a kyng haue two helpes to susteyn his kyngdome, þe oon ys strenght of men..and þat his subgitz of oon accord obeisse hem to his lordschipe.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.41.40 : At þe maundment of þi mouþ, all þe puple schal obeysche.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Phil.2.12 : Ȝe han obeischid not in my presence oonly, but moche more now in myn absence.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1266 : Tak hede now of this grete gentil-man..that so wel hire plesen can, That feyneth hym so trewe and obeysynge [vrr. obeising, obeissyng].
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2694 : Ȝour satrapaires, ȝour seruant, with seruand obeschen [Dub: obeysshyng]..we haue wayued to ȝow writtis.
2.
To do obeisance to (sb.), bow down to; reverence (sb.); ~ to, do obeisance to (sth.); -- often refl.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)745 : Þen Abraham obeched hym and [hy]ȝly him þonkkez: 'Now sayned be þou, Savior.'
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)886 : Ryȝt byfore Godez chayere And þe fowre bestez þat hym obes..Her songe þay songen neuer þe les.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3153 : Brenne obeysed hym curteysly & seide, 'Sire Duk, graunt mercy.'
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)7024 : The holy man..wente to the swerd..and therto obeysched hym wondirly lowe.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1620 : Permeon..Aires to sir Alexander, & askis at him swythe..Qui he obeschid so lawe and bende þe bischop of iewis.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)16/26 : Þenk how ofte þou hast y-be disobeischaunt, þat is, vnboxum, to þi fadre and to þi modre and to hem þat þu schuldest obeiȝschen, þat is bowe to and worschipen.