oc - Middle English Compendium

1.

Linking contrasting expressions: but, yet, however, nevertheless: (a) between clauses; (b) as an introductory expression.

a

a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1127 : Þes ilce Willelm hæfde æror numen ðes eorles dohter of Angeow to wife, oc hi wæron siððen to tweamde for sibreden.
?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1132 : Þa uuolde he ðæt his nefe sculde ben abbot in Burch, oc Xpist it ne uuolde.
c1225 Mirie it is (Rwl G.22)3 : [M]irie it is while sumer ilast wið fugheles song, oc nu necheð windes blast.
a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)187 : Ilk kinnes erf and wrim and der Was..in kinde good Ðor-quiles adam fro sinne stod; Oc der and wrim it deren man Fro ðan ðat he singen bi-gan.
a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)852 : Fowre on-seken and fifue weren, Oc ðe fowre ðe fiue deren.
a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1999 : Putifar..wulde don is lechur-hed Wið ioseph, for hise faire-hed, Oc he wurð ðo so kinde cold, To don swilc dede adde he no wold.

b

2.

Following a negative statement: on the contrary, but rather, but: (a) followed by an independent clause; (b) followed by a phrase.

a

a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1127 : Hit of þuhte naþema ealle Frencisc & Englisc, oc se kyng hit dide for to hauene sibbe of se eorl of Angeow.
?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1140 : Wæx suythe micel uuerre betuyx þe king & Randolf, eorl of Cæstre, noht forþi ðæt he ne iaf him al ðæt he cuthe axen him alse he dide alle othre, oc æfre þe mare he iaf heom, þe wærse hi wæron him.
a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)123 : If he naked man se, ne wile he him nogt neggen, Oc he fleð fro him als he fro fir sulde.
a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)147 : Ne deme ðe nog[t] wurdi ðat tu dure loken up to ðe heueneward, Oc walke wið ðe erðe mildelike among men.
a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1815 : Sal tu nummor Ben cald iacob, so ðu wore or, Oc ðu sal ben hoten israel.
a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2175 : Spies were we neuer non, Oc alle we ben on faderes sunen, For hunger doðes hider cumen.
a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2210 : Wende here non it on his mod, Oc Iosep al it under-stod.
?c1335(a1300) Cokaygne (Hrl 913)43 : Þer nis dunnir, slete, no hawle..Þer nis man no womman blinde, Ok al is game, Ioi, and gle.
?c1335 Þe grace of god (Hrl 913)15 : Al þat god suffrid of pine, Hit nas noȝt for is owen gilt, Ok hit was, man, for sin þine.
?c1335 Whose þenchiþ vp (Hrl 913)p.139 : Vp no man þou hab triste, No vppon non oþer, Ok del hit wiþ ȝure owen fist.

b

a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.656 : Ne þet an þat ðu geornest oc ealle þa þing þat ic wat þet ðu geornest on ure Drihtnes halfe.

3.

With weak adversative meaning, or none: yet, and.

a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.656 : Min broðer is faren of þisse liue swa swa Crist wolde, oc ic wile ðe ge bidden..þat hii wirce æuostlice on þere werce..Ic haue here godefrihte muneces þa wolden drohtien here lif on anker setle gif hi wisten hwere; oc her is an igland þat man cleopeð Ancar ig.
a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1130 : He..behet se abbot Heanri him þæt he scolde beieton him þone mynstre of Burch..oc man seið to biworde, 'hæge sitteð þa aceres dæleth.'
a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)116 : He..walkeð to ðe water ward, wile ðanne drinken, Oc he speweð or al ðe uenim ðat in his brest is bred.
a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)861 : Loth and is agte, childre, and wif Ben led a-wei bunden wið strif, Oc on of hem ðe flogen a-wei Told it abram.
a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3509 : Help de nedful, ðat he ne be dead For truke of ðin helpe an read. Oc horedom ðat ðu ne do, Ne wend no lecherie to.
a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3987 : 'Far forð,' quað ðe angel, 'oc loc ðe wel, For-bi min red queð ðu non del.'
a1450(?c1350) Pride Life (ChrC-Dub)293 : I haue ben boþe fer and ner In bataile and in strife Ocke þer was neuer þy pere.

Forms	oc conj. Also ok, ocke.
Etymology	ON; cp. OI ok.

Middle English Dictionary Entry