Middle English Dictionary Entry
ofaxen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | ofaxen v. Also ofahsian, ofesse. Forms: p. ofaxede, ofeste, ofeshte; ppl. ofacsed. |
| Etymology | OE ofaxian |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To learn about (sb. or sth.) by inquiry; learn (sth.) by asking; learn of (sb.) by inquiry, hear of; (b) to ask (a question); ~ of, ask (sb. a question), inquire of.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)14/28 : Ða sende dauid sonæ his ðreo cnihtæs þet heo sceoldon cunniæn hwæder heo myhton ænine mon ofahsian þe hine lacniæn mihte.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)287/343 : Þe soþe huy of-Axeden sethþe, þat he deide riʒt þo.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)152/8 : Wel to deme be-longeþ þet me naʒt ne anfermi bote me hit habbe wel of-acsed [Vices & V.(2): enquered].
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)153/26 : He ne deþ noþing bote hit by wel of acsed and y-trid.
- c1400 St.Alex.(3) (LdMisc 622)362 : Whan þai miʒtten nouʒth spede, Ne hym of axen in no þede..wiþ sorouʒ þai gradde allas, allas!
b
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.King (Hrl 2277)27 : He ofeschte of [Ld: axede at] þat folc where here kyng were.
- c1300 SLeg.Kenelm (Hrl 2277)343 : Heo of eschte [Corp-C: ofesste; Ld: Axede] what men hit were.
- a1325 SLeg.Bridget(2) (Corp-C 145)55 : Of þe chanteor he let ofesse wanne god time were.