Middle English Dictionary Entry
ofslēn v.
Entry Info
| Forms | ofslēn v. Also ofslẹ̄n, ofslæn, ofslean. Forms: sg. 3 ofslæð, ofslihþ; p. ofslọ̄ghe, -slọ̄ȝe, -slọ̄h, -slọ̄w(e, -slọ̄þ; ppl. ofslaȝe(n, -slagen, -slahe, -slawe(n, -sclawen, -slæȝen & ofsleigen, -sleie(n & ofslọ̄ȝen. |
| Etymology | OE ofslēan, sg. 3 (WS -sli(e)hþ, A -slēþ, -slǣþ), p. -slōg, pl. -slōgon, ppl. -slagen, -slægen, -slegen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To kill (sb., the body); also fig. [last quot.]; (b) to kill (an animal, a bird); (c) to cut off (someone's head).
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1100 : On þæne Þunresdæg he wæs ofslagen.
- a1126 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1124 : Ærost man hem be ræfoð her eahte and siþðon man hem of slæð.
- ?1130 Chron.Tbr.B.4 (Tbr B.4)p.214 : Her werþ Anagus ofsleien fram Scotta eere & þer werþ micel weell ofsleigen mid him.
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1127 : On þone lenten tide wæs se eorl Karle of Flandres ofslagen on ane circe.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)18/4 : Þe casere wearð on þam wæȝe ofslaȝen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)39 : Þa Grickes hefden Troye..bi-wonen..& þa leoden ofslawen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)279 : Muchel folc þer was of-sclawen [Otho: of-slawe].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)344 : He hine walde of-slean.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3071 : Heo fuhten wunderliche i-noh and Gurguint..of-sloh.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4083 : Swa endede þæ pleowe, þat Herigal læi of-sloȝen [Otho: was of-sleie].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5196 : Sæuare þer wes of-slæȝen [Otho: of-slaȝe].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5320 : Þis word com to Rome..hu Carrais hæfde..Basian þene king of-slæȝen [Otho: ofslawe].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13311 : Monie heo of-sloȝen [Otho: of-slowen].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14496 : We wulleð..Caric of-slæn.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)61/30 : Ne drædeð naht..hem ðe ȝure lichame muȝen ofslean.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)55/593 : Dauið..of sloh wið a stan to deaðe þe stronge Golie.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)653 : Hii wende ouer al þat lond; þat folk hii of-slowe.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)864 : Hii..mid wepne hine wondede, and suþþen hine of-sloȝe.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)7637 : Þreo and fifti he þar of-sloþ.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)12382 : Frolle..þat þou mid woȝe at Paris of-sloȝe.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)4077 : Godes wreche ðor haueð of-slagen xxiij ðhusent of ðagen.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)2520 : Garci me sente hiderward, For to bringe þis quene aȝen, And þe, Beues, her ofslen.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)128/385 : I was flayd with a swevyn, My hart out of sloghe.
b
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)124.109/2 : Sile drinca on wearma wætere; heo þa wyrmas ofslihþ.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.MQuad.(Hrl 6258B)2/13 : On nama þæs ælmihtiȝon godes, ic þe [a badger] of slean [read: of slea].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12785 : He þer þene beore of-sloh.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1611 : An hwanne heo habeþ me of slahe [Jes-O: ofslawe], Heo hongeþ me on heore hahe.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5400 : Gallus heo nomen & þat hafd him of sloȝen [Otho: of-swipte].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8343 : Aldolf his swored adroh & Hengestes hafd of-sloh [Otho: of-sloþ].
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2676 : Þo yaf godrich..Vbbe a wunde..So þat þorw þat ilke wounde Hauede ben brouth to þe grunde, And his heued al of-slawen.