Middle English Dictionary Entry
oft(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | oft(e adj. |
| Etymology | From adv. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Frequent, repeated; of frequent occurrence; (b) times ~, many times.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Par.26.8 : His name ys puplishit vn to þe entre of egipt for his ofte victories [L crebras victorias].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Eccl.12.12 : Ofte bethenking [L frequensque meditatio] is tormentyng of þe flesh.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.29 : Makometus..tauȝte his peple to worschippe God souþward with ofte knelynges [L multis genuflexionibus].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.235 : Thilke goode werkes that ben mortefied by ofte synnyng..ne mowe neuere quyken agayn with outen verray penitence.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)138a/b : He [a drop] þurliþ stones wiþ ofte fallinge [L frequenti casu].
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)138/13 : Þei ben in þe uessel of þe herte ipouned or igrounde wyþ a pestel of ofte þenkinge on hem.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3083 : Þe toke her leue..With ofte kyssyng, as louers whan þei twynne.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)351/25 : If it seeme to him þat þat creature haþ moore, & oftir conuersacioun wiþ oþire creaturis þan wiþ hym, he feeliþ þanne a peyne.
- a1450(1401) For drede (Dgb 102)43 : Þere is þe þridde distaunce Bryngeþ a kyngdom in moche noyȝe; Ofte chaunge of gouernaunce Of all degre..A kyng may not al aspie.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)418 : Nor ofte woundynge at sawtes by distresse.
- (1461-2) Paston (EETS)1.101 : Be gret deliberacion and oft comunicacion of the seid mater, the seid Ser John Fastolff..apoynted be writig.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)93b/a : But if it be so þat..he haue ofte cowȝinge and longe lastynge, late him blede.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)141/18 : 'Per multum risum, potes cognoscere Stultum'; Anglice, 'By ofte laghynge thow mayste know a fole'.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)2/12 : Many feliþ but litel desire of offte heringe [L frequenti auditu] of þe gospel.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)34a/7 : Caracta not confermede is holde with oft purgyng of þe hede.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)8001 : Þat oþer is þat he in ofte nede Ȝeue greet trist to his dede.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.226 : Whan she homward cam, she wolde brynge Wortes or othere herbes tymes ofte.