Middle English Dictionary Entry
oppōsen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | oppōsen v. Also oppose, opose(n. |
| Etymology | OF oposer |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. apposen.
1.
(a) To question or interrogate (sb.); examine (heart, conscience, confession); ask (sb.) a question; -- also without obj.; (b) to accuse (sb.) of (sth.), charge; (c) to torment (sb.); (d) to examine or audit (sth.); (e) ppl. opposed, opposed, opposite, contrary.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.363 : Almache the prefect..hem opposed and knew al hir entente.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.225 : If thou wolt my schrifte oppose Fro point to point..Ther schal nothing be left behinde.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1601 : Thei wole anon..Oppose thee of thin answere.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.308 : This Angel with hise wordes wise Opposeth hem..With good examinacioun, Til he knew..What men thei were.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.436 : Al that he wot he wol desclose, And speke er eny man oppose.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3372 : Whanne I schal myn yhen close, Anon min herte he [love] wole oppose.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.2921 : Now thou hast herd this evidence, Thou miht thin oghne conscience Oppose, if thou hast ben such on.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4926 : Lucrece..him..opposeth Hou it stod of hire housebonde.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.1712 : This king unto this maide opposeth, And axeth ferst what was hire name.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)329b/a : Þe philosophre þat highte secundus answered, whan he was opposed what is god, and seyde, 'god is intellectual cercle.'
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)840 : Þai callyd mary..Opposed hyr in þis cace, Sayd..'Tell me..who yt may be.'
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)p.77 head. : Hou Jesus..ansuered hem þat opposeden hym of þe children.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Pass.(Hrl 4196)77/747 : Ihesus..Bifor sir cayphas bunden stode, And he oposed him of his lare.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.56/35 : He was callid yn of the preyste and opposid.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)408/669 : Of Cristis feith with euery circumstance, Most cruely he gan him to oppose.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)395 : Hast þou in me ony gretter sauour Þan þat þou haddest..Whan I opposyd þe of þi langour?
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14970 : Oppose hem..What I am..And they wyl telle the.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)139 : Guynebaude, the clerke..opposed hym of dyuerse thynges..And Merlyn hym ansuerde.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)232/121 : 'Opposed if he wore, he shuld be fon waryd..' 'I my self shall make examynyng.'
- a1500 PPl.A(1) (Eaton)3.5 : Opose [Trin-C: I wile assaie hire myself, and soþly apose What man of þis world þat hire were leuist].
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1597 : May I nat axe a libel..And answere there by my procuratour To swich thyng as men wole opposen [vrr. oposyn; pose] me?
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.5.55 : Of the honestete or of the falsnesse of thynges that ben opposed ayens the, thow hast remembred thynges that ben knowen to alle folk.
c
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)7/8 : Oure Lorde..was ledd in til a gardyne, and þare he was opposed [F examinez] scharply.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)7/14 : In anoþer gardyn..he was opposed also..and coround eft with a thorne.
d
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)58 : Suche parcelles of pourveyaunces..be duly opposed in the countyng-house monethly for the King.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)61 : They [clerks] help oppose truly and monethly all the parcelles of provisions.
e
- (c1434) Drury Wks.(CmbAdd 2830)82/15 : Childeren opposid arn to a-posyn oþere to ben opposid.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)48/32 : A man is componed of opposed elementes.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1723 : Of digestion the Alyment & the fode..is humour solide, constant with siccite, Mightly medlide..In opposid passivis commixtid dewly.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1613(1461) Plumpton Let.2 : I have labored a felaw of mine to be your Atturney in the Court…And soe shall ye have day or respitt to the xv of hillary next coming, then to be opposed of your greenewax.
Note: New gloss.