Middle English Dictionary Entry
availen v.
Entry Info
Forms | availen v. Also availlen, aveilen, avalen, awailen, aweilen, advailen. |
Etymology | Prob. AF; cp. OF vaill-, tonic stem of valoir (from L valēre). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. vailen.
1a.
(a) To help (sb.), assist; do good to (sb.), benefit, be profitable to; (b) refl. to help oneself, succeed; (c) impers. or with delayed subject: availeth, it availeth, it avails (sb.), it profits, it helps; what availeth the, what use is it to you; what might it the ~, what good would it do you; wher him might ~, where there might be profit for him; etc.; (d) to support (sb.) in war; (e) to advance (a cause), help to bring about (sth.); (f) to increase the income of (sb.), be profitable to.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)120/2456 : Þou art fair and ȝong, saunz fail, And maist þe werld mochel auail.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)12/336 : Hiȝt worþeþ cristnyng, and þat child Þer-to hit auailleþ.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3950 : An hanged was Cresus the proude kyng; His roial trone myghte hym nat auaille [vrr. avayle, auaill].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3385 : He pleyeth Herodes vpon a scaffold hye, But what auailleth [vrr. auaylyth, aveileþ] hym as in this cas.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.109 : An Oxe his yock hath bore For thing that scholde him noght availe.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10313 : No þyng may hem so moche avayle [OF les purra tant valer]..As þe sacrament.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.7 : Oþer eny manere meester þat myght peers avayle [A: helpen; B: auaille].
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1861 : But all this thyng auayled hym riȝt noȝt.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)2766 : Þe payn þar þe saules avayles noght, When þai til purgatori er broght.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1325 : Al this thing avayleth hire ryght nought.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4509 : Your graithnes may gretly the grekes auaile With counsell.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)145/30 : The grete shall love, the litle shall prase you..so it shal gretly avale you.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)99/35 : Ho that asketh more thanne suffisaunce, that that he hath auailleth him of no thynge.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)292 : He seide he schuld availe the Kyng mech god if he myte lyve a day or too.
- (1474) Stonor1.149 : My speche and presens with you hurte you and awelde you not.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)2950 : With suche strength he smote Elmadan, That him aduailled noo thing he had on.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)174/2 : Makynge of sorowe ne may vs not availe.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.91 : Who that..mai himselven noght availe, He wolde an other scholde faile.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.265 : Wher I miself mai noght availe..I am riht glad if he be let.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.604 : Whoso defendeth Hymselven most, hym alderlest avaylleth.
c
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.3040 : And heer agayns, no creature on lyue Of no degree auailleth [vrr. auayleth, aveileþ] for to stryue.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2828 : Moore it auaileth [vrr. auailleth, aveileþ, abelith] a man to haue a good name, than for to haue grete richesses.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1324 : He hadde his espiaille, That taughte hym wher hym myghte auaille.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2107 : What myghte it thee auaille, Thogh thow myghtest se as fer as shippes saille?
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10669 : Hyt auayled hym no þyng.
- c1400(1375) Canticum Creat.(Trin-O 57)395 : I se þat it avayleþ me nouȝt, Al þat y crie & ȝelpe.
- ?c1450(?c1390) ?Chaucer Merc.B.(Benson-Robinson)15 : Me ne availeth not to pleyne.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2151 : What shuld it me availe..to telle eny tale?
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)31/296 : To fle it avalis you, And ye be agast.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)2/15 : What auayliþ þe to dispute highe þinges of þe Trinyte?
d
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10652 : Armes y bare yn þe batayle, with alle my powere hym to auayle.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.293 : The barons..wild him auaile & do þat he wild biseke.
e
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.229 : He thoghte..Hou that he mihte his cause availe To gete him gold.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.20 : If this may..his cause availle.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)158 : Þat þilk dede..schuld availe þa removing and þe reuoking of þe seid jugement.
f
- (c1475) Stonor1.160 : Perkyns seythe þat he cowd aweyll me in my lond x mark a yer..he seyth þat he cowd aveyll me in my lond so grett money by yer.
1b.
(a) To be helpful, be of use, do good; litel ~, to be of little use; what availeth, what is the use of; (b) impers. or with delayed subject: if it ~, if it is helpful or desirable; it availeth not (nought), it is of no use, it does no good; it mai (might, mote) ~, it may (might) be helpful; it might not ~, it was of no use; it wold not ~, nought it shold ~, it would not help, it would do no good; ~ what ~ mai, help what may help; etc.; (c) ~ to, to help (sb.), be beneficial to (sth.), be of use in (war), be of use or value to; (d) ~ to (into), to help bring about (sth.), help to achieve; help to advance (a cause); (e) with infin.: ~ to haven, to assist (sb.) in obtaining; ~ for to usen, to help to accustom (sb. to sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Body & S.(5) (LdMisc 108)p.57 : Merci criende lutel availede, Ȝwan Crist it wolde so harde wrac.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.308 : Wher of auaileth contricioun? I seye that som tyme contricioun delyuereth man fro synne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3114 : Ther schal non other thing availe..bot he schal be ded.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.1194 : Emprenteth wel this lessoun in youre mynde, For commune profit sith it may auaille.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)90 : Quat bote is to sette traueil On thyng þat may not auail [Frf: auayle]?
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)55/28 : Þei prechen cronyclis..oþir helples talis þat riȝt nouȝt availen.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)6620 : A purtrayd fire on a waghe..nouther brynnes ne gyfes light, Ne on othir manere avales ne ders.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)538 : I can not se that argumentes avayle.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.248 : Al so this wol avayl [BodAdd: advaile].
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)37 : Bryng to mynde the Articles of the Feyth..wythowte the which a good sperit may lytell avayle.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer Pity (Benson-Robinson)49 : Withoute Pitee ther may no bille availe.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)209 : But what availeth such a long sermoun?
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.16 : What awayllyȝt now thi strengthe and thi reches?
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)248/1 : Ho þoght þat hur prayer avaylet noght.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.589 : He woweth hire, but it auailleth noght; She wolde do no synne by no weye.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4336 : She warned hym, but it myghte nat auaille [vr. availe].
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.116 : Þe Brus..Dauid gan saile With word þat was Irus, if it mot out auaile.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)97/15 : If it availe to regne wiþouten God, þanne hast þou ioye.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.87 : First considered -- Ȝif it may availle -- Mi dilligence & my gret travaille.
- ?c1425(c1380) Chaucer Form.A.(Benson-Robinson)25 : What sholde it han avayled to werreye?
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)216 : Hit availeth not for to ben trewe.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)147 : I wole sei thee that that lyth me on herte, availe what availe may.
- (1469) Paston (Gairdner)5.47 : I trow it wolde nat advayle.
- c1475 *Treat.Vet.(Trin-C R.14.51)70a2 : Vse hym to be bathed yf yt myght ought availlen.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)63 : Therof no force is for to enquere, ne nought it sholde avayle for to wite.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.894 : Hir preyeres auaillen nat to the peple.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.3048 : Mechil grace..schulde falle, Which myghte availle to ous alle.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2342 : Þys aperyng..Auayled to boþe partys.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2319 : We..haue plente and pocessioun Of eche þing þat may to werre aveile.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1111 : Which to both myghte most availe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.449 : But what availeth this to Troilus?
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)112 : As reyne avaylith notte to corne that is sowen on a stone, no more availleth argumentes to an onwyse man.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)412 : It is open þat as y may availe to eny oþere man bi my preiyng for hym..by þe same skile y may availe to hym by my manye vertuose deedis.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1749 : Hyt shal doon us..good And to oure herte as moche avaylle..As we had wonne hyt with labour.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)121/23 : The connynge and grete witte of Arystotle lytill hadd avaylid to kynge Alexandyr.
d
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)839 : To many þynges hyt [holy bread] may auayle, To soule helpe or lyues trauayle.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1439 : Som of youre bretheren..myghten to hire cause bet availle.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)21 : All ȝowr craftes..a waileth litull or nowȝt to þe porpos.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)40/30 : What is bifore seid and tauȝt..availiþ into þe knowyng of goddis lawe.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)31/11 : Preier availeþ into þe same oþire good into whiche now afore is seid preising to availe.
e
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.241-5 : The goode werkes..helpen and auaillen to haue the lyf perdurable in heuene..eek they auailen for to vsen a man to doon goode werkes.
2.
(a) To be successful, prosper; to be sufficient for a purpose; to be worthy or of value; ppl. availing, profitable, valuable; ppl. availed, effective, strong, worthy; (b) ~ again(es, to prevail against (sth.), overcome; (c) ~ to, to succeed in reaching (a place); (d) with infin.: to be able (to do sth.), succeed (in doing sth.); (e) law to be legally valid.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3053 : Þan spak..þe werreour wordes þat dude auaile.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2401 : Ne may my strengthe noght auaille [vrr. auaile, aveile].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.761 : He schal be..lustles to travaile In thing which elles myhte availe.
- (c1400) Gower PP (Eg 2862)191 : Withoute pes may no thing stonde availed.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6911 : I suppose nat þat ȝe Acomplissching may so moche availle As ȝe han seid; for platly ȝe schal faille Of ȝour purpos.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1430 : But telle me..How I myght best avaylen.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)117 : Þei..may awaile ful openly and sufficiently bi what þou seidist.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)190 : If þe seid freendschip in þilk..circumstaunce in which it schulde be so myche goostly availyng, myȝte be solde.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)164/23 : Ther is no thinge makith a man lesse to availe [DSPhilos.: lasse worthy] thanne to avaunt him-silf.
- c1450 Palladius (BodAdd A.369)1.562 : Thrushes fede upon that other syde; To faat hem is avayling [Fitzw: auailaunt] and plesaunte.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.129 : Theyr disposicion woll be construed ferther than they wille it were, and they not so avaylled as they weene yn all thynges.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)4.54 : As siphre..in awgrym, Þat noteth a place, and no þing availith.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)39/14 : Þe kyng had..sched moche blode forto gete hom, and myght not avayle.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)95 : A londe with-oute a lorde availeth litill.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1047 : This orisoun..auayleth eek agayn the vices of the soule.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.12.116 : Myghte it avayle at the laste ayens hym that we han graunted to ben almyghty?
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)5b : How myȝt elles þe litel nombre of Romayns haue auayled aȝenst þe grete nombre of Frenchemen?
c
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)20.204 : Of his knyhtes he Axede Counsaille, ȝif to that Roche they Cowden Owght Availle.
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.270 : The disme goth to the bataille, As thogh Crist myhte noght availe To don hem riht be other weie.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1082 : The Greks..founde that, be no bataille Ne be no Siege, it myhte availe The toun to winne thurgh prouesse.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7178 : We schape for vitaille, With-oute whiche noon host may availle To parforme a Iourne þriftely.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.1496 : This Alisaundre..With a gret host cam into Itaille, Supposyng gretli for to auaille To occupie..Hooli the boundis of al the occident.
e
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Heb.9.17 : A testement..a-vayleþ [L valet] noȝt whyles he lyueþ þat makeþ þe testement.
3.
To yield (an income).
Associated quotations
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)239/19 : Þat that wode shold availe by yere, as in herbage, pannage, and all other goyng-out or availes, xxxiiij s.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1425 Chaucer CT.ML.(Petw 7)B.869 : Availed was þe ship, it is no drede, Abundantly for hire a longe space And oþer necessaries þat shulde nede; She had ynowe heryed be goddes grace.
Note: [Heng: Vitailled]
Note: ?Sense
- c1475 Capgr.St.Kath.(RwlPoet 118)3.516 : Þer may no myght a-geyn hyr myght a-vayle.
Note: Postdates 2.(b)
Note: [Arun: pre[u]ayle]