Middle English Dictionary Entry
oyes interj.
Entry Info
| Forms | oyes interj. Also oyez, oȝes, oyet, oy(ȝ)it, oi. |
| Etymology | AF oyez, CF oiez, pl. impv. of öir, oier hear. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A call for silence and attention: hear ye!
Associated quotations
- [ (c1290) Britton 2 (Lamb 403)p.39 : Ceo oyez, vous bones gentz, qe jeo (tiel par noun) fey a noster Seignur le Roi Edward porteray de ceo jour avaunt..si mei ayde Deu et les Saintz. ]
- [ (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)103 : He shalle say to hem in þis wise, 'Oiez a beamond la vailaunt.' ]
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)285/369 : Pilatus: Cry, Oyas! Bedellus: Oyas! Pilatus: Yit efte, be þi feithe. Bedellus: Oyas! a lowde.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)300/239 : Say may þou not here me? oy! man, arte þou woode?
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)303/319 : Do crie we all on hym at onys, 'Oȝes! Oȝes! Oȝes!'
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)305/360 : Rex:..Gose, garre crye in my courte..i Dux: O yes! if any wight with þis wriche any werse wate Werkis..Buske boldely to þe barre.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)86/142 : Oy! al maner men takyth to me tent.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)667 : Myscheff:..Nowadays, mak proclamacyon..Nowadays: Oyyt! Oyȝyt! Oyet! All manere of men and comun women To þe cort of Myschyff othere cum or sen!
- a1486 Ordin.Lists in RS 55.1 (Lnsd 285)311 : Oyez, oyez, oyez, defendaunt, come to your iourney, which ye have undirtake at this day for to acquyte your pleggz before the kyng.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)21/416 : Bot thou must be my good boy, and cry 'oyes, oyes, oy!'