Middle English Dictionary Entry
paien adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | paien adj. Also paen, pain, & (by anal. with pagan adj.) paigien. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Heathen, pagan.
Associated quotations
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)11/147 : Seie þe paene [vr. heþene] kyng, Jesucristes wiþering, Þat ihc am hol.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2370 : Arcite vnto the temple walked is Of fierse Mars to doon his sacrifise With alle the rytes of his payen [vr. poyn] wise.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1943 : It were a travail forto preche The feith of Crist, as forto teche The folk Paiene.
- (c1400) Gower PP (Eg 2862)45 : This sinful world was al paiene tho, Was non which hath the hihe god believed.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)19852 : Eborwik þase daies stuffed was sene With saxons and with peple paigien.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)7365 : Mars, Iubiter, & Saturnus..ar godes of oure paen lay.