Middle English Dictionary Entry
await(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | await(e n. Also aweit, avaite. |
| Etymology | ONF await, corresp. to CF agait, aguet. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. wait(e.
1.
(a) A lying in wait, an ambush; leien (maken) ~, to set an ambush; leien (sb.) in ~, to put (sb.) in ambush; leien ~ for (upon), to set an ambush for (sb.); lien (sitten, stonden) in ~, to lie in wait or in ambush; ligger in ~, a robber, a footpad; (b) a plot, a conspiracy; in ~ liing, liing ~, plotting, conspiring, planning.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.99 : His eme and his owne wifes fader Aprus sat in awayte [vr. set aweyt] uppon hym.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4415 : Thise homycides..in awayt liggen to mordre men.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1657 : The leoun sit in his awayt alway To sle the innocent.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)246a/b : Ofte in wodes þeues beþ y hudde, and oftere in here awaytes and deceytes passynge men comeþ and beþ y spoyled.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)265a/b : Þe wolf liþ in awayte [L insidiatur] for his childeren and steleþ hem.
- (1411) RParl.3.650a : Robert Tirwhit..dyd assemble greet noumbre of men..to lygge in awayte for the same Lord the Roos.
- (1414) RParl.4.60b : Othere Chanons..layen in awayte in the Kynges heye weye.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4215 : They..leyde awayt for hym day and nyght.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)34b (2)/a : Insidior: to lye in awayte.
- (a1426) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xx : Lygand still in ane awayte in þe Kyngis way..to haf slayne me.
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)457 : Lollardes, fals heretikes..to geders confederid..as comun liggers in a wayte of high' weyes.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)98 : For ialousie on day lay in awayte on hir husbond.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1925 : He in awayt lith of hym couertly.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)35 : I ley me in a waite to wite the soothe, if he be passed.
- (1452) Paston2.268 : The seid persones lay in awayte in the hey weye..up on Phelep Berney.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)143.69 (v.2:p.419) : The craft of the deuyl was by sotyl awayt to han takyn Crist in desert, lych as the sperhauke takyth a berd.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)202 : The Scottis had leyn certeyn awayte upon him, to his grete hurt if he come.
- (c1466) Stonor1.78 : Fortescu..layyth his men yn awayte to murder me.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)485/15 : We lye in a wayte uppon a knyght that slew oure brothir.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)21562 : He lyth euere in a-wayt, Wyth pylgrymes to holde stryff.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)8 : The archer þat shetith is deth, þe which stondith euermore redy in awaite for to shete his dart.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)496 : He wende that thei hadde leide that awayte.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)653 : This awayte that the Bretouns hadde made.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.165 : Þis was delyvered by his kynnes men out of þe awaytes [vr. aweytes; L insidiis] of his owne moder, þat hadde i-slawe here owne fyve sones.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1016 : This king thurgh prive hate Abod upon await algate, For he was noght of such emprise To vengen him in open wise.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.9 : Who sit hiȝest, sche can doun hym enclyne..With awaites þat gladly ben sodeyne.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.8.16 : Thow schalt, be awaytes of thy subgetis, anoyously ben cast undir.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.36/34 : He shulde pretende to the forseide pore man leynge awayte and aspyes.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.2609 : The peeple alway in await liggyng To be restorid onto her liberte, Gan gruchche sore.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)317 : He held his Cristmasse at Kenelworth, where was leyd gret avayte on the Kyng.
- a1486 Ordin.Lists in RS 55.1 (Lnsd 285)307 : Noon of them shall doo hevynesse, ill, harme, awaite, assaute, nor noon oothir grevaunce.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)114/34 : Reed colour ys tokenynge of vnwyt, & of greet Ire, and of awaytes.
2.
(a) Watching, scrutiny; spying, surveillance; haven in ~, kepen in ~, maken ~ upon, to keep (sb.) under surveillance, keep a watchful eye on; setten ~ upon, to set spies on (sb.), spy upon; (b) watchfulness, care, caution, heed; haven in god ~, taken god ~ to, to take good care of (sth.); (c) a guard; a watchman.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3915 : No man ne truste vp on hire fauour longe, But haue hire in awayt for euere mo.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.149 : A good wyf..Sholde nat be kept in noon awayt certayn.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)72b/a : Þe kinges seruaunt settid a wait apon him & slouȝ hym in his owne hous.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)17 : A-wayte, or waytynge: Exploracio, exploratus.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)226 : This therfore is..the obseruaunce, awaite, and diligence which is to be had in such mater.
- c1450 How mankinde dooþ (Lamb 853)593 : This worlde haþ me in awaite, And biddiþ me quite þat is past.
- (c1468) Paston (Gairdner)4.294 : For gelosye and mysdemyng of peple that hafe me yn greete awayt.
- (1469) Paston (Gairdner)5.26 : He tolde me he myght not speeke with you, ther was made so gret awayte upon hym and upon you boothe.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.666 : Bot whan tuo hertes falle in on, So wys await was nevere non, That at som time thei ne mete.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1023 : He stood..In poynt of deth..With gret await of duke Meneste.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2294 : He leid hym doune..to slepe, And non awayt his body forto kepe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.457 : It was spoken in so short a wise, In swich await alwey, and in swich feere, Lest any wight devynen..Wolde of hem two.
- (1461) Paston (Gairdner)3.286 : For love of Good, take good awayte to your person.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.891 : Iff þou happe to be..mightefull, Yet haue þysilf in good awaite.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)341 : Loue is sotyle and hath a grete awayte.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)254a/b : Awayte [L custos] is þere y sette in an hih place to kepe þe vyneȝerde, þat þe fruyt be nouȝt destroyed.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3963 : Þei sette good awaite On euery syde, list þer wer disceite.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3572 : Þei kepte hemsilf..With gret awayt set at euery gate, Men of Armys al the nyght wakyng.
3.
Attendance, attention, service.
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1107 : She loued oon..for his labour..And good await on hir be nyȝt.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)408 : Trwe menyng, awayte, or besynesse..noght in love dothe avayle.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.121 : Quhare is becummyn..The fresche array, the lusty contenance, The besy awayte, the hertly observance?
4.
(a) Waiting, delay; (b) expectation.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.579 : Withowten await, with hym to go She graunted hym.
b
- a1450(1419) Loke how Flaundres (Dgb 102)83 : Ȝet þey honge in awayte Of a newe conquest.