Middle English Dictionary Entry
bābe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | bābe n. Also bābī, bābee, bāban & bab(be. |
| Etymology | A nursery word; cp. baba, babbelen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A young child, infant; the Infant Jesus; (b) a youth; a son; on goddes babie, by the Son of God; (c) a young bee.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)63a : Wepe efter him as deð þe lutel baban [Tit: barn] efter his moder.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.3238 : Children soukende on the Tete..The yonge babes criden alle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1926 : A babe, which no reson cowthe.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)20.92 : Be-leyue leelly vpon that litel baby.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)20 : Babe [Win: babbe], or lytylle chylde: Infans, puerilus, pusillus, pusio.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)402 : Þe maner of asking..which ȝong vnkunnyng babis maken.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1772 : A hatt & a handball & a herne-panne; Slike presandis to play with as pertines to babbis.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2500 : Þe bab with to play.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)448/32 : As sho was on slepe..& þis yong bab by hur, he..cutt þe barn throte.
- c1450 Surge mea (Lamb 853)3 : Þou schalt abide with þi babe so briȝt.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)77/146 : A babe of thre ȝer age so ȝynge.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)17 : A bab, vbi a chylde..A Baby: Infans..vbi barne uel childe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)114/440 : Wold god that we myght this yong bab see!
b
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)17502 : On goddes babie [Vsp: wit godds lai; Ld: on goddes half] þei hem forbedde; Þei coniured hem, bi goddes awe, Þese wordis no more to shawe.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.95 : Þe blode of a barn borne of a mayde..penaunce and passioun of þat babi.
- c1475 Babies' Bk.(Hrl 5086)27 : O Babees yynge, My Book only is made for youre lernynge.
- c1475 Babies' Bk.(Hrl 5086)45 : Yee Babees, in housholde that done duelle.
c
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.961 : To..bringing babes forth they [bees] wole attende.