Middle English Dictionary Entry
prēchen v.
Entry Info
Forms | prēchen v. Also preche, preiche & prec(e, preke, priche & (early SWM) preachen, preachi, (chiefly early SWM & SW) prechi(e. Forms: sg.2 prēchest, etc. & prēches, (late) preachest; sg.3 prēcheth, etc. & (?error) prechitȝ; p.ppl. i)prēched. Contractions: prechestou (prechest thou), prechet (preche hit. |
Etymology | OF prëechier |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To preach, deliver a sermon, proclaim the Gospel; (b) ~ to, to preach to (sb.); ~ of, preach about (sb. or sth.); ~ o, preach about (sth.); ~ ayen(es, preach against (sb. or sth.), denounce; ~ into, preach in accordance with (a purpose); ~ for, preach on the side of (sth.), endorse; ~ on, use (a text) as the basis for a sermon; (c) to preach (the Gospel, Christianity, God's law, Christ, etc.); declare (a doctrine, forgiveness, etc.); -- also with obj. clause or inf.phr.; (d) ~ penaunce (poverte, etc.), to preach urging repentance of sins (espousal of poverty, etc.); (e) to preach to (sb.); exhort (sb.); teach (sb.), instruct; preach the Gospel to; ~ of, preach to (sb.) about (sb. or sth.), instruct (sb.) in (sth.); (f) to urge (sb. to do sth.; that sb. do sth., accept sth., etc.), exhort, entreat; preach (sth. to sb.), declare; ~ the peple to pes, exhort people to live in peace; ~ men to cristendom, exhort people to receive Christianity; (g) to expound in a tiresome or offensive manner.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)38/26 : Seint pawel forbeot wummen to preachin [Nero: prechen; Cleo: prechi].
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)258 : Ofte in þe temple ich wes iwuned to preche.
- c1300 SLeg.Aug.Cant.(LdMisc 108)69 : Seint Austin and is felawes also bi-gonne to prechie faste.
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)79/45 : Wanne he hadde aboute igo & ipreched also, In þulke celle he wolde beo.
- c1330 Roland & V.(Auch)155 : Iames þe apostel..god bad prechy on þe se.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)42/2 : Þe oþer is ine ham þet zelleþ godes word and precheþ principalliche uor pans.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.204 : Fals prophetes..prechen [F preeschent] forto ben praised of þe werlde.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.3903 : The deuel made a reue for to preche.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.329 : In chirches whan I preche, I peyne me to han an hauteyn speche.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.3433 : With gret devocion he precheth Fro point to point and pleinly techeth.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)23849 : Ay to preiche & noȝt to spede, hit is bot wasting of cristis sede.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)prol.65 : Þere prechide a pardoner.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5135 : Thus taught and preched hath Resoun.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)283/7 : Thei oonly crie and prechen with sown of þe mouþ.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)167/1 : Aftirward in Lenton prechyd a good clerk, a Frer Austyn.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)412 : Prechyn: Predico, evangelizo.
- a1450(?c1350) Pride Life (ChrC-Dub)417 : War woltou prec tomorou?
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)52/29 : Oure Lord with his apostlis went preching & baptizing the peple.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)361/164 : In pheso I was prechyng.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)98b : To Preche: Catogare, catogarizare [Monson adds: euangelizare], predicare, Caterizare.
- a1500(?a1425) Chester Pl.Antichr.(Pen 399)503/355 : Thrughe hym thowe preches and hast postye a whyle thrughe sufferaunce.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)38/24 : Ne preachi ȝe to namon.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)279/45 : Seint Domenic al-so a-boute ȝeode and prechede aȝein heom wel faste.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9938 : Me prechede of þe croyserye.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.497 : Maister Arnold preched at Rome aȝenst riche men.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2234 : He that precheth to hem that listen nat heren hise wordes, his sarmon hem anoyeth.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.427 : Thus kan I preche agayn that same vice.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.23 : Þe maister on this godspel preches.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12821 : Of him i preche [Frf: preyche] in wildernes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13248 : Fra neptalim to zabulon Went he prechand o þe fai.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)18934 : Tung bi-takenes all langage þat þai suld haue of ful knaulage, To..thrali preche for cristes lay.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.34 : He..can..prechen of þe penaunce þat pilat wrouȝt To Ihesu.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)127/4 : He wolde beningneliche..preche to simple folk in litele tounes.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.40.9 : Thou that prechist to Jerusalem, enhaunse thi vois in strengthe.
- a1450(?c1350) Pride Life (ChrC-Dub)239 : Qwhat prechistou of Dethis miȝt?
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)1037 : When Criste woolde to the puple preche, Vppon that stone he stode to teche.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)104/8 : A precher..warnede summe of his felawschip þat he wolde preche into þe now seid entent.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)364/255 : In dyueris contreys we prechid of youre sone.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)979 : Þei shullen to þe peple preche.
c
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)27/43 : Seint Barnabe wende him forth..to prechi cristindom.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)377/18 : Ore louerd he louede faste And prechede is manhede and cristinedom.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)2331 : Goþ..in-to al þe wordle and precheþ þis gospel To euerich manere creature.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.197 : Summe ben saued þorouȝ þe bileue of þe croice þat is preched to hem.
- (a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Bod 959)1.19 : He..was..more wyllyng oþer mennys þingez schamefastlich to lerne þan hys owne vnschamfastly to prece forþ.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.61.1 : Þat I schulde lechen þe contrit men in herte & prechen to caitif men forȝyuenesse.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.8.36 : He..prechide Jewis for to haue oo defender, God.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mark 6.12 : Thei..prechiden that men schulden do penaunce.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.1.23 : We prechen Crist crucified.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.481 : A poure persoun of a toun..That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2500 : Hise Apostles wente aboute The holi feith to prechen oute.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)32 : Manie feithful kingis..preechiden excellentli Goddis lawe.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)1.137 : Loue is þe leuest þing þat oure lord askiþ..preche it [vrr.priche it; prechet] in þin harpe.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)140/19 : Þei..prechiden his passioun ouer al.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)188 : Eche prest owiþ to do his myȝt, his wit, & his wille to preche cristis gospel.
- a1450(?c1350) Pride Life (ChrC-Dub)69 : Ȝe cham and precit al þat ȝe couþe.
- c1450(?a1400) LChart.Chr.B (Cmb Ii.4.9)54/112 : Here wyl I iiije wordys teche; to the pupyl I bydde ȝou heme preche.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)1826 : Cuthbert..Prechid to þaim goddis worde.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)70.58 (v.2:p.42) : He bigan to prechyn hym our lorde Ihesu Criste.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)276/138 : I herd hym preche meche þing.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)2.6 : I am stabild kynge..prechand his comandment.
- a1500(c1400) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)13 : Þen prechyd he here þe pure faythe.
- a1500 GRom.(Glo 42)731/3 : Prelates & mynisteres of holy chyrch preche to hem þe worde of gode.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)976 : Þei shullen preche þe trinite.
d
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)2114 : Me moste neode in his name prechi al-so blyue Penaunce among alle men.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 21.9 : Preche ȝee fastynge.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 24.47 : Penaunce..to be prechid in his name to alle folkis.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6483,6485 : Thou gost and prechest poverte..Thou prechest abstinence also.
- a1450 SLeg.Fran.(2) (Bod 779)309 : To prechy lyf of penaunce, he granted him also.
e
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1932 : Seint thomas at Caunterburi..Stod and prechede al þat folk.
- c1300 SLeg.11000 Virg.(LdMisc 108)88 : Þis holie man..prechede heom ofte of clannesse and of ore louerdes lore.
- a1325 SLeg.Magd.(1) (Corp-C 145)112 : Heo prechede þe prince and is wif of god lawe.
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)618 : Artow prest oþer persoun, Oþer þou art monk oþer canoun, Þat prechest me þus here?
- c1350 NPass.(Rwl C.655)128/157* : Apon a hille he sat an hey And by gan þe folke to preke.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.342 : Tho gan she hym ful bisily to preche Of Cristes come.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.457 : Alle day come Scotissche monkes and prechede þe Angles.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)1450 : He..sette tweyne and tweyne to gon Ȝond al þe world to prechen vchon.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3361 : He..gan to preche him and to preie, Bot Jason wolde noght obeie.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.824 : They prechen hire, they telle hire nyght and day That causelees she sleeth hir self.
- a1400 Ancr.(Pep 2498)68/17 : Peter wrouȝth for his Mete and preched þe folk.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.115 : Of þe bisshop Thurston haf I comandment..þe lewed also to preche.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.273 : Enuye..heet freres to..preche men of plato.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.496 : Ne that I shal han cause in this matere..to pleyne, or ofter yow to preche?
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)66/513 : Take non hede..of false profites..þat cum to ȝow e cloþyng o mekenes & holi leuyng for to teche or to preche ȝow.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)42.390 : Iosephes gan hem for to prechen Anon.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1674 : Al my purpos I haue pyt..to don as ȝe me preche.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)19/22 : Thomas prechedde hom boþe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)326/18 : That leche..So well that couth vs preche.
f
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)390/14 : Huy wenden alle wide and precheden Men to cristindom.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9153 : Þe bissop roger of salesbury..preched vaste þat folc þen oþ to holde echon.
- a1350 St.Alex.(1) (LdMisc 108)29/61 : He prechede hire wiþ al his myȝth Of sinne ȝe scholde hauen no plyȝth.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2042 : Kyng Darrye and Salome Habbeþ ypreched her meynee Wel to fiȝtth, wel to stonde.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2853 : Al þe contreye..Gradden and gunnen þe kyng to preche Þat he shulde take of hem wreche.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)9.83 : He..prechiþ [vr. prechitȝ] þe peple seint poulis wordis.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)942 : Þise aungelez hade hem by hande out at þe ȝatez, Prechande hem þe perile.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)122 : God sent þus James to Jerusalem..to preche hem To repente hem of her synne.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5174 : Ye yeve good counsel..That prechith me alday that I Shulde not Loves lore alowe.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)28/509 : Preche þe pepul pryncypaly þe Prince of heuen to pay.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)151 : Godfader and godmoder þou moste preche Þat þey here godchyldere to gode teche.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3296 : Þe Archebysshop..prechede hym þe lawe of gode.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)598 : Þe prest in a pulpite began forto preche The peuple to pees.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)5005 : Þus preched he þem by processe playn qwat care suld come.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)7733 : To lere Or preche hem hou þat þei shal Heuene blisse to wynne.
g
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.247 : Thow..prechest on thy bench with yuel preef.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.366 : Yet prechestow and seist an hateful wyf Yrekened is for oon of thise myschaunces.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)3489 : If þou preche al day, Here sal þou nothing bere oway.
2.
(a) To cry out; announce (sb. or sth.), declare, proclaim; call (sb. blessed) [1st quot.]; also fig.; (b) to speak, say; say (sth.); ~ of, recount (sth.), speak about (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.31.28 : Þer risen þe sones of hir & most blisseful precheden & þe man of hir preisede hir.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.3.9 : Þer synne as sodom þei precheden & hidden not.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.29.23 : Þe holi god of irael þei shul prechen.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)326b/a : Euerich creature crieþ and precheþ þe holy trinite.
- a1400 Primer (StJ-C G.24)17 : Hym that the eerthe, water, and heuenes worchipith, lowtith, and preechith..the cloystre of marie beerith.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)61/6 : Wiþ gode liuinge alle men and wommen ben holde to preche.
- c1400 Trev.Higd.(Tbr D.7:Bab.)7.337 : Ypreched [vr. preched; StJ-C: kyng William his dedes..beeþ worþy to be i-preved for ensample of fre and lordliche herte].
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)33/30 : Þi dedes prechen alle men how þei schul be pacient.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)23/36 : Euery creature prechiþ & cryeþ þat God is good.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)116/138 : Nowe is fulfilled..Þat Abacuc..preched by prophicie.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)318/405 : As ye haue hard..Loke that ye preche.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.5.29 : It is prechid of hym that he hadde power.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1277 : Sche Comandeth me..that I scholde hir noght oppose In love, of which I ofte preche.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7384 : Cayneþ it nouȝth of rest preche.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)3754 : Þe Emperoure lay in gude pese; Him for to preche wald sho noght prese.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.59 : Koude he nevere so wel of lovyng preche, It made his hewe a-day ful ofte greene.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1472 : As he kan wel preche, He shal som Grek so preyse and wel alose That ravysshen he shal yow with his speche.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)1983 : The Kynge of Fraunce bigan to preche, And bad Rycharde be his soule leche.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)280 : Hit profiteþ nouht to preche of oure dedus.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2207 : When Priam hade his prologe preched to ende, Ector hym answarede.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2388 : 'Me þinkith I have I-nowe!' the cripill be-gan to preche.
3.
The word prechen.
Associated quotations
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)33 : If ony man..settith greet strengthe and difference bitwix 'teche' and 'preche', symple cristene men nylen stryuen in wordis.
4.
In proverbs.
Associated quotations
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)7935 : How as euer men preche or spelle, Of prestes wyues men here euer telle.
- a1400 Preste ne monke (Cleo B.2)157-8 : Ful wysely can þai preche & say; Bot as þai preche, no þing do þai.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.79 : Þat he precheth, he preueth nouȝt.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6896 : Doth that they preche..But doth not as they don.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)802 : Whanne þe fox prechyth, kepe wel ȝore gees!
- c1450 How mankinde dooþ (Lamb 853)103 : Good conscience, goo preche to þe post.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)151 : It is not al trewe that bi holi men is in parchimyn ynkid, neither al is profecie that is of good men in pulpit prechid.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.OFools (LdMisc 683)161 : With ful wombe they preche of abstynence.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.1288 : Euer the yonge cok croweth as the olde precheth.
- c1475 Rwl.Prov.(Rwl D.328)p.125 : Whan þe wox prechyth, be-ware the gese.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)12/84 : Let furth youre geyse, the fox will preche.
- 1591(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hnt HM 2)92/312 : Thow preachest, populard, as a pye.
5.
Error for pressen v.
Associated quotations
- c1450 PPl.B (RwlPoet 38)14.212 : Prcecheth [Ld. Þere þe pore preseth bifor þe riche with a pakke at his rugge].