Middle English Dictionary Entry
prolongen v.
Entry Info
Forms | prolongen v. Also prolong(e, purlongin. |
Etymology | L prolongāre & OF prolonger, prolonguer, vars. of porloignier. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. proloinen v. & purloinen v.
1.
(a) To lengthen (sth.) in time, extend (a term of office, parliamentary session, etc.), prolong (life, pain, treatment, etc.); forth ~, cause (hidden malice) to continue; ben prolonged, of a period of a disease: extend (to so many days); (b) to prolong (the time for an action or occurrence).
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.400 : He ne myȝte no longer forthe prolonge Þe venym hid.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7402 : Helþe..to þe..Whiche hast to me ben so gracious..my lif for to prolonge.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)38a/a : Þe longest of þe periodez is prolonged vn-to 7 daiez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)60a/a : Thesile..prolonged [L prolongabat], i. lengthed, cure of wondez vn-to a moneþ which he myȝt perfourme in 6 daiez.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)237/22 : Nede compellyd hir to abydyn hym & prolongyn hir jurne.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.1331 : To prolonge of his deth the peyne, Vpon a boord he was leid along.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.483 : The Romeyns..Prolongid han the terme off his offis.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)50 : Tyl whan schal my dwellynge here be prolonged?
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)4421 : Had he ete..Of this fruyt..He had contunyd in hys glorie..And prolongyd eke his lyf.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)29/27 : He wolde neuer giff a respett in no cawsis in þe law, bod if it war to prolonge þe cauce.
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Hatfield (Hatfield 281)514 : The parlement..was prolonged into the xxijth day of Janeuer folowing.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.193 : Iulius Cesar sende in to þe weste partes..whiche prolongede his office by his awne auctorite by v yere.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)189 : The Parlyment was prolongyd tylle aftyr Syn Hyllary ys day.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)165b/b : It lettiþ þe consolidacioun of þe wounde and prolongis it.
b
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)1746 : Sythyn that I dye schalle, Qwerto prolonge I the tyme? sythyn yt must nedys be That I schal dye.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)316/4 : Many tymes he myght have had hir and he had wolde, but he prolongyth the tyme to this entente, for to have sir Launcelot du Lake to do batayle with hym.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)24070 : I..synge alway 'cras, cras'..and prolonge forth my dayes forto Resorten hom ageyn.
2.
(a) To delay; (b) to delay (an action, objective, etc.), postpone (sth.); (c) to keep (sb.) waiting or in suspense; also, delay (sb.) in an action, hold off; (d) ~ from, to keep (sb.) from (old age or its effects).
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.943 : Of swyche straungeris gretly is to drede, Ȝiffe men be..necligent..to wit what is her entent, but furthe prolong.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.OFools (LdMisc 683)84 : He..doth prolonge and tarye, With fair hestis.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1442 : I schal hem vnderfonge Lawly besechyng þat ȝe nat prolonge My purpos.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)391/817 : A day they sette, List no while prolonge it nor delaie.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)120/35 : Prolongyng þe tytil of þe secunde chapytir, I brynge to remembrauns be qwat mene þei þat wul labour in þis boke to vndyrstond þe phylisophyr.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)67/26 : Lorde..prolonge not [L noli..prolongare] þi visitacion.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3126 : Iason..to-fore þe kyng in cam..Þe kyng requeryng no lenger hym prolonge.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.758 : He had..Of gold resseyved huge quantite, To fyn only Grekes to be-traye, And to prolonge hem..and delay At þe sege.
d
- a1500 Hisp.SSecr.(Rwl C.83)4/28 : Let brenne..incense, juniper..or levis of þe baytre, And se þat þu receiue þe fume with þi nose..it..prolongith þe from age and lettith þe horenes of þe hede.
3.
To remove someone or something to a distance, put away.
Associated quotations
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)417 : Purlongyn, or prolongyn, or put fer awey; Prolongo, alieno.