Middle English Dictionary Entry
quailen v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | quailen v.(1) Also quaile, qualle, whaile, wailen, weilen. |
| Etymology | MDu. quelen, queilen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To grow feeble or sick; ppl. quailinge as adj., of a part of the body: enfeebled, weak; -- used fig.; (b) ppl. quailinge as adj.: having a morbid craving (with regard to sth.); (c) to decline from a good condition; break down, give way; (d) of an action, argument: to prove unsuccessful, come to nothing.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.51 : Þerfore men puttenge hit [Africa] the thrydde parte of the worlde folowede..reasones of diuision, departenge hit as a wailenge [L languidam] parte in the wurste site and ordre from the besteplaces.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.81 : There be men also of v cubites, whiche dye not, neither waile [Trev.: eueleþ; L languescunt].
b
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Serv.& L.(Corp-C 296)228 : Ȝif ony man techiþ oþer wise..he is proude, no þing kunnynge, but weilynge or languyshynge aboute questiouns & fiȝttynge of wordis.
c
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.1775 : Euery thyng..that maketh resistens Ageyn nature, ful soone wil it quayle [vr.qualle]; With-oute nature may no thyng avayle.
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)1071 : Better were a thing never to [be] had Than in handes to quaile & to be badde.
d
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.1019 : The emperour thought To asaye hym-selue with his preuy counsayll ffor to conquere hir, but it avayleth nought; ffor whan moost nede is, his resons will quayll, Soo weel can oure mayden hir proporsyons rayll.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.322 : An hasty Iuge..Is not gretly forto preise..he..Ought to geve Iugement al by ease..than shall he..in his maters not lightly faille, Noother his werkis shall not quayle.