Middle English Dictionary Entry
rāpe n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | rāpe n.(2) |
| Etymology | AF rap(e (var. of OF rat) & AL rāpum, rāpa. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
a.
Forceful seizure of somebody or something; plundering, robbery, extortion; ?also, a plundering raid [1st quot.]; hasti ~, quick recapture, quick rescue; don ~ to, to plunder (a realm); (b) the act of abducting a woman or sexually assaulting her or both; appel of ~, a legal process (against sb.) for rape; (c) booty, prey; til his ~, for his prey.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1350 Ballad Sc.Wars (Jul A.5)212 : Bot soffid sal be mani of stede, For res þat þai sal after ride, And seen sal leaute falsed lede In rapes sone after þat tyde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5176 : Grekis, raþer þan he shulde eskape From her hondis in þat hasti rape, Caste hem pleynly þat he shal be ded.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4923 : We may..Nauther ruder [read: redur] ne rape to þis rem do.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)282/22 : I sey þei [priests] beþ entited of rape þer no rape is.
- a1456 Marmaduke SSecr.(Ashm 59)210/17 : If þe king absteyne him..frome violent rape of þe moneye of heos subgettes, þat is a certaine token þat in hyme is verraye and gret bounte of vnderstonding.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)199/29 : I shall..reherce the places and townes where many of thyn haue inhabited as longe as the vitailes and rape of goddes might susteyne thaim.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)233/12 : This ignorance and faute of hert is cause of..the rapes [CQ(2): rapyne] wherof the peeple complayneth.
b
- (1291-2) Doc.Manor in MP 3458 : W. de G. fecit Rape in domo Richardi Topat Mitild Coln.
- c1425 Treat.10 Com.(StJ-O 94)30 : Agaynes þis commandement [the seventh] dooth he þat usuth any rauen..Rape is of nonnes or maydenes & wedues, etcetera.
- (1436) RParl.4.497b : There the seid Besecher felonousely and moste horribely ravysshed, and her naked, except hir Kirtyll and hir Smokke, ledde with him into the wylde and desolate places of Wales; of the which rape he to fore the Kinges Justices atte Lancastre is endited.
- (1439) RParl.5.15b : Yenne ye seide Margaret may have hur appele of Rape by Writte..ayenst the same Lewse for the seide Ravysshment to hur by hym don.
- ?a1450 Chaucer TC (StJ-C L.1)4.596 : It is no rape in my dom, ne no vice, Hir to withholden þat the louest moost.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3539 : Vnto Menelay..was told Of the rape vnrightwis of his Riche qwene.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21920 : Ded sal rug us til his rape.