Middle English Dictionary Entry
rā̆pen v.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | rā̆pen v.(2) Also rappe; p.ppl. rāput, rā̆pt(e. |
| Etymology | L rapere, p.ppl. raptus; cp. AF raper, OF rapir. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To abduct (a woman), ravish, rape; also, seduce (a man); (b) to seize prey; (c) to carry off (sb. to heaven from earth, from one place to another); fig. transport (sb., the soul, its sight) in an ecstasy; ppl. rapte as adj.: in an ecstatic trance; (d) to fix (a certain time), set; (e) ~ and rennen, to seize and make off with (sth.), perh. confused with rapen v.(1).
Associated quotations
a
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)1457 : I..neuer dede seche In ethna flowrs wher..Proserpina was rapt.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)1084 : Hyr wedow wedes scho layd away, and [gart] hi[r] face to schyn os glasse, [and cl]ed hyr in full rych a ray; ffor so scho trows to rape Iudas.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.197 : Cadmus, son Agenoris, sekenge Europa his sustyr..whiche was rapte by Iupiter [Trev.: þat Iupiter hadde i-rauished; L a Jove raptam]..chosede to lyve in exile.
b
- (?1387) Wimbledon Serm.(Corp-C 357)91/480 : Rauenes fisches haueþ sum mesure. Whan þey hungreþ, þey rapeþ [vr. rapyn]; but whan þey beþ fulle, þey spareþ.
c
- c1390 11 Pains(3) (Vrn)p.251 : Þe visions of seynt poul wan he was rapt in to paradys.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4502 : In þis wyse wer þe breþre tweyne To heuene rapt.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)217/21 : Sche hadde be al rapte in loue to eendelees God.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)234/29 : This is þe doctryn of liȝt comynge and procedynge of þat glorious liȝt, whereynne a soule renneþ rapte in loue and is arayed wiþ my truþe.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)240/37 : Þat deuoute soule was verrily goostly drunke by vnyoun of loue by þe which sche was alienyd and rapte fro hersilf and her bodily feelynges.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)343/20 : Þat soule þanne oonyd hersilf in so greet perfeccyoun in þat holy trynyte, þat her body was rapte up fro þe erþe.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.4203 : Summe bookis seyn he was rapt in a cloude, Hih up in heuene to be stellefied.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.25 : Helyas was rapte in this tyme.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)361/165 : In pheso I was prechyng..and by a whyte clowde I was rapt to these hyllys.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)268/1 : Anon he was raput in slepe and segh þe kyng of blysse syttyng yn his maieste.
- a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193)24 : My said sawle was meuyd and rapte from the inward part of my body vn to my mowthe.
- a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193)27 : With the reflection of the lyght and bryghtnes..the syght of my saule gostly was rapt and taken fro hit.
d
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.309 : He mad delay; Þe tyme he wild not rape, no set a certeyn day.
e
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1422 : Ye shul no thyng wynne on that chaffare, But wasten al that ye may rape [vr. rappe] and renne.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?1482 Rev.Monk Eynsham4 : How a certeyn deuowt person..was rapte in spirite by the wille of God.
Note: Cf. OED rapt, adj. I. 2. 'Transported spiritually, by religious feeling or inspiration.' with phrase under b. rapt in (the) spirit.
Note: Additional quot., sense 1.(c), ?new phrase.