Middle English Dictionary Entry
rāven v.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | rāven v.(2) Also rave, rafen. |
| Etymology | ?ON: cp. Icel. rāfa; also cp. OF raver, late 15th cent. var. of resver to stray. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To wander, stray, rove; ~ awei, of the mind: to wander, be distracted; fig. stray morally, deviate (from what is right); also, ppl. raving as adj.: wandering, straying.
Associated quotations
- c1390 I wolde witen (Vrn)65 : Vchon trouweþ þat oþur Raue.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)665 : Resoun, of ryȝt þat con not raue, Sauez euermore þe innossent.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)292 : Vnto no hird þai wil tak kepe, Bot raykes forth als raueand schep.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)362 : A priores..beres þe charch of a hird-man..And hir awn sawle wele may sche saue Al if hir schepe vnryght wyl raue If scho gude techyng tell þam to.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)198/159 : Allas, for ruthe now may I raue, And febilly fare by frith and felde..To seke I schal noȝt cesse Tille I my souereyne see.
- a1500(a1450) St.Robt.Knares.(Eg 3143)578 : He..to the Erll Roberd gayse And for a cowe he com and craued; He graunte hym ane that wytles raued.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)173/234 : With sich wylys and crokys My wytt away rafys!