Middle English Dictionary Entry
redden v.
Entry Info
| Forms | redden v. Also red(d)e; p. red(de, (early) readde; ppl. red(de, ired, (early comp.) readre. |
| Etymology | OE hreddan, p. hredde. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. aredden v., ridden v.
1.
(a) To save (sb. from enemies, Satan, death, etc.), deliver, rescue; (b) to rid (sb. of an encumbrance), free (sb. from pain); ppl. redde, freed from guilt.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8126 : He..wollde himm sellfenn mirrþrenn, Acc mann grap þa þatt cnif himm fra To reddenn himm fra dæþe.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)19316 : He þurrh hiss dæþ Uss redde fra þe defell.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.Creed (Trin-C B.14.52)19 : Ac ure louerd ihesu crist..mid his shorte deaðe lesde hem ut of eche deaðe and mid his eðeliche sore redde hem ut of eche sicnesse.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)10057 : His hors hine bar..ouer þat water deope and readde hine fram deaþe.
- c1330(c1250) Floris (Auch)785 : Þe children þerwiȝ fram deþe he redde.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8596 : He vnderstode soþ þing..Þat þai hadde wele yked, Fram deþ when þai him hadde red.
- a1400 Ancr.(Pep 2498)76/19 : Sche red al hire folk fram þe deþ þorouȝ her bone.
- a1400 Ancr.(Pep 2498)169/1,7 : Ichille for þi loue nyme þis fiȝth vpe me and so rede þe of alle þine fon þat þi deþ sechen..Þis kyng dude al þis, redd hir of hir fon.
- a1400 Ancr.(Pep 2498)170/6 : Whi ne miȝttestow wiþ lesse greue han yredd vs fram helle?
b
- a1300 Ancr.(Cai 234/120)14/3 : Hwase heled awiht [in confession], he naued iseid nawiht, for hwon he beo þe readre [Corp-C: skerre], As is ilich þe mon þe haued on him monie deathliche wunden & schawet þe leche alle & let healen buten on þat he deied uppon.
- (?1481) Paston (EETS)1.666 : My lady is nere wery of hyr parte [in a dispute between two Pastons]..for fayne she wold be redde of it, wyth hyr onowre sauyd, but yette money she wold haue.
- a1500 Falm.Squire (Lamb 306)130/221 : Sonne, all the saintes that bethe in hevyn..For to redde me of this payne, They haue no power for to helpe me.