Middle English Dictionary Entry
resǒunen v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | resǒunen v.(1) Also resoune, resounnen; sg.3 resouneth, etc. & resonet; p. resouned, etc. & (late) resounded. |
| Etymology | OF: cp. CF resoner, resonner & AF resuner; also cp. L resonāre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To re-echo, resound; return an echo; ~ of (with), ring with (a sound), reverberate with, be filled with; (b) to sound, make or utter a sound; also, to play (a tune); ~ in-to mirthe and pleie, make jokes, jest; sounen and ~, sing and sing; (c) ppl. resouninge as adj.: sonorous.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1278 : Swich sorwe he maketh that the grete tour Resouneth [vrr. Resouned, Resounnyth; bysounyd, Resoluyth, Dynned] of his yowlyng and clamour.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.413 : A fawkon..with a pitous voys so gan to crye That al the wode resowned [vrr. resounnede; resed] of hir cry.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)70/9 : Þan þare come oþer manere of nedders and dragones..And all þat cuntree resounned of þe noyse & þe hisszingez þat þay made.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14737 : Thys merour..Ys ycallyd 'Accordaunce', Resownyng [F est resonance] ay..To al that pryde lyst to seyn.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)133 : Thei..saugh..the stedes to neye and crye..that the hills and the medowes resouned [F retentisoient] all a-bowte.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)274 : The nyghtingale and these other briddes songen so lowde that the wode and the river resovned.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)473 : Hem a-scride so high that all the foreste resounded [F retentist & soune].
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4933 : Anthenor Was..Wel be-louyd..and of wordis wonder copious, Resownyng ay in-to myrþe and pley.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)56/16 : The nyghtyngale sovneth and resonett [L resonant].
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.49 : Orpheus, Whos dites wern so mellodyus That the werbles of his resownyng harpe Appese dyde the bitter wyrdys..of parchas and furies infernal.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.12.23 : He wente hym to the houses of helle, and ther he tempride his blaundysschinge songes by resounynge [L sonantibus] strenges and spak and song in wepynge.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)87.73 (v.2:p.104) : His harp, hangyng on the walle .. withouten ony erthely creaturis werkyng, resouned [L (Acta Sanctorum 19 May (May:v.4 (1685), p.362B): personuit] curiously and marveilously the antiphone of martirs, 'Gaudent in celis.'
2.
Of writing, speech: to proclaim a theme, insist on a topic; ~ ayen, disparage (sth.); ~ to (unto), emphatically express (sth.); ppl. resouninge, conveying a certain impression; resouninge to (in-to), emphatically expressive of (sth.).
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4353 : Inwardly myn herte I felte blede, Of hiȝe dispit, his clausis for to rede, Þat resownede..Only of malys to accusacioun Of þis women.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2510 : Þe dedly soun So pitously to Achilles is ronne, Of hem þat laye..With mortal woundes ȝeldinge vp þe breþe, With rowmble & swowe resownyng in-to deþe -- Swiche a noise Grekis made þere.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2156 : For me thouhte it was bet tabide On hir goodnesse, than thyng reherse in deede, Which myhte resowne ageyn hir womanheede.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14358 : I booste..whan that I..Ha..Achevyd, by my gret labour, Thyng resownynge to honour.
- 1532(?a1405) Lydg.FCourt.(Thynne)167 : She ne may..sustene To suffre her eeres any worde to here, Of frende nor foe..Amysse resowning, þat hynder shulde his name.
- a1605(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(2))23118 : Ther spak Detraction: quod she, 'I can a noble songe that aye resownythe vnto wronge.'