Middle English Dictionary Entry
ridden v.
Entry Info
| Forms | ridden v. Also rid(de, ride(n, (SEM) redden, rede & (early) rudde, ruden; p. rid(de, ride, (SEM) redde & (early) rudde; sg.2 (early) ruddest; ppl. rid(de, ride, ridded, i)rud & (in names) red(de-, rudde-, (?error) rodde-. |
| Etymology | Prob. OE *ryddan, p.ppl. geryd; also cp. ON: cp. OI ryðja, p. ruddi, ppl. ruddr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. redden v.
1.
(a) To clear (an area) of debris, etc., make bare; ~ up; ppl. ridde, clear, bare; (b) to clear (an area, a way) of opposing warriors; also, refl. clear oneself a path through opposing warriors; ~ abouten, clear a space of enemies; also, clear (an area) of enemies around (oneself); (c) to clear (a path, way), prepare; clear (a way) for (sb.); vacate (a path) for (sb.) [last quot.]; (d) to clear away (clouds); ~ of, clear out the internal organs; (e) to complete (unfinished business); ben ridde on, be rid of (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- (1421) Indent.Catterick in Archaeol.J.757 : Ye forsaide Nich' and his felaws schalle make ridde ye groundes in ye watir ware ye brigge schall be of alle sydes And in ye mydwarde ware itte is most nedefull.
- (1439) *Indent.Birm.PL : Þe forseide Roger schall stokken & ridden þe forseide medue for hur bothe avayle.
- (1442) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 7117 : Joh Walschef for v dayys to kast sond and to ryde ye ele, xx d.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2561 : Þe vrthe also þey caston from þat plase away, & vondeden þat place & made hit ryde.
- (c1470) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.2.p.lv : Þe seid grounde..shuld have be ridded and made by þe seid John after þe tenure and forme comprised.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1533 : Sone he raght vpon rowme, rid vp þe dykis, Serchit vp the soile þere þe Citie was And byld vp a bygge towne of þe bare vrthe.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3334 : Wiþ swerd he gan about rede; Sum he binam scholder & arm And sum þe liif.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)5306 : Þat he was gode kniȝt he kidde, Biforn him þe way he ridde.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7896 : Al at ones her main þai kedde And large roume about hem redde.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8277 : Ich dede his launce go Þurthout a paien oþer to And redden hem wiþ miȝt fin, Til what þai come to Kehedin.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2234 : He lep on his owen stede And wiȝth gan aboute rede.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3356 : Þat he was gode kniȝth he kedde, For meynlich aboute he redde [LinI: ryd]; A dozein he slouȝ to on hep.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6478 : He rid hym a rowme in a rad hast, Of þo tulkes, with tene, þat hym take wold.
c
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)93 : Ðo þe þe weie makeden biforen him bien folkes lorþeawes, bisshopes, and prestes, þe mid here wise lore rideð and maked godes weie in to mannes heorte.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)133 : Ich sende min engel biforen þine nebbe þe shal ruden þine weie to-fore þe.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)1229 : Jhesu..haþ irud vs þe way þer vchone of vs þat wole, he may To þe blisful ioye come.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23813 : Es þar na wai be-for vs ridd [Frf: rid; Trin-C: rud] Cun tak us better þan we did.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6733 : The remnond full radly rid hym the gate, fflagh all in fere, and the freike leuyt.
d
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1344 : So ryde þay of..bi þe rygge bonez, Euenden to þe haunche, Þat henged alle samen.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)123/7 : The rakke of þe rede skye full rappely I ridde; Thondres full thrallye by thousandes I thrawe when me likis.
e
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)528/9 : He was clere and fullie rid on hur.
- (1467) Stonor1.96 : I have a lytyll besynes yet in my hervyst; as sone as I cane ryd that, I schall se both yow and my Nawnt.
2.
(a) To free (oneself); ~ from (oute of), free (sb.) from (hell); ~ of, rescue (sb.) from (death, enemies); (b) to exempt (sb.) from a combat; (c) to relieve (sb.) of a problem; (d) ~ of (oute of), to free (a realm) from (sb.); (e) to separate (combatants), rescue from each other; also, settle a dispute.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)67/737 : Ne lef þu neauer to þi va þin ilicnesse þet tu ruddest of deað þurh þi deað o rode.
- a1250 Ancr.(Tit D.18)144/4 : Ich wile for þe luue of þe nime þis fiht up on me & swa rudde þe of ham þat ti deað sechen.
- a1250 Ancr.(Tit D.18)144/9 : Þe king..Rudde hire of hire fan.
- a1250 Ancr.(Tit D.18)144/35 : Hwer to ne mihte he wið lesse gref haue irud us fram helle?
- a1250 Wooing Lord (Tit D.18)273 : Þu..lesedes tine prisuns and riddes ham ut of cwalm hus.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1046/20 : I drede them more for youre sake than for ony feare..I have of them myselffe, for I may happyn to ascape and ryde myselff in a grete nede where, madame, ye muste abyde all that woll be seyde unto you.
b
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)364 : Ryche to-geder con roun, & syþen þay redden alle same, To ryd þe kyng wyth croun, & gif Gawan þe game.
c
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1347 : Þe king þai rad to ride, A quen to him þai souȝt þat tristrem miȝt abide.
d
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5335 : So rid he this rewme of my ranke fos.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5343 : Rid me þis Rewme out of ronke Enmys.
e
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2246 : Here ar no renkes vs to rydde, rele as vs likez.
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)57 : He was worthiere in witt..For to ridde and to rede and to rewlyn the wrothe.
3.
Ppl. ridde in surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.90].
Associated quotations
- (a1200) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)448 : La Rede-diche.
- (1274) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)88 : La Redlond.
- (1284) in Kristensson ME Top.Terms84 : Henr. de la Ruddegate.
- (1296) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)154 : Rudefolde.
- (1296) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames163 : Joh. atte Rededene.
- (1296) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames165 : Brun de la Redeweld.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1089 : Laurencio ate Rydelonde.
- (a1300) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)448 : La Reddyke.
- (1327) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)154 : Ridefold.
- (1327) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames164 : Joh. ate Roddelond.
- (1363) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames164 : Ric atte Redelande.
- (1369-85) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)466 : Rudelond.
- (1383) in Fransson Surn.201 : Will. Redlondere.
- (1390) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)5.153 : Les Ridelondes.
- (1398) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.152 : Rydefurlang.