Middle English Dictionary Entry
scā̆th(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | scā̆th(e n. Also skath(e, sckathe, scaithe, skaith(e, scate, skate, scade, skade, skagh & (N or NWM) schath(e, schaithe & (in names) scait, skeithe & (error) scaye; pl. scathes, etc. & scathen, skafhes. |
| Etymology | ON: cp. OI skaði; some forms in sch- may belong to ME shathe n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Harm, injury; loss, damage; misfortune; danger; also, a harm, danger; to ~, to (a person's) harm or detriment; (b) harm or injury resulting from battle or war; defeat; (c) harm resulting from punishment; a punishment; (d) law pl. monetary losses, damages; (e) physical defect; (f) reproach.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1300 Sirith (Dgb 86)235 : Wat, god wilekin, me reweþ þi scaþe.
- c1300 SLeg.Magd.(2) (LdMisc 108)501 : Sethþe to þe flum Iordan heo ladde me ful raþe, with-oute harme and siȝht of man and with-oute schame and scaþe.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)302 : Euerilc ðhing haued he geue name Me to sorge and scaðe and same.
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)165 : Þarfore him thoght both skath and skorn þat þis oynement so was lorn.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)44.312/238 : Ofte we seo falle such chaunce þer an vuel mon wol take veniaunce Of mon wiþ whom he is wraþe And on him self falleþ al þe scaþe.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10898 : Þere shepe gone wrong besyde þe paþ, Þe shepard cryeþ for drede of skaþe.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)6344 : Þan he drou þaim vp at þe first, widuten ani skade or brist.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)4.83 : Haue þis of me, man..to amende þi skaþe [vrr. skate, scaþis].
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)380 : Lat haue him out of hall and skape withowten skath.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.938 : But he was slayn..Unhappily at Thebes al to rathe, Polymytes and many a man to scathe.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)443 : Scaye [read: Scaþe; Win: Scath]: Dampnum, dispendium [Win: Preiudicium].
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.1106 : And al the wesshe out of thi bathis The gardyn thorgh to go, therto no scathe is.
- c1440 Treat.PN(2) (Thrn)261 : For swylke may þay be when þay say it, that it es mare to thaire skathe þane to þaire gude.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)49/141 : Nowe certis and we shulde skape fro skathe And so be saffyd..My commodrys and my cosynes bathe Þam wolde I wente with vs.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)321/35 : 'In pynyng payne bees he parred'..'Ȝaa, and with schath of skelpys yll scarred.'
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)10984 : Trew prophettes of god allmighty..þem gart scho spyll dyspytfully; þer none myȝ skape with owtyn skathe.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)515/5 : He satt with his awn skathe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)53/51 : If thou..bryng me home to kyth and kyn, by the way that I walk in, without skathe and in quarte, I promyse to the..shall I hold holy kyrk for ay.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)4570 : Þere may he goo sikerly Wiþ-outen scaþe of his body.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12700 : Þe remnond..held hom on hofe in the hegh sea; All the skathes thai skepe of þo skire hylles.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13672 : Ascatus þe skete, for skath of his sones, Miche water he weppit of his wan chekis.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)192 : He schuld don his hond, Þis ich wo amende raþe, Þat þai no hadde no more scaþe.
- ?a1400 Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Petyt 511)7740 : Scaþe [Lamb: he wolde so sende to Vortymer To gyue hem leue a-wey to wende Wyþouten slaughter].
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)626/9 : Kynge Marke toke of hem many presoners to redresse the harmys and the scathis.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1810 : To skape out of skathe and sklaunder to falle, In obregyng of batell & buernes to saue.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6042 : Agamynon..commaundyt..Other feris opon fer the freikes withoute, With skowte wacche for skathe & skeltyng of harme.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11509 : Wherfore, to qwheme & to white vs of skaithe, Euery buerne..Helpis now hertely þis harme to redresse.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)86 : With skathe were þei skoumkyt [read: skoumfyt]; skape þei ne myght.
c
- a1350 Ne mai no lewed (Hrl 2253)15 : Of scaþe y wol me skere.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23338 : For þair misfar suld þai not murn Ne ans for þair skathes [Göt: schathes; Phys-E: schaþis] skurn.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)600 : He may not dryȝe to draw allyt, bot drepez in hast And þat watz schewed schortly by a scaþe onez.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)1020 : Þo bostful dedes Wherfore ȝe holde ȝou her hiest on erþe, Schal ȝou procre to pryde and to no profit ellus, But skaþe for ȝoure unskile whan ȝe skapen hennus.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)1154 : So was scho sauyd from scath and scorne.
d
- (1407) Doc.Coldingham in Raine N.Dur.104 : He ore yai be fullily assethit of his hale somme of siluer togider & on a day with his costes & scathes gif ony be in ye mene tyme in owr defalt.
- (1423) RParl.4.199a : Ye said Erle and the said Friere Thomas Botiller and hare kyne afterwardes recettyd and confortyd the saide William Thomasson in hare Contree, where none execution of lawe myght be hade ayeins hym, to harmes and skathes of the said Lord a m £.
- (c1426) Paston2.510 : The same William and other certeyn persones of his affinite..haue greuousely and wrongfully disherited and put oute the same Juliane..of a mesuage with xix acres of lande arable, vij acres of heth with the appurtenauncez..the scathes to the same Juliane duryng the said yeres lvij li., with-oute her harmes of strepe and waste.
- (1434) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.16 : It mote be leefful to þe seyde william, or his attournes, in þe seyde landis to distreyne, and þe distressis to kepe and witholde vnto tyme that þat þe forseyde ferme, togedris with þe harmys and scathis þerfore yhad, fully be payd and satefyed.
e
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.1116 : Conuenyent hit is to knowe, of bathis Whil speche is mad, what malthis hote & colde Are able, ther as chynyng, clift, or skathe is, To make hit hool and watir wel to holde.
f
- a1450(a1387) PPl.A(2) (RwlPoet 137)12.17 : Hit were boþe skaþe and sklaundre to holy cherche.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)9188 : 'Pylgryme..What sey men þere of me?' 'Syr..ye schall here: Schame and skathe on all manere.'
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)9716 : Þerfore if þou shalt speke ay-whore, Avise þervpon byfore As wel as þou can Þat it be scathe to no man.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4932 : The Troiens be told as for triet foles, Ne excusit of skathe & sklaunder of pride.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5103 : Hit is skille for his skorne, þat he scathe thole; And not cherist but chastist, by charge of his foly.
2.
Wrongdoing, sin; an evil or injurious deed; theft; ~ takinge, theft; with ~, wrongfully.
Associated quotations
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2314 : Ðis sonde hem ouertakeð raðe And bi-calleð of harme and scaðe.
- c1390 Ilke a wys (Vrn)46 : He lettes nouþer for skaþe ne skorn Þi goodes..Trust nouȝt on hem after to-Morn.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)909 : To sceu þi scath [Göt: schath] be noght vnkid, þou sal haf euer þi heued hid.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28161 : Quen i sagh oþer men mistad, Of his fare wald i be gladd, For his ded and his vn-hele, For skath takyng of his catell.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)3.57 : Lechery..is a frelete of flesche..Who may scape þe sklaundre, þe skaþe is sone amended; It is synne of seuene sonnest relessed.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)21 : Nif he nere scoymus and skyg and non scaþe lovied, Hit were a mervayl to much.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)196 : Þat ilk proper Prynce þat paradys weldez Is displesed at uch a poynt þat plyes to scaþe.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)2/11 : Gete þi tunge, þu speke na scaþe, and tine lippis fra iuel.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)990 : But for oure kinde consience þat kenneþ us to goode, We wonde wikkede werk and wende fro skaþe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13130 : He skope fro the skath of thies skathell men.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13404 : This Ascatus with skathe skerrit of his rewme Pelleus.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13601 : Aschatus with skath wold skirme to þe deth.
3.
In verb phrases: (a) don ~, to cause harm or injury; commit a crime or sin; harm or injure (sb. or sth.); wrong (sb.); don ~ to (unto), harm or wrong (sb); (b) werken ~, to cause harm or injury; waiten with ~, waiten scathe(s, harm or wrong (sb.); kill (sb.); (c) turnen (scapen) to ~, fallen ~ to, to result in harm or trouble to (sb.); (d) cacchen (geten, haven, henten, lacchen, limpen, taken) ~, to sustain harm or injury.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)269 : He sette..Grith-sergeans wit longe gleyues To yemen wilde wodes and paþes Fro wicke men that wolde don scaþes.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1881 : God sente on ðat erdfolc swilc dred, Ðan here non iacob scaðe ne dede.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4520 : Þai..On hem schoten bi wayes and paþes And dede þe sarrins gret scaþes.
- c1390 NHom.Virg.to Devil (Vrn)20 : Þe ffend..wolde do skaþe to his ladi.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)12340 : Ȝyt þer ys an vnþryfte Þat doþ moche skaþe yn shryfte, Þat þou defendest þe fro plyȝt And puttest þy synne on God almyȝt.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26186 : Þou mai til anoþer gang, Fra þi preist þi scrifte to tell Quen..þou him haue don priue scath þat him to scau þou wat war wath.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)2509 : To ihesus wald þai do no skayth.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)3684 : Aiþer haved done oþer scath.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.207 : Criseyde, which that nevere dide hem scathe, Shal now no lenger in hire blisse bathe.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20122 : Cheldryke on ce for thoght his aygh; On lande he come and dide gret skagh.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)77/31 : Eloquence wit owtten witt & wisdom dose ofte-sythes mare skathe þan gude.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)105/15 : Þay sall breke oute and do mekill schathe & slaa many men.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1333 : So may a synful man do scath Vnto him-self & oþer bath.
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)358/28 : The pepil of London ranne þider and wolde haue don moche harm and scathe yn hir wodnesse.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.926 : Theire vynes were florisshed and hugelie lade..Ther was no tempest þat dide hem scathe.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)p.521 : Ȝoure goddis that ȝe hafe haldyn in honur, ryse and cum to helpe ȝou if thai may, and sen thai may do ȝow noght bot skath.
- c1500 Castle Love(3) (Ashm 61)144 : Oure herytage we schuld haue And we hade not don þat skathe.
- a1500 I comawnde alle þe ratons (Rwl C.228)13 : God graunte..þat [non] raton dwelle in þe place..thorgh þe vertu of sent kasi..þat prayed to god almyty for skafhes þat þei deden.
b
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)447 : Sipes ge sinkeð & scaðe ðus werkeð.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1352 : Dwelling haueth ofte scaþe wrouth.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)850 : Ðere he werken sckaðe and bale.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)6718 : Þus fele þai slouȝ of haþen Þat schuld hem no more waite scaþen.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5987 : Þeft he wyl on hym wyte, Or ouþer skaþe he wyl hym weyte.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.62 : Þe bisshop sent to þe kyng, for socour him bisouht; Whan Malcolme herd it say, no more skaþe he wrouht.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)99 : Was noȝte þe Rede Knyghte so rathe For to wayte hym with skathe.
c
- a1400 Preste ne monke (Cleo B.2)84 : Be war ay with þe lymitour..& þai make maystries in þi bour, It shal turne þe to scaþe.
- (1441-2) Let.Coldingham in Sur.Soc.12127 : Thay wratte to me thatt yf we sould make that eschannge hyt war lykly to turn to greytt schaythe and loose.
- a1500 Idley Instr.(Hrl 172)1.847 : Turne the to scathe [vr. turne þe scade; Cmb: Clymbe no hyer þan þou may reche belowe, ffor drede lest þou be ouerthrowe And falle so depe into the slade That euer after it myght turne to shade].
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)9726 : A man shulde..speke not to rathe Þat shulde turne oþer to scathe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8897 : I haue not errit in anythyng..Þat hase skapet vs to skathe, ne to skyre harme.
- c1616(1463) Plumpton Let.p.lxix : When any turble or enterprise was leke to fall hurt or scaythe to the Kings people, the said Sir William Plumpton, with oder suspected, rejoyced.
d
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10648 : Sey me þe soþe, and, as y am knyȝt, Þou ne shalt haue for me skaþe ne plyȝt.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)4054 : Þorou goddis help he had na skaþ.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)4.65 : Pees putte forþ his heued & his panne blody: 'Wiþoute gilt, god wot, gat I þis skaþe.'
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)151 : He watz so scoumfit of his scylle, lest he skaþe hent, Þat he ne wyst on worde what he warp schulde.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1186 : Þenne watz þe sege sette þe cete aboute, Skete skarmoch skelt, much skaþe lached.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.Lear (Göt Hist 740)152 : In þe same lof þow lofys me noght..Qwarof þou gettys both harm and skath.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)292 : I dare saye fore Scottlande, þat we them [read: then] schathe lympyde; When þe Romaynes regnede, þay raunsounde oure eldyrs.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3119 : Than skyftes þes skouerours and skippes on hyllis, Diskoueres for skulkers, that they no skathe lymppen.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)14418 : Why suld I suffer swylke myscheue of all men to haue scath and skorn?
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)252 : He began to dotur and dote, Os he hade keghet scathe.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)188/18 : Scotlonde had never scathe syne ye were crowned kynge.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)330/143 : Therfor thise daies he has takyn skath; Vnto the ded, withoutten hagh, Thise Iues hym dight.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)4173 : For þe body may take no scathe But if þe herte fele it rathe.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)7867 : Þe body..shulde, if it might not see, Cacche scathe and harme tite.
4.
A matter for regret, sorrow, or pity; it (that) is (was) ~, etc., it (that) is (was) a pity, etc.; thinken no ~ ther of, to think something no cause for regret.
Associated quotations
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2006 : But it is of him mikel scaþe: I woth þat he bes ded ful raþe.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2298 : Iosep ne ðoht ðor-of no scaðe.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)1542 : Sir, in þe sond he liþe, & þat is scaþe.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.446 : But she was som del deef, and that was scathe.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.1172 : Heere for the wyues loue of Bathe, Whos lyf and al hir secte god mayntene In heigh maistrie, and elles were it scathe.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.87 : For soth it was gret skathe, his passage was fordone.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)674 : Bi Kryst, hit is scaþe, Þat þou, leude, schal be lost, þat art of lyf noble.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)488 : It is moche skaþe, boy, þat þou art on lyue.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1859 : To me it es ful mekil skath.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)5045 : It was gret scaþe [vrr. pite, ruthe], be Jhesu Cryste.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)678 : That was grete scade [F ce fu grans damages] that thei sholde die so soone.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)7565 : Skathe is that Fayre Welcomyng, Without any trespassyng, Shal wrongfully in prison be.
5.
In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1202) Assize R.Lin.in Lin.RS 22654 : Herbertus f. Scaitman.
- (1202) Assize R.Lin.in Lin.RS 221034 : Herebertus f. Skeitheman.
- (1239) Assize R.Lan.in LCRS 47170 fn. : Le Schath.
- (1278) Assize R.Lan.in LCRS 47170 : Simon del Schath.
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 2160 : Thoma Skatheman.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)167 : Thus yede Pharien and grassien and leonces…and ledde with hem her peple for to kepe her londe and her contrey, that the kynge Claudas ne dede hem no stade.
Note: New spelling