Middle English Dictionary Entry
scō̆rnen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | scō̆rnen v. Also scorn(e, scoren, skorn(e(n, schorne(n, scorni(e, skorni & (chiefly early) scarne(n, skarnen, (early) scoarnen; sg.3 scorneth, etc. & (early) scarned; ppl. scorning(e, etc. & (errors) scornenynge, scornenand; p.pl. scorneden, etc. & shorned; ppl. scorned(e, etc. & scornet, iscorned, iskorned, iskournud. Contractions: scornestou, scornesthou (scornest thou). |
| Etymology | OF escharnir, AF/ONF escarnir, ONF eskarnir, AF charnir. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To be contemptuous; hold (sb. or sth.) in disdain, despise; ppl. scorninge as adj.: ?disdainful, scornful; (b) to bring (sth.) into contempt.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230 Ancr.(Corp-C 402)59/18 : Ȝeoueð godd ower heorte i softnesse..nawt nu granin..keaste þe heaued swa þet godd heateð hire & mon hire scarneð.
- c1330 Le Freine (Auch)62 : Þan was þe leuedi of þe hous a proude dame & an envieous..squeymous & eke scorning.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Prov.14.9 : The fool scorneth synne [WB(2) Gloss.: that is, hath for nouȝt to do synne].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2332 : They wol yeue yow audience and lokyng and supportacioun in thy presence and scorne thee in thyn absence.
- (a1392) Clanvowe 2 Ways (UC 97)70/512 : Swiche folke þe world scoorneth and hooldeþ hem lolleris and loselis, foolis and schameful wrecches.
- c1400 Vertues & (Bod 416)17 : Riȝtwisdom is not dred, and mercy is but scorned.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.1 : Heer Iohn Bochas scorneth & hath disdeyn Of thre maner folk.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)91 : Prey I that he wol me spede My sweven for to telle aryght..And sende hem al that may hem plese That take hit wel and skorne hyt [vr. scorneth] noght.
- c1450(c1400) Rev.Jul.Norwich (Add 37790)51/17-18 : God scornes hym and he schalle be scornede.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)106/5 : Folk wil scorne þe and set nought be þe.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)215 : Hys hors slod and fel yn þe fen, Wherefore hym scornede many men Abowte hym fere and wyde.
b
- c1450(?c1425) St.Christina Mirab.(Dc 114)129/48 : She monyshed..prestys and clerkys þat synned..leste by hir excesses þey schulde scorn þe good name of Cryste amonge þe pepil.
2a.
(a) To act contemptuously; treat (sb. or sth.) with contempt, disregard; ~ ayenes (to, with); (b) to abuse (sb.) sexually.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)7397 : Forr ȝiff þeȝȝ herenn ohht off Godd & skirrpenn þær onnȝæness, Þa beþ hemm ȝarrkedd..werrse pine..Þann iff þeȝȝ haffdenn herrd itt nohht Ne skarnedd tær onnȝæness.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1420 : Aȝen þis ffoure þinges þe gyewes oþer þinges þouȝte ffoure Wiþ wuche hi þouȝte oure lord to skorny and vnhonoure.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)1941 : Ȝe be nice, euerichon, Þat sitten here and scorn me.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.1.13 : Þe Egypcyens hatidden þe sonnes of yrael & tourmentidden, scornyng to hem & enuying.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.91 : Þe bisshop Elphegus was..wiþ dyverse peynes i-scorned [Higd.(2): illuded] among þaym.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.213 : Tostius seide þat naciouns of fer londes schulde sette riȝt litel by þe pope his curs, while it was so i-scorned of þeoves þat wonede þer nyh.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)709 : Now haf þay skyfted my skyl and scorned natwre.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.982 : That doth me to han so gret a wonder That ye wol scornen any womman so.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Jer.38.19 : Y am angwischid for the Jewis that fledden ouer to Caldeis, lest perauenture Y be bitakun in to the hondis of hem, and thei scorne me.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.Lear (Göt Hist 740)331 : Regan so wyth hym schornyd, Agayne to Gonorill he turnyd.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1642 : Discoueres now sekerly skrogges and oþer That no skathell in þe skroggez skorne vs hereaftyre.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)372 : Was neuer Waspasian so wroþe as whan þe wyes come Þat wer scorned & schende.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)204/20 : Why puttes þou a-wey from þe þi Makere..and skorneþ hym þat is þi Lorde?
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)129/13 : Þat hert is neuer aferd to suffre paciently what þat euer is don to it; þe more it is scornid of oþer, þe more worthy it is to god.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.305 : We arn bondyn to helpyn our bodely fadir & moodir..nout bannyn hem ne harmyn hem ne skornyn hem for non age.
- c1500 Little Child.Bk.(2) (Ashm 61)57 : Scorne not þe pore ne hurte no mane.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.19.25 : Þe man broȝte out to þem his secoundarie wif & to hem he took hir to ben scornyd [WB(2): defoulid].
2b.
(a) To refuse; -- also with inf. phrase; reject (sth.); shun (sth.), avoid; (b) to shrink, quail; ~ with, ?flinch from (sth.) [some quots. in 2b. may belong to scurnen v.].
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)21901 : Al liuande þing on sere maners dos þair deuerre & skornis [Göt: warnes] noȝt..& man wiþ-draghis his seruise.
- a1425 Wycl.MCh.(Bod 788)412 : Certis werriouris wolen scorne þis resoun, þat if a man be capteyn, he is heed.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20290 : He tok his suerd hight calborn, Girde him þarwith he wald noȝ scorn.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)448 : Schornyn, or a-chewyn: Vito.
b
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)42.309/102 : Sone heo gon schome and schorne.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5130 : Ȝyf þou art yn gode wyl To serue God..Repente þe nat for no feyntyse..Þou shuldyst raþer to þe deþ turne Ar þou shust wyþ hys seruyse scorne.
3.
(a) To speak slanderously; speak ill of (sb. or sth.), calumniate; (b) to blaspheme (God).
Associated quotations
a
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)94/214 : Bi-foren he þe bimenid, bi-hindin he þe scarned [Jes-O: teleþ; Mdst: biteleþ].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.379 : Synnes whiche that many a man per auenture ne demeth hem nat synnes..whan that he by lightnesse or folye mysseyeth or scorneth his neighebore.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4908 : Yn hys ȝouþe shal he mysseye And skorne ouþer by þe weye.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.225 : 'I nile not scorne [vrr. schorne, skorne þe],' quaþ scripture, 'but scryueyns liȝe, Kinghod & kniȝthod..Helpiþ nouȝt to heuene.'
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)177/6 : Mony schullen folewen here lecheries, bi þe which þe wei of soþnesse schal be scorned.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5499 : I mene tho freendis that wole fle Anoon as entreth pouerte..They calle hem 'wrecche', scorne and blame [F Blasmant les vont et diffamant] And of her myshappe hem diffame.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)10a/b : Blasphemo: to scornen, to blame, to bagbyten.
- a1450(?1418) The herrere degre (Dgb 102)6 : After foly folweþ þe shame, Repreued of frendis and scorned of fo, After þy dede, ressayue þy name.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)108b : To Scorn..scandalizare.
b
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3484-6 : Skorne nat God ne wyþ hym chyde, More pryde no more synne Þan skorne god [F Qe blaspheme & reneierie] mayst þou falle ynne.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)167/14 : Þei þat foulen here flesch..dispisen lordschup and scornen [WBible(1) Jude 1.8: blasfemen] maieste.
4.
(a) To mock, ridicule; ~ on (to, with), mock (sb.); ppl. scorninge as adj.: mocking, derisive; (b) to ridicule (sb. or sth.) with words, laughter, actions, etc.; mock (sb. or sth.), deride; (c) in proverb; (d) to jest; ?also, waste time by bantering [last quot.].
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)554 : Ȝif i told him..what liif for longyng of loue i lede for his sake, He wold wene i..witerly schorned, or þat i dede for despit to do him a schonde.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 18.27 : Helie scornede to hem, seiynge, 'crieþ with a more voice.'
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 2.13 : Othere scornyden, seyinge, 'For thei ben ful of must.'
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.264 : Þan ȝede ilk a Pikard, scornand & makand ryme, 'Lorn is now Edward Gascoyn in alle his tyme.'
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)2.81 : Fauel..feffeth bi þis chartre To be prynces in pryde..To scorne [C: scornie] and to scolde and sclaundere to make.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (LdMisc 210)17/20 : To be syker at þe Day of Dome fro þe scornynge wretthe and wodenes of God..before alle oþer bokes oon I chese þat techeþ euery man..to be Cristes broþer.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.57.4 : On whom scorneden [WB(1) (Bod 959): pleyeden; L lusistis] ȝe? on whom maden ȝe greet the mouth and puttiden out the tunge?
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)118/20 : Þei scornen [F se mokent] whan thei seen ony strange folk goynge clothed.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)145/24 : Cam..saugh his fadres preuy membres naked..& schewed hem with his fynger to his bretheren in scornynge wise.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)346 : There was..the janglynge pye, The skornynge jay.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)204 : Þey..broghte hym furthe be-fore þeme thus sayande & scornenand..Be-holde..how he stode..be-fore so grete a multitude of folke roreynge and cryenge 'do hym one þe crosse,' scornenynge as he hade bene a fole.
- (1449) Paston (Gairdner)2.104 : Dey bade me do my wurst by cause I had so fewe schyppys and so smale that they scornyd with me.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)12814 : Abowt was mony bold ebrew to welcom þem..with..skornyng wordes gud wone.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)395/8 : Þer was þer-vppon dawnsand a huge multitude of fendis..skornand with þer mowthes and clappand with þer handis.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.96 : Thoughe thy feelowe in defaute be founde, Make therof no laugheng, sporte, ne Iape..Vse not to scorne and mocke as an Ape.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)73/270 : Why cry ye so, laddis, lyst ye skorn [rime: lorn]?
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)49 : 'I love you as mych as I owe to loue my Fadire'..leyre wenyd that she had skorned.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)126/13 : Hweðer se he deð, scarnið [Nero: schorneð; Tit: scoarnes] him, lahheð þe alde eape lude to bismere þurh treowe bileaue.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.5 : Ȝunge childerne and wylde boyes also For the wonder suede hire and scornede hire therto.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1487 : Þat on þeof þat by Ihesus was anhonge skornede him also.
- c1330(c1250) Floris (Auch)481 : 'Wiltou sen a ful fair flour?'..'To scorne me is litel honour.'
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)211/8 : He þet wile scornj ane dyaue, he waggeþ þe lippen onlepiliche and makeþ semblont to spekene and naȝt ne zayþ.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)24.2 : Ne ne schorne nouȝt myn enemis me.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.506 : It is a shame that the peple shal So scornen [vr. scoren] thee and laughe at thy folye.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Par.30.10 : Þanne corouris wentyn swiftli fro cite vn to cite þurȝ þe lond of effraym & Manasse vn to ȝabulon, hem scornynge & vndirmouwynge hem.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.27.29 : The knee bowid or folden bifore hym, thei scornyden hym, seyinge, 'Hayle, kyng of Jewis.'
- c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)543 : Noli irridere senectam..homme de veilage Ne serras gabaunt..In old mon is childes wit..scorn him not.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.635 : Afterward speke we of scornynge..and namely whan he scorneth [vr. scoreneþ] a man for hise goode werkes.
- a1400 Þo oure lord god (Mrg M 957)p.320 : Men..scholde to here aloute, and so hy doþ by myn hod, ac hy skarneþ þe ȝute.
- c1400 *Aelred Inst.(1) (Vrn)238 : Swiche men sumtyme beþ yskorned in here slep of þe deuel by fantasies of fowl lust.
- (c1400) Higd.(1) (Hrl 1900)7.515 : Duke Robart..dide his noble pal about the ymage of the grete Constantyn and scorned [vr. schornede] therwith the Romayns that wolde namelich oones a ȝere ȝeve her lord a clothe.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.m.1.14 : Cruel Fortune..is so hard that sche laugheth and scorneth the wepynges of hem, the whiche sche hath maked wepe.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.12.168 : 'Scornestow [vr. scornesthow thow] me,' quod I (or elles, 'Pleyestow or disseyvistow me').
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)105/22 : Sum scornyd hir and seyd þat sche howlyd as it [had] ben a dogge.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)56.88 : Of this dede..the peple..seiden, 'for hunger the kyng weneth deye,' and thus they him scorned be many weye.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)97/10 : 'Frende, we wolle chaunge our govnes'..'Ay Ser,' said the pylgreme, 'ye scorne me.'
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)64/6 : Thei were mocked and scorned of all folke for her leudenesse.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.236 : Alle þe berdles burnes bayed on him euere And schorned him, for his slaueyn was of þe olde schappe.
- ?c1475 *Trev.Nicod.(Sal 39)139a : Ihesus was ytake to pylatus and was yskourge and ybete and yspate and yskournud.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)21.6 : All seand me scornyd [NVPsalter vr. shorned] me; thai spake with lippes and wagid the heued.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)4290 : Whit folk he sayd he schuld be hent, scornet, scourget, sputte opon.
c
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)4/37 : It is seid, 'Deridens alios non inderisus abibit: He that skorneþ other men shal not go away vnskorned.'
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.601-2 : He that reioishith to scorne folk in veyn, Whan he wer lothest, shal scorned been ageyn.
d
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7118 : As moche as..The same [read: sonne] sourmounteth the mone..I scorne not that I yow tell, Right so..Sourmounteth this noble euangile The word of ony euangelist.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)3b/b : Alludo: to scorne.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)108b : To Scorn..Alludere.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)121/177 : Peasse, boy, I bad no more Iangling, Or I shall make the full rad..with thy gawdys; wher ar oure shepe, boy? We skorne.
5.
To act deceptively; deceive (sb.), fool, trick; act deceptively toward (God); cheat (nature); refl. delude oneself.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)211/8 : He spekþ to god mid mouþe ac þe herte spekþ oþre speche..zuych uolk, þet zuo biddeþ god, him scorneþ.
- (a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Bod 959)33/130 : Parlypomynon..is sych & so mych þat who so euer with outen it wyll prowdly take to hym cunnyng of scriptours, scorne he hym self.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Ob.1.7 : Alle men of thi couenaunt scorneden or disceyueden [L illuserunt] thee.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Gal.6.7 : Nyle ȝe erre, God is not scornyd; forsothe, what thingis a man schal sowe, and thes thing[es] he schal repe.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3194 : Þys was shewed hem for to warne, And þat God no man shuld scorne [vr. scarne]; Ypocrysye, þys ys þe synne.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)12481 : Skorne nat, and seye þou wylt forsake Þy synne, and eft aȝen hyt take.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.27.12 : If my fadir touchith and feelith me, Y drede lest he gesse that Y wolde scorne [WB(1) (Bod 959): begyle] him.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)150b/b : He þat may not dele with & gendre, ioyne hym not wiþ a womman; Nature forsoþ shulde be bigiled or scorned.
- a1450(?1400) In blossemed buske (Dgb 102)35 : Flateryng is the fendis scoles..Ȝe skorne lordes and make hem ȝoure foles To playe and lawhe at ȝoure delys.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)33/10 : Als ofte we scorne God as we hym biseche when we to hym þis preier make, þat is, þi rewme come to vs.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)625 : She [Fortune] goth upryght..The dispitouse debonaire, That skorneth many a creature.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)190/35 : Why hast þou thus scornyd me..I bad þat þou schuld bryng thy wyf to me, and þou hast brouȝt Marie.
- a1500 Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)477 : We ententiefly wern to biholden, lest..with any maner of treason we shuld bien betraied, or in any maner of sum mans techyng with voice any vs beiaped or scorned.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)54/27 : Þhe dyeuel…And þet yef hit him ne is naȝt worþ he him zayþ. 'eth and drink ase þe ilke and þe ilke; uelaȝrede þe behoueþ hyea[l]de yef þe wylt þet me ne scorne þe naȝt.'
Note: Gradon corrects Morris's 'storue'
Note: Additional quote(s)
- c1460 Chaucer CT.WB.(Hrl 1239)987 : [Hng: Hoom he qooth; he myghte nat] shorne. [The day was come þat homward moste he tourne].
Note: was under sojournen v.--but the spelling seems too far removed from sojournen. It prob. goes w. scornen, perh. 2b.?--per REL