Middle English Dictionary Entry
sẹ̄ǧen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | sẹ̄ǧen v. Also sege; p. seged(e, seget, seiged, seggede; ppl. seged(e, isegede, seget, sieged. |
| Etymology | From sẹ̄ǧe n.(2); also cp. ONF segier ?to besiege (FEW 11.411b). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. assegen v., bisegen v.
1.
(a) To besiege (a city, stronghold, etc.), lay siege to; besiege (sb. in a fortified place); ~ abouten (enviroun); (b) ppl. seging, besieging, laying siege; (c) to beset (sb.); ~ abouten, surround (sb.) with hostile intent, entrap.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.1.23 : Þei segedyn [WB(2): bisegiden; L obsiderent] þe cite.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)16.266/477 : He was seget of his faas.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2046 : This Cite was..sieged al aboute.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.271 : Sir Edward..dight him to Berwik; No stounde wille he duelle, bot seged it also quik.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2668 : To Tebe toun Hij wenten and seged it enviroun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3135 : He..with Grekis cam to sege our toun.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20449 : Scotes and pecthes segede war [L obsidebantur].
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3011 : They the cete myghte see that the kyng seggede.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)59/8 : Tytus..segit Ierusalem.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)3171 : Þei segede yt on ylka syde with men of ermys.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5553 : Þe kynges hoste..seges þaim sharpely twa dayes.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.377 : The Romanes..entrede in to that streyte place as for to socoure that cite y-segede [L obsessæ].
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)429 : He toke and segede the towne of Vanes.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)147/13 : He deposed the consull..for by cause he wolde suffre himselfe to be segeed [F asseger] in his lodgeing, whiche..he had enforced with dyches and a grete pale.
- a1500(?c1400) Song Roland (Lnsd 388)83 : A sweuyn he met..that he..the cete seigid about.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)8717 : The kyng Harkes hath seged hym here.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10601 : Þo souerains were of asent..Þerein batell to byde & the burghe sege.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.303 : Kyng Roberte then sieged the Percy..But Vmfreuyle hym anon rescowed.
b
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.123 : All other of all Britayne..With their enemies then met..And vaynqueshed theim at Lyncolne then seging, For whiche they fled..þat syege leauing.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.16.2 : Whan philistienys haddyn seen..Sampson to han comyn in to þe citee, þei seegidyn hym abowtyn [WB(2): cumpassiden hym; L circumdederunt eum].
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.118 : Crist toke awey þe vesselis of men þus segid wiþ fendis whan he dide awey her synnes.
2.
To evacuate the bowels or bladder.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)98a/b : Þat þer be had..a bed of al matrizez in which he lye, And if it be nede, be it persed for to sege.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)98b/a : Þat þer be had..a corde hyngyng aboue þe bed or som oþer þing for to lene one or..help hym selfe when he wil sege [Ch.(2): ese hym; L ascellare] or raise hym vp.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)159a/b : When he oweþ for to giffe a medicyne to any man..it bihoueþ for to wyte how he seged [Ch.(2): was esed at þe sege; L assellabat] whilez he was hole.
3.
?To make a fortress of (a place); ?inhabit (a place).
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judith 5.3 : Who ben þese puple þat þe hillis segen, & what maner & hou fele ben þe cites of þem?