Middle English Dictionary Entry
seien v.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | seien v.(2) Also seie, seȝen & (error) sepe; sg.3 seȝes, seis; pl. seȝe(n, etc. & segeth; p. sied, (early) sæht. |
| Etymology | OE sǣgan |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. sien v.(1).
1.
(a) To sink, fall down; ~ aslepe, fall asleep; ~ doun, fall down; perish; also, sit down [quot.: Wars Alex.980]; ~ on, befall (sb.), descend upon; (b) to go, proceed; ~ hethen, ~ of lif, pass out of life, die; ~ to, advance, approach; proceed to (a place); (c) to pass in time, elapse; hit seied to, it proceeded to (suppertime), it was time for (supper); (d) to happen, turn out.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2232 : If ge beniamin fro me don, Dead and sorge me segeð on.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)14022 : Thelameus..smot Philomene that he doun syed ffor [read: ffro] his hors.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)980 : He seis [Dub: sittes] doune in þe sete with septer in hande.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2043 : Seȝes doun on aythire side segis out of nounbre.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4844 : Þai seȝe doun sodanly, slane of þaire blonkis.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6579 : He frusshet to a freike..Þat sodenly he seit doun, soght out of lyue.
- c1650(a1450) Death & L.(Pcy)36 : In my seate where I sate I sayed a-sleepe.
- c1650(a1450) Death & L.(Pcy)453 : Thus fared I throw a ffrith in a ffresh time Where I sayd a-sleepe in a slade greene.
b
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1879 : His sawle schulde be saued when he schuld seye heþen.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1388 : Bernes..Seȝes to on ilk syde & a saute ȝeldis.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1481 : Now seȝen þai to þar Sinagogis.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4333 : Ne seȝes na segge of oure sede sodanly of lyue.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)716 : Wele semys suche a sachell to sepe [read: seye] þus of lyfe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2512 : Then he bowet the buerne & busket to syt, Seyit furth with sory chere, and his sete toke.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7129 : After settyng of þe Sun þai Seyn to þe ȝates.
c
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)353 : Fro seven dayez ben seyed, I sende out bylyve Such a rowtande ryge..Þat schal wasch alle þe worlde of werkez of fylþe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3398 : When yt seyit to Sopertyme he seruyt hir well.
d
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2279 : He þoðte heo to habben to his awere bihoue, & oðer weis hit sæht.