Middle English Dictionary Entry
senchen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | senchen v. Also senche, sinche & (error) schinke; p. (early) senchte, sencte; sg.2 (early) senchtest; ppl. seint. |
| Etymology | OE sencan, p. sencte. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. sinken v.
1.
(a) To drown (sb.), sink (sth.); fig. plunge (sb. in sin, etc.); also, drown (oneself with water) by drinking deeply [quot.: c1390]; (b) to sink, drown.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)69/759 : Þe reue..bigon to rowen swiftliche efter, forte reauin hit ham & i þea sea senchen.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)71/761 : Te sea sencte him on his þrituðe sum.
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)28/235 : Þu..hare fan senchtest [Bod: asenchtest] þat ham efter sohten.
- a1350 Middelerd for mon (Hrl 2253)56 : In sunne ant sorewe y am seint.
- c1330 *St.Marg.(2) (Auch)307 : In a fat ful of water he bed men schuld hir sinche [rime: wenche, biþenche, drenche; vr. schinke].
- c1390 St.Greg.(Vrn)156/1180 : Wiþ watur he wolde him senche [rime: swynke, drinke, brinke].
b
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)68/588 : Þe reue..iþe [read: i þe se] senchte.
- c1300 SLeg.Nich.(Hrl 2277)98 : In þis peryl sauue ous er oure schip adrenche, Louerd Nicholas, sauue ous þat we her ne senche.