Middle English Dictionary Entry
senǧen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | senǧen v. Also senge, singe, cinige & sēngen; sg.3 (K) zength; p.ppl. senged, sengt, sein(ed, seind(e, sein(k)t, saind & (error) senlt. |
| Etymology | OE sengan, sæncgan. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To burn (sth. or sb.), scorch; also fig.; ppl. senged, singed, scorched; also, ?broiled [quot.: c1390]; ppl. senging as noun: a burning thing.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)229/27 : Þet uer..zengþ and bernþ ofte þe huyte robe of chastete and of maydenhod.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)103.5 : Þat makest þyn angeles gostes and þy ministres sengeand [vr. brennyng fure; L ignem urentem].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4035 : Hir bord was serued moost with whit and blak..Seynd [vrr. Saynd, Seynde, Seyned, Seyn] bacoun and som tyme an ey or tweye.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.349 : Who so wolde senge a cattes skyn, Than wolde the cat wel dwellen in his in.
- ?a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.Lev.(Cld E.2)23.11 : The eeris of corn weren sengid in fier.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)453 : Seengyn, wythe fyyr: Ustulo.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5206 : We sall his cite & him-selfe synge in-to poudire.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13703 : A wekke, Old and hydous, Off look and cher ryht monstrous, Pyled and seynt as any kaat, And moosy-heryd as a raat.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)407 : Seengyd, sumwhat brent..Sengyd [Hrl 221: Senlt; KC: Sengt; Phil: seynkt] with fyre: Vstillatus.
- a1485 *Hrl.1735 Cook.Recipes (Hrl 1735)113 (f.16v) : A tarte of fysche: tak fyggys & reysingis & cynige hem.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)102/339a : Vstulo, cremare: to synge [singe]
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Ayoub tentatively identifies the word in the Hrl.1735 recipes as belonging to 'chinen' v. (to split, burst), which is possible, but that verb appears to be exclusively intransitive, and does not elsewhere mean either 'peel' or 'cut up.'