Middle English Dictionary Entry
seuen v.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | seuen v.(2) Also seu(e, seui, sou(e(n, souwe(n, sue, saue, (early) soui, (early SW) seuwi; sg.3 seues & souiht; pl.impv. seueth, etc. & seuitz, (early SW or SWM) seowið, seo(u)weð; p. seued, etc. & seuet; ppl. seued, etc. & iseued, siued, isoued, hissouede, saude, (SW) isuwed, (early) isued, (early SW) iseuwede, iseouwed. |
| Etymology | OE seowian, siwian, seōwan. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To fasten (sth.) by sewing; stitch (leaves, pieces of cloth) together; sew together the constituent parts of (sth.); ~ to, sew (one document) to (another); ~ togeder; (b) to mend (sth.) by sewing, patch; (c) surg. to sew up (a wound, an orifice); sew together (a broken sinew, edges of a wound, etc.); sew up a cut in (a bodily member or organ, skin); ~ afore, ?sew shut (a wound) externally; (d) to stitch shut (a hole, letter, bag); sew up (a stuffed pig).
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(Hrl 2277)52 : Þis was lo a god moder..euere as heo hem sende cloþes..heo wolde heren sende isued [Ld: i-seuwede] stille wiþinne.
- a1325 SLeg.Becket (Corp-C 145)671/1846 : In þis ssipes seil anhey þis holyman let do Þe crois þat me uer ysey hy ssowede [Hrl: isowed; Ld: Iseuwed] faste þerto.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.3.7 : Þey sowyden to gyþer [L consuerunt] leues of a fyge tree & maden hem breches.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.685 : A vernycle hadde he sowed [vrr. sewed; shewed] vp on his cappe.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)145/2 : And sewe no mo pacches þeron, turninge aȝeyn to þy synnes: for as mony synnes and uices, so mony cloutes and pacches in þe soule.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.16.16 : And thou takynge of my clothingis, madist to thee heiȝ thingis, on eche side sewide togidre.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)7b/ b : Assuo: sow to gedre.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)20b/b : Desuo: to sowe by hynd.
- ?a1425(a1400) Brut-1377 (Corp-C 174)297/8 : Þe wemmen..lete hange fox tailes sawyd beneþe with-inforþ hire cloþis, forto hele and heyde hire ars.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)193/11 : After þat þay [pieces of cloth] be dreyed, sewe þe peces wiþ sotilte and þai schal drawe to þe lippes.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2280 : Þis twaylle y-bordryd abouȝt was..Abouȝt þe tombe for honestnas Hit was y-sowede in lengthe & brede.
- (1464) Doc.in Rec.B.Nottingham 2376 : Paied to John Knyght for his exspenses..as it appiers in a cedule to þis sewed.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)60a/b : Abouen al þis he wolde sowen a lynnen clooþ wiþouten ony oþer byndynge.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)149b/a : If þe rolle muste be so long þat it nede to be sewid in manye placis, alle þe grettiste parties of þe semes schal be alle on þe to side.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)165b/b : Euery man þat is woundid in þe face schal wiþ a strong coyfe faste bounde aboute þe heed þat þe rollis moun be weel sewid in euery goynge aboute þe heed.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Josh.9.4-5 : Þei þat dwelte in gabaon..tokyn to hem metys, olde sakkys to þe assys onputtynge & rent wyne botels & souwed [WB(2): sewid; vr. pacchid] & fol olde shoon þe whiche to þe doom of oldnes been souwed [WB(2): sewid togidere; L consuta] wiþ patchis.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.21 : Dobet shal..sende þe to satisfaccioun for to sowen it after.
- a1456(a1426) Lydg.Mum.Hertford (Trin-C R.3.20)193 : Wryng hem..Til þat some tyme we make hir nases bleed And sowe hir clooþes whane þey beoþe to-rent.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)97/6 : Ponthus..founde a pylgreme that had his govne sved full of patches and a cappe full of broches.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.165 : Kerving þe cloþe all to pecis, Þat seuene goode sowers sixe wekes after Moun not sett þe seemes ne sewe hem aȝeyn.
c
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)75/16 : It was a wounde þat was sowid eiþer brouȝt togidere with byndinge.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)340/7 : Woundis ben sewid & ben maad hool wiþouten regeneracioun of quitture.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)65b/b : If a nerue be disrupte, i. brosten in brede, þan is necessarie forto sewe [L suere] it.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)133a/a : Þan þe mirak oþer þe vttermest skinne sewed [read: be sewed] bi him silf.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)133a/b : Sewe hem [guts] in þe maner as skynners sewen her forours.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)139a/b : Conduce þe parties of nerue þat is kitte and sewe hem wiþ a wexed þrede.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)155b/a : Þe lippes of þe wounde moste ben strongelye constreyned to gidere..and sewed wiþ depe sticches.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)148/27 : Leue it so open þre dayes and no lenger..And afterward sewe it [windpipe] and flesche it.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)179/21 : Þan was he takyn vp & hys heuyd was sowyd.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)423 : Amon..bowes to hire belechiste & bigly it sewys, And sethen asselis it him selfe.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)37b/b : Galien..comaundiþ þat in sewynge of þe woundis of þe wombe to sewe al Mirac wiþ Ciphac.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)61a/a : Thanne vpon þe same wounde so y sewid, leye þe poudre þat serueþ for sewynge of woundis.
- c1475 *Bk.Marchalsi (Trin-C R.14.51)62a : Open the skynne of the hors..doo the crosses with-in, And sewe a-fore the wounde, that hit falle not oute.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)21a/1 : If the wounde be so gret that the byndyng suffice not, sewe the wounde with a squar nedyll.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)21a/20 : Thowe þat þe oderyke and many othir say contrary, it is good and nedefull to sewe the synewe with a nedyll. Whan thowe sowes the wounde, sewe þe hedes of the senewys to giddir aboue.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)60/4 : Eche stede of þe body þer þe wounde be and he be brod þou hyre most sue and take with knottys.
d
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1201,1204 : Myself to medes wol the lettre sowe..Yif me the labour it to sowe and plite.
- a1425(a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)104.32/3 : Take sawge, persel..and fylle the gees þerwith, and sowe the hole þat no grece come out.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.36 : Fylle þy bagge þat is so gode, And sew hit fast.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)68 : Fars the pige and sow it.
2.
To encase or enclose (oneself, a body) by sewing; sew (a body) into a shroud; ~ to, sew (a hide) around (sb.); ~ togeder on, ~ upon, sew together (sacking) to cover (one's skin).
Associated quotations
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2592 : Þe skinnes sat saddeli sowed to hem boþe, as hit hade ben on þe beste þat hit growed.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3060 : Sche wold..be sewed In an huge hindes hide.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Job 16.16 : I souwede [WB(2): sewide togidere; L consui] a sac vp on [WB(2): on] my skyn & I couerede my flesh with askes.
- a1400(?a1325) Bonav.Medit.(1) (Hrl 1701)956 : Þys body was leyde vpp on a shete; To anoynte and sewe hyt, downe þey sete.
- (c1400) Higd.(1) (Hrl 1900)535 : On caas ȝe mowe kepe my body ȝif hit is sewide [vr. ysuwed] in hertes lether.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2299 : They bussches and bawmede þaire honourliche kyngis, Sewed them in sendell..Lappede them in lede.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)487/17 : Onone as sho war dead, þai sulde sew hur in a harte-skyn.
- a1475(a1450) Tourn.Tott.(Hrl 5396)64 : Þay sowed þam in schepe-skynnes, for þay suld not brest.
- a1475 Sidrak & B.in Centaurus 12 (Lnsd 793)227/5595 : And þei þat ben of þat cuntre..Her visages to hide þei begynne Wiþ netis bladdres i-blowe þerynne, And in blak sewen hem also For þe fisshe schal fle hem fro.
3.
To produce (clothing, etc.) by sewing; also, turn (material) into (vestments) [quot.: PPl.A(1)]; ppl. seued, produced by sewing; also fig. [quot.: a1398]; also, ?woven [quot.: Pep.Gosp.].
Associated quotations
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)215/20 : Ah schapieð & seowið [Nero: seouweð; Cleo: seoweð] & mendið chirche claðes.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)88/34 : Hu se euer hire kurtel beo i scheaped oþer i seouwed [Cai: ishoweð; Corp-C: iheowet], heo is livnes make þet ich habbe i speken of.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1497 : Þo was his curtel odde, and ysowed myd no þrede.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)427 : Fourti knihtes douȝtres he wolde haue of fraunce, forte souwe selk-werk and sitten in his chaumbre.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.330 : Whan that they knewe that they were naked, they sowed [vrr. sewed, sowedin] of figge leues a manere of breches to hiden hire membres.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)248b/a : An hegge semeþ as it were y-sewed with suche soules.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19766 : Cristen sco was and euer fus Abute all werkes of almus, Bot namlikest of oþer thing To seu þe pouer þair clething.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)7.19 : Ȝe loueliche ladies..Þat han silk & sendel, sewiþ [vrr. sewytz, souweþ] it whanne tyme is, Chesibles for chapellis chirches to honoure.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)98/20 : Bot his kirtel hij seiden hij ne wolden nouȝth renden, for it was siwed al hole.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)466 : Sowe clothys or oþer thyngys: Suo.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)628 : Sche couþe sewe ful wele A ladyes atyre euer ech a dele.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1925 : Laches me þis losengere..Þat I may..A side slauyn him sewe & send him to his modire.
- (1477) LRed Bk.Bristol2.180 : Persones of the Craft of Sutours..haue vsed and yett vseth to sowe Shone and Botes the Saturday aftour nonne vn till darke nyght.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)7076 : Off sylke he hade one a shorte Wrought of a wondyr worke, Sowyde bothe well & clene.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.63 : Qhoo shulde..shapyn þinne clothis or sowyn hem?
4.
To engage in the act of sewing; sew (a stitch); also, sew with (a kind of thread).
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.(Hrl 2277)520/160 : Myne honde me beoþ bynome, þat y nemay sowi [Ld: sevwy] nespynne.
- a1400(?c1280) SLeg.Nativ.M&C (Stw 949)116 : From vndren fort mydouernon to hire werk heo wolde sitte, Spynne or weue oþer sewi.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)3053 : We have noght half oure fil of brede; For þe best, þat sewes here any styk, Takes bot foure penys in a wik.
- a1450 Chauliac(4) (Cai 336/725)9/10 : Iren instrumentis..Summe ben to sewe wiþ, as nedlis & pipis.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)67/112 : How doth oure dame? At hom sytt she and sowyht.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)59 : She thawȝth hyt curtesye and thewe, Golde and sylke for to sewe, Amonge maydenes moo.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)136/18-19 : Þis man..toke hys schone to hym and began forto sawe on hit, And as he sewet full helt..he wondyd hymselfe.
5.
To ornament (sth.) with stitching, embroider; ~ in, embroider (a figure) on a background.
Associated quotations
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)570 : Hir heed was tressed queyntly, Hir sleues sewid fetously.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)24 : Hir sadille semyde of þat ilke, Semlely sewede [Dc: Saude] with sylke.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)111/27 : Þe Pope..merueiled longe on þe beute of þis curteyn..for he þoute he wold sowe it new.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)113/10 : It is determyned..þis man Gilbert..schal be halden in honour and reuerens as a Seynt; Sowe him In, þerfor, with þi nedel.
- (1459) Will York in Sur.Soc.30236 : j par linthiaminum sewed with white silke.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1480(c1450) Barlaam (2) (Peterh 257)59/2115
: By þe fyrst frende is vnderstonde þe loue þat a man haþ in grete possessiones, and ryches, and wordly good, for þe whych a man puttyþ hymself in many grete perelis, and suffreth grete desese and turmente. At þe laste whan he is deed, of al his grete ryches and wordly good hw shal naȝt haue with hym to his grave but a lytel clothe to sowe hym in.
Note: ?sense--per MMNote: Probably belongs to sense 2.:"To sew (oneself) into a shroud".--per MLL.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)20/13 : When it is welle sodyne, thrust oute the juse of þe poket & sywe it abowt his hede as hote as he may suffre hitt.
Note: sense= ?bind.--per REL
Note: This looks most like OE siwian variant of seowian. Perhaps='bind' or 'tie'. Clark-Hall Dictionary has 'knit together, unite' in sīwianv.--per REL
- a1450 SLeg.Suppl.Bod.(Bod 779)343/8 : & for hy noldin ben I-knowe: of what stede hy were, sone for to sowy: anon hy lernyd þere.
Note: This text has a number of verbal 'y's where one doesn't expect them--so the 'y' here probably isn't usual.--per REL
Note: For sense 4., don't need this for date, but this form is only 'early' in the current quots., and the meaning might be 'to sew leather.' We could check Latin [filed in suppl. boxes] per REL
Note: Latin: (DLMBS) "sutorius of or pertaining to the making of shoes...(b)(w. ars also as sb. f.) shoemaker's craft or trade."
Note: So, the Latin (from the Suppl. box) "sutoriam artem...didicerunt" may be translated "[they] learned the shoemaker's art". So the gloss 'to sew leather' seems appropriate.--per MLL