Middle English Dictionary Entry
shẹ̄lden v.
Entry Info
| Forms | shẹ̄lden v. Also sheld(e, chelde, (N) sceild & shild(e(n, (N) child(e, (SW & K) ssilde, (K) silten, (chiefly early) scild(e(n, (chiefly early SEM) sild(e(n & shuld(e(n, sholde, (chiefly SW) ssuld(e, (early SW) sculde(n & (error) schide; sg.3 shildes, etc. & (early) scildæþ, shilt; p. (early SWM) sheldede, scelde, shilde, scilde; ppl. shelded(e, shilded, (SEM) shilt. |
| Etymology | OE scildan, scyldan, sceldan, sceoldan; for sense 3. also cp. ME shẹ̄ld n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To protect (sb., oneself, sth.) from harm, save, defend; (b) ~ from (with), to protect (sb.) against (sb. or sth.), save (sb.) from (sb. or sth.); -- also refl.; also, ~ from (oute of), free (sb.) from (sth.); (c) to afford protection (against sth.); ~ from (with); (d) to shield (the eyes).
Associated quotations
a
- a1200(?c1175) PMor.(Trin-C B.14.52)336 : He sal him cunnen silde wel ȝief hit him nele screnche.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3753 : Nennius hæf vp his sceld, scilde hine sulue.
- a1225 Seinte marie clane (Roy 5.F.7)3 : Sainte marie uirgine..onfo, schild, help þin godric.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1253 : Hwanne ich iseo þat sum prechede [Jes-O: wrechede] Is manne neh, inoh ich grede, An bidde inoh þat hi heom schilde.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)34 : He is hirde, we ben sep; Silden he us wille.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)130 : Ðis neddre..makeð seld of his bodi & sildeð his heued.
- a1300 Moder milde flur (Corp-O 59)23 : Swete leuedi, sschild þu me þat min soule ne cume þer-in.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)559 : We schullen schilde [Corp-C: ssulde] þe.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)2013 : Al his folk so was schilt, And neuer on þer nas spilt.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.21 : Þe auctores..I take for schelde and defens, me for to saue and schilde aȝenst enemyes.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.6334 : He with that an Arwe hath hent..Bot Jupiter, which wolde schylde The Moder and the Sone also, Ordeineth for hem bothe so That thei for evere were save.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.188 : What goost may yow enspyre, This womman thus to shilde [vr. schide], and don us leese Daun Antenor?
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)7355 : Mercurius, þat vs saues & schildes, Haþ vs brought vnto þys yldes.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)578 : Torrent had slayne the dragon Ryght; Thus gan god hyme scheld.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1472 : We er vtterly vndone bot dryghten vs shelde [Ashm: help].
b
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)31/4 : Heo [betony] hyne scyldeð wið unhyrum nihtgengum.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)102/13 : Þe englæs..heom scyldæþ wið hearde stane, þæt is, deofel.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)110/28 : Drihten, þu..heom scyldest wið alle yfele þingum.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3794 : Enngless..frofrenn þa þatt wakenn wel Onnȝæness laþe gastess, & stanndenn inn to shildenn hemm Fra deofless swikedomess.
- a1200(?c1175) PMor.(Trin-C B.14.52)308 : Late we þat god forbet alle mankenne, And do we þat he us hat, and silde [Eg(1): scilde; Eg(2): sculde] we us wid senne.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)538 : Þu..scild þe wið [Otho: sild þe fram] dæðe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6129 : Heo gunnen heongen sniues..vnder heore barme to scilden heom wið hærme.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10057 : His hors hine bar..ouer þat water deope & scelde hine wið [Otho: readde hine fram] dæðe.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)11 : Þe deuel..bringeð him on helle wowe; crist us þarwið silde.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)107/6 : Fortitudo..is niedfull to scilden godes temple fram alle unwines.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)44/14 : Seint austin seið þet forte schilde þi feader from deað ne schuldest tu nawt lihen.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)199/8 : Nawt ane þis scheld ne schilt us from alle uueles, ah deð ȝet mare -- cruneð us in heouene.
- a1225 PMor.(Dgb 4)st.167 : Se narewe wei is godes hesne -- þer vorð vareð wel viawe; þet bieð þo þet hier ham silten [Eg(1): sculdeð] wið echen vnþeawe.
- a1300 Al fram ehvuele (Em 27)1 : Al fram vuele þinge me schulde iesus.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)167 : Nou lete we Iosep ride, God ssilde him from care.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)11845 : Leteþ..euerech god man..bidde oure Drihte..þat he me scilde fram Frolle þan wilde.
- c1300 SLeg.(Hrl 2277)516/33 : Whan hit so is, to schulden ous fram care, Þu schalt nyme þyne tuei sones & in to Attenes fare.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)214 : An bodeword ðer he him forbed, If he wulde him silden fro ðe ded, [etc.].
- a1325 Heil beo þou Marie Mylde (StJ-C S.30)8 : Schuld me fram þe fende.
- a1325 SLeg.Patr.(Corp-C 145)222 : Iesus, Iesus, help me nou and ssuld me fram my fon.
- ?c1335 Swet ihc hend (Hrl 913)p.85 : Fram þe schoure of pinis sure Þou sild him her and þare!
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1776 : Þe brutons þo of þis lond, to ssulde [B: schulde] ȝam fran [read: fram] ssame, Chose hom a niwe king; asclepiod was is name.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7195 : Ȝif me poer hit to telle..þat hii..hom amendi so Þat hii ssilde [B: scholde] hom fram þe harm þat þou þencst hom do.
- c1350 Mayde and moder (Arun 57)5 : Mayde and moder mylde..uram zenne þou me ssylde.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1803 : He þat was in bedleem born..schilde us fram schenchip & schame.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Th.(Manly-Rickert)B.2098 : God shilde his cors fro shonde.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1244 : He can noght himselve schylde Fro no peril.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Devil Phys.(Phys-E)p.151 : Pray we..that godd..child us fra the fendes seede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25112 : Lede þou us in na fanding, Bot scild [Frf: kepe] us fra iuel thing.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25383 : Wit-in þis bon þar-for prai we þat he us sceild fra iuels all.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.407 : Holicherche..he[r]berwe is..to saue And shelden vs fram shame þer-inne as noes shippe did bestes.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)114 : To schilde þiself fro schame, haue him furth.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)2 : Almyghti God..schilde his servandes out of syn.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3 : Now grett glorious Godde..Schelde vs fro schamesdede and synfull werkes.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)421 : Lede vs in-to no fondynge, But schelde vs alle from euel þynge.
- a1450 SLeg.Fran.(2) (Bod 779)570 : Lord, Ic þe bydde..þat þou wit þy passyoun vs chelde al fram synne.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)2.74 : Schewe þat to þi souereyne to schelde him from harmes.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)341/93 : Mightfull god, shelde vs fro shame.
c
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)125/30 : Syn hi clenȝeorne, ȝeþyldiȝe & eadmode, scylde [L caueant] hi æfre ȝeorne wið uppahafenesse & wid modinesse.
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(Hrl 2277)301 : 'Me neschal wiþ noþing,' quaþ þe deuel, 'schulde fram mi poer So wel as þurf his passioun.'
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)440 : For hit watz playn in þat place for plyande greuez, For-to schylde fro þe schene oþer any schade keste.
d
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)26/250 : Ne mahte ich nawt aȝein þe leome of his wlite lokin ne bihalden, bute þurh a schene schawere bituhhe me & him þet schilde mine ehnen.
2.
(a) To prevent (sth.), interdict; god shelde, God forbid; god hit (that) shelde, drihten hit shelde, may God prevent it; god hit shelde elles, God forbid it should be otherwise; (b) god (crist, our lord) shelde, God forbid (that sth. occur); also, with inf.: God prevent (sb. from doing sth.); (c) to ward off (sth.), avert; also, keep (sb.) away; also [quot.: a1425], ?keep apart; ?error for shiden v.; ~ from; god hit shelde me, God keep me from it.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 Disp.Virg.& Cross (Vrn)251 : God schop me [the cross] a scheld, shame to schilde.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)965 : Þat God wyl schylde; Þou may not enter wythinne hys tor.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1776 : 'God schylde,' quoþ þe schalk, 'þat schal not befalle!'
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.6.2 : Shal we dwelle in synne þat grace abounde? God scylde [L Absit].
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)5654 : Louely lordes, god it schilde Fer to ffle.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2082 : A kynges sone..To ben my servaunt in so low degre, God shilde it.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3521 : Bot me to do slike a dede, driȝtin it schilde!
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)162 : Ȝe, madame, sayde þe knytes þan, He faryþ as well as any man, And ellys God hyt schelde.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)22/4 : The maistre of wreth and of Coueytise..vs tynken vndo: that god shild [Rwl: forbedde]!
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)46/7 : Vre lauerd schilde þet te breað of hare stinkinde þrote ne nahi ow neauer.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)180/4 : Crist me schilde forte habben eani blisse i þis world bute i iesu cristes rode.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)1245 : God sschilde..Hit sscholde springe fer or ner To putte þin oune bodi to fiȝt.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Par.11.19 : God schilde þat [WB(2): Fer be it that; L Absit ut] in þe siȝte of my god I do þis.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1356 : God shilde I sholde it tellen.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.266 : God schilde that I be noght dreint Of such a superfluite.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.839 : God shilde swich a lordes wyf to take Another man to housbond or to make.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1686 : God hyt euer forbede and shylde Þat þat chylde shulde any haue Of hys godfadrys, maydyn or knaue.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2899 : God shelde vs alle wykkedly to swere.
- (c1422) Hoccl.JWife (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)711 : The theef..kowde nat make a skip -- God sheelde he sholde, he þat was so fals.
- (1441) Let.Coldingham in Sur.Soc.12118 : Hitt is likly to turn bath the reawmez..to diseese; for in thatt case, the whilke Gode sheld suld fall, the prior of Doresme must of need sewe to the kyng..for remedy.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)104/69 : God childe ther wilde bestes sla hir.
c
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1347 : Nolde god þat ich soffrede mi louerd..Þat he in þine bendes come; god it ssilde me.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Josh.22.29 : God shylde from vs þis hydous gult [WB(2): Fer be this trespas fro vs; L Absit a nobis hoc scelus].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 12.23 : God schijlde forsoþe þe synne fro me in þe lord þat I cese to preyen for ȝou.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)20.9 : Jonathas seiþ, 'god schijlde þis fro me.'
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)63b/b : Suffindo: to shylde.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2459 : Þou Coueytyse..Criste þe schelde fro oure gate.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)56 : Lord, God schild þis fro þe, þis schal not be to þe.
3.
To supply (warriors) with shields; ppl. shelded, armed with a shield.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2360 : Brenne wes swiðe wrað & bannede is ferde, scheldede his scalken al-se heo to wiȝe solden.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Ezek.38.5 : Men of Persis, Ethiopiens, and Libiens with hem, alle sheeldid [WB(2): alle ben araied with scheeldis; L omnes scutati] and helmyd.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1856 : They scherde in the schiltrone scheldyde knyghttez.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)603 : Eek tourmys of ryderys Sumtyme journeyed on foote in haste, Shelded & herneysed with myghti sperys.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)445/21 : Trystrames was armed as hym lyked beste and well shylded and swerded.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1300 Edi beo þu (Corp-O 59)37 : Þu me sschildȝe from þe feonde.
Note: New spelling
Note: subjunctive of shelden
Note: Belongs to sense 1.(b)--per MLL