Middle English Dictionary Entry
sīen v.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | sīen v.(2) Also si(h)e, siȝen, sigh & seon, seie, seiȝen. Forms: sg.3 (early) sīhþ; impv.pl. (?error for sg.) sẹ̄th; p. (early) sẹ̄h & sīed; ppl. ciid. |
| Etymology | OE sēon, sīon, sīgan, p. sāh, sēah; also cp. geseohhian. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To drip; flow; ~ a)doun; ~ oute; (b) to strain (sth.) off; ~ thorough, to strain (sth.) through (a cloth, sieve, colander, etc.); (c) ?fig. to sift (oneself in confession), purify.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)31/16 : Micel spatel on ceola wyxeþ and syhþ adun on þara lungane.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)121 : Mid þornene crune his heaued wes icruned swa þet þet rede blod seh ut on iwulche half.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.766 : The gardyn fro the myddyng softe enclyne, That Iuce of that amonge thyn herbis sigh.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)11.326 : The bay of myrte agrest..braiyng alto smyte, And into a wyn barel doun let hem sie.
- 1530(c1450) Mirror Our Lady (Fawkes)108 : Noe ioyed that hys Shyppe shulde be so pycked wyth in and wyth out that there shulde no thorrocke that [?add: fylthe] myghte syee or droppe in therto.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)9/1 : Ȝef ei unweote easkeð ow of hwet ordre ȝe beon, as summe doð..þe siheð [Cleo: siȝeð; Vrn:EETSAS: seoþ] þe gneat & swolheð þe flehe, ondswerieð of sein Iames.
- 1381 Dc.257 Cook.Recipes (Dc 257)66.25/4 : For to make mylk rost: Nym swete mylk &..boyle yt tyl yt wexe þykke & þanne seþ [vr. streyne] yt þorw a culdore.
- a1400 Roy.8.B.4 Cook.Recipes (Roy 8.B.4)148.3/3 : Seþ it [wheat] with muchel water and seye it þourh an herseue & let it stonden and kelen.
- a1400 12 PTrib.(1) (Roy 17.B.17)59 : Wyne syed thorou a poke ful of spices chaungis his sauoure.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)100 : Prelatis also ben weiward ypocritis, blynde lederis, swolwynge þe grete cameile al hool & siynge, or clensynge, a litel gnatte.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)79 : Cyyd [Win: Cyyid], or cythyd and clensyd, as mylke or oþer lyke: Colatus.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)179 : Let syhe hem þorow a clene lynnen cloþ, þat alle þe croddes may leue aboue on þe cloþ.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.7 : Sethe hit with mylke and water with alle; Þorowgh a herseve loke þou hit sye.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)101 : Sethe it with water and mylk and sye it throughe a clothe.
c
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)105/23 : Si með [read: nosmet] ipsos iudicaremus: Ȝif we seiȝeð us seluen on scrifte mid soðe birewnesse, and we demen us seluen mid rihte deadbote, ne sculen we næure mo eft bien idemd.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Htrn.110 Artist.Recipes (Htrn 110) 322/10 : To blac water, take drastis of vinagre, and put alum þerto, and seþe togedyr and sye it þorow a cloth.
Note: Postdates sense (b).