Middle English Dictionary Entry
smā̆ken v.
Entry Info
| Forms | smā̆ken v. Also smake, smakken, smacke(n, (K) smacki & (early, ?error) smakie; p.ppl. ismaked, ismacked. |
| Etymology | From MDu. smāken, MLG smāken, smacken & ME smak(ke n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. smacchen v.
1.
(a) To taste something, sense flavor in the mouth; also fig.; ~ of, experience the flavor of (sth.); -- used fig.; ppl. smakinge as adj.: flavorful, savory; (b) to taste (sth.); also, fig. learn about (sth.), experience; (c) ~ of (as), of things: to have the flavor of (sth.) [may refer to fragrance rather than taste and thus belong to sense 2.(b)].
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)92/10 : Þe holy man..ine al þet hi zyeþ and smackeþ of þe guodes lostfolle of þise wordle, heryeþ god.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)245/27 : Wysdom ne is oþer þing þanne knaulechinge smackinde [F connoissance sauoureuse].
- c1350 Ayenb.App.(Arun 57)269/27-8 : Ich zigge to you, nanmore smacky þanne be-houeþ, ac smacke to sobrete.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)80 : Y nowȝ he shal spete And he þt smakkeþ, swolleþ, or takeþ.
b
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)57/1600 : For ȝef he [Adam] hedde ihealde hym, Ase god hym hedde y-maked, He hedde y-brout forþe hys bearm-team Wyþ-oute senne ismaked.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)93/11 : Huo þet hedde wel ytasted and ysmacked þe ilke zuetnesse þet god yefþ to his urendes, he ssolde onworþi alle þe lostes and alle þe blissen of þise wordle.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)247/24-5 : Me smackeþ hou god is zuete and zofte ase me tasteþ and smackyþ þet wyn erþan me drincþ his uolle.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)268/22 : Hy smackeþ [L Sapiunt] þe redes and þe domes of god.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)103a/b : Herto helpiþ somme bittir þinges as Ierapigra, ieralogodion, & oþir þat smackeþ of aloe.
- a1475 Sidrak & B.(LdMisc 559)5938 : Ofte of wateres may þou see that of diuers hues þey be, but in thy mouthe and þou hem take, all as water shull þey smake.
2.
(a) To smell (sth.), detect by smelling; (b) to give off an odor or a scent; also fig.; also, ?impart an odor to (sth.) [last quot.]; -- used without obj. [1st quot.].
Associated quotations
a
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)3 : Ðe leun stant on hille, & he man hunten here, Oðer ðurg his nese smel Smake ðat he negge..he wile To dele niðer wenden.
b
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2443 : [I]Osep dede hise lich faire geren, Wassen, and riche-like smeren, And spice-like swete smaken [rime: bi-waken].
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)47/1313 : Tak and by-come redere Of word þat of god smakeþ [rime: takeþ; L redolet].
- a1425 PPl.A(1) (UC 45:Skeat)5.207 : Glotoun..cowhede vp a cawdel..Þat þe hungriest hound..Ne durst lape of þat laueyne, so vnloveli it smakith [B: smauȝte; vr. smakkyd].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)460 : Smakyn [Win: Smakkyn], or smellyn: Odoro.
3.
To be tainted with (sin, vice), reek of.
Associated quotations
- a1400 Epist.SSacerd.(Roy 17.B.17)62 : Bothe excesse & defaute smakes vices.
- c1400 Wycl.Blasph.(Bod 647)411 : Suche beggynge moste smake synne, ouþer in hym þat begges or in hym þat first schulde helpe hym.
4.
?To feel guilty [cp. smacchen v. 3.]; ?error for sha- men v. 1a.(a).
Associated quotations
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)163 : Ne scal na mon smakie [Trin-C: samie; Eg(1): scamien] þer ne þerf he him adreden.
5.
As noun: the word 'smaken.'
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)106/16 : Wysdom is yzed of smac and of smacky [F Sapience est dite de saueur e de sauourer], Vor huanne þe man onderuangþ þise yefþe, he..uelþ þe zuetnesse of god.