Middle English Dictionary Entry
smithen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | smithen v. Also smithe, smithi(e(n, smitheien, smē̆the(n, smēthi & (early SW or SWM) smiðeȝe, smeoðen, smeoðien; p. smithed, etc. & (early SWM) smeodðede. |
| Etymology | OE smiðian, p. smiðode, p.ppl. smeoþud, smeoþed. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To make (sth.) of metal; also, work (metal), forge; ~ in-to, beat (sth.) into (sth.); (b) fig. to beat (a soul), torment; of God: refine (his chosen); also, create (light); (c) to work as a blacksmith; also fig.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)783 : Wa wrðe auer þene smið þa þe [sword] mid honden smeodðede [Otho: smiþede].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15348 : Þe smið gon to smiðeȝe ane pic swiðe long.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)31/2 : Ofte a ful haher smið smeoðeð [Cleo: smeðeð; Tit: smiðes] a ful wac cnif.
- ?a1350 Guy(3) (Add 14408)1308 : Hys armes he haskes hastily..Better smythed war neuer no.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)136 : Homme forge fer et quiuere: M. smethuth Irun and copur.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3762 : A smyth..in his forge smythed [vrr. smethede, smythieþ, smyþeieþ] plough harneys.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)3.305 : Alle þat bereth baslarde..Shal be demed to þe deth but if he do it smythye In-to sikul or to sithe.
- c1400 PPl.B (Trin-C B.15.17)3.324 : What smyth þat any [weapon] smyþeþ [vr. smithie; Ld: smyteth; C vrr. smythi, smeþi, smythe, smyþen] be smyte þerwiþ to deþe.
- ?a1440 Hortus (Brist-U)272 : Cudo..to smethyn or grauyn.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5515 : Þan made he smythis to gaa smert & smethe him a chaiere of blake iren.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)116a : To Smethe: fabricare, concudere, Cudere, ex-, defabricare, fabricari, precudere, recudere.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)147/24 : Al þis world is godes smið to smeoðien [Pep: smiþe; Tit: smiðen; Cai: smeoþen] his icorene.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)73.17 : Þine es dai, and þine es nighte; Þou smiþed [L fabricatus es] griking and sunne brighte.
- 1451-1500 Tundale (Wagner)1077 : Other smythes gan hem hent..Hem tought þai [souls] were not smethed [vr. smyþed] inowe, But throwe a fire efte hem drowe.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15345 : Brien enne smið funde þe wel cuðe smiðie.
- a1425(c1340) Rolle Psalter (LdMisc 286)128.3 : Abouen my bak synful smythid [L fabricauerunt]; the[i] lengthid thair wykkidnes.