Middle English Dictionary Entry
snivelen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | snivelen v. Also snivel(le, snivele, snevil(len, snevel & (SW) snuvelen; sg.3 sniveleth, etc. & snevelet, sneflith. |
| Etymology | OE *snyflan (cp. snyflung mucus); also cp. ON: cp. Norw., Dan. snövle, earlier Dan. snevle, snyfle, snufle & Swed. snövla. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. nivelen v.
1.
(a) To run at the nose; sniffle; snivel, whine; ppl. snivelinge as adj.: congested, rheumy; sniveling, whining; (b) ?to slobber; ?stammer.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(Hrl 2277)474/304 : 'Away mi child,' saiþ þe dame þat snyueleþ bi þe wowe; Bi Crist heo auʒte þonki God þat nom hit for his owe.
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)678 : Ho-so hath of þe watere mest..schal beo ʒwit and fat al-so..Snvuelinde [Corp-C: Snyuelinge] nose and wet mouth.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)1074 : A chescun mot l'un baubeye E li autre ne peut parler Une parole sanz nascier [glossed:] snyvele [vr. snevelet].
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)88 : Homme nause et nassie: M. snyffyth and snyuelith.
- a1400 PPl.C (Corp-C 293)7.104 : Snyuelyng [Hnt HM 137: Thenne a-waked wratthe..Whit a nyuylynge nose].
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)79 : Et toutfoith il nascie: And al way he sneflyþ.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)721 : Anothyr deuyl..on hyr dede loke wyth a lothly chere, And at the laste..Wyth a sneuelyng voys..to hyr sayde, [etc.].
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)116b : To Snevyll [Monson: Snyvelle]: Naricare; Snevyllynge [Monson: Snyvelande]: Naricus.
b
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)9a/a : Balbucio: to sneuel [Cnt: for to snyvell; Pep: to Boste; Hrl 1738: to stotyn].