Middle English Dictionary Entry
snobben v.
Entry Info
| Forms | snobben v. P.pl. snobbedone. |
| Etymology | Prob. imitative, ?formed on sobben v.; but perh. ult. from Gmc. stem *snū̆b-: cp. MLG snūven, MHG snūben, ME snubbinge (var. of snobbing(e ger.) & MnE dial. snob, snub to sob. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To sob; ~ and sighen, sighen and ~; ~ after, weep in longing for (sth.); ppl. snobbinge, sobbing; also, accompanied by sobs [quot. a1450 Aelred, 2nd].
Associated quotations
- ?c1335 Elde makiþ me (Hrl 913)p.171 : I snurpe, i snobbe, i sneipe on snovte.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)23/940 : He wept and snobbed and ofte abreid.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)60b/b : Singulcio..to syke or snobbe.
- ?c1425 PPl.B (Clg A.11)14.329 : Snobbed [Ld: He..sori gan wexe, And wepte water with his eyghen..Swowed and sobbed and syked ful ofte].
- a1450 Aelred Inst.(2) (Bod 423)1/18 : Thei mighten by suche leiser more frely syghe and snobbe after the loue of Iesu with longyng desire.
- a1450 Aelred Inst.(2) (Bod 423)20/778 : Now lyfte vp thin [hondes] and pray to hym with snobbynge teres that he vouche-saaf to foryeue the thy synnes.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)1978 : Hurre moder past forthe in to þe abbay þo anone, Wepyng and snobbynge wt hert fulle sore.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)1986 : Þo weptone full fast þus ladyes alle And snobbedone & sykedone fulle sore.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)23/132b : Singulcio: to snobbe.
- a1500 As Reson Rywlyde (Dc 78)6 : I met a mayde at þe citeys ende, snobbynge & syȝynge sche wes ny schente..hurre herre, hure face, sche all to-rente.