Middle English Dictionary Entry
spellen v.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | spellen v.(2) Also spel(le, spele(n, spelien; p.ppl. (early) ispeled, (SWM) ispealet. |
| Etymology | OF espelir, espellir, espielir, AF espeleir, espeler. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To mean (sth.), signify; (b) to interpret (sth.); ben ispelled, be interpreted, mean; (c) to read or write by spelling out letters, read or write laboriously; read (sth.); also, read (sth.) by spelling out letters, spell out (letters); of letters: spell out (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1225 Ancr.(Cleo C.6)130/16 : Þis nome 'assuer' speleð 'eadi,' as is iseid ear, & bitacneð god eadiouer alle.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)75/23 : Mardocheus speleð 'amare conterens in prudentem.'
- a1425 Christ.Belief (LoC 4)3/99 : 'Ysaac' on Englisch spelles 'laghter' or 'ioy.'
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)88/29 : Þis nome 'assuer' is ispealet [Nero: i-speled] 'eadi,' as is ear iseid.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)89/8 : Mardoche is ispealet [Tit: ispeled] 'amare conterens inpudentem,' þet is, 'bitterliche totreodinde þene scheomelese.'
c
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)725 : Espandere [?read: espaudere, glossed:] spele, est la quarte parole.
- a1333 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Add 46919)727 : [AF (Cmb): Espeau, glossed:] spelieth [naturement Ki les lettres ensemble prent].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.299 : Þe heed lettres of þe vers speleþ [Higd.(2): expresse; L reddebant] þis menynge: Iesus Crist, Goddes sone, Savyoure.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.333 : Lanfranc was war þat þe man couþe wel nygh riȝt nouȝt, and took hym a þing wiþ letter for to spel [Higd.(2): abscedary; L abecedarium litterarum].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14692 : Bot, if yee self willi be blind, Your aun bok yee can noght spell.
- a1400(?a1325) Bonav.Medit.(1) (Hrl 1701)114 : Why cryst wulde nat to petyr telle, Yn austyns sermoun þou mayst hyt spelle.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.600 : Lere hem litlum & lytlum '& in ihesum christum filium' Tyl þei couthe speke and spelle..And rendren it & recorden it with 'remissionem peccatorum.'
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)57 : Ȝyf þey spele kyndely, Alle þyȝe letres to gedere þey takeþ.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)468 : Spellyn [Win: Spellyn letters]: Sillabico.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)630 : Sone wex he witter & wyse & wonder wele leres, Sped him in a schort space to spell & to rede.
- a1500 Tan.Mir.Virg.(Tan 407)374/7 : He was set to þe boke for to spel and rede His a b se and pater noster.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)98/332a : Silabico: to spelyn.