Middle English Dictionary Entry
spennen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | spennen v. Also spen; p. spened, (?error) spennd; pl. spende, (NWM) spenet, spinde & (16th cent.) spent; ppl. spenned, spened, spend. |
| Etymology | ON: cp. OI spenna. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To grasp (a spear); (b) to cling (to sth.) [2nd quot.]; attach (a bowline to the bowsprit); fasten (spurs), put on; also, gird (sb.) with (spurs); (c) to enclose (sth.), imprison; capture (someone's body); (d) to clasp (one's hands).
Associated quotations
a
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)11781 : A paynym spened a spere and stert to hym þat stownd.
- a1500(?c1400) Song Roland (Lnsd 388)793 : He had spend his spere & sparythe nought, but laid on whils the lyf last mought.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)104 : Þay..Spynde spak to þe sprete þe spare bawe-lyne.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)158 : Heme-wel haled hose of þat same grene Þat spenet on his sparlyr, & clene spures vnder, Of bryȝt golde.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)587 : Þenne set þay þe sabatounz vpon þe segge fotez..Wyth ryche cote-armure, His gold sporez spend with pryde, [etc.].
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)361 : Þay spende hym with his gilte sperres.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10942 : The grekes..Two spurres full spedely spent on his helis.
c
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)53 : I playned my perle, þat þer watz spenned Wyth fyrte skyllez þat faste faȝt.
- ?a1450 NHom.in NM 73 (Hnt HM 129)p.205 : Þat beth Iewys þat will hyt bren As þay þrete ȝyff þay may hyt spen, Bot my body I þe be-ken Þat þow kepe hyt fro euyll men.
d
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)49 : Bifore þat spot my honde I spennd [?read: spenned].