Middle English Dictionary Entry
sprenten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | sprenten v. Also sprent; p. sprent(e; pl. sprent(e & sprentide. |
| Etymology | From OE gesprintan & ON *sprent- (cp. OI spretta to spring up); also cp. ME sprent , p.ppl. of sprenǧen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of a person, an animal: to leap, spring; also fig.; ~ oute; (b) of drops of water, sparks: to leap, fly; of blood: spurt; of blood, water, etc.: spatter (on sth.); ~ oute (abouten); ~ to sprotes, of a spear: shatter into splinters;(c) ?of a person's spitting: to splash (a speck on someone's face) [this quot. and quot. a1500 in (b) may belong to sprengen v. (a)];(d) ?in surname.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)12527 : A nedder sprent [Vsp: stert; Trin-C: sprong] vte of þe sand.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1896 : Þe lorde..sprent ouer a spenne to spye þe schrewe.
- c1440(c1350) Octav.(1) (Thrn)103/476 : The lady intill þair chippe þay hente; Thritty fote aftir, þe lyones sprente.
- c1440(c1350) Octav.(1) (Thrn)161/1357 : When Florent sawe þat swete wyghte, He sprent [vr. sprange] als any fowle of flyghte.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3700 : Ledys of owt-lonndys leppyn in waters..Spanyolis spedily sprentyde ouer burdez.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)1846 : To the chambyr dore he sprente And claspid it.
- a1500(c1400) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)335 : Liʒtly lasshit þer a leme..Þat spakly sprent my spyrit wyt vnsparid murthe Into þe cenacle.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)786 : Now ather stoure on þar stedes striken to-gedir, Sprenten owt spakly with speres in hand.
b
- c1400 *?Nassyngton SV [OD col.] (Tbr E.7)70 : Þair mowthes er like a pot welland, Wharof hate dropes ay sprentes out And skaldes þam þat er obout.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)6814 : Sparkes of fire..obout sal sprent.
- a1425 Nicod.(1) (Add 32578)629 : Watre & blode anon went oute And sprent on longeus eghen.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2062 : The blode sprente owtte and sprede.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)743 : 'Be god..at gaue me þe saule, Als sprent of þi [read: mi] spyttyng a speke of my [read: on þy] face [L si impetum spume in faciem tuam eiciam], Þou sall be diʒt to the deth..' When he had spokyn so, in spite he spittes at hys face.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7248 : Aither lede full lyuely lachit vpon other, Þat his speire al to sprottes sprent hom betwene.
c
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)743 : 'Be þe god..þat gafe me þe saule, A[s] sprent my spittyng a specke [L si impetum spume..eiciam] on þi chere, Þou sall be diʒt to þe deth..' Quen he had spokin so, for spyte he spittis in his face.
d
- (1332) Sub.R.Lan.in LCRS 31.294 : Thomas Sprentlope.