Middle English Dictionary Entry
sprǒuten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | sprǒuten v. Also (N) sprute, (early) spruten & (errors) spowtyn, spruntone; p.ppl. sproutid & sproten. |
| Etymology | OE *sprūtan, p.ppl. *sproten (cp. OE *āsprūtan, p.ppl. āsprotene & *gēondsprūtan, p. gēondsprēot); also cp. MDu., MLG sprūten. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To spring forth, grow; ~ oute; also in fig. context; (b) to put forth shoots, germinate; ~ to, produce (flowers, fruit); ppl. sprouted as adj.: germinated; (c) to put forth plants.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)217 : [E]gredietur uirga de radice iesse..An gerd sal spruten of iesse more.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)10/133 : Meiðhad is þe blostme þet, beo ha fulliche eanes forcoruen, ne spruteð ha eft neauer.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)46/3 : He is as þe wiðin, þe spruteð [Tit: sprutes] ut þe betere þet me hine croppeð ofte.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)212/3 : Hwon þet gredinesse beo rote of þet gederunge of hire bitternesse, al beoð þe bohes bittre þe of hire spruteð [Nero: springeð].
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11216 : He..þe walud wand moght ger In a night leif and fruit ber, Witvten weke or erth a-bute, And in a night sua did it sprute To flur and fruit.
- a1425 Gloss.Bibbesw.(AS 182)470 : Sproten [vrr. spired, chicked, comen; glossing AF (Cmb): germée].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)74 : Chykkyn, as corne, or spyryn, or spowtyn [read: sprowtyn]: Pulilo.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)471 : Sproutyn [Phil: spruntone], or burionyn': Pululo.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)119a : Sprowtid benes: fabe frese.
c
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)64.11 : Þou soght þe land..In his goters night and dai Faine sal he sproutand [L germinans] ai.