Middle English Dictionary Entry
strongen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | strongen v. Also stronge, strongi, stronȝian, strangen, (?error) stronginen; p. strongede, strangede, strangode, (error) straggeþ; ppl. strongit, strangide. |
| Etymology | OE strangian, strongian. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. istrongien v., strengen v.(1).
1.
(a) To become strong; ~ after, ?pursue (sb.) forcefully; (b) to fortify (walls), strengthen; strengthen (a castle with sth.), reinforce; (c) to strengthen (sb.) spiritually; reinforce (an attribute); (d) ben stronged, of a disease: ?to be intensified, become serious.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.Nicod.(Vsp D.14)86/25 : Beelzebub fleah þa into helle botme, & ure Drihten him strangode æfter.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)13 : Gif ȝe..to-brecað mine lare..þenne scal eou sone ȝe waxen muchele wrake..þet eower heorte erȝian swiðe and eower feond stronȝian.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2226 : Þe castles heo nomen alle & strangede þa walles.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2983 : Lette he ȝeond his castles makie kine-wurðe werkes..& stronginen þæ walles.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4109 : Androgeus forð-rihtes nom alle his cnihtes & anan gon liðen ut of Lundenne & iwenden in-to Kent to his ane castle and hine strongede [Otho: straggeþ] wel mid mete & mid wepnen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8459 : Þe king..gon liðe in-to Lundenne..He letten stronge [Otho: strongi] walles.
c
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)13/340 : Confermyng..a man..Ine saule..hine strangeþ.
- a1400 Heil & holi (Cmb Gg.4.32)98 : Þe fruit þat to alle gode Frouering is and ek hem strongeþ..Ripede in þin herte blode.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)229/31 : Maydenhode ys lytyll helpe wyth, but yf hyt be strongyt wyth pacience.
d
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)225/2436 : Malancolye..makys þe uryn ȝalow eftyr when þe malady is strangyde & moryde & is at hys standynge.