Middle English Dictionary Entry
tangen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | tangen v. P. tā̆nged. |
| Etymology | Chiefly N; from tang(e, chiefly N vars. of tong(e n.(1); also cp. L tangere. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of a snake or serpent: to bite (sb.), sting; tanged to ded, stung to death, killed by stinging; (b) ben tanged, to be pierced (with sorrow); (c) ben tanged, to come together, collect.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)2287 : A nedder of hym had syght & tanged hym yll on hys ryght hand.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)141/7 : Maydens..had within þam nedders þat taanged þe husbands on þe ȝerdez in þe wymmen bodys.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3886 : Sir Alexander..Slaes of þa serpentis many sadd hundreth..Ȝit was þar twenti þat time tangid to dede, And þat þe comliest kniȝtis.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)473/30 : A serpent..tanged hym hugelie.
b
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3637 : Þan was he tangid with tene & turbled vnfaire.
c
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)365/5636 : Ȝif..mater þat fallys sa down fra þe hede..passis doun to þe flessh of þe rybbes & þare gendyrs apostem, þat is alsa called pleuresis, bod unpropyrly; For þe uryn pleuresis is nathynge ellys bod an hat aposteme growand on þe myddrede..þare all þis mater is towchyd & tangyd.