Middle English Dictionary Entry
tā̆sten v.
Entry Info
Forms | tā̆sten v. Also tast(e, tasti, taist & (error) caste; sg.3 tasteth(e, etc. & (late) tastit; p. tasted(e, etc. & tast(e; ppl. i)tasted, tastide, tast. |
Etymology | OF taster; also cp. ML tastāre & (for sense 1.(f)) ME tā̆st(e n.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. atasten v., entasted ppl.
1.
(a) To exercise the sense of taste; perceive a flavor; also fig.; ppl. tastinge, pertaining to the sense of taste; (b) to perceive (a flavor), taste (sweetness, bitterness, etc.), perceive the flavor of (sth.); also fig.; also, with hou (that) clause: perceive by tasting (how sweet the Lord is, that the Lord is sweet);—used fig.; (c) to judge something by tasting it; test the quality or wholesomeness of (food, drink, etc.) by tasting, taste (wine, ale) in order to approve or disallow its consumption or sale; ~ of, take a taste of (medicine); ~ under toth, test (seeds) by biting; (d) ~ of (on), to partake of (food, drink, etc.), ingest (sth.); also fig.; also, drink from (a cask);—in fig. context; (e) to ingest (food, drink, etc.), eat or drink (sth.); also, partake lightly of (sth.); eat or drink a little of; also fig.;—also without obj. [quot. a1400, 2nd]; also, drink from (a cask);—in fig. context; (f) ppl. tasted, in phrases: swete (wel) tasted, fresh-tasting, pleasant-tasting; (g) in proverbs.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.33.9 : Tasteþ [WB(2): Taaste ȝe; L gustate] & seeþ, for sweete is þe lord.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)1 Pet.2.3 : If netheles ȝe taastiden, for the Lord is swete.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.181 : Oistres..mowe noþer..hire ne taste ne smelle, but onliche fele whan þey beeþ i-touched.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2546 : A man mai hiere and se And smelle and taste.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)48b/b : Þer cummen sinewes to þe tunge boþe tastinge and motiue.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)167/8 : Þe mouþ spekeþ..and þe taast taasteþ.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)61/10 : Whan the soule scholde go oute to see, here, speke, fele, or taste, it scholde haue before him fere for his vsschere.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)27a/a : Þou schalt fynde in þe creacioun of þe tunge þre vtilitees..þat wiþ þe tunge a man..taaste & discerne bitwene sauour and sauouris.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)1755 : Him þouȝhte þat wyn betere þo Þane he hadde i dronken er Oþer i tasted elles ȝwer.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)245/30 : He knauþ wyn..þet hit drincþ and tasteþ and smackeþ.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Col.2.21 : Nether ȝe schulen touche, nether taste..tho thingis.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2794 : The gold..to his mouth..He put, it forto smelle and taste.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (LdMisc 210:Everett)13/19 : Þis wyn made þe gostly wittes of Patriarkes..of grete vertue to smelle and taste þynges ofer longe or þei come.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (LdMisc 210:Everett)14/5 : Tasteþ and biholdeþ how swete is God.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)1 Pet.2.3 : Ȝe han tastid that the Lord is swete.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.1.27 : First whan men tasten hem [L degustata], they ben bytynge, but whan they ben resceyved withynne a wyght, thanne ben thei swete.
- (?a1430) Hoccl.Ad Filium (Hnt HM 744)60 : Taastid haue I the fair apples swetnesse; Of galle thow taastist the bittirnesse.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)19/21 : A gloton haþ..a maner of talent in his tonge to taste metis þt be deynte.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.6.4b : Tasteþ..þe swetnesse of oure lord.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2144 : Ful sowre ye shal fynd As..when thei taste grabbis while thei be grene.
- c1500 Cleges (Ashm 61)207 : He thouȝt to tayst [vr. caste] it..One of þem he put in hys mouthe..After a chery it relesyd.
c
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)247/25 : Me tasteþ and smackyþ þet wyn erþan me drincþ his uolle.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 2.9 : Architriclyn tastide [WB(2): hadde tastid; L gustavit] the watir maad wyn.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)103a/b : A good leche..drinkeþ & tastiþ of medycyne þouȝ it be bittir þat be nouȝt aȝeines þe seke mannes herte.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13403 : Þai fild a cupp..And gaf it þe architricline to tast.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)88/9 : Tast and asai ofte þi wyn.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)1529 : Fyue wyttes he has man yȝyue..Wiþ mowþe to taste [vr. chesen] drynke and mete, Whiche to take and whiche to lete.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)177 : The ballives..shal tasten [ID(1): tastent] all the olde wynys that they fyndyn in the toun, in taverne, or in celer, And ȝif they fyndyn ony wyn that be corrupt and perlous to drynkyn..the ballives..shal doo shakyn out that wyn in the hie strete.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1997 : He..reches to þe sedis, Tastis [Dub: Castes] þam vndire his tuthe.. 'þam semes to be softe.'
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)73 : All his pourveyaunces of wynes for this houshold wekely to be..serched or tasted.
- (a1500) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8562 : Two ale tastars..schall taste the ale of all common brewers every weke.
d
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5061 : Non ne shulde..Of þe water drynk ne taste.
- a1425(c1400) 5 Wits (Hrl 2398)27/8 : Whenne Adam tastede of þe appul, he wiste neuer wheþer it was sowr or swete.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)5011 : Wolff..Off this pray schaltow not tast.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Mum.London (Trin-C R.3.20)90 : Þis lady [Fortune]..haþe two tonnys..oon..swoote..Þat oþer..ful of galle..Whoo taasteþe oon..moste taaste eeke of þat toþer.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2074 : Þe proude kyng..on þe pepire tastis.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2066 : It is perile..to taste of that foode.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6427 : The tydis not to taste of þis triet meite!
e
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Jonah 3.7 : Men and werk beestis and oxen and sheep taaste [L gustent] not ony thing, nether be fed, nether drynke watir.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 14.24 : Noone of tho men..schal taaste my souper.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)159a/b : Many ryuer ffysshes may noȝt taste saltnesse of þe see, ffor ȝif he caccheþ salt water he deieþ sodeyneliche.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6817 : Þe fless þat beistes has forwit tast Ne ete yee noght.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24401 : Þai did him [Jesus] dight a bitter drink..Quen he had tasted wit his muth, He it for-sok, was na selcuth.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)41/7 : Iesu, þe bitter galle þat þou tasted..is ful fer fro þe mynde of a likerous glotoun.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Mum.London (Trin-C R.3.20)89 : Þis lady [Fortune]..haþe two tonnys..oon..swoote..Þat oþer..ful of galle..Whoo taasteþe oon..moste taaste eeke of þat toþer.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)58 : Summe clerkes seyn þat ho-so taste, þat is to say ete or drinke, þis herbe, non..medecyn shal mowe hurte him.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)50 : My loue ys so grett Þat wo tastyt þerof þe lest droppe sure All lustys..worldly xall lett.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)6/6 : The devel..eggede the womman Eue for to taste the olde apple.
- a1500 Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)119 : I tastid the water of the floode, bitterer than elebor.
- a1500 Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)132 : The knyghtis..likyng their harneys, now tastyng oile..in any maner as thei cowde..to differre the thurst.
f
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)162/6 : The tokynnys of goode watrys be þise: þat is lyght, cler, and..sqwete-tastyd [Lambeth: good sauour].
- a1500 Hisp.SSecr.(Rwl C.83)6/15 : Se þe watir be well tastid and verry colde.
- a1500 15c.Serm.Cycle(Hrl 2247:Powell)107/113 : If a man wolde make a vessell wele relesed and tasted [vr. tastyde], hym behoueth to putte þerein sum swete smelling spices þat shuld make such odur and savoure.
g
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3644 : Who cast no pereil til þat it be-falle, In-stede of sugre he tasteth galle.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.639 : For how myghte evere swetnesse han ben knowe To him that nevere tasted bitternesse?
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.1.6 : Hony is the more swete if mouthes han first tasted savours that ben wykke.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)703 : Who that wil entren to tamen of the sweete, He mvst..taste in bittir.
- ?1480 Court Sap.(Caxton)43 : Tasted bytternesse Al swete thyng maketh be more precious.
2.
(a) To examine someone or something by touching, palpate; grope, feel; also, caress, fondle [last quot.]; surg. probe; (b) to touch (sb. or sth.), examine (sb. or sth.) by touching, palpate; also, feel (someone's pulse); probe (a wound).
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)36.50 : Whanne he was Comen to the Cors, Anon he tasted..In what partie he myhte fynden Ony lyf.
- a1450 Chauliac(4) (Cai 336/725)9/9 : Iren instrumentis..ben to drawe out þingis wiþ..Summe ben to taste [L ad probandum] wiþ-al, as ben tastouris & sercheris.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)142/224 : I am clene mayde and pure virgyn: tast with ȝour hand.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)648 : The Geaunte wente tastinge [F tastoiant] here and there that he sesed the kynge.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)681 : Merlin leide his heed in the damesels lappe, and she be-gan to taste [F atastonner] softly till he fill on slepe.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)312 : Ȝwane þe leche makez ouȝt, with þat finguer he wole hit tasti ȝif it is a-riȝt i-wrouȝt.
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)1400 : Leches..gun to tasty his wounde.
- c1330 Horn Child (Auch)793 : Þe maiden tast Hornes wounde.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.503 : Lat thyn hand vp on it falle And taste it wel and stoon thow shalt it fynde.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)221/7 : I tastide hir pous, & it was wondir feble.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)227/24 : Þou muste taste [L palpa] it wiþ þi fyngris.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.346 : Vche a mayde..he gan taste [vr. ataste] Aboute þe mouth, or bynethe bygynneth to grope.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.147 : Þe sone..toched and tasted atte techynge of þe paume..Seynt Marie.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)196/28 : Sche say owr Lady felyn and tastyn owr Lordys body..ȝyf þer wer ony sorhed.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)9011 : He tasted [F Tasta] his pous.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)64 : She tastede him and stired him and exited him.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)9877 : I wente for to se Wher the body slepte or nouht And..Tastyd hys pows.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)45aa : Yf my fader take me to hym and taste me [Vulg. Gen. 27.12: senserit] and fele, I drede me that he shal thynke that I mocke hym.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38)109 : Sche schall..taste my flankys wyth hur honde.
3.
(a) To experience something, perceive something, feel; also, with sexual connotation: have experience [1st quot.]; ~ of, have experience of (sth.); ppl. tastinge as adj.: who experiences, experiencing; (b) to experience (sb. or sth.), perceive, feel; also fig.; recognize (sb.) [quot. a1450(c1410)]; also, with sexual connotation: know (another mate) [last quot.]; with hou clause as obj.: perceive how (sth. is the case, etc.); ~ ded (deth), undergo death, die.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7792 : I have tasted In many a place..And yit love I nevere on of tho.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18940 : Gaf to þaim þe haligast Alkin wiit to tuche and tast.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)57/17 : An elinge..place schulde þis world seme to a man þat hadde wel tasted of þe blisse of heuene.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)197/32-3 : How swete is sich..vnyoun to a taastynge soule, For a soule þat taasteþ seeþ my secreetis.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)173/20 : Clentes had..a desier to taste of the grete goodnesse of sapience.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)736 : Ye most taaste of many a bittyr payne.
- a1500 Apoc.(2) (Magd-C F.4.5)91/16 : Taste [Hrl 171: Go ȝe..þat ȝe take not of hir woundis].
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)127/22 : Thei tastid of the goodnesse which thei wele vndirstoode was neuyr made by them.
- c1500(1463) Ashby Pris.(Trin-C R.3.19)95 : Me-thynketh well..In prosperyte..to haue abydyn leuyr Then to haue tastyd of thys peynfull nay.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.16.28 : There ben summe of men..the whiche shul nat taaste deth.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1944 : So mai a man be reson taste Hou..The trouthe of wommen..Is myhtiest.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)190/4 : Impossible..it is, hem þat..haue tasted Godis word..and ben falle aȝeyn, to be renewed aȝeyn to penaunce.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Nativ.(Hrl 4196)p.298 : John was noght þat light to taste..Bot he was sent to bere witnes Of light.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Heb.2.9 : Crist schulde tasten þe death for alle.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1817 : Þe dede..When þe lyf fayles men byhoves tast.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)23/26 : Þou schalt wilne to taaste me & sauoure me, which am euerlastynge soþfastnes.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)59/29 : Sche sauoride and taastide how myche we ben bounde to loue.
- ?a1425 Whi is þis world (Trin-C B.15.39)40 : It is no worschip, but a charge, lordschip to taste.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)24 : Þanne feeliþ þe soule hiȝe þingis..And it tastiþ [vr. tastiþe]..delectaciouns of Cristis charite.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)50.170 : Iosephe they conne taste.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1265 : Men..sal trauel tast.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)393/358 : We were worthy Mo turmentis for to taste.
- a1500 Thayr ys no myrth (SeldSup 52)22 : The doyff..will not stray, os doyth the hynde, Anoder luffer for to taste.
4.
To put (sb. or sth.) to the test, try, test; tempt (sb.); sound the depth of (water) [last quot.]; also, with inf.: make an attempt (to do sth.); try (to do sth.).
Associated quotations
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1711 : To knowe ys wil y wil him tast.
- c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)166 : Ȝif men preise þe for godnesse, Þin oune herte þou tast.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)12934 : Þe warlou wili..wold him tast wid sin, To witt if he had part him in.
- (c1422) Hoccl.Dial.(Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)485 : Had I nat taastid thee as þat I now Doon haue, it had been hard.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.Lear (Göt Hist 740)36 : Bot for to wate..Qwylke þat war most worthy..Of þame he þis [wald] prove and tast.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)130a/a : A huke is not y-take but is kut away whilez it is tasted [Ch.(2): assayed; L tentatur] to be raised vp.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1993 : Lat us wel taste hym at his herte-rote.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)71/26 : Þe edifice of vertues..may not reise..if þe foundement of verry meeknes be not tastid first in oure hertis.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)13834 : Ilk oþer tasted Ilk oþer to slo.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)52.603 : He..tasted his harneis..Þat it scholde not faille.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)649 : He..caste a-wey his clubbe and tasted to chacche the kynge in his armes.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)36/448 : I shall asay The depnes of the see..This water..will I tast.