Middle English Dictionary Entry
bigōn v.
Entry Info
Forms | bigōn v. Also bigān. Forms: sg.3 bigǣð; p. sg. biȝẹ̄de, bieode; ppl. bigō(n, bigān. |
Etymology | OE begān; -ēode; -gān. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To cover (sth., as with blood); (b) to trim or ornament (sth., as with gold, jewels); (c) to approach or surround (sth.); beset, engulf; (d) to fill (a chest); load (water with poison).
Associated quotations
a
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)22/187 : Six men beateð hire..þet ha al wes bi gan mite blode.
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)575 : His chekes ben al blody by-gon.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)4195 : The ground was al begoon with bloode.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)2672 : Al in blood he was begon.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7623 : Þe king næm enne marmestan & lette hine mid golde bi-gon.
- ?1316 SMChron.(Roy 12.C.12)624 : Bridels..Bygo [vr. Bigon] with preciouse stones.
- ?c1350 Ballad Sc.Wars (Jul A.5)35 : His robe was alle golde-bigane, Wel craftlike maked.
- c1390 St.Greg.(Vrn)188/1428 : Mony a lord riche In cloþes of gold alle bi gon.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)943 : Ten brode arowis..And all they were with gold bygoon.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)3913 : His swerde..Wyth..perle rychely be-gone.
- c1450 Page SRouen (Glb E.8)414/7 : Good-liche with gold thei [cotis of armys] were be-gon.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)307 : Heo funden ane heorde of heorten..þe fader heo [Otho: ham] bi-eode to his aȝre unneode.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)11200 : Al þat þe sæ bi-gæð.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3429 : Al þe contre..ful by-gon wyþ enymys.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.311 : Creta, þat ylond..is bygoo wiþ þe see of Gres.
- a1400 Floris (Eg 2862)80/371 : Stones of vertu..Bygone aboute wit orfreys.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)64 : Þer oune findingis begon hem aboute, and bi gernyn hem þat þey may not out.
d
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)19773 : Þa wes þa welle anan al mid attre bi-gon.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.2335 : Tuo cofres..on of tho Is with tresor so full begon.
2.
(a) To provide or endow (sb., as with wealth, virtue, etc.); (b) bigon with child, pregnant.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1323 : Thus be providence Of alle thinges wel begon, He tok his leve.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1157 : Min herte is wonderly begon With conseil, wherof witt is on.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.606 : Whi hast thou drede of so good on, Whom alle vertu hath begon?
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.2977 : He was wel begon With faire dowhtres manyon.
b
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.120 : She ferforth with childe was then begonne.
3.
(a) Of states: to come upon or overtake (sb.); beset, overwhelm, dominate (sb.); me is wo bigon, I am overcome with grief; wo the bigo, may you come to grief!; wel was him bigon, he was lucky or happy; (b) of a person: ben bigon [orig. pass.], to be overcome, engulfed, or overwhelmed (as by grief, longing, sin, etc.); grefli bigon, distressed; ivel ~, in distress or trouble, badly off, wel ~, lucky, well off; happy, cheerful; wo-bigon, deeply grieved, distressed, sorrowful, despondent.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1300 Fox & W.(Dgb 86)53 : Wo þe bi-go!
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.400 : In hert him was ful wo bigon.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)3481 : Yuel ous worþ þan bi-go.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)2.24 : Gyle haþ bi-gon hire so, heo graunteþ al his wille.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.918 : Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon.
- c1350 St.Greg.(Cleo D.9)46/236 : Þþe leuedi for hire child was wo..And seide, 'alas, me is wo bigo!'
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.556 : Hast thou be oon Of hem that Slowthe hath so begon?
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.653 : Allas..how me is wo be-goon!
- a1425(a1349) Rolle MPass.(2) (Upps C.494)53/23 : Swete ladi..woo was þe bigone, when crist had taken his leeue at þee.
- a1450 Gowther (Roy 17.B.43:Utterson)435 : Ful wel was him by gone.
b
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)149 : Mid sicnesse bi-gan.
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)805 : Þat castel was wo bigon.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)312 : He..trent his bed opon, So man þat is wo bigon [vr. bee goon].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3658 : This parissh clerk..That is for loue alwey so wo bigon.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4348 : Hellen..Which of the See was wo bego, For pure drede hire herte hath lore.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4826 : This yonge lusty wyht..Was evele served overal, That sche was wo bego withal.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.606 : I was a lusty oon, And fair and riche and yong and wel bigoon.
- (?c1400) Caistre Hymn (Ashm 751)238 : Helpe yaime yat are wo begone [vrr. begon, bigoon].
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.117 : Wo bygon ben hertes trewe! For love of God, make of this thing an ende!
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)580 : Merye and wel bigoon was she.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)693 : I was never erst..So jolyf, nor so wel bigoo, Ne merye in herte, as I was thoo.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5533 : Certeyn, he is wel bigon, Among a thousand that fyndith oon.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)171 : I was glad and wel begoon!
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2409 : Ful many oon Is wounded sore, and sek, and wo begon.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)41 : Thei hade ben evyle begone, hade not Hercules a ben for there felawes.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3673 : He was seke and wery & euylle bygone.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)79 : With sorwe and care we be bygone.
- a1500(?a1410) Lydg.CB (Lnsd 699)280 : A cherlis cherl ful oft is woo-bigoon!
- a1500 Moste glorious lord (Voss Germ.Gall.Q.9)33 : Ther was neuer synner so foule of synne begonne [rime: stone].
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)490 : Yee beene greefly bigo, but grace you falle.
4.
(a) To engage in (an activity); till (the soil); observe (a fast); treat (a wound); (b) ?to belabor or bear down upon (sb.); ?deceive.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.Quadr.(Bod 343)44/31 : Þæt festen þe þe hit rihtlice bigæð, he biþ to Gode iþeod.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.Quadr.(Bod 343)46/30 : Beoð þe..redincgæ haliȝræ bocæ to biganne.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1601 : Þe engles..smireden hire wunden, & bieoden swa þe bruchen.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3252 : The Erthe it is, which everemo With mannes labour is bego.
b
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2013 : Many ys þe manlich man þat þorw womman ys by-go.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.213 : Þe queene byȝede [vr. byȝude; L exoravit] here housbonde wiþ benygne flaterynge.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.628 : A shoughturyng, a flusshyng, & a fray He [peacock] maketh then & turneth hym aboute, Al gold bygoon his tail & wyngis stoute [L singularum capita oculata pennarum locis suis exerit, cum stridore procurrens].
Note: ?Quot. belongs to sense 2.(a) (where it postdates sense) = 'to provide or endow (sb., as with wealth, virtue, etc.)'.--REL
Note: ?Quot. belongs to sense 1.(b); modify gloss to include: 'gold bigon, of a peacock's feathers: exhibiting an iridescent shimmer, as if gilded'.--per MLL