Middle English Dictionary Entry
thein n.
Entry Info
| Forms | thein n. Also then(e, thain(e, (EAngl.) dain & (early) ðeine, þeign(e, þeȝn, þeȝen(e, þegn, þegen, þæȝen, þægen & (in names) thane-, thin-, tein(e)-, ten(e)-, tain-, tan-, tin- & (error) kayn; pl. theines, etc. & (early) þeinas, -æs, -en, þeiȝnæs, þeignas, -en, ðegnas, þegnen, þenas, þægnas, -a, -e, ðæines, þæinen, (gen.) þeigne, þeȝenæ, (dat.) þeinum, þeiȝnum, þenum, (error) denum. |
| Etymology | OE þegen, þegn, þēn, þægn, ðeign. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A noble holding land by military or other service; a person of high rank; (b) a member of the lesser nobility, a knight or retainer; also, a warrior, soldier; theines men, retainers; burgh ~ [OE burg-þegen], ?a soldier or a warrior living in a town; ? = bour ~ [see (c)]; (c) some type of governmental official [quot. c1225]; also, an officer of hell [quot. a1150]; bour ~, an officer in charge of the private apartments of a king, a chamberlain; rail ~ [OE hrægel-þegn], a monastic officer in charge of clothes and vestments, a robekeeper.
Associated quotations
a
- (1100) Chart.St.Paul in RHS ser.3.5820 : Henric king gret his scirereuan & his þeinas of Lundene & on Essaxan, [etc.].
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.656 : Þa kyning..heot seonden geond al his þeode æfter alle his þægne..& æfter his eorles & æfter alle þa þe Gode luuedon.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.656 : Þa wæs seo kyning Wulfere þær..& þær wæron ælle his ðegnas þe wæron on his kynerice.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.656 : Þa stod seo kyning up toforen ealle his ðægna.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.656 : Ic Wulfere kyning mid þas kyningas & mid eorles & mid heorotogas & mid þægnas þas gewitnesse mines gifes toforan þone ærcebiscop..ic hit festnia mid Cristes mel.
- 1123 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1123 : Ealle þa biscopas him underfengen; him wiðcwæðen muneces & eorles & þeignes, ealle mest þe þær wæron.
- 1123 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1123 : Ða wæs se kyng eall þes geares in Normandie, & weax þa micel unfrið betwux him & hise þeignas.
- a1126 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1124 : Ðes ilces geares..held Raulf Basset & þes kinges ðæines gewitenemot on Leþecæstrescire at Hundehoge.
- a1300(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Jes-O 29)71/2 : At Seuorde sete þeynes monye, fele Biscopes, and..Eorles prute, knyhtes egleche.
- (?1305) RParl.1.471b : Laquele terre fu lesse a ferme a vostre Thayne de Balhelni par la persone du louy.
- ?1316 SMChron.(Roy 12.C.12)583 : Alle the theynes of Walschelonde He made bowe to ys honde Ant leyde..truage on hem Ant on heore Walsche men.
- a1450 Dial.Death & KKA (Stw 39)15 : My name þen is ded; May þer none fro me fle..kynge, kasere, þen, no knyght.
b
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)116/4 : On þan time wæs sum þegn Drihtelm gehaten, on Norðhumberlande..Dælde syððen his æhte on þreo..& beah to þan mynstre.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)119/20,22 : Beda..awrat on Historia Anglorum beo sumen þeigne..æt sumen gefihte wearð an þeign Æðelredes kinges mid oðren cæmpen afelled.
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)231 : Hit þer to com þat se hlaford into þar halle come, mid his dierewurd ȝeferede, mid ærlen and aldren, mid cnihten, mid þeinen.
- c1225 Wor.Bod.Gloss.(Jun 121)25 : Cempan: þen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2824 : For nauede Belin nan cnihte þet he næs þere god kimppe, ne neauere nenne herd-swein þat he ne fahte alse þein.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3359 : Þus andswerde þe þein [Otho: cniht], 'Ich hit wulle don fæin.'
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6844 : Heo..to þan inne wende, in-to Winchæstre, & sloȝen heore sweines & heore burh-þeines, heore cokes & heore cnaues.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7460 : Þa þe king hafde iæten þa eoden þeines-men [Otho: sweines] to mete.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8987 : Hafde he amidde cnihtes wel bihedde oðer seoue þusend selere þeinen.
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)13 : Þeos þeines þat her weren bolde beoþ aglyden so wyndes bles.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)31 : Hym louede yung, him louede holde, Erl and barun, dreng and kayn [read: thayn], Knict, bondeman, and swain.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2184 : To-morwen shaltu manrede take..Boþe of erl and of barun And of dreng and of thayn And of knith and of sweyn.
- a1350(1307) Execution Fraser (Hrl 2253)95 : In þe batayle..ffrysel was ytake..knyhtes ant sweynes, ffremen ant þeynes, monye wiþ hym.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)16.269/749 : For heo wuste þat þo knihtes weore þaynes, þat þere weore to gederet were Roymaynes.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.14 : Quen crist on rod was slain, He herid hel als mihti thain And broht thaim al..in till his blis.
c
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1120 : On þam fare wurdon a-dr[u]ncene..swyðe manega of þæs cynges hired, stiwardas, & burþenas.
- 1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1131 : Swa þæt he scolde setten þær prior of Clunni & circeweard & hordere & reilþein & ealle þa ðing þa wæron wiðinne mynstre.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.Nicod.(Vsp D.14)85/11 : Seo helle þone deofel ut adraf, & cwæð to þan arleasen þegnen, 'Belucað fæste þa ændelease gaten.'
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)538/25 : Satrapa: þein.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7663 : He ȝæf his stiwarde Æst-sex & his burðeine Middel-sax bitahte.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)9951 : Ælc..of his bur-þæinen..gold beren an honden.
2.
(a) A man; a free man; also, a vassal; (b) a servant; also, a slave; also, one bound in service to another, a serf [quot. ?1241]; dish ~ [OE disc-þēn], a table-servant, dish-bearer; weke ~ [OE wic-þegen], a Benedictine assigned a serving duty for the week; (c) a disciple of Christ; a servant of God; (d) lor ~, q.v.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1128) Doc.Durham in Sur.Soc.9p.xxix : R[annulphus] biscop greteth well alle his theines & drenges of Ealondscire & of Norhamscire.
- (1155) Chart.Hen.II in Hall EME (Hrl Charter 3.B.49)12 : Ic keþe eow þet ic hebbe heom geunnon þet hi beon ælc þare lande wurþa þe hi eafdon en Edwardes kinges deȝe..& ofer swa fele þeinas swa ich heom to leten habban.
- c1185 Pseudo-Cnut in Liebermann Gesetze 1622 : Liberalis..homo, id est þegen.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)38/36 : Ȝef þu wite wult hwi we weorið meast rihtwise þeines, ich þe onswerie: for onde þet et aa & eauer ure heorte.
- ?1241 Legal Gloss.St.Paul's (StP 11)60 : Þeyn: frangk.
- a1315 Legal Gloss.Glb.(Glb E.4)210 : Theyn: Auer frank home.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1116 : So bitterlike is it [Sodom] for-don, Ne mai non dain wassen ðor-on.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Nativ.(Phys-E)p.61 : Nembrot..thoru prid and couaitise Gert folc first bowe til his seruise; Of him men gan ensampel tak, King and thain.
b
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)122/23 : Þa wæs þæs witega cnape Giezi, mid gitsunge undergripen, & forarn, þone þeign Naaman þuss mid worden liccetende, [etc.].
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Evang.(Bod 343)18/5 : Þe casere wearð on þam wæȝe ofslaȝen & sum his þeȝenæ þe ðis þa ihyrde wende to þam munuce & wearð munuc him sylf.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)30/21 : Þe laford het þa lædon ðone þæȝen mid wife & mid alle his cildrum & syllæn wið feo.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)32/3 : Ða isæȝen þa hiredmen hu ðe þeȝen dyde.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)36/22 : Nu forȝeaf þe kyng..alne þone mycele ȝylt mildelice þam þeȝene.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)79/9 : Ðeo hordestre eft þære towerdan wucan wicdenum [read: wicðenum] þa ylcan þænigfate bætece.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)79/24 : Æfterfyliȝe þære toweardan wucan wicþen & þus cweðe, 'Beȝyn þu, God, me to fylste.'
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)547/43-4 : Discifer: discþein. Minister: þein.
- ?1241 Legal Gloss.St.Paul's (StP 11)60 : Þen: serf.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5373 : First he [Joseph] was here als our thain Bot now es he for ai franckelain.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6705 : Qua smites vte his thains [Frf: felaw; Göt: thrales] eie..He sal þam mak bath fre and quitte.
c
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)19/8 : Sum æwfæst Godes þeign wæs gehaten Zacharias.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)94/29 : Se Hælend..sealde his þeignen sibbe bebodan.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Aelfric OT (Bod 343)47/738 : Iob wæs ihaten sum heah Godes þægen on þam londe Hus, swiðe leafful wer, welig on æhtum.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)76/22 : 'Þer ic beo seolf, þær bið eæc min þeȝn': Her we maȝen ihyren hwæt he [Christ] deð us to leane.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)108/13 : Sone swa þa haliȝe þeinæs þet wundor swa mycel isæȝen, þa sæde Petrus to Criste, 'Drihten, god is us þet we hær beon.'
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)108/19 : Sonæ swa þa Cristes þeiȝnæs þet mycele wundor isæȝen..þa wæren heo swiðe afyrhte.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)110/29 : Crist æfter six daȝum fulde þet he his þeinum bihet.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)122/2 : For hwon forbeat Crist his þeiȝnum þet heo ne sceolden cuþæn ne sæcgæn nane men þet brihtlice sihðe?
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)229 : Þa warð an þera twelf Christes þeigne se þe was iudas ȝehaten þurh diofles tihtinge beswicen.
- a1300 Þo ihu crist (Jes-O 29)10 : His apostles..duden heore louerdes hestes ase þeines heolde.
3.
Associated quotations
- a1350 Prov.Hend.(Hrl 2253)179 : Draþ þyn hond sone aȝeyn, ȝef men þe doþ a wycke þeyn.
4.
In surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.203].
Associated quotations
- (1130) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)61 : Tanford.
- (1167) in Pipe R.Soc.1125 : Robertus Tain.
- (1175) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)61 : Teinford.
- (1184) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)61 : Teneford.
- (1195) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)61 : Teineford.
- (1199) Feet Fines Rich.I in Pipe R.Soc.24145 : Galfridus Þein.
- (1201) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)61 : Tinford.
- (1220) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)61 : Thaneford.
- (1235) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)61 : Tenford.
- (1240) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)61 : Thinford.
- (1242) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)61 : Thenford.
- (1255) Hundred R.Tower 255 : Ric' Thein.
- (c1275) Hundred R.Tower 1461 : And. Theyn.
- (1300) Plea R.Edw.I in WSAS 767 : Roger le Theyn.
- (1301) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)61 : Theneford.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3233 : Cecylia la Theyn.
- (1349) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)61 : Theinford.