Middle English Dictionary Entry
theu adj.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | theu adj.(2) Also the(u)we, thu, thiwe, the & (early) þeou, þeo(u)we. |
| Etymology | OE þēow adj.; some exx. could be construed as ME theu n.(3), esp. those in attributive position. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) In a state of slavery, servitude, or serfdom; unfree, bound in service to another; also fig.; maken (liven, wonen) ~; (b) fig. controlled by evil, sin, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Avar.(Bod 343)134/20 : Þu nelt habben yfel wif, ne yfel child, ne yfele þeowmen.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)8/20 : Cuð me..ȝif þu art foster of freomon oðer þeowe-wummon.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)190/24 : Ne beo..se tendre of his flesch þet hit iwurðe untohen, & makie þe gast þeowe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14550 : Summe heo fluȝen to Irlonde..and þer wuneden þeouwe inne þral-dome.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14667 : Moste he libben þeou a þisse londe.
- c1300 Gabriel fram evene king (Arun 248)29 : Hur lordes þeumaiden iwis ics am, þat her a-bouen is.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)558 : Ȝif a bonde-man..to clergie beo i-drawe, He schal nouȝt with-oute is louerdes leue..For þev-Man [Hrl: thu man; Corp-C: þe man] ne mai nouȝt beon i-maket a-ȝen is louerdes wille freo.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10317 : Þe pope of alle hor sunnes asoileþ alle þe, Barons & kniȝtes, þewemen & fre.
- c1400 *Trev.Higd.(Tbr D.7)204a : Egbertus..tauȝte what he hadde y-lerned of cheualry to hys sugettes, to al þe pupel þewe & vre [StJ-C 6.289: to al þe peple that were free; L tam plebanis quam liberis].
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)4422 : Þu ne mihht nan messedaȝȝ Drihhtin tocweme freollsenn, Ȝiff þatt iss þatt tin herrte iss þeoww Off aniȝ ifell wille.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)181 : Mast alle þe hund limen hersumieð þe onre wombe..Ðus was adam þeu.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)245 : Now is Adam wiþ wo inome: Sunnes þral he is bicome, Þat freore was er þen eny þing..He is þorw riht þeuwe and þral.