Middle English Dictionary Entry
thik(ke adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | thik(ke adv. Also (N) thikc, thic, (SW) thikce, theke & (error) þilke; comp. thikker, etc. & thickore, -ure. |
| Etymology | From thik(ke adj. & OE þicce adv. In combs. with p.ppl. some exx. preceding the ppl. could also be construed as thik(ke adj., as with similar constructions in MnE. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
In a thick layer; ~ brenning, ?burning with a wide flame; ~ walled, having thick walls.
Associated quotations
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)35/17 : Nim þanne wulle; þe ne com næfre awaxen, wyrc cliþan þærof, leȝe þæruppa þa sealfe wel þicce.
- c1300 SLeg.Kenelm (LdMisc 108)119 : Him þouȝte þat þare stod..laumpes al-so, þicke brenninde and liȝte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.233 : To hert his men, hym list nat be behynde..A-fore þe castel hiȝe and þikke wallyd.
- a1475 Gilb.Angl.(Wel 537)201/19 : Anoynte his wombe and his rigge also with þe gleyr of eyren, And springe it al þicke with þe floure of benes in þe maner of a plastir.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)154b/a : Þis medicyne..schal be spred abrood þicke vpon a clooþ.
2.
(a) Densely; in a crowded state; so as to fill a space; also, abundantly [quot. a1387]; ~ hered (leved, sterred, etc.); (b) ~ isette (sette), of a stag's head: bearing a full set of antlers; (c) in phrases with thin(ne adv.: bothe ~ and thinne, everywhere; ~ nor thinne, fig. with no exception.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)695 : In þe faireste lond huy weren..Þicke it was i-set wit treon.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2438 : Þei hade..founden þan a fayr forest floriched ful þik.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.12.2 : Vnder alle þykke braunched tre scatere ȝe þe auters of hem.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)SSol.5.11 : His her as braunches of palmys, thicke leued, blac as a crowe.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2518 : Somme helden with hym with the blake berd; Somme, with the balled; somme, with the thikke herd.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.15 : In þis ilond vnder þe torf of þe lond is good marl i-founde..euere þe þickere þe felde is i-marled, þe better corn it wil bere.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)801 : So mony pynakle payntet watz poudred ay-quere Among þe castel carnelez, clambred so þik, Þat pared out of papure purely hit semed.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)17 : Þe deere..is..wel growe..whan þe hede is..wel affeted and thyk tynede, wel hei and wel opned.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)112/3 : The tree is so thikke charged þat it semeth þat it wolde breke.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)9742 : The feld..is layd with dede bodies Thikkere than trees ar set In ris.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.23.2 : In som wynters nyght whan the firmament is cler and thikke sterred, wayte a tyme til that eny sterre fix sitte lyne-right perpendiculer over the pool artik.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1253 : Þe dores ful of dyemauntes dryuen wer þicke.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)124 : His colere with calsydoynnes clustrede full thikke.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)2625 : In þat londe þere is certaine A wondir grete hie mountaine..And thikke þere it groweth oueralle Of grete braunchis of coralle.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)90 : Þat cloth rychyly dyght, Fulle of stones þer hyt was pyght, As thykke as hyt myght be Off topaze and rubyes.
- a1500 Tundale (Adv 19.3.1)610 : Wyth sharpe pyles of iren & stele Hyt [bridge] was þykkesette.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)175 : Þanne y munte me forþ..And a-waytede a woon wonderlie well y-beld..Wyde wyndowes y-wrouȝt y-written full þikke.
b
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)79 : If he se an hert þt haþ a lowe hed..and it be þik isette hie and lowe, and men axe hym what hed he bereþ, he may answere þat he bereþ a þik sette hed.
c
- ?a1300(c1250) Prov.Hend.(Dgb 86)st.37 : Wille þei, nille þei, out hit shal And ben ful couþ overal Boþe þikke and þenne.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)1621 : In the Lumby See There mai no fisshe livinge be; Hit is so hote bothe thikke and thynne, There may noo fisshe abide þereynne.
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)leaf e vii/b : The man to his mayster spekyth..Off the nomblys of the hert that he wolde hym kith How mony endys ther shall be hem with inne; Quod the mayster, 'bot oon, thyk nor thynne, And that is bot the Gargilon.'
3.
(a) In a crowd, in throngs; in a crush; comen (gon, wenden, etc.) ~; (b) closely, compactly; seuen ~, surg. to sew (a wound, wounded member) with close-set stitches; souen sed ~, sow seed thickly; brouded (brouden) ~, of chain mail: tightly woven, having closely interlocking links; (c) in great numbers; copiously, profusely; also, ubiquitously; (d) in conventional comparisons.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(Hrl 2277)579/237 : Þe king & al þat oþer folc þat þikke aboute him com..turnde to Cristendom.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)75/159 : Þat folk wondrede ech-on And þare-a-boute wel þicke ornen, þat wonder for-to seo.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9461 : Þe folc com þikce abouten him & nom him atte laste.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10858 : Clerkes come þikke þo, in gret wraþþe inowe.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)12587 : Y se men come to shryfte so þykke, Of some, here soules as blak as pykke.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1702 : His felaȝes fallen hym to þat fnasted ful þike, Runnen forth in a rabel in his ryȝt fare.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)358 : Many prelatis by coveitise..ben ofte fendis..And no woundir ȝif men gone þikke to helle bi þe leding of suche prelatis.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3855 : Of his dethe þey douȝteden gretlyche also And drowyn abouȝt hym theke and faste.
- a1475 Friar & B.(Brog 2.1)p.60 : They went out at the dor so thyke That eche man fell in otherys neke.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2867 : Other folke vpon fer fell thedur thicke..Soght to þat solenite sacrifis to make.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Aug.Cant.(LdMisc 108)72 : Folk a-boute heom cam ase þicke ase huy miȝten go.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)27/735 : Þer beþ foles suiche fele Ysawe al to þykke.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3322 : Yclad he was..Al in a kirtel of a light waget; Ful faire and thikke [vr. þike] been the poyntes set.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)249a/a : Seed schal be sowe þikke or þynne.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)504 : Her wyvez walkez hem wyth and þe wylde after, Þroly þrublande in þronge, þrowen ful þykke.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4316 : Amyd Grekis so þikke she was beset Þat with axes..Hir hed in soth maketh was al bare.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)391 : Al þe fowles þat er in flyght Lighted so thik opon þat tre Þat bogh ne lefe none might I se.
- a1450(1408) Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)118/1 : Þe oost were to wide ysprad or to fer, or þickere yþrust togyder þan it nedid.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)744 : Suþ putteþ þe prince ouer his pale wedes A brynye, browded þicke, with a brest-plate.
- c1450(?a1370) Winner & W.(Add 31042)113 : He laped his legges in yren to the lawe bones..With brases of broun stele brauden full thikke.
- a1475 Gilb.Angl.(Wel 537)92/6 : Toothache..comeþ..of corrupte metis þat cleuen bitwene þe teeþ, for þe teeþ ben not þicke y-nowe sette, but a-twyny.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)66b/a : Alle woundis in þis place schulen be sewid more streitloker and more þickere þan in ony oþir stide.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)66b/b : If þat a gutt be y-woundid..Þou schalt sewe it..wiþ a silken þreed and þat riȝt þicke in þe same maner as skynneris sewiþ her skynnys.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)138/31 : The men of Perse shotte arrowes so thykke that it toke aweye the lyght of the sonne.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)166b/a : Woundis of þe wombe schal be sunnere closid, and fastere be gaderid togidere, & þickere & strongliere sewid.
- a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193)114/167 : Þe abominable and multitude of develis was innumerable..as þey had byn a gret land fule standing as thykke as on of them myȝt stand by anoþer.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11265 : Þai kepyn the cloyse of this clene burgh, With ȝep men at þe yatis ȝarkit full þik.
c
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)237 : Þe folce..cumþ fastlice fram middenardes anginn alse fele alse deade beoð alse fele beoð to berie icome..and elce deȝie þicce þringeð.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)77/20 : Þu were biset þicke mid sunne, and alle weren prikiende so piles on ile.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1172 : Þer weren penies þicke tolde, Mikel plente upon þe bok.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2988 : He smot wið ðat gerde on ðe lond, And gnattes hird ðor ðicke up-wond.
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)101/382 : He sente vs plente inouh..Of all manere sustenaunce grouwende vpon molde So þicke.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)10 : Lokith wel hou thicke symonie regnith in youre lond.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)3.147 : Þat feiþ may not haue his forþ, hire floreynes go so þikke.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)79/11 : Þai deide wonder þik wiþin the citee for hunger.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.456 : Unhappes fallen thikke [vr. þekke] Alday for love.
- a1450(a1400) Titus & V.(Add 36523)3519 : Soo thicke þei dyeden by strete and weye, For stynke of dede men þere þei leye.
- c1450 Lychefelde Comp.G.(Lamb 853)569 : In deedly synne men dien now þicke.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)132/27 : The teres fell often tymes and thyk frome hir eyn.
- ?a1475 Com.Proph.M.(PennSt-U PS V-3)133 : Than come þe saxons and multiplied wondir thik.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Conf.(Dub 245)344 : Þenne crist assoiled þicker men þenne he dide aftur þe tyme of þis lawe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6626 : He segh þe troiens so tore, & turnyt so þik, All pyght in a place on a playn feld.
d
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13705 : Heo lette fleon to..flan al swa þicke swa þe snau adun ualleð.
- ?a1300 11 Pains(1) (Dgb 86)403/39 : Þickore [vr. Þickure] hy hongeþ þer oural þen ben beþ in þe winter stal.
- ?a1300 11 Pains(1) (Dgb 86)405/252 : Þerinne goþ soulen þicckore Inou þen leues fallen from þe bou.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)179/50 : Quareles..stikeden al-so þicke on him so yrichon deth of piles.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1288 : Þat folc vel doun vorwounded..As þicke as leues doþ of tren.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5984-5 : Þo þikce hii come þat þet lond oueral hii gonne fulle As þilke [vr. þycke] as ameten crepeþ in an amete hulle.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)9161 : Gauelokes also þicke flowe So gnattes ichil avowe.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4431 : Þe speres crakeþ also þicke So on hegge sere stykke.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1356 : Men moost..ride and gon as blyve Alday as thikke as been fleen from an hyve.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)6700 : Eche man on other schetis As thikke as heryng fletis.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)12995 : The Peple lay as thikke as strawe Or the corn whan it was sawe.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)655 : Fleth ek the queen, with al hire purpre sayl, For strokes, whiche that wente as thikke as hayl.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)5439 : Quarellys, arwes also þykke gan flye As it were poudyr in þe skye.
- c1475 Brm.Abraham (Brm)395 : As thyke as gravell in the see, So thyke mvltyplyed ȝowre sede schall be.
4.
In phrase: ~ stondinge, of stiff consistency, viscous.
Associated quotations
- a1500 Sln.962 Diseases Horse (Sln 962)102 : For bolnyng of members and of legges..Take..housleek..morel..plantaygne..vynegre and a pynt of hony and als miche flour of whete as wil make it thyk standyng..medle hem to gyder..and yis wil destroy al maner bollnyng and venym.
5.
(a) Frequently; often; also, rapidly; in quick succession; (b) ~ brethed, breathing with short, rapid breaths, anhelous, dyspneic.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1416 : Symbales and sonetez sware þe noyse, And bougounz busch batered so þikke.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1770 : Þat prynce of pris de-presed hym so þikke, Nurned hym so neȝe þe þred þat nede hym bihoued Oþer lach þer hir luf oþer lodly re-fuse.
- (?c1400) Wycl.7 Heresies (Dc 274)444 : Þe sexte heresie..sais þat men of private religioun bene more thikk saved þen men þat kepe trewly comyne Cristus religione.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)323 : Vicis grewen into the clergie miche thickir than bifore.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)14.504 : Thanne destreris with spores gonne they prikke, And Amongis that Chasing Redyn ful thykke.
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)502 : So thikke þaire dynttis to-gedir pelyde, thaire armours hewenn laye in þe felde.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Eliz.Spalb.(Dc 114)110/7 : Often and þikke sche seiþ þese woordys.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.52.35b : Veine þouȝtes wilen presen in to þin herte þikke for to drawen þi þouȝt doun to hem.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)200/25 : He þat spekyth thyk [L velox in verbis]..is inportune, a lyer, bysi and ontrwe.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)4277 : Þer is a ielousie Þat comeþ of foule herte..Þat ielousie is of a womman þikke.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10402 : For it is a mannes vilenye To þicke on his frend to lye.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8623 : He bethoght hym full thicke in his thro hert And all soteltie soght, serchit his wit On all wise in this world þat werke for to end.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)23a/b : Hit is I-seye among..hem þat..ben pursike & þicke breþid and oþir suche.
6.
Forcefully; leien on ~.
Associated quotations
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)583 : So þikke he smot to Olyuer as he miȝte flynge.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2793 : Þassautte com so þikk and swiþe Þat no weryng ne miȝtth hem liþe.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)953 : Þe rayn rueled adoun, ridlande þikke.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)9616 : He pullyth oute his swerd..And leyde on thyk hym rounde a-bouute.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)707 : Þik & þrathly am I thret; & thole mon I sone, Þe slaȝter of myne awen son.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)51/7 : They..gave grete strokes wher they myght ofte and thyke.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)6886 : A fooll wott neuer where he shall stryke, But euer more lay on thyke Where he may lyghttly hytte.
7.
In misc. senses: (a) ?tightly; (b) ful ~, fully, completely; ben alive (in lif, in this lif) ful ~, to be deeply involved in the life of this world.
Associated quotations
a
- a1500 Corp-O.Cook Recipes (Corp-O 291)155.23/5 : Tak a resche þe lengþe of half a plater, & aboute þis resche broyde anoþer resches crossewyse as þicke as þou may, Þanne ley þes broyden resches on a plater, Cast aboue þe crudde & pore out þe qwhey.
b
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)71/1239 : He com in wel sone..Iarmed ful þikke Fram fote to þe nekke.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3377 : Suilk er in þis liue [Frf: in life; Trin-C: a lyue] ful thikc [Göt: thic] Forgetes þe deid for þe quick.