Middle English Dictionary Entry
bihōt n.
Entry Info
| Forms | bihōt n. Also (early) behāt & bihēte, behiȝt. |
| Etymology | OE behāt; for the variants cp. bihōten. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. bihēst(e.
1.
(a) A promise or pledge; (b) something promised, a reward or blessing.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)225 : Ic [God] wille settan mi wed betwuxe me and eow to þisan behate.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)31/11 : To ȝielden alle ðo behotes ðe he us behiet.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)31/24 : We bieð all siker of godes behate.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)315/258 : He was fayn of Cristes siht And fayn also of his beo hiht.
- c1390 NHom.Theoph.(Vrn)249 : Teophele..þonked þe fend of his bihete, and fel on knes and custe his feete.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)114.14 : Mi behotes yhelde sal i Bifore alle his folke for-þi.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)57 : If Peter after his blessing and silk behiȝt is seid of Crist Sathan, whi not þei þat are in to sclaunder to God?
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)187/47 : Thise prophetys..That haue knowyng of his behetys.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.268 : Traytour he was, and false of his behete.
b
- a1425 Christ.Belief (LoC 4)8/302 : Þe apostle haued grett ioy .. and thoght it grete bihete .. for þe luue of him to tholen.