Middle English Dictionary Entry
bihọ̄ve n. (orig. dative)
Entry Info
| Forms | bihọ̄ve n. (orig. dative) Also behoofe, bihufe, biofþe, beove. |
| Etymology | OE to..behōfe |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
to (unto, at) bihove: (a) for (someone's) use, benefit, or advantage; in the interest of; for the good or sake of, for (sb., oneself); (b) with regard to (sb.); ?on the occasion of (a marriage).
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1050 : Ȝe..ȝeorneð mine maðmas & mine leoue dohter to swa laðe mannes bihoue [Otho: bi-hofe].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4378 : Þe king haueð ane dohter..bide heo to þire bi-houe [Otho: biofþe], to habben to are quene.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4565 : To habben to his awere bihoue [Otho: bi-ofþe] & oðer weis hit sæht.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)36b : Ich chulle wite mi strengðe, lauerd, to þine bihoue [L custodiam].
- a1300(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Jes-O 29)92 : His plouh beo i-dryue to vre alre bihoue.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1764 : And dide greyþe a super riche..To his bihoue.
- c1390 St.Greg.(Vrn)22/175 : Þe knyht was god to my bi houe Wys and trewe in vche a stedde.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.358 : Upon the hond to wer a Schoo And sette upon the fot a Glove Acordeth noght to the behove Of resonable mannes us.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1674 : It schal noght be to his behove.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1332 : Algol..Which of Satorne..His kinde takth, and ek of Jove Complexion to his behove.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1412 : These sterres..The whos nature Mart and Jove Have yoven unto his behove.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1166 : Kepe þe touþer part to þy behoue.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9961 : Godd him-self deuised it Til his be-houe.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)101/15 : A newe caue..Joseph it hadde arst ylete make for his owen byhoue.
- (1416) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.52 : Vn to ye be hufe and huse of my maister.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)70 : God to mans kynd had grete lufe When he ordaynd, for mans byhufe, Heven and herth.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)939 : He al þe world and alle thynge wroght Til mans by-hove.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1092 : That stoon was gretly for to love, And tyl a riche mannes byhove Worth all the gold in Rome.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2964 : I knew not elles, to my bihove, That myght me ease or comfort gete.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)3609 : The wynd was good to ther byhoue; Thei sailed on brod.
- (1429) RParl.4.344a : That..any of the seide Lordes shal..to thair use or behove receyve or take any astate, feffement, [etc.].
- (1431) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.99 : Landes, lordships..jn the whiche ye stande by vs feffed vnto oure behooue.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)396 : He haþ to myche, or ellis ynouȝ, to his bihoue of þese now seid ȝiftis.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)16 : Al thilk hool teching..is..ouer little forto..haue sufficientli into mannis bihoue.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)480 : So þat al hir flok may proue And encrese vnto cristes bi-houe.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)prol.41 : It is not to his be-hove.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.756 : Euery man spak of thyng whiche was to his be-ove [vr. behoue].
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)4539 : He will helpe vs at our behoue, Redely forto reproue ȝone paynyms.
- (1462) Will York in Sur.Soc.30262 : Unto the vicars behove, a burden bed.
- (1466-7) Will Sus.in Sus.RS 4513 : To the use and behoofe of the chirch werk.
- (1472) Will York in Sur.Soc.45205 : To put itt to gud use, to be hove of hym and his wife.
- (1475) Deed Yks.in YASRS 76141 : Unto the use of and behove of the said Thomas.
- c1475 Guy(4) (Cai 107/176)7440 : This swerde..To my sones behoue kepte it bee.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)59/5 : That birdis of that fauconis neste shold euer-more be kepe to his owyn behow.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4384 : If i liue þou sal mi proue An iuel freind to þi be-houe.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7582 : With sory hap, to youre bihove, Am I to day youre herberger.
- (1443) Will York in Sur.Soc.30131 : I bequethe to..my doughtir till her mariage..that my feffes shall fulfill to the behove of ther [read: her] mariage..xij spones of silver [etc.].
2.
Duty, responsibility.
Associated quotations
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1663 : Þe sekatouris schul seyn, it is here be-houe to make us mery.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1464) Paston ()2.545 : I charge you..þat ye suffre noon of thayme to passe oute of youre garde, but suerle to kepe thayme vn-to the kynges be-houffe vn-to þe tyme ye haue..in comaundment.
Note: New spelling, sense 1.(a)--per MLL