Middle English Dictionary Entry

bilēven v.(1)
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms bilēven v.(1) Also bilæven, -leave, -lave, bleven. Forms: sg. 3 bilēveth, blē̆fþ; ipv. bilēf; p. bilēvede, -læfde, -leafde, -lefde & bilefte, blefte; ppl. bilēved, etc.; bileft, -laft; yblēved, bleft.
Etymology OE belǣfan, -lǣfde.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

Note: Cp. bilīven.
1.
(a) To depart from or leave (a place, one's people, a person); (b) to give up (possessions, Christianity, etc.); forsake (an obligation, etc.); abandon (bad habits, etc.); (c) to forego (activity), desist from.
Show 31 Quotations
2.
(a) To leave (sb. or sth. in a place), let remain or stay; ben bileft, be left or be (somewhere or with sb.); (b) to leave (sb. or sth. in a certain condition); (c) to leave (sth. for sb.); give, bestow, grant; entrust; ben bileft; (d) to leave (sth.) over; spare (sb.); ben bileft, remain.
Show 40 Quotations
3.
(a) To remain (in a place); stay, tarry; (b) to dwell or live (in a place).
Show 54 Quotations
4.
To remain (in a certain state); ~ hol, wel, stil, etc., remain in good health, keep still, etc.; ~ ded, be left for dead; ~ maide, remain a virgin; ~ oure, remain ours.
Show 20 Quotations
5.
(a) To remain after an event, be left over or behind; survive; (b) to be left (for sb.).
Show 9 Quotations
6.
To leave (sth.) alone, let be; turn away from (a narrative); leave off; desist, hold back.
Show 9 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)173/9 : Hou kueadliche he heþ yzeneʒed, and how longe ybleft ine þe zenne.
    • Note: New form: P.ppl. ibleft.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 4.
  • (1428) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)189 : At þe end of our acompt and ʒer, bylenez [read: bylevez] for store iiij ml tyllez, vc xl waynescottes sawyn and hole, wt oder smale stoffe of stone.
    • Note: New form: 3rd pres. pl.: bilevez, (error) bylenez.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 2.(d); Gloss: "to be left over, remain."
  • ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)81/270 : Oure holy ffadyr isakare Hath sent us hese servyce..Fede ʒow þer of hertyly..and if owght be leve specyaly I pray ʒow That þe pore men þe relevys þer of haue.
    • Note: Needed for date in sense 2.(d). Gloss: "to be left over, remain."

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?c1400(1379) *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.24rb (2.2) : Þat þat is gros and terrestre, i. þik and erþisshe, bleuiþ stil, and hete scaldiþ it and scolkeriþ it and brenneþ it, and so causeþ swarthede and blakhede in þe vryn.
  • a1425 *Treat.Uroscopy (BodeMus 187:Harvey)f.3v (1.3) : Þe residu, i. þe remanant, of þe fode & also þe residu of þe 4 humores bleuand stille in þe menbres is called..þe þrid superfluyte or elles þe superfluite of þe 3 digestioun.
    • Note: Additional quots., prob. sense 4. New spelling (pr. ppl.): bleuand.

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