Middle English Dictionary Entry
tōknen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | tōknen v. Also tokne, tokni(n, tokene(n, tokin(e, tokun, (N) taken & (early) tacn(i)en, tocnen; sg.3 tokneth, etc. & toknet, tokenth, (early) tacnet, tacnæð; pl. tokneth, etc. & (early) tacn(i)æð; p. toknede, etc. & (early) tacnode, (error) tacnedo; pl. tokened, etc. & (early) tacnoden; ppl. tokned, etc. & tokind, tokoned, (N) takend, takin(d. |
| Etymology | OE tācnian |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. itaknen v.
1.
(a) To represent (sth.) by a symbol, symbolize; ppl. tokned as adj.: represented, signified; also, as noun: that which is represented [quot. ?a1450]; (b) to constitute a type of (Christ); also, prefigure (sth., usu. an event in the life of Christ).
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.3 Dead (Bod 343)136/3 : Ure Hælend Crist arerde þreo men of deaþe to life, & þa þreo tacnoden þene ðreofealde deaþ þare sunfule sawle.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)110/24 : Þat tacnæð þat þa soðfæste men beoð isceadde feor fram yfele monnæ neawiste.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)16/12-13 : Heo tacniæþ þa halȝan ðrymnesse. Cypressvs tacnæð þone fæder; Cedrvs tacnæð þone sunæ; Pinus tacnæð þone halȝæ gast.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1732 : Þe Laferrd Crist himm sellf wass uss Þurrh þatt bisscopp bitacnedd..& hise claþess þatt he wessh Tacnedenn Cristess þeowwess.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)17550 : Þe werelld iss uss here sett To tacnenn mannkinn ane & forr þatt mannes bodiȝ iss Off all þe werelld feȝedd, Off heffness fir, & off þe lifft.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)5 : Þet tacnet þet we sulen habben ure heorte and habben godne ileafe to ure drihten.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)23 : Hwet tacneð þa wepne? Þine elmisse þe þu dest, þet is, þu gast to chirche bluþeliche and fedest wreche men.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)33/28 : Rode tacnieð pine; Pine ðe seluen for his luue ðe ðolede pine for ðe.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)151/1 : Hie lokeden wel ðat ðe tail ware on auriche netene; Þat tocneð ðat ilke mann ðe gode ani seruise offreð, þat he þar on þurȝwunie.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)627 : Crist is tokneð ðurg ðis der, wos kinde we hauen told gu her, for he is faier ouer alle men.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)638,640 : God..Taunede him in ðe wakene a-buuen, Rein-bowe, men cleped, reed and blo. Ðe blo tokeneð ðe wateres wo..Ðe rede wid-innen toknet on Wreche ðat sal get wurðen sent Wan al ðis werld wurðe brent.
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)324 : Lete neuer þis coupe fro þe, Bot loke her-on & þenk on me; It tokneþ our parting.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)53/1479 : Þe croune of clerke y-opened hys, Tokneþ þe wyl to heuene.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.233 : Þis ymage bare in his riȝt hond a spere al round i-schape as þe world, and in his lift hand a swerd þat tokeneþ myȝt of bataille.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)993/8 : Mirtus fasteniþ, restoreþ, and conforteþ wery membres and lymes, and þerfore he tokeneþ confortours of holy chirch.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6341 : Þis wandes takens persons thre, And an-fald godd in vnite.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18644 : He [Christ] es takend to leon.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5694 : Þe olyve tokeneþ loue & pes.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.4.11 : A tokne he took of Circumcysioun; þat it the sygnacle of riȝtwisnesse þat is hafande a similitude of a tokned thyng, þat he be fadyr of all lefande.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)44 : For the noumbre of the x comaundementis tokeneth the perfeccioun of the lawe.
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)833 : Moyses tabernacule..tokenth oure cherch witȝ þe sacramentis.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)495 : Toknyn [Win: Tokyn], or made [Win: make] tokene: Signo.
- ?a1450 Sel.Rosarium Theol.(Cai 354/581)98/13 : Ymage is 3. folde..on þe 3. maner is seid a peynted ymage to represent his tokoned, ane ymage of representyng.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)705 : Þir thre vessell takyns to me Þe wirschip of þe trinite.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)809 : By this dowe wych thow dost se, Wych I bere with wynges fayre..I am tookenyd.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)23 : Half of þe linage blessing betokyn hem þat charitabli purli for desire of hietis of Crist comyn to þe hille; þe toþer half cursing meniþ hem þat fro drede of torment filling þe lawe comun to þe hille..þei tokun actifis & contemplatifis þat sterun to vertewe be þer two maneris.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.303 : In heuene..schal ben Sabat of Sabat, þat is to seye endeles reste, tokenyd be temperal reste in þe holy day.
b
- c1175(OE) Bod.Aelfric OT (Bod 343)23/181 : Seth, Adames sunu, is isæd 'ærist,' & he tacnode untwylice Crist, ðe þe of deaþe aras on ðam ðriddæ dæge.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Aelfric OT (Bod 343)26/267 : Isaac tacnode ðone Hælend Crist, þe acweald wæs for us.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Aelfric OT (Bod 343)44/677 : Þe hwæl hine þær to Niniuea burig, þe dæð tacnode ures Drihtnes dæþ.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Nicod.(Bod 343)10/32 : Ðeo ærene neddræ..tacnode Cristes deaþ.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)116/22 : Witerlice eac Moyses þurh þas men tacnedo [read: tacnode] hu he mennisce deaþ underfeng & forðferde & iburiȝed wæs.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)51b/b : Prefiguro: tokenen byfore.
2.
To portend (sth.), presage; also, of a dream: mean (sth.), have oracular significance about.
Associated quotations
- a1150(?OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)89/34 : On þan nexten fiftene dagen beforen domesdæge, sculen gewurðen foretacnen, þe bodieð & tacnieþ þone styrnlicne ege, þe God sceaweð þan arleasen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1415 : Þes fuȝel tacnede faie-sið þes kinges. Ruhhudibrus was sone dead.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8961 : Þat taken of þan steorre þe we isaȝen swa feorre soð hit is, Uðer leof, þat tacnede þines broðer dæd.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9354 : Þe taper berst a tuo..Me Iuggede wat it ssolde be to tokni þis cas: Þat þe king ssolde be ouercome, & al so it was.
- a1350 SLeg.Kenelm (Ashm 43)133 : It toknede [Hrl: He nuste what hit bitoknede, þe more was his þoȝt].
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2937 : What þat it tokeneþ telle wol ich sone; It is a ful kud kniȝt schal come ȝou to help.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.601 : To Daniel his drem he tolde And preide him faire that he wolde Arede what it tokne may.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)598 : In þis nam [Adam] er four letters laid, Þat o þe four ȝates er said; Sua micul es adam for to muth Als est and west and north and south..It takens adam and his sede; Ouer al þe werld þan suld þai spred.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)32.280 : They ne Cowden for non thing bryngen that vicyown to An Endyng..the Kyng..seide, 'somwhat it tokeneth, with-owten More.'
3.
(a) To indicate (sth., that sth. is so); also, be symptomatic of (sth.); (b) of a zodiacal sign: to correspond to (a part of the body).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)187/28 : Whan þe b[r]owis ben streiȝt as lymes [read lynes], he tokeneþ womman neischnes oþir liȝtnes of heed.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1080/29 : Good odour and smylle of wyne scheweþ and tokeneþ þat þe licour is cliere and temperate.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1291/21 : Wan colour in vryne..tokeneþ dede membres and humour and many oþer eueles.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)11568 : She broȝt a smel of grete sauour, Þat tokeneþ loue and grete onour; with here teres þat she lete þarwyþ she wyssh Ihesu fete.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)14/35 : Suche pronosticacions sheweþ and tokneth to þe pacient þat þe leche is experte in þe knowyng of þe fistule.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)79/22,24 : Verrey apostemes ben tokened by swellynge, by akynge..Vnuerreye apostemes ben signified, i. tokened, by swellynge, by sequestracioun.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)221/2 : Of Physnomye aftyr the here: Nesshe heere tokenyth a dredfulle, and harde here tokenyth hardy and stronge.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)223/28 : Tho thynges bene tokenyd by the eighen, othyr that a man Is dredful or vicyous.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2208 : Subtile liquour tokenyth humydite.
b
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)16/10 : A cyrurgien ow noȝt for to kutte..in any membre of a mannes body..whiles þe mone is in a signe gouernyng or tokenyng þat membre.
4.
(a) Of a word: to refer to (a concept, class, etc.), signify; of a letter: signify (a number, text); (b) of a digit: to represent (a number); (c) to name (sb.); gloss (a name).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)47/12 : Þe novnes þat tokeneth essenciam beþ iclepid essencialia.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)54/21 : Among þe Hebrewes he [name] is boþe singuler noumbre and plurel and tokeneth þe essenciam in vnite with supposicioun of þre persones.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)56/16 : Oþir nounes þer beþ þat beth vndirstoode to tokene þingis þat ben iseide of Crist.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1364/4 : Alpha is ywrite for designacioun of lettres for among þe Grees þis lettre tokneþ oon.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1557 : Scoleres skelten þeratte þe skyl for to fynde, But þer watz never on so wyse couþe on worde rede..ne langage nauþer, What tyþyng ne tale tokened þo draȝtes.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)21b/a : Dionium: two wordes of þyng tokened.
b
- ?a1400 Numer.Algorism (Hal)31 : Lo an example as thus 9634..The figure of nyne that hath this schape 9 tokeneth ten tymes more than he schulde and he stode in the place ther the figure of 6 stondeth inne, for thanne he schuld tokene but nyne hundryd.
- ?c1425 Craft Number.(Eg 2622)4/21 : If it stonde in the secunde place of þe rewle, he betokens tene tymes hym selfe, as þis figure 2 here 20 tokens, ten tyme hym selfe, þat is twenty.
- ?c1425 Craft Number.(Eg 2622)5/7 : A cifre tokens noȝt, bot he makes þe figure to betoken þat comes aftur hym more þan he schuld & he were away.
- ?c1425 Craft Number.(Eg 2622)5/24 : Þe last figure schal token more þan alle þe oþer afore..as þus, 16798. Þe last figure, þat is 1, betokens ten thousant..And ten thousant is more þen alle þat numbur; ergo þe last figure tokens more þan all þe nombur afore.
c
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)103/12 : To-foren ðare burh of Ierusalem is an muchel dune, ðe hatte Syon, þat is tokned 'Sceawinge.'
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Gal.4.24 : By allegorye, þise forsoþe ben two testamentis: one certis in þe mount of Syon gendrande men in to seruage, þe whyche is tokynd agar.
5.
(a) To place a distinguishing mark on (sb. or sth.); also fig.; ppl. tokned as noun: the marked section [3rd quot., 2nd occurrence]; (b) to distinguish (periods of time).
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21713 : Þe signe o tav in ald laies Bitakens cros nu in vr daies; þe men þat þar-wit takend [Göt: takin] war, Oft it helped fra misfar.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)62b/a : Stingo: to tokenen [Pep: tokine].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)143a/b : Þe pacient be raised vp afore þe leche And wiþholde his breþ þat þe eminence go out als mych as mowe And þan with ynke be it tokened or merked..& be it kut in þe circuite of þe tokened after þe first partie.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)165b/a : It is not necessarie þat þe pacient be bounden bot þat þe place be souȝt and tokened & applied as it is seid.
- (1460) Rec.Norwich 294 : If the cloth be tokened and founde defauty under þe tokene, þan shall þe tokener bere soche punysshement as can be auysed.
- (1467-8) RParl.5.620b : For eche pece of Worstede sold, not tokened in fourme aforesaid, that the first seller therof forfeit the price of the pece.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)4.7 : Takynd is on vs the lyght of thi face, lord.
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.6.18 : God tokneth and assigneth the tymes, ablynge hem to hir propre offices.
6.
To make a beckoning gesture.
Associated quotations
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)44b/b : Nuto: tokenen or beckenen.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)34.22 : Abouen ioy thai noght til me that aduersaries ere til me, wickidly that hatid me of selfwil and takyns with eghen..as thai lufid me, swa does ypocrites.
7.
To inform (sb. that sth. is so).
Associated quotations
- a1500(?a1425) Chester Pl.Antichr.(Pen 399)499/226 : Therfor, kyngis noble and gay, tokyn youre peple that I saye—that I am Crist, God verey—and tell theym such tything.