Middle English Dictionary Entry
bī-live n.
Entry Info
| Forms | bī-live n. Also bileove, -lēve, -lif. |
| Etymology | OE bī-leofa, bīlifen (cp. OHG bī-libi), & cp. bīlibban. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The means of subsistence, a livelihood (as of food, clothing, shelter); beggen, finden, winnen ~.
Associated quotations
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)84/17 : Ure Scuppend us ȝeaf to bileofenæn [!] iȝearcnodne laf of eorðlice tylunge.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)27 : Al hit is cleped bred, þat is mannes bileue; ac naðeles bred bitocneð þre bileues..þe mete þe þe lichame brukeð..godes word..cristes holie licame.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)99 : He let hem reine manne to bi-liue, and gef hem bred of heuene.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)91/29 : His bilif is litel, forðan he ne hafð bute ðurh his handiswinke bi to libbenne.
- a1250(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(*Glb A.19-James)92 : & te cherl be in friþ, hise sedes to sowen..to ure alre bilif.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)74/20 : Mine leoue sustren, kinges & kaiseres habbeð hore bileoue [Corp-C: liueneð] of oure large relef.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10197 : Hii nadde..nout bote vnneþe hor biliue.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.230 : Some he kenned crafte..With sellyng & buggynge her bylyf [vrr. bilyue, bileue, liflode] to wynne.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)2.18 : He het þe elementes to helpe ȝow..And brynge forth ȝoure bylyue [vr. byleue].
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.21 : Canstow..Hem þat bedreden be by-lyve [vr. by-leue, lijflode] to fynde?
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)9.261 : Yblessed be alle þo þat by-lyue [vr. bileue] swynken þorw eny leel labour.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)17.335 : Ich wolde neuere fro hym, Þauh ich my by-lyue [vr. bileeue, lijflode] sholde begge aboute at menne [vr. mennes] hacches.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1425 PPl.A(1) (Antq 687)8.105 : Belyue [vr. bylyff; Trin-C: Ne aboute my liflode so besy be namore].
Note: New spelling
Note: Postdates word