Middle English Dictionary Entry
treuth-plighten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | treuth-plighten v. Also treuthpliȝth; p. trouthepliht; ppl. treuth(e)pliȝth, treutheipliȝt, trewetheipliht, trouthepliȝth, (early) treouðeipliht & trouthplighted. |
| Etymology | From treuth n. & plighten v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To enter into a covenant, make a compact; make a pact or bargain with (death); also, promise (sth.) solemnly; (b) ben) treuthepliȝth, to be) bound by solemn agreement; also, be) obligated by oath.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)160/25 : Pepigimus cum morte fedus & cum inferno iniuimus pactum; þet is, we habbeð treowðe ipliht deað [Pep: treuþe pliȝth..wiþ þe fende], foreward ifeast mid helle.
- a1425 MChristi (Arun 286)51/510 : Oure þree enemyes..þe world, our flesche, and þe fende of helle..aȝeynes us han trauþe pliȝt togeder þat iche schal helpe oþer wiþ alle his power, to wynne us fro oure lord.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)334/13 : He also trowthe-pliht in his honde þis graunt to be holde with-oute oni euil Imagininge.
b
- c1330(c1250) Floris (Auch)164 : We beþ wed breþren and trewþe ipliȝt [vr. treweþe ipliht].
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4907 : Ich wil þat we be treuþe-pliȝt & sworn breþer.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)1255 : Ich & he beþ truþepliȝte, Þat we sschole to-gidere fiȝte.
- c1400 PPl.C (Vsp B.16)7.208 : Truþeplith [Hnt HM 137: Ich serued symme at þe style And was is prentys, yplyght hus profyt to waite].
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)4330 : Gye thoght in hys herte..Whedur he wolde be trowþeplyght.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)8831 : We were felows trewtheplyght [Cai: and trouth-plyȝte].
2.
(a) To arrange the betrothal of (a woman); of a man: betroth (a woman), pledge one's troth to; of a man and woman: pledge troth to (each other); (b) ben treuthepliȝth, to be or become betrothed or espoused; also fig.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)8363 : Ȝyf þou a womman trouþe plyght Out of holy cherches syȝt, Men oght nat so for to do.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)8386 : Þou me hiȝt, or þou me spoused or trauþ pliȝt a sone.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)504 : Trutheplytyn': Affido.
- c1450 Mannyng HS (Cmb Ii.4.9)1705 : Trewth plyȝth no woman [Hrl: Þou shal nat betrouþe a womman with hand þe whylys here husband ys lyuand].
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)332/35 : Sir Gareth..and..the..lady of the Castell Perelus..trouthe-plyghte other to love and never to fayle whyle their lyff lastyth.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)5/10 : In the tyme of Aduent bridalles and mariages makyngis shuld nut be vsid..For-thy who-euer haue eny brydales to make, womman for to troutheplyght..do hit noȝt.
b
- c1330 Horn Child (Auch)1024 : Say him, 'treuþe pliȝt er we, Bid him..Hold þat he bi hiȝt.'
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)3/1 : Was þe aungel Gabriel sent..to a maiden þat was treuþpliȝth to..Joseph.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)35/20 : Þe chirche was trouþpliȝt to Crist, clepid bi name his faire clene spouse..But whanne þis chirche is brouȝt to heuene & restiþ in blisse wiþ Crist hir spouse, þanne is þis mariage fulli sacrid wiþ..delites.
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)458 : Þan kyng Harry and dame Katerine opynly were trowth plyghted..but where þe shuld be Weddud hit is vn knowe to þe oste.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)88/11 : 'Truly..he is maried, or has betravthed sume lady'..'we trowe he be maryed or travthe-plyght.'
- a1475(a1450) Tourn.Tott.(Hrl 5396)202 : All þe wyues of Totenham come..To fech hom þer husbandes, þat were þam trouth-plyȝt.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)1750 : To haue & to worchype by day & by nyȝt, Syr Gy and the lady were trowthe plyȝt.
- a1500 Degrev.(Cmb Ff.1.6)971 : He and I ys trouþe-plyȝth—My housbond to be.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)822 : Maryed shal I be vppon monday; To a gret lady that day be trought plight.