Middle English Dictionary Entry
birthen n.
Entry Info
| Forms | birthen n. Also birden, birthing; burthen, borthen, burden, borden, bourden; burne; berthen, berdene; burtherne. |
| Etymology | OE byrðen; for early forms in -erne, cp.A fæstern, wēstern, corresp. to WS fæsten, wēsten. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Something carried or supported; a load, a weight; (b) something carried within the body or as part of the body; a fetus; ~ of nature (womb), excrement; last (secound) ~, afterbirth, placenta; (c) a bundle of clothes; a bundle or fagot of rushes, thorns, etc.; a packet of myrrh; a number of beams fastened together; (d) a variable measure of weight or quantity, a load; (e) the carrying capacity of a ship.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1135 : Wua sua bare his byrthen gold & sylure, durste nan man sei to him naht bute god.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)25970 : He bar uppen his rugge burðene [Otho: borþone] grete.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)63a : Hwen twa beoreð a burðerne [Nero: burðene; Pep: birden], & te oþer leaueð hit, þenne mei þe þe uphaldeð hit felen hu hit weieð.
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)504 : Þov, swete treo, þat bere on þe..þe swete burþene [Hrl: burdoun; Ashm: berþene] of godes sone.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)900 : Men fro him his birþene nam.
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)2721 : Him-self beres þe same tre..And þis gret byrden [Hrl: birþin] þat he beres To gang with-all mykell him deres.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.80.7 : He turnede awei fro birthenes [vr. birdens; L oneribus] his rig.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.73 : Noþer water, noþer aier myȝte bere such a burþen [Higd.(2): burdon; L molem].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4179 : Þan sagh þai..camels þat gret birþin [Göt: birdins; Trin-C: burþenes] bar O spice and of oþer ware.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1439 : Mony burþen ful bryȝt watz broȝt into halle.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.23.5 : Thou seest that the asse..liggyth vndir a burthun.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)86 : As withoute birthen we schulde goo liȝtly.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)283 : Ladyn', wythe byrdenys: Onustus, oneratus.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)88b : But for heuynesse of burþen of þe armure þat he beriþ on him selue..he is þe slower of foote.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)233/35 : His seruaunte..broughte inne on his necke a grete burdeyne [Scrope DSP: loode] of woode.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)2.66 : Þey had no myghte..to bere byrthen.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)61/10 : Þer come yn won wyth a gret burthen of condylls.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)648 : A grette clobbe..stod by hym..that was a grete birthon for a myghty man.
b
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)32/519 : Loki we hwuch wunne ariseð..þine breostes burþerne [Tit: burðen] o þine twa pappes.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)32a : Horehound..helpiþ a woman hastely to ber hir childe in travaill and þe seconde borþen.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)9b : Balme..bryngiþ oute þe laste burþen of a woman when she haþe borne childe.
- c1440(?a1400) St.John (Thrn)71 : Þat was þe byrde so bryghte, with birdyn ȝode bun, And þe barne alþir-beste of body scho bare.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)32 : Þe kyng..went on to a tre to auoyde þe birden of his wombe.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.295 : He causede a grete multitude of Cristen peple to be putte in to a streyte prison, where eiche of þeyme scholde sende furthe uryne and the burdon of nature uppon the hedes of other.
c
- a1350 Mon in þe mone (Hrl 2253)2 : On is bot-forke is burþen he bereþ.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.21.19 : The telling of a fool [is] as berthen [WB(2): birthun; L sarcina] in the weie.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Amos 9.6 : He..foundide his knytche, or berthen [L fasciculum], on erthe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8826 : Þe balk was in his birþen [Göt: birdin] bunden.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)57b/b : Sarcina: a charge of fleshe or a borþen.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)36 : Byrdune: sarcina.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)155 : A man which stale sumtyme a birthan of thornis was sett in to the moone.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)7145 : Hir birthon she [laundress] cast to ground.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)7159 : The bordon ye did bere.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)14a : A Byrdyn: sarcina, sarcinula..ffassis, fasciculus.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.94 : The littelle birthyn of mirre betwyx hyre breestis dwelt.
- 1592 Chester Pl.(Add 10305)1.65 : Heare Isaake..taketh a burne [Bod: bundell] of stickes.
d
- (1422) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.122/29-30 : Thei..toke vp therof xxx birdyn risshis and leid hem in sir Water bechaumes place, and than paid to the botman but xxvj d. for xxx birdyn.
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.173/1032 : For dj a burdon russhes ageyns þe Feste of þe same barbours, ij d.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)4 Kings 5.17 : Graunte thou to me, thi seruaunt, that Y take of the lond the birthun of twei [asses].
- (1463-4) Acc.St.Michael Bath in SANHS 2561 : Pro xi burdyns mease, xj d.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)34/4 : Huge..yaf & grauntyd..fowre burdyns of thornys..to be hadde euyry day thorow the yere.
- a1500 Weights in RHS ser.3.41 (Vsp E.9)17 : xxx gaddes [of steel] make a scheff, and xii scheff make a burdon.
e
- (1427) *Anc.Pet.(PRO)124.6187 : cc shippes, what..burthen that they were of.
- (1471) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2 p.136 : Oure lettres of sauf conduyt vnto a Ship of Spayne called the Marie of Spayne, of The bourden of six score and ten tonnes or within.
- ?a1600(1380) Regul.T.Lond.in Archaeol.18 (Lnsd 155)276 : A Shipp or any other Vessell above the burthen of sixe tonne.
2.
(a) Anything that is hard to endure; a burden of duty, responsibility, suffering, penance, guilt, sin, love, desire, etc.; haven ~, to have difficulty; (b) a feudal obligation, a payment or service to one's feudal lord; (c) the fate predicted for someone, a prophecy against a nation or city; (d) importance, significance; also, meaning, import.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)213 : Unriht heo doð..þenne he hine laðeð to drinken more..and bringeð uppen him birden more þene [he] bere muȝe.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)71/30 : Bereð min ȝoc uppe ȝeu..min berðen is liht, of mine bebodes to healden.
- c1275 Ken.Serm.(LdMisc 471)220/219 : [We] habbetþ i-þoled þe berdene of þo pine and of þo hete of al þo daie.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)289 : We ogen..eurilc luuen oðer..ligten him of his birdene.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)84 : Virtue makeþ..grat berdone of penonce to bere.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)958 : Mi ȝok is softe..And my burþene liȝt.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)138 : Alle vnworthi men shulden fle the birthuns of so greet gilt.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17338 : Late us and urs þe birthen [Göt: blame] ber.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27067 : Þat strength es o gret ligthing Quen man has casten his birthing O sin.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.291 : Of my berþene late me be releued.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.9.4 : Thou hast ouercome the ȝok of his birthun..and the ceptre of his wrongful axere.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4711 : Love it is an hatefull pees..An hevy birthen, lyght to bere.
- (?a1430) Hoccl.Ad Patrem (Hnt HM 744)137 : And of our synful birdon thow vs lighte.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)17/19 : Qwarfore þe birdyn of pouerte hals þou with ioy.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)343 : Siþen men muste haue haunt and vse of þo fleischly deedis..sum wey muste be purveied where in a man may delyuere his seid burþen beyng and liggyng on hym.
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle Luf es lyf (Cmb Dd.5.64)49 : Luf es a lyght byrthen.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3839 : So bolnet was his body, þat burthen hade ynoghe The fete of þat freke to ferke hym aboute.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)37/34 : Man berith vpon himself two byrdons..and thes that bene before him bene the errours..of othir folkis.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Pseudo-F.(Dub 245)299 : Wo to ȝou, wise men of lawe, þat chargen men wiþ birþins þat þei may not bere.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)48/30 : Forto satisfie his owne wery and perilose birþen of lust.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)168/19 : But yf he begynne for to þynke..of the burþyn of the dome that is to come.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)87/33 : Þou wolte þat I bere þe burdon of þis corruptible lyve.
b
- ?a1425(a1400) Brut-1377 (Corp-C 174)329/15 : Þe communes answered þat þey were..charged wiþ so meny talyagez & subsidies, þat þey myȝte no longer suffre non such berþes ne charges.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)149/17 : Þe covent..grauntid & lete to hugh Coke..þe tenement..ȝeldyng..to þe chef lordys and to all oþer all seruices & bordennys þere-of dew & I-wonyd.
c
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.13.1 : The birthun of Babiloyne [L Onus Babylonis], which birthun Ysaie, the sone of Amos, siȝ.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.17.1 : The birthun [WB(1): charge] of Damask, Lo! Damask schal faile to be a citee.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Zech.12.1 : The birthun of the word of the Lord on Israel.
d
- c1230 *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)29b : Hwen wordes beoð eadmodliche & soðfestliche iseide, nawt fulitoheliche ne babanliche, þenne habbeð ha burðerne to beo riht understonden.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4518 : If animan þar war Cuth tel þe birþin þat it [his a-visiun] bar.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)172/12 : Anothyr maner hathe the manfull or the hardy that he Spekyth lytill, and thynkyth that beryth borthom.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)179/40 : Wythout ripe consaille nothynge he didd that bare burthyn.
3.
(a) The carrying of loads, bearing; (b) the bearing of a child in the womb, gestation; also, giving birth, parturition; at on ~, at one childbearing; (c) the producing of crops.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.33.25 : Metes, and ȝerde, and berthene [L onus] to an asse; bred, and disciplyne, and werk to a seruaunt.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5520 : Halds þam for-þi in au, In birthþin [Frf: birþin; Göt: trauail], bath to bere and drau.
b
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)32/551 : Lutel wat meiden..of þet sar, ne of þet suti i þe burþerne of bearn, & his iborenesse.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1467 : At on burdene ghe under-stod two ðe weren hire sibbe blod.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.205 : An hore hadde seuene children at oon birþen [Higd.(2): childenge; L partu].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.79 : Þre knyȝtes..heet Oracius and were i-bore at oon berþen..þre knyȝtes..heet Curiacius and were also i-bore at oon burþen [L gemelli].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)110a/a : Castor & pollux, tweyne breþiren I-bore at one birþon.
c
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)101 : Whech fatnesse with a maner of a transumpcion is used in our langage for plente, as we say a fat lond, whech is plenteuous of birden.
4.
?Error for lourdan, rascal.
Associated quotations
- c1500(a1450) ALacrim.(Hrl 2274)278 : Come furth, burdeyn, the kylle schal we.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1451) MSS Beverley in HMC ()32 : A saf condith..schal be sent them..for the merchands to cum bye and selle at Burdeux, paying for the same saf condith eftir the burdon of the same schip.
Note: Need date in 1.(e)--per MM