Middle English Dictionary Entry
bishīnen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | bishīnen v. Forms: p.sg. bishōn; ppl. bishinen, -shīned. |
| Etymology | OE bescīnan, -scān, -scinen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of the sun: to shine upon (sth.); ~ upon; illuminate (darkness).
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)18980 : Þe sunnebæm bishineþþ all þe blinde.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)12 : Fairer ne miste non beo born, Ne no rein vpon birine Ne sunne vpon bischine.
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)408 : Ase an Appel þe eorþe is round, so þat euere-mo half þe eorþe þe sonne bi-schineth.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.113 : It was beschyne wiþ liȝt of þe sonne al day.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4465 : The brihte Sonne be the morwe Beschyneth noght the derke nyht.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)239b/a : In schadowy places þat beþ nought byschyned wt þe sonne bemes, palme may nouȝt growe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)311a/a : Þe contreys þat beþ most..byschyne wiþ þe sonne.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)26466 : Whanne the sonne..beschon þe harmes jn that plas.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.45 : Beschyned wiþ þe sonne bemes bright, þe smale sterres hyd þeym-seluen sone.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1113 : As feir a creature as sone myȝte be-shyne.
2.
(a) Of God, Scripture, theology: to shed spiritual light upon (sth.); illuminate, enlighten; (b) to enlighten (the mind, etc.); (c) to make illustrious.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)18851 : Heffness lihht bishineþþ all Mannkinne þessterrnesse..Þiss þessterrnesse iss hæþenndom.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)8b/a : He þat beschyneþ al þat cometh in-to this world.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)13b/b : Þey haueþ pure schinynge as liȝt and beþ bischine wiþ þe wisdom of god.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)163/29 : Suffyciently byshyned wiþ holy writte.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)109b : Came þe Kynge of blisse..and beshoone þe derknesse of helle.
- ?c1475 *Trev.Nicod.(Sal 39)144b : Oure lord haþ byschyne vs, amen!
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)15b/b : It were not grete profite to beschyne by knowinge, but þere folewide þere with foode of þe spirit.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)23b/b : Þat by þat clernes þerof þe eyȝe may byschine þe spirit.
- c1450(?a1402) *?Trev.Reg.Princ.(Dgb 233)2a/a : Sotil resons byschineth the witte.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.29 : Take hede, how greet liȝt and briȝtnesse of Goddiss myldenesse haþ by schyne [Higd.(2): lyhtede; L illustraverit] Englische men.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.293 : Alcuinus..byschoon [Higd.(2): made..bryȝhte; L illustravit] þat lond wiþ liȝt of his lore.
3.
(a) To radiate or reflect light; also fig.; (b) to make radiant; (c) physiol. to 'brighten' (melancholy).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)119b/a : Liȝt schineþ in hit self. Neuerþeles it beschineþ nouȝt alwey, but onliche whanne hit fyndiþ a body wiþ matere disposid and able to beschine.
b
- (?a1430) Hoccl.Ad Patrem (Hnt HM 744)124 : His fressh colour þat whilom was beshyned with swich beautee.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)255b/a : Wyn bredeþ most pure blood..and byschyneþ [L illuminat] and dryueþ away derk fumosite.