Middle English Dictionary Entry
biwailen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | biwailen v. Also biweilen. |
| Etymology | From wailen . |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To utter lamentations over (misfortune, death); express grief or regret; (b) to mourn or grieve over (sth.), regret; (c) to feel remorse over (sins), be penitent; (d) to complain about (sth.), regret.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) KAlex.(Auch)366/13 : And wepen sore And biwailed..His ȝingþe, his strengþe, and his largesse.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3181 : I wol biwaille in manere of tragedie The harm of hem that stoode in heigh degree.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.23.2 : Sare..diede..and Abraham cam to biweyle [L plangeret] and biwepe hir.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Jer.16.5 : Entre thou not in to an hous of feeste, nethir go thou to biweile [L ad plangendum].
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)4357 : Ded he is of sadel y falle; Perciens hit by weileþ alle.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.2.75 : What other thyng bywaylen the cryinges of tragedyes, but oonly the dedes of Fortune?
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)1247 : Cassandra, that soo Bewayled the destruccioun Of Troye.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.69ra : Dauid sorowed & bewaylled moche the deth of Saul and of Jonathas.
b
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)3/54 : Nowe hyȝe, man..A-doun þat þou ne syȝe By-weyled.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.7079 : To haue beweiled þe meschef & þe wo.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.755 : Suffre me my meschief to bywaille.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1251 : Bywaylinge ay the day that they were born.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.4.95 : He bewayleth his chaste lyf, for he ne hath no wyf.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)274/24 : That thei may bewaile thi dethe.
- a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)2.B.2630 : Myscheue..wyll hym asseyll; Þe lust off hys lechery þe soule xall beweyll.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.87 : For he shal be verray penitent, he shal first biwailen the synnes that he hath doon.
- (1438-9) EEWills129/9 : To be-wayle my synnys, or that my sowle departe owte of this world.
d
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.26 : Wel kan Senec and many a philosophre Biwaillen tyme moore than gold in cofre.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.530 : Lordes hestes..mowe wel been biwailled or compleyned, But men mote nede vnto hir lust obeye.
2.
(a) To lament or grieve; (b) to complain.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2958 : Forth he seileth Wepende, and sche hirself beweileth And torneth hom.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1381 : Wel may the sike man biwaille and wepe.
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.6.21 : For the same thyng songe thow..and bywayledest and byweptest, that oonly men weren put out of the cure of God.
- (1451) Paston2.231 : Mekely besechyn, bewailyn, and shewyn the pouer and simple inhabitaunts [etc.].