Middle English Dictionary Entry
blā̆ken v.
Entry Info
| Forms | blā̆ken v. Also blakken. |
| Etymology | From blā̆k adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To become black or dark in color; (b) to make black, blacken; dye (hair) brown or dark; (c) fig. to soil, befoul (with sin), besmirch (with dishonor); disparage, censure.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)43/447 : [Juliana] bond bihinden his [the devil's] rug ba twa his honden, þet him wrong euch neil ant blakede of þe blode.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3321 : His flessh was for the venym blaked.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.601 : When thayre sedys blake [L cum niger color seminis fuerit], That thay rype beth of that a signe is take.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)129/29 : Þe astyr þat haþe all þe wyntyr brent wyth fyre and blakyd wyth smoke.
b
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)148/545 : Þe wyte þe uayrer hyt makeþ, And selue more hyt blakeþ.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Lam.4.8 : Gretli blakid [WB(2): maad blackere] is aboue colis the face of hem.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)310a/b : Hete þat haþ maystry blakeþ [L denigrat] a moyste body.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)123b/a : Thynges blacking heres [*Ch.(2): þat maken þe here blakke; L denigrantia capillos]..beþ cedrea with oile.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)123b/b : Þise medicynez so blackeþ [*Ch.(2): maken so blak; L denigrant] þat þai noyeþ not.
c
- (?c1425) Hoccl.Jonathas (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)75 : The wantonnesse Of lyf of many a womman þat is nakid Of honestee and with deshonour blakid.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)38 : Blakyn, or make blake: Denigro, vitupero, increpo.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)116 : My [Pride's] belyes..for to make folk that ben blacked with old sinne to weene thei ben shynynge.
2.
(a) To grow dark; (b) ? = blōken, to turn pale or livid.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2388 : Wanne þe nyȝt gynt blake.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24414 : Þe aier [vr. wedder] gun durken and to blak.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)22513 : At midday..Blake hit [the sun] shal.
- a1450 Trental St.Greg.(1) (Gar 143)53 : Drouȝ to him-warde a gret merkenesse, That blacked [Vrn: lakkede] alle þe daies liȝt, And was as derke as eny nyȝt.
b
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)14747 : To blake þo bigan her brewes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Htrn.110 Artist.Recipes (Htrn 110) 322/10 : To blac water, take drastis of vinagre, and put alum þerto, and seþe togedyr and sye it þorow a cloth.
Note: Postdates sense 1.(b).