Middle English Dictionary Entry
blēten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | blēten v. Also blǣten, (N) bleite. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of a sheep, goat, deer: to cry, bleat.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1315,1317 : Itt [lamb] cann cnawenn..Hiss moderr þær ȝho blæteþþ Bitwenenn an þusennde shep, Þohh þatt teȝȝ blætenn alle.
- a1300 Svmer is icumen (Hrl 978)6 : Awe bleteþ afer lomb.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)285 : Berbiz baleie: szep bleteth.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.153 : Bestes..fliȝ to hilles..lowynge and bletynge.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)8 : Cheuere gerist: Tyche bletuþ.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)6b/b : Arieto: to bleten.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.139 : Bletyng sheep.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)61.83 (v.1:p.373) : He commaundid .. that yf the shepe were in ony mannes body there present, that he shuld bletyn, and forthwith she did so.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)15b : To Bleyte: Balare, balascere.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)23/26 : They wex dombe ichon and begonnen to blete as dyde the hynde.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)126/325 : Com thay or he be slayn and here the shepe blete.