Middle English Dictionary Entry
wen n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wen n. Also wenne; pl. wennes, (?error) winen. |
| Etymology | OE wenn, wænn. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. wem n.
1.
Pathol.
(a) A lump or an excrescence on the human body; a cyst; a wart; also, an internal swelling in an animal’s body; also, a pustule [quot. a1400, 2nd]; blak ~, ?a dark lesion; ?a pigmented spot on the skin, mole;
(b) a discoloration, bruise, or maculation on the skin;
(c) ~ clove, = pile-wort n.; ~ wurt, q.v.
Associated quotations
a
- c1150 Wenne Wenne (Roy 4.A.14)1 : Wenne, wenne, wenchichenne, her ne scealt þu timbrien, ne nenne tun habben.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)8/3 : Siurgie…techiþ us to worche wiþ handis in mannes bodi…in doynge awey þat is to myche skyn: as wertis or wennys, or þe fleisch to hiȝe.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)310/4 : Þis cauterie is good for wennys [L pustulas] þat ben in þe skyn of his face.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)75b : Þe sede…y-dronke in wyne helith all venym bitynge; Also with oxys gall a-noynted hit helith black wennys.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)522 : Wenne: Veruca.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)126 : Þis iuus medled with bene mele…plastred wole destroye wennes or kernelles and þe feruent welkes.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)190/602 : Oyle of terre is good for the morfiwe to do itt a way and all oþer wennes þat comyth of malencoly.
- a1475 Hrl.Diseases Hawk A (Hrl 2340)27 : Yf it [scab] swell þt it wax to a wenne, do cutte þe vttirmest skyn of þe wenne, And þu shall fynde þer wt in a rownde thyng, as it wher a grey pese.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)58a/b : Remeuen awei þing þat is to myche as scrophulis & glandulis and wennes þat ben in diuers parties of þe bodi.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)90b/a : This poudre staunchiþ moost merueylously þe flux of blood and also he corrodiþ wennys & cancris, ffestris, pustules and wertis, and alle superfluytees in fleisch.
- a1500 Henley Husb.(Sln 686)56 : At þe firste comynge in to þe howse of your shepe…let þis erbe be medled withe þer haye and put som withe in þe walis off þe howse for it will drye þe evyll humore þat is withe in þer bodis and it is good for þe lyuer and also it distroythe þe wenne wt in þer bodis.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)84b/a : If þe teres comeþ of outward cause, þe chief remedie is clene wex & pure wiþ poudir of comyn…for it doþ a wey þe ache & teres & wennys [L liuorem].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)254a/a : A wylde vyne…‘labrusca’…y-soden in rayn water and y-medlid wiþ wyn heleþ men of þe dropesye, and doþ away alle smytynge & wennes [L maculas].
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)191/4 : Cicatrices vulnerum ben remeued wiþ litargirum nutricum & is good for manie maner þingis, for it doiþ awei wennys [L maculas].
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)304/8 : We moun garse a man bihinde in þe nol of þe heed…for wennys [L maculis] of þe face.
c
- c1150(?OE) Ld.Herb.Gloss.(LdMisc 567)40/642 : Emigrana, i. wenwvrt uel wencloua.
2.
Anat. A humplike swelling on the back.
Associated quotations
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)30b/b : Gibbus: a brok bak [Cnt: a bocche yn þe bakke] or a wen.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)791/7 : Gibbus: a wenne.
3.
Physical blemish, disfigurement, or corruption; a blemish; also, fig. a spiritual blemish.
Associated quotations
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)115/173 : Hy wende to þis holy body…Hi fonde it ligge hol and sond…As hol it was wiþoute wenne [Ld: weomme], as it aliue er was.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)262/13 : Þis boc is y-mad uor lewede men…ham uor to berȝe uram alle manyere zen Þet ine hare inwytte ne bleue no uoul wen.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)297b/a : Skynne [of the sea seal] ben som tyme girdele y-made to þe vse of kynges þe whiche girdels, whanne þey ben ful olde, ben y-þrowe in to þe fuyre harmeles and wiþoute winen [L illesi], y-purged and as it were renewed.
4.
In surname.
Associated quotations
- (1316) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames375 : John atte Wenne.
- (1327) in Kristensson ME Top.Terms45 : Thom. atte Wenne.
- (1327) Name in LuSE 79114 : Walt. atte Wen.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. wen.