Middle English Dictionary Entry
wēning(e ger.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | wēning(e ger.(1) Also whaning, (late) weaning & (error) wenig. |
| Etymology | From wēnen v.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The act or process of withdrawing a young child or animal from its mother’s milk, weaning; also in fig. context; dai (time) of ~.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.21.8 : Þann þe child growide & was done a wey fro soukyng; & abraham made a grete feest, in þe day of þe wenyng [vr. wanyng; L ablactationis] of hym.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)264b/b : Agnus agniculus is a lomb of ful age of oon ȝeer, for his moysture of complexioun encresseþ by mylk, and þe hete encresseþ by wenyng.
- a1425 LOL (Wnds E.I.I)40/1 : Whan þe space of þre ȝeer was eendid and þe time of wening was fillid, þei brouȝten þe Virgin wiþ offrings to þe temple of þe Lord.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)1a/a : Ablactacio: wenig [read: wening] fro milke.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)522 : Wenynge, fro sokynge: Ablactacio.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.92/5 : We haue i-founde…þe tithe of mylke…from tyme of þe wenyng…of caluys and departyng of lambys, al so longe as þe same Milke shall dure, [etc.].
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)138/19 : Habraham…made a grete fest in whanyng [vr. weanyng] of his child; what menyth þis whanyng? no þing ellis but a departyng from þe swete melk of delicacies.