Middle English Dictionary Entry
wẹ̄p(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wẹ̄p(e n. Also (chiefly early SWM) weop(e. |
| Etymology | From wẹ̄pen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. awepe adv., wop(e n.
1.
The physical action of weeping, sobbing, shedding tears; a fit of weeping, prolonged crying; also, weeping as the visible or audible manifestation of sorrow, lamentation, mourning; the crying of an infant; the practice of penitential or devotional weeping; ~ and wo.
Associated quotations
- a1275 Stod ho (Tan 169*)22 : Þi wep ne wemmede noht þin heau.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5983 : Nes næuere na mon iboren…þe iherde þesne weop [Otho: cri]…þat his heorte neore særi.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8884 : Þer wes muchel waning, heortne graning…þæ cnihtes mid weope þene king awehten.
- a1300 Worldes blis ne last (Rwl G.18)22 : Al þe blisse of þisse liue þu shalt, mon, henden in wep.
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)146/282 : Marie and frere Zozime mid weop partede ato.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4016 : He fel adoun on his bedde; Þer he is y-falle on slepe, As a man weri of wepe.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)22/234 : Þer was wepe & wo When he þat hadde ben king wiþ croun Went so pouerlich out of toun!
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)6.8 : Our Lord herd þe voice of my wepe.
- a1375 Al oþer loue (Eton 36)6 : Al oþer loue bigint bi blisse, in wep and wo mak is hendyng.
- c1375(?c1280) SLeg.Advent,etc.(Eg 1993)104/1007 : Þe vois anheiȝ is iherd, muche wep and morninge; Rachel bi wep hire sones.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)9/63 : Whil he was ȝong, in cradel he lay, And, forte stille him of his wepe, Rokked he was.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5721 : For comunlych aftyr wepe Fal men sone on slepe.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)10496 : Whil she mened þus hir mone Wiþ wepe [Vsp: weping] & sorwes mony one, She say an aungel tofore hir stonde.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7970 : Noman…Ne seiȝ neuere so mychel reuþe Of weep [LinI: weopyng; Auch: wope], of cry, of honde wryngyng, So was for Alisaunder þe kyng.
- c1400 St.Alex.(3) (LdMisc 622)73/1088 : After fair weder falleþ reyn; After wynnyng wep ageyn.
- ?a1425 Glo.Chron.B (Dgb 205)8369 : Wepe [A: Massen & processions hii made monion; Wiþ wop & god deuocion hii lete hom ssriwe echon].
- a1450 SLeg.Barlaam (Bod 779)500 : Þese ȝonge childrin þat ondirstonde nouȝt, By here wep me may wite In care þey be brouȝt.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)67/1985 : I shalle retorne aftir my poore poware To ioy and welle and my payne and displesere And gaf therwith to wepe his eyen tay That al fordrownyd in salt teeris lay.