Middle English Dictionary Entry
wē̆pman n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wē̆pman n. Also wepmon(ne, wapman, wapmon, (early SW) weopmon(ne; gen. (early) wepmonnes, wapmannes, (Orm.) weppmanne; pl. wepmen, wapmen & (early) wæpmen, (SW & SWM) weopmen, (early gen.) wæpmanna & (errors) wepme, weppem, weþmen. |
| Etymology | OE wǣpen-mann, wǣpn-mann, wǣp-man, (Nhb.) wēpen-mon; pl. wǣp(n)-men, (Merc.) wēp-men. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A male human being as distinct from a female, a person of the male sex, a male, man; ~ and womman, wepmen and wommen; ~ kin, wepmonnes kinde, male persons, men.
Associated quotations
- a1126 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1123 : Ðes ylce geares…for bearn eall meast se burh of Lincolne & micel un gerime folces, wæpmen & wimmen, forburnen.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)43/34 : Mæn gehyrden on þan forðsiðe wæpmanna sang & wifmanna sang.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3058-60 : Forrþi birrde itt cwiddedd ben Till eȝȝ-þerr kinn onn eorþe, Till weppmann & till wifmannkinn, Forr þatt he wollde baþe Weppmenn & wifmenn hælenn her Off þeȝȝre sinness wunde.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)4092 : Abraham itt toc onn himm, & ec onn hise chilldre, & ec onn all þatt weppmannkinn Þatt wass inn hise walde.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)7904 : Cnapechild iss afledd wel Affterr weppmanne kinde.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)49 : Ech man þat is ful þeroffe, wapmen oðer wimman, is hore.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)55/13 : Ic nolde habben wapmannes imone ne childre beren.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)2/6 : Efter ure lauerdes pine & his passiun…as he steah to heouene, weren monie martyrs, wepme [Roy: weopmen] ba & wummen, to deaðes misliche idon for þe nome of drihtin.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)32/19 : A Meiden…eode ut to bihalden uncuðe wummen…ne seið hit nawt þet ha biheold wepman [Nero: weppem].
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)33/28 : Al þet uuel…com nawt for þi þet te wummen lokeden cangliche o wepmen [Tit: oweþmen].
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)37/3 : Wið uten witnesse of wummon oðer of wepmon [Nero: weopmon; Tit: mon], þe ow mahe iheren, ne speoke ȝe wið namon ofte ne longe.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)163/11 : Mi sunne is mare þen of a wepmon [Nero: weop-monne], for hit bi com me wurse.
- c1230 Ancr.(Corp-C 402)215/4 : Hwi þenne þu chirch ancre iwimplet openest þi neb to wepmonnes ehe?
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)20 : God ðu ert & gode leof ouer alle wepmen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)251 : Wide he sende ȝeond þat lond…þat come to hirede riche men & weðlen, al þat wapmon-cun [Otho: monkun] þa mihte beren wæpen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)936 : Þer wes moni wepmon [1300: wep-man] þer wes moni wifmon; þer wes muchel folc at þere wrastlinge.
- a1300 Þo ihu crist (Jes-O 29)32 : Nabbe ich of wepmonne nones kunnes y-mone.
- ?a1300 Sayings St.Bede (Dgb 86)254 : Ne beþ in þisse live Wepmen [vr. wapmen] ne wimmen fiue þat ofte ne svnegieþ.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1001 : Of is hird euerilc wapman Wurð circumcis.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3078 : Gu wapmen giue Ic leue to gon; Of erf and wimmen leue ic nogt.
- a1350 Lord þat lenest (Hrl 2253)3 : Boþe wepmon & wyf sore mowe drede lest þou be sturne wiþ strif.