Middle English Dictionary Entry
whīnen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | whīnen v. Also whin(n)e, wine & (early) hwine, (SWM) weinen; sg.3 whineth, etc. & (error) wrenneþ. |
| Etymology | OE hwīnan; cp. MDu. wenen to weep & OI k)veina to wail. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To make sounds associated with pain, distress, sorrow, etc.;
(b) to make various characteristic animal noises: of a dog: whine, whimper; of a pig: squeal; of a horse: whinny; of a human being: make sounds associated with various animals; biten and ~, ?act like a headstrong horse;—used with negative implications [last quot.] or probable sexual overtones [quot. c1395].
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12890 : Þa iherde he wepen wunder ane swiðen, wepen and weinen [Otho: wony] and wanliche iberen.
- a1300 Sayings St.Bede (Jes-O 29)310 : For chele hy gunne hwyne; For hunger hi hedde pyne.
- c1300 SLeg.(Hrl 2277)518/86 : Hire honden heo wrang…sore heo gan whyne & grone.
- a1325(?c1300) Caiphas (Sln 2478)156 : Ich rede þar come non to me, Anaunter last ha whyne.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1046 : Þe gamen ne geþ nouȝth al by lyne—Þere summe leiȝeþ and summe whyne.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)326/199 : For a whapp so he whyned and whesid, And ȝitt no lasshe to þe lurdan was lente.
b
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)273 : Purcel gerist [glossed:] gris wineth [vrr. whyneth; gruntys; Femina 8: wrenneþ].
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)1336 : Þe stedes nyen, and togider whine [rime: schine].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.386 : As an hors I koude byte and whyne.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1172/10 : Whelpes…beþ blynde…whanne þey beþ anhongred, þey cryeþ and whyneþ.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)524 : Whynyn, as howndys or oþer beestys: Ululo, gannio.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)481 : He…scrapid the dorr welplich & wynyd with his mowith, Aftir a doggis lyden.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)501/35 : Thys lityll bracket…lepte uppon hym and lycked hys learys and hys earys, and than he whyned and quested.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)20828 : Lych an hors she gan to wyne.
- c1480 *Medulla (Pep 2002)140a : Mugilio: to Whynne as ane asse [Stnh: clamare; Cnt: clamare vt onager].
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)30/229 : Thou can both byte and whyne with a rerd!