Middle English Dictionary Entry
adọ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | adọ̄ n. |
| Etymology | From N inf. phrase at dọ̄; cp. MnE to-do (see OD do 33). ME adọ̄ occurs chiefly in the phr. haven adọ̄, where it originated. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Dealings, intercourse, traffic; (b) sexual intercourse; (c) conflict, fighting.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1400) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.2.16 : Sr. Ric. Kakin..With the qwych I had neuer ado nor no covenande made.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2033 : They shal first be bete doune ful lowe..Er he in Thebes haue eny thynge ado [vrr. at do, to do].
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)384 : Þis rule is wondir nedefulle to a man þat haþ a do wiþ eny men of þe phariseis condicions.
- (?1466) Paston (Gairdner)4.259 : I praye yow that ye on my behalve reffuce the admynystracion of hys seyde testamen, fur I woll nowt have ado ther with.
b
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3036 : And yitt hadde Trespas never adoo With Resoun, ne never ley hir by.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)85/2 : He schall haue ado euery day with hem, & ȝit he schall fynden hem all weys maydenes.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.4150 : Thiestes was presumptuous..With Europa my wiff to haue a-do.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.Diet.(Sln 3534)5 : With women aged fleschely haue not a-do.
- (1475) Paston (Gairdner)5.231 : He swherys had not a do with her within my modyrs place.
c
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5648 : Olyuer wyþ a corde bond him fast, Ac arst was muche ado.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1510 : It wer nat sittyng me to leue hir so, For whom I had whilom ful gret ado.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4265 : Armyd in steel he kam out..Syngulerly with hym to han ado.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)59/16 : He sayd..that he had yeuen hym moost a do as fore one daye.
- c1460 Ipom.(3) (Lngl 257)346/32 : Euery knight desired to haue a doo with the blak knight, and grete envye had to him.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)53/32 : The knyght ys wery of fyghtynge and..that ye shall have no worship to have ado with hym.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)2518 : If it were so That they were men with whom we haue a do, We wold not dowte to mete them on be on.
2.
(a) Care, concern; what have ye ado, what business is it of yours; (b) difficulty, labor, trouble; withouten more ~, without further ceremony, immediately; (c) tumult, uproar; effort, fuss; -- in phrase maken ~ (see maken v., sense 12a(c)).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)20/1 : Kynges & princes haueþ myche ado wiþ ȝoure temporalte.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)5 : He..shall not haue ado ne thenk but on þe nedys that he is ordeyned for to, and henys not ydel, for he hath ynow ado to ymagyne to aryse erly and wel to don his office.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)7 : A-do or grete bysynesse: Sollicitudo.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)55/11 : Medle nat with that thinge that thu haste nat adoo of.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)561/7 : Sir knyght, what have ye ado with us to medyll?
b
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1495 : Þe lordes buþ þan a-paste wyþ-oute more a-do.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3391 : Wiþ-oute more a-do, Vp a draweþ at o drauȝt.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.164 : Lytel hadde lordes ado to ȝeue londe fro here aires To religion.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.70 : Where the apostel so mochel hadde adoo.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)285/16 : I haue hadde ynough adoo to chastise my body.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)110 : And moche a do he shall haue many wayes, With grete travell.
c
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)16.381 : Whanne the peple herden Al this Ado.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)104/127 : What a do, what a do is this you betweyn?
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10465 : To flatren him þei make a-doo.
3.
= to don.
Associated quotations
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5080 : I wol that they togedre go And don al that they han ado [OF Et facent quanqu'il doivent faire].
- (1469) Paston (Gairdner)5.19 : My fader and I must..shewe unto hym our gode assystens..in such maters as he shall have a doo.