Middle English Dictionary Entry
wī̆k(e n.(3)
Entry Info
| Forms | wī̆k(e n.(3) Also (early) wice, wica, wiche, (infl.) wican; pl. wikes, (early) wike(n, (infl.) wicen, wican. |
| Etymology | OE wīce |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A person holding an official position, an officer;
(b) an appointed position, office; baillif (eschetour) ~ [see baillif-wik n. (b); see also eschetourwik n.]; chirche (hordere) ~, the office of the sacristan (steward); prentis ~, q.v.; ?shire ~ [see shire n. (e)]; shir-reve ~ [see also shir-reve-wik(e n. (a)];
(c) a duty, responsibility; also, a task; a function;
(d) a helpful act, service.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1120 : On þam fare wurdon…swyðe manega of þæs cynges hired, stiwardas, & burþenas, & byrlas, & of mystlicean wican.
b
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1137 : He…begæt thare priuilegies, an of alle þe landes of þabbotrice & an oþer of þe landes þe lien to þe circewican, & gif he leng moste liuen, alse he mint to don of þe horderwycan.
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)20/172 : He me walde warpen ut of mine wike.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14847 : Ure arche-biscpe…haueð his cantel-cape on of Gregorie þan pape and mid wurð-scipe mucle haldeð his wike.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4599 : Ne shulde no gentil kniȝth Neuere norissh no founden wiȝth Ne beggers blood brynge in heiȝe wyke Bot he wolde hym-seluen biswyke.
- a1450(a1400) Athelston (Cai 175/96)54 : Cauntyrbury was vacant And fel into þat kyngys hand; He gaff it hym, þat wyke.
- (1482) RParl.6.205b : The seid Offices of Shirefwyk or Escheatourwik.
c
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)10/34 : Se þe stellð, he hæfeð wulfes wiche, & na wises mannes.
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)33/171 : Ac hwa mæig swa wurðlice, swa hit gebyrede, gereccen hwu herigendlice is on þære eadigen Cristes moder Marien dæl, þæt-þæt se Hælend herede? Syððen hit is, swa—swa we sæden, and betere þone we sæden, on þæs Hælendes moder Marthan geswyncfulle wica.
- a1150 Rwl.G.57 Gloss.(Rwl G.57)27 : Offitiis, i. operibus uel seruitiis: on wicen.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)91 : ‘Betfage’ is cleped on englisse ‘muðene hus’ and bitocneð holie chirche þat men noten inne here muðes wike, þanne hie seien here sinnes and forgiuenesse bidden.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)127 : He makede his wunienge in þe wilderne and staðelede his liflode on fode and on shrude, swo þat he wa[s] bicumelich to his wuninge and ec to his wike.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)183 : Ðan þe sowle fundeð to faren ut of hire licame, hie tuneð to hire fif gaten and penneð wel faste and here wiken hem binimeð þe hie ar noteden.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)101/7 : Sunnumdæȝum ræden hi ealle haliȝe bec, butan ȝif wilc æniȝe wice hæfð.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)843 : For-soþe me þinchez with gret wrong þe calangez þe king…And he quath þe quit al clanliche of ech oþur wike [Hrl: cure] þer.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)24/660 : Ase þe ryȝte bodyes lemes Habbeþ dyuerse wyke, So habbeþ ryȝt membrys eke Of þe body ine mystyke.
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)22/14 : Þe childyr of þat Israel…wer so truwold & so dysesyd wyt gret wykes & hunger also þat þi mad fro day to day gret sorw.
d
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)137 : On ðridde wise mon sullðe his elmesse ðenne he heo ȝefeð sulche monne þe him deð, oðer haueð idon, oðer don scal wiken and cherres and ðencheð mid his elmesse forȝelden him ðeo hwile.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)805 : Þe seist þat þu canst fele wike, Ac euer ich am þin unilike. Do þine craftes alle to gadere Ȝet is min on horte betere.