Middle English Dictionary Entry
wik(ke n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wik(ke n. |
| Etymology | From wik(ke adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Wickedness, evil; also, evil conduct [last quot.];
(b) adversity; ?also, adversities [last quot.];
(c) unfavorable tokens; unpleasant things;
(d) destructiveness.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3312 : Pride is the werste of alle wicke.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.495 : Toward hem that wicke mene My wicked word was evere grene.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)12.272 : No wyght Wot ho is worthi for wele oþer for wicke Whether he is worthi.
- a1425 Rolle FLiving (Arun 507)414 : Kepe þe v wittis fra alle þe wike of þe flesh.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)2954 : Smal infauntys…kun no wykke.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)2432 : Fro wycke vntil wors y nam.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)313 : Whanne man doth ewyl, þe ton wolde schryue, Þe tothyr drawyth to wycke.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)2639 : Fro wikke to wers, fro cryme to cryme indeede, Lik homycides the paynymes gan proceede.
- a1475 Sidrak & B.(LdMisc 559)3612 : No goode may he þynke ne doo…he wastes…His body and his tyme in wyke [Lnsd: wickednesse].
b
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1074 : Now is wikke torned into worse.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.840 : Fro wikke I go to worse.
- a1450 12 PTrib.(3) (Bod 423)130/4 : The goodnes of worldly prosperite and hardnes of aduersite come boþe fro God; Salomon answeriþ and saith, ‘Bona & mala a deo sunt,’ that is, ‘The good and þe wyk are of God.’
c
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)231/2578 : Yef þare be mony gud & few wyk, or mony wyk & few gud, or ellys lyk of bath, þe mare myghty wyll hav þe maistry.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)14/30 : Þei þerof [here] to hem speke, þat for bodily hele for to wynne many hardschipis wolden þole: boþe faste & wake & forbere al þat þe fleische desyreþ, ete & drynk bittir & wyk, þouȝ hym wlatide.
d
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.973 : Al the lond that thou hast goon aboute ffro cloudis wicke is saaf.