Middle English Dictionary Entry
wīlden v.
Entry Info
| Forms | wīlden v. Also (early) wilgen; p.ppl. (16th cent.) wildid & (early, ?error) iwileȝeð. |
| Etymology | Prob. from awīlden v.; also cp. wīld(e adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. towilden v.
1.
(a) To become unruly or uncontrollable; also fig. of the flesh; also [last quot.], flourish, proliferate wildly;—used in fig. context;
(b) to cause (the mind) to become disordered or bewildered; ben iwileȝeð, be or become intractable, refuse to be tamed.
Associated quotations
a
- a1250 Ancr.(Tit D.18)39/26,34 : Fat calf & wilde is þat flesch þat wildes [Corp-C: awildgeð] sone se hit fattes þurh este & þurh eise…anker schal…Temie ful wel his felsch, sone se he feles þat hit wildes to swiðe, wið fasting, wið waking, wið heire, wið heui swinc.
- a1250 Ancr.(Tit D.18)54/17 : Ho walde wilgen [Corp-C: awilgin] elles, oðer to wel leten of, And swa to nawt iwurðen.
- a1400 Ancr.(Pep 2498)109/16 : After yuel þan is goode penaunce; spewe out þat venym to þe preest ar it wilde, for ȝif it wildeþ it wil brede þe deþ.
b
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)209 : Holi boc clepeð þis woreld wildren for þe fewe men…þe ben temed and wend to godes hond his wille to don, ac alle mest hie beð iwileȝeð [?read: iwileȝed] and habbed [read: habbeð] geres after wilde deore.
- a1605(c1422) Hoccl.Compl.(Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)235 : The…venyme…had enfectyd and wildyd my brayne.