Middle English Dictionary Entry
wīving(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | wīving(e ger. Also (error) wisinge. |
| Etymology | From wīven v.; also cp. OE wīfung. The form wisinge could also be construed as ME wishing(e ger. (a). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The act of taking a wife, marrying; also, the state of being joined to a woman in marriage, marriage; twie (twinne) ~, bigamy;
(b) sexual intercourse with a woman.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)450 : Bigamie is unkinde ðing, On engleis tale twie-wifing.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)485 : Twin-wifing ant twin-manslagt Of his soule beð mikel hagt.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5955 : He biþoȝte him wel narwe ȝif þer miȝte be eny red Þoru wiuinge oþer þoru eny þing vor is wif was ded.
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)89/200 : Loue furst god wiþ al þi miht þat wol for þe such wyuyng diht.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)63/28 : Aungelis beþ liȝtes intellectual…and for þey beþ spiritual and bodyles, hem nediþ noþir weddinge ne wifinge.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)9.181 : Leccherye in likyng is lymeȝerde of helle; Whiles þow art ȝonge and þi wepne kene, Wreke þe with wyuynge ȝif þow wil ben excused.
b
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)12968 : He lay bi þan wifue; he nuste noht of þan tydinge þat com to his wisinge [?read: wifinge; c1275: wife-þinge].
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)38/36 : Folowe not thy desires in etyng, drynkyng, wyvyng [Lambeth: lichery; L coitu], and in dayly slepe.