Middle English Dictionary Entry
worden v.
Entry Info
| Forms | worden v. P. wordede, wordit(e. |
| Etymology | From wō̆rd n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. iworded adj.
1.
(a) To speak; also, engage in discussion; converse, chat; ~ togedere (togederes);
(b) to say (sth.);
(c) mirie-worded, pleasingly spoken, facile of speech, witty.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14333 : Þus þe king wordede, wræð on his þonke.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.742 : Thei begunne forto worde Among hemself in privete.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)4.33 : Betwyn hymself & his sone sette hym a benche And wordiden [vrr. wordyd, wordeden, wordedyn, wordyn] a gret while wel wisly togidere.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.47 : We wenten þus in þe weye wordyng togyderes.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)14.246 : Whi ȝe worden [vr. wordite] to me þus was for ich aresonede reson.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)16.149 : Wanne he hadde worded [vr. y-worded] þus, weste no man after Where peers plouhman by-cam.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3393 : Now wate thow my woo, worde as þe lykes.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3261 : Al be…that Geffrey wordit sotilly, The Steward & þe burgeysis held it for foly, Al that evir he seyd.
b
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)10.96 : Whatso men worden of þe, wraþþe þe neuere.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)421 : I wyst wel, when I hade worded quat-so-euer I cowþe To manace alle þise mody men.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4604 : Vlixes…was…Ful of wyles…To forge a lesyng also wonder able; With face pleyn he coude make it towe, Merie wordid, and but selde lowe.