Middle English Dictionary Entry
yẹ̄n prep.
Entry Info
| Forms | yẹ̄n prep. Also gen, gein, (chiefly N) gain(e, (N) gan & (early) ȝean, (Orm.) ȝæn. |
| Etymology | OE gēan prep.; also cp. ON: cp. OI gegn prep. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. ayen prep., onyen prep., toyen prep.
1.
(a) Next to (a land), bordering; also, placed against (sth.), in contact with;
(b) on or along (a riverbank).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)63/20 : Ahoh eac þare wurte wurtume abutan þar mannes swuran þa þæt he hangian aforne ȝean þa miltan.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4226 : Sum helpe for to haue, hast hom þay wyll, Of ledys of other lond lyond hom gayne.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)138 : Forþy I þoȝt þat Paradyse Watz þer ouer gayn þo bonkez brade.
2.
Toward (sb.) so as to meet; also, in or into forceful contact with (sb. or sth.).
Associated quotations
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)4053 : Ðe ginge wimmen of ðin lond…Ðe [?read: Do] ðu ten vt gen ðis men, Ðe cumen brewen herte-bren Wið win and wlite & bodi & dwale.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19920 : Quen þai o petre vnder-stod His cuming son, gain him þai yod And…mett him in þat strete.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22631 : Windes on ilk side sal rise; Sa fast gain oþer [Frf: on iche side] sal þai blau.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)24845 : Þe wind ras gain þaim ful vnride; þe [se] þaim sailed on ilk side.
3.
(a) In spiritual, moral, or psychological opposition to (sth., the devil); also, in enmity toward (Christ);
(b) in defiance of the authority of (sb. in power, God, etc.);
(c) in contradiction to (a command, someone’s wishes), contrary to; ?also, incompatible with (teaching) [1st quot.]; ~ kinde, so as to contravene natural processes, against nature;
(d) in a manner counterproductive of (spiritual health), detrimental to.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.238 : Þe Laferrd Crist…sennde siþþenn Haliȝ Gast…To stanndenn ȝæn þe defell.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11477 : Uss birrde all eorþliȝ þing forrseon…& æfre fihhtenn ȝæn þe flæsh & ȝæn þe flæshess lusstess.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.PPeace (Hrl 2255)132 : Herodis…Slouh alle the childre; geyn Crist he was so fel.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)1038 : A Rewle groundid On discrecioun Geyn Appetites that be bestial…Doth in a kyng Avaryce Represse.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3127 : Birrþ me nowwþerr hellpenn þe To lif, ne to þe sawle Swa þatt icc ohht forrgillte me Ȝæn Godd onn aniȝ wise.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3294 : Iwhillc mann…shollde wendenn to þatt tun Þatt he wass borenn inne…Swa þatt he ȝæn þe Kaserrking Ne felle nohht i wite.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)458 : Sette…mi sete i [Lucifer] sal Gain him þat heist es of all.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21825 : Anoþer king gan [Frf: gaine; Trin-C: gain] þe [Quiriacus] sal rise…To do þe suffer sa mikel scam.
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.70 : Upponn all þiss boc ne be Nan word ȝæn Cristess lare.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)2322 : Elysabæþ Shall nu ȝæn kinde childenn.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4955 : Ioseph our breþor lel…yee sald him for catell; Yee sald him þan gain mi consent.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12997 : Þe warlau left him…Durst he noght gain his biding bide.
d
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)25170 : Þe praier of saint paule…gaine [Vsp: gains] hele was of his saule.
4.
In defense against (sb. or sth.), as a protection from; also, as a countermeasure against (sth.), as an antidote to.
Associated quotations
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Prayer Cross (LdMisc 683)7 : Geyn goostly enmyes, thynk on my passioun.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Prayer Cross (LdMisc 683)19 : Geyn Thomas Indis Incredulyte He put his hand, depe in my syde doun.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Prayer Cross (LdMisc 683)27 : Geyn fals envye, thynk on my charite.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Prayer Cross (LdMisc 683)31 : Afforn thyn herte hang this lytel table Swetter than bawme geyn al goostly poisoun.
- a1500 Mercyful quene (Arun 249)59 : Holy marye…Geyn al euel be ye my sure deffence.
5.
(a) In preparation for (a future event), in anticipation of;
(b) approaching (a point in time), nearing.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)9522 : Badd he ȝeorne clennsenn hemm Wiþþ shriffte…To greȝȝþenn & to ȝarrkenn hemm Ȝæn Cristess hallȝhe come.
b
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)345 : Neuer saw, dais of my lyfe, Where it were gayn night or at morne erlie, Gentil man to pass…Aforn ladies without saluz hye.
6.
With respect to (sb.), as regards, toward.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5544-7 : Þe birrþ ȝæn ifell mann, & eac ȝæn god mann baþe Swa ledenn þe wiþþ skill þatt tu Ne gillte nohht ȝæn owwþerr.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)10788 : Iwhillc mann…Birrþ…laȝhenn himm ȝæn iwhillc mann, To shæwenn soþ meocnesse.
7.
In misc. senses: (a) ?so as to face (sb.), in the direction of; ?for (sb.);
(b) ?by means of (a faculty); ?to (the sight).
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)4119 : Nohht ne mihht itt oppnenn hemm Þe ȝate off heoffness blisse, Forr Crist nass nohht ȝet cumenn þa…Þatt shollde itt oppnenn burrh hiss dæþ Ȝæn alle gode sawless.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)10831 : Heoffne wass oppnedd anan Ȝæn Crist, tær he wass fullhtnedd.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)13828 : Þurrh þe Laferrd Cristess dæþ Wass heffness ȝate all oppnedd Ȝæn alle þa þatt lufenn Crist.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)10933 : Allmahhtiȝ Gast comm uppo Crist Inn aness cullfress like, Forr þatt he shollde seȝhenn beon…Forr gast iss all unnseȝhennlic Ȝæn eorþlic eȝhess sihhþe.