Middle English Dictionary Entry
yēving(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | yēving(e ger. Also ȝevingge. |
| Etymology | From yēven v.; cp. OE gifung, gyfung. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
(a) The action of conveying possession of something of one’s own or over which one has authority; the act or practice of gratuitous giving, conferring, donating, bestowing, or rewarding; giving as opposed to selling; also, the process of being awarded or dispensed; godes ~; ~ side, the sort that gives; almesse ~, alms giving [see also almesse n. 6a.(e)]; dede of ~, a written instrument of conveyance;
(b) an instance of gratuitous giving, a donation; a formal grant of privileges or transfer of property;
(c) the action of distributing an estate;
(d) a reward, an emolument.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)120/24 : Yefþe is yeuynge wyþoute ayen-yefþe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.221 : Cesar by ȝiftes, Cato by ȝevynge of none ȝiftes is i-preysed.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)7086 : Almes, þou wost weyl, ys a ȝyfte, And for þe ȝyvyng, man ys vplyfte.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5070 : She…May a iewel or other thyng Take of her loues fre yeuyng.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5907 : I wole not sellyng clepe ‘yevyng’, For sellyng axeth no guerdonyng; Here lith no thank ne no merit; That oon goth from that other al quyte.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)399 : As soone as the condicioun is brokun, the ȝift is voide…and therfore mai not come aȝen withoute a new deede of ȝeuyng.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)401 : Whos ȝeuyng it is expressid in the chartour of the ȝeuyng that thei were ȝouun in the ije maner.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)11435 : Ryght als þis giftes were in gyuyng…Twelue messegers til hym were sent.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)42/29 : No man may excuse hym-selfe fro ȝeuynge al-thofe he be pore.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)67/10 : Ensaumple of þe first maner is þis: feding, cloþing…worldly goodis ȝeuing or leenyng.
- c1475 3 Consid.(UC 85)188 : Yf the Prince…be…riche and large…in yiving, he shall be halden a good Prince.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.64 : Ȝe ryche meen been al on the takyngge syde and lytil on the ȝeuyngge syde.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.216 : Men schul releuyn folk in here mischef be elmesse ȝeuynge.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.353 : Þe patron…was patron aforn only be makynge of þe chirche or be ȝeuynge of þe grond.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)225/33 : Helpyngis þat profitteþ to the dede…ȝyuynge of almes.
b
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)838 : Alisaundres gode loos Of þat ȝyuyng first aroos.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)400 : Aftir the descryuyng of thes iiij maners of ȝeuyngis it is to be considerid that…the grete maners…weren ȝouun in the firste of these iiij maners.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)402 : If lordis or ladies…wroten…‘Y ȝeue to this bischop…thilk…maner into pure and perpetual almes,’ thei meeneden…that tho lordis and ladies maden thilk her seid ȝeuyng to be as her pure and perpetual almes.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.27/28 : I, Henry Doylly…grauntid and…confermed to the church of saynte marye of Oseney…all þe yevynges the which Robert Beele my ffader maade to þe same church.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.42.3 : Ne accepte þou persone þat þou gilte of þe lawe of…þe ȝyuyng of þe eritage of frendis.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.38.2 : Fro þe king he shal taken ȝyuyng [WB(2): a ȝifte; L donationem].
1b.
The giving (of comfort); the rendering (of judgment).
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2222 : Tariyng…is nat to repreue in yeuyng of iuggement.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1030 : The thridde [kind of alms] is in yeuynge of…comfort goostly and bodily where men han nede.
1c.
(a) The action of furnishing or providing something; also, that which is provided or furnished; is to ~, shall be provided [transl. of L daturus est];
(b) ~ exaumple, ensaumple (exaumple) ~, the setting of an example; leve ~, permission.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Num.32.7 : Þei der nouȝt passe into þe place þat þe lord is to ȝeuynge [WB(2): schal ȝyue; L daturus est] to hem.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.11.17 : Þe ȝyuyng [L datio] of god abideþ stille to riȝtwis men.
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)44 : In al the flour of Fortunes yevynge, Let I this noble prince Theseus…in his wey rydinge.
b
- a1400 Mirror(Corp-C 282) 2:20/6 : For no leue-ȝeuynge [Htrn 250: Þe woman, þat is holi cherche .. wel muchel sche besecheþ to God, for sche leteþ nouȝt for non hir ȝeuynge þat sche ne biddeþ al wai faste.]
- c1400 PLove (Hrl 2254)76/17 : More auȝte I do…for to kepe my broder is soule fro his synne…ȝif I may by praier…and bi goode ensaunple-ȝeuynge [vr. exaumple-ȝeuynge].
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)30/5 : Ȝe ben biholde…ech of ȝou to helpe oþire in word & good worchinge and ensaumple ȝeuynge.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)172/20 : We muste advyse us what thyngis we may seye that be profytable in gevyng examples to euerychone of theis estates to lyve well.
- a1500 St.Brendan Conf.(Lamb 541)19/343 : I haue nott þouȝt on vertues forto lerne hem…aftir þe teching and þe blessid ensaumple ȝeuynge of þee.
2.
(a) The act or practice of conveying possession of something in discharge of a debt or an obligation, in exchange for something else, or in expectation of return; payment; yiftes ~;
(b) the action of restoring (to sb. a faculty that is lacking or has been lost); ~ sighte.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)398 : Couenaunt is a double graunt or a double ȝeuyng, couplid to gidere of ij persoones or parties.
- c1450(c1390) Chaucer Ven.(Benson-Robinson)37 : Thus dere abought is Love in yevyng.
- c1450 Dives & P.(Lchf 35)1.45 : Of ȝeuyng of mony whanne a personne is receyued into relygyon.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)195/15 : For thys gefynge & grauntynge the fore-seyde syluester gafe to hem xxv shillings in warisune.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)502/23 : They shold be quyte fro yevyng of all tythes.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)189/1 : Thow schalt also tempte þi counsellouris in yiftis yefyng, for qwyche of hem þu seist puttyth alle his attendauns to take yiftis…his seruise is for gold.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)456 : Ȝyuyng of taliage to þe kyng is licly groundid in goddis lawe.
b
- a1450(a1401) Chastising GC (Bod 505)181/7 : God shewiþ miraclis…in ȝeuynge siȝt to blynde men.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.130 : He…was born blynd þat þe myght of God myghte been shewyd in hym in ȝeuyngge hym syght.
3.
The action of ceremonial bestowal (of a garment as a badge of office); also, ?that which is given as security or for safekeeping.
Associated quotations
- a1450 Ordin.Nuns(2) (Vsp A.25)147/11 : ‘Accipe’ salbe sayd…at þe gyfyng of þe wimpil.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)54b : A Gyffinge [Monson: thynge Gyffen] to kepe: depositum.
4.
(a) The action of delivering something for another’s use or consumption, as the serving of food or drink or the administration of medicine; wine ~;
(b) theol. the act or fact of Christ’s offering (of his body to sinners in the Eucharist).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.587 : Redeth the Bible and fynd it expresly Of wyn yeuyng to hem that han iustise.
- (1423) Let.Bk.in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)114/203 : Euereche Cirurgean…shalle swere þat he shalle wirke in þe crafte of Cirurgye…welle and trewly, nat in yevyng, layng, or vsyng eny noious Medicyns.
- a1475 Hrl.Diseases Hawk A (Hrl 2340)26 : Yf þi hawke hafe takyn colde in geuyng of colde mete, gyfe hyr than blody mete and hoote.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)152b/a : Ther ben iiij þingis þat schal be vndirstonden in ȝeuynge of drynkis to men þat ben woundid.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)28b/12 : Som man myght haue vonder of þe ȝevyng of þe triacle, for it is hote.
b
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)26/5 : Charite…he schewith to synneris in yiving of his blissid body to hem.
5.
(a) The action of giving (of oneself) over to an activity or a task;
(b) the action of indulging (in frivolous or idle behavior).
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Cor.3.7 : Noþer he þat plantys noþer he þat moystys is any thyng, þat is, in gifyng of hymself, but he þat gyfes growyng, þat is god.
b
- a1500 15c.Serm.Cycle(Hrl 2247:Powell)60/44 : Thi soule is clad in fowl clothis whan it is wrappid…in sluggy slouth of ydilnes and to vanytese yeving.
6.
Physiol. The act or process of transmitting (of sensation).
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)8/32 : Þe skynne is a coueringe of þe bodie…made for diffendinge and ȝeuynge off felinge.
7.
The action of exuding (sth.); ~ oute of, the shedding of (one’s blood).
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)92b/b : A wounde is…enpostumed wiþouten ȝiffynge…quiture.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget (Gar 145)63/11 : By his…passyon and ȝevyng oute of his blod, he opned the yate of hell.
8.
The act of giving (advice, counsel); ~ of god counseil; a god counseil ~, an instance of giving good advice.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1030 : The thridde is in yeuynge of good conseil.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)456 : That is a good counseil ȝeuyng.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6011 : Þou to hem schalt be necessarie In conseillyng and in ȝevinge red.
9.
In fig. contexts: (a) the administration (of a sacrament);
(b) the inflicting (of blows).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)165/5 : Þat blood þei poure down upon þe face of þe soule in ȝeuynge of absolucioun.
b
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)141/10 : Virginite wiche was neuer hurt is a batayle of yiving of strokes.
10.
(a) The action of imposing (rule, discipline), the imposition (of a penance); also, the assigning (of a name);
(b) the action or process of allotting or apportioning (of sth.); the distribution (of nerves throughout the body).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.979 : The preest…may the bettre ben auysed of his iuggement in yeuynge of thy penaunce.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5683 : He with men…Defendiþ hym for ȝeving of þe name Of Athenes.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)29162 : If þe prest þat penance layes Be vnwise in his gifing…Aþer of þam…Sall brin in fire of purgatory.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)143/24 : It seemyd me that defaute of yivinge and receyuyng ordre of discipline and regle…is cause of the longe lastinge of oure persecucion.
b
- ?a1425 Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)12/14 : Þer ben þre intenciouns of kinde of distribucioun oþer ȝeuyng of sinewes.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.166 : For to brekyn strif in partyng and in ȝeuyng of þyng þat may nouȝt wel ben departyd…þan is it leful to vsyn lottis.
11.
The act or fact of causing or bringing about a state of affairs.
Associated quotations
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)230 : Thogh he made a lover love a thing…reste nys ther non in his yeving.
12.
In phrases with adverbs denoting relinquishment or abandonment: ~ awei, the action of relinquishing rights (over property), alienation (of property); ~ up, the action of conceding or abandoning a cause.
Associated quotations
- c1460 Oseney Reg.149/27 : Þabbot and Couent…where to haue rate and sure what-so-Euer thyng þere procuratours wholde doo afore vs, or In knowlegyng, or In ȝevyng vppe [L cedendo].
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)143 : All such gyvinge awey off the kynges livelod is harmefull to all is legemen.
13.
With ref. to God: the act or action of implanting (his laws in men’s souls), setting firmly.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Heb.8.10 : In ȝyuynge my lawis into the soulis of hem and into the hertis of hem, and schal aboue wryte hem.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.4va (Prologue) : In whiche werke forsoþe ar schewede certeynly rewles of demyng of vrynes after giffyng & teching of auctours and of comentoures of þis sciens wiþ diffiniciouns and exposiciouns of termes of sekenes.
Note: New spelling: giffing.