Middle English Dictionary Entry

yǒu pron.
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
As direct obj. with plural referent: you: (a) addressed to more than one person or reification; (b) with indef. pron. or adj. or num.: ~ alle, alle…~; ~ bothe; ~ ech on; ~ thre; (c) addressed to an individual or unit regarded as representing or comprising a plurality of persons.
1b.
As direct obj. with referent of indefinite number: you;—addressed to an unspecified readership or audience.
1c.
As direct obj. with singular referent: thee, you: (a) addressed to a ruler; also, used by one king to another; (b) addressed to a superior, an elder, or someone of spiritual or moral authority; (c) addressed to one’s parent; (d) addressed to God or Christ; (e) addressed to one’s husband or (male) lover; (f) addressed to one’s wife or by a suitor to a lady; (g) addressed to a person from whom one wishes a favor or boon; (h) addressed to an equal, a friend, or politely to a stranger; (i) addressed to an inferior.
2a.
As indirect obj. (broadly interpreted) with plural referent: you; to you, for you: (a) addressed to more than one person; (b) with indef. pron. or adj.; ~ alle; ~ ech on; (c) addressed to an individual or unit regarded as representing or comprising a plurality of persons.
2b.
As indirect obj. (broadly interpreted) with referent of indefinite number: you; to you, for you;—addressed to an unspecified audience or readership; ?also, used generically: one, anyone.
2c.
As indirect obj. (broadly interpreted) with singular referent: thee, you; to you, for you: (a) addressed to a ruler or lord; (b) addressed to one’s superior, or to someone of spiritual or moral authority; (c) addressed to one’s parent; (d) addressed to God; (e) addressed to one’s husband or (male) lover; (f) addressed to one’s lady; (g) addressed to a person of whom one wishes to make a request; (h) addressed to an equal, a stranger, or friend; (i) addressed to someone younger.
2d.
As dative of interest or reference: (a) with plural referent: with respect to you, for you; also, from you, at your expense; to your benefit; what is ~, what troubles you?, what is your problem?; (b) with singular referent: to thee, to you.
3a.
As obj. of prep. with plural referent: you: (a) addressed to more than one person or personification; (b) with noun, indef. adj., or num.; ~ alle, ~ two, etc.; (c) addressed to an individual or unit regarded as representing or comprising a plurality of persons; to ~ ward.
3b.
As obj. of prep. with referent of indefinite number: you;—addressed to an unspecified readership or audience.
3c.
As obj. of prep. with singular referent: thee, you: (a) addressed to a ruler; unto ~ ward; (b) addressed to one’s master, mistress, or social superior, or to someone of moral or spiritual authority; to ~ ward (wardes); (c) addressed to one’s parent; (d) addressed to God, Christ, or Mary; (e) addressed to one’s husband; (f) addressed to one’s wife or to a lady; to ~ ward; (g) addressed to a person of whom one wishes to make a request; (h) addressed to an equal; (i) addressed to an inferior.
4a.
As reflexive with plural referent, used as direct obj. or as obj. of prep.: yourselves: (a) addressed to more than one person; also, used in dat. constructions: to or for yourselves; avisen (dreden, hien, rapen, etc.) ~, to consider (fear, hurry, etc.); (b) addressed to an individual regarded as representing more than one person.
4b.
As reflexive with referent of indefinite number;—addressing an unspecified readership or audience; used as direct obj. or obj. of prep.: yourselves; also used in dat. construction: for yourselves [1st quot.].
4c.
As reflexive with singular referent: thyself, yourself [some exx. could also be construed as sense 6c.]; avisen (douten, dreden, hasten, etc.) ~: (a) addressed to a ruler; (b) addressed to one’s parent or social superior, or to someone of moral or spiritual authority; (c) addressed to Mary; (d) addressed to one’s husband or (male) lover or suitor; (e) addressed to one’s wife; (f) addressed to an equal or a stranger; (g) addressed to an inferior.
5a.
In impers. constructions with plural referent: as direct or indirect obj. of impers. verb or verb phrase: you; to you, for you: (a) addressed to more than one person; also, in combination with noun or adj.: wo ~; bettre ~; (b) addressed to an individual regarded as representing a group.
5b.
In impers. constructions with referent of indefinite number: as obj. of impers. verb or in combination with noun; wo ~.
5c.
In impers. constructions with singular referent: as direct or indirect obj. of impers. verb or verb phrase: thee, you; also, to thee, to you: (a) addressed to a ruler; (b) addressed to one’s social superior, parent, or elder, or to someone of moral or spiritual authority; (c) addressed to God; (d) addressed to one’s husband; (e) addressed to a lady; (f) addressed to a person from whom one is requesting something; (g) addressed to an equal or a stranger; (h) addressed to an inferior or a subordinate.
6a.
As subj. with plural referent: ye, you: (a) addressed to more than one person; (b) addressed to an individual regarded as representing more than one person.
6b.
As subj. with referent of indefinite number;—addressed to an unspecified readership or audience [some exx. may be errors for thou pron., or perh. ye pron.].
6c.
As subj. with singular referent: thou, you [some exx. may be errors for thou pron.]: (a) addressed to a ruler; (b) addressed to a superior; (c) addressed to God, Christ, or Mary; (d) addressed to one’s wife; (e) addressed to an equal or a stranger; also, addressed to an inanimate object; (f) addressed to an inferior.
7.
In misc. uses: (a) in expressions tantamount to a reciprocal pron.: ~ (…) bitwene, ~ togeder, one another, each other; (b) in a construction in which nom. and acc. forms normally alternate; as…as ~; (c) as vocative;—with singular referent, addressed to Mary or a parent.
8.