Middle English Dictionary Entry
bọ̄ten v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | bọ̄ten v.(1) Also bute, buytt. |
| Etymology | OE bōtian |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. bote n.(1) & botnen.
1.
(a) To be cured; to cure (sb.); (b) to relieve (poverty, nakedness); give (sb.) relief; (c) to give protection.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)2352 : Ihesu..Schal bote þe of þi bale.
- a1500 SMChron.(Cmb Ff.5.48)30/704 : Boted [Roy: A wodmon botnede y the stude].
b
- c1440 Chaucer CT.Pars.(Eg 2726)I.421 : Soch pounsoned and dagged clothyng..nys nat..sufficiant to bote her necessitee.
- a1500 Eglam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)188 : Grete othys to me he sware, That he was botyd of mekylle care.
c
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)1280 : The venym..He..throwyth..Ayens the qwyche plate off stele may noght bote.
2.
(a) To add (to sth.) in order to equalize the value of things exchanged, give something to boot; (b) to pay (an amount) as a recompense, pay as a fee or toll.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)7.382 : Ther were chapmen ychose, þe chaffare to preise..Þe betere þyng, by arbytours, sholde bote þe werse.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)45 : Botun [vrr. botyn, botown, botone], or yeue more owere in bargaynys: Licitor, vel in precio superaddo.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)20a : To Buytt [Monson: Bute]: Augmentare.
b
- a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)p.80 : Euerych sowtere þat makeþ shon of newe reþeres leþer shal bote at þat feste of Estre twey pans.
3.
(a) To be of use, avail; it boteth not, it is of no use (to do sth.); me (us) boteth not, it will not help me (us); etc.; (b) to gain, profit; ppl. boting, profiting, sharing in plunder.
Associated quotations
a
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3391 : Me botis not, barly your biddyng with stonde.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8854 : Vs botis notto batell..Withoutyn the helpe..of herty Achilles.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)66/5 : The pore soule cried and made moche sorugh and pite, but it boted not.
- a1500(?c1400) Song Roland (Lnsd 388)499 : It botes not to abid: full sone the soudan tok his leue.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)4901 : Vppon his grace it botith not to wayte.
b
- c1475 Lydg.FP (Hrl 4203)4.3621 : Botyng [vr. bootyng; Bod: his desir and his entencioun Was to be boti with them of such pillage As goddis hadde in ther pocessioun].