Middle English Dictionary Entry
bǒve(n prep.
Entry Info
| Forms | bǒve(n prep. Also biuven, bufen, boff. |
| Etymology | OE bufan |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. above(n.
1.
(a) Above, over, higher than; ~ and binethen; (b) upon, on top of, on the surface of; ~ erthe, on the ground; ~ and under, upon and under; (c) fig. watching over, caring for; superior to, more exalted than; (d) of ~, upon, on the surface of; up ~, up above, up over.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)p.138 : Smire mid þat heafod bufan þa eaȝen.
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)87 : He is buuen [vr. boue] us and binoþen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)26050 : Arður bræid heȝe his sceld buuen his hælme.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)2364 : Þe brond..blikede buuen hire.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)98a : We wrecches..wulleð wið eise stihen to heouene, þet is se hehe buuen us.
- a1275 Vid word (Trin-C B.14.39)13 : Þeil agein þat þu hauis mis-nomen; god þe hat þat is us bouen.
- ?a1300 Sirith (Dgb 86)89 : Bi houre louerd, heuene-king, þat ous is boue.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.2203 : Al suich hasti clymbyng..To reise ther names boue [vr. aboue] Sagittaries bowe.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)42/34 : The first figure of þe multipliant be a cifre, and boue it is sette the figure signyficatife.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)4773 : Hiss bodiȝ toc To rotenn bufenn eorþe.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.Pentec.(Lamb 487)95 : Þe halia gast wes iseȝen on fures heowe bufan þam apostlas.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)139 : Sunnen dei was iseȝan þet formeste liht buuen eorðe.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)159 : We moten þis fouwer kunnes teres sawen biuuen orðe, þet we moten to mede habben eche hele.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)16334 : Hengest wunede buuen are munede [Otho: vpon ane munede].
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)28a : Þer leien ofte licomes irotet buuen [Pep: abouen] eorðe.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1494 : Hu miȝte þar beo eni luue, wanne a swuch cheorles buc hire leþ buue?
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)115/19 : Al þat hys boue and vnder molde..bowe scholde.
c
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1522 : He is mi lif & mi luue..mi soðe blisse buuen me.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)42b : Ha schal sitten ane & halden hire stille, & swa heouen hire seolf buuen hire seoluen.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.217 : Your hih estat boff Kynde hath no poweer To chaunge in nature nouther cold nor heete.
d
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)20/3 : Þreo creoiz mid to þume up buue [Corp-C: up o] þe uorheaued.
- a1275 On leome (Trin-C B.14.39)118 : To loft up buven þat he seit to: 'Comit, iblesede, into ro.'
- a1450 Form Excom.(1) (Cld A.2)67 : We acurson hem..lyggynge of-bowne þe erthe & vndur þe erthe.
2.
Element in personal names: above, overlooking, on higher ground than; ~ brok, ~ burn, ~ dich, ~ heie, ~ lake, ~ the wei, ~ toun, ~ wode; at the top of: ~ clif, ~ doun, ~ hil.
Associated quotations
- (1195) CRR Rich.I in Pipe R.Soc.14 ()141 : Willelmus Buuecliua.
- (1246) Select Pleas Manor.in Seld.Soc.27 : Rogerus Bouewode.
- (1259) Abbrev.Plac.Hen.III147 : Galfridus Boveburn'.
- (c1260) Cart.Oseney in OHS 90254 : Godefridus Bovetoun tenet quandam domum.
- (1262) Assize R.Lan.in LCRS 49304 : Alan Bouenthocloue.
- (1279) Hundred R.Tower 2859 : Johannes Bovebrok.
- (1310) Sub.R.Bdf.in Suf.GB 1835 : Henricus Bouelake.
- (1310) Sub.R.Bdf.in Suf.GB 1879 : Willelmus Bovenheye.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3133 : Willelmus Bovenhull.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3235 : Robertus Bouetheweye.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3273 : Agnes Bovedich.
- (1332) Sub.R.Bdf.in Suf.GB 18171 : Johannes Bouedoune.
- (1346) Feudal Aids 580 : Johannes Bovetoun.