Middle English Dictionary Entry
abeien v.
Entry Info
| Forms | abeien v. Also abeiȝen, abaye, abyȝen, abye, abuye. P. abeiede, abuyede, abude. |
| Etymology | A ābēgan; WS ābȳgan, ābȳgde; partly confused with obeien. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. abouen.
1.
(a) To bend (down); ~ face, incline the head; (b) to bow in homage (to sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1861 : As he a-buyede a-dounward, þe shetes he sey.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9783 : An oþer him smot þo, Þat he abuyde is face adoun.
b
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306:Everett)60 : The Duke of Bedforde..toke the cardenales hatt and sett it on the bysshoppys hede and abeyed to hym.
2.
(a) To bow (to someone's authority, power, or will); subject or submit (oneself), render obedience; ~ herte; -- intr. or refl.: (b) abyȝed, bowed down, oppressed; (c) to obey (a command).
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)731 : To no man þov nelt a-buye.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1058 : Þe king abude [vr. abowe] is herte to þe noble stude of rome.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4388 : Mine noble kniȝtes, to was poer & heste Alle londes ssolle abuye [vr. abouye; B: abowe] to, by este & bi weste.
- a1350 SLeg.Cross (Ashm 43)428 : Þou ne schalt me so lere Þat ichulle abuye [vrr. abowe, abouwie] to eny man.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5657 : Þow dost folye þat þow ne wolt þyn herte abye to Char[lis].
- ?a1425 Glo.Chron.B (Dgb 205)2320 : [To vortiger is men] abeyȝed [echon].
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1778 : Harlotis! at onys fro þis wonys! be Belyals bonys, ȝe schul a-beye!
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3458 : Þey a-beyȝedone hem no-thyng to þe kyngus hest.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)17/79 : We shalle a-beye to þi gudnesse, to þi biddyng.
- a1525(?1456) Cov.Leet Bk.290 : I, Josue,..Wyll abey to your plesur, princes most riall.
- 1534(?a1500) Cov.Pl.ST (Croo:Craig)665 : Sir, youre commandement we woll fullfyll And humbly abaye owreself there-tyll.
b
- a1450(?c1405) Man be war of (Dgb 102)29 : In kyngdom, what makeþ debate?..Hiȝe and lowe men abyȝed.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3138 : Þerfor take good hed..Fro point to point my biddyng to abeie.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)228/28 : I must a-beyn þe wil of God.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)2708 : They wolle a-bey me no-thyng, Ne know me for her souereyn lorde.
Note: [Add: obbeye]
Note: Sense 2.(a)
Note: New spelling
Note: ?Modify gloss
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)130/3878 : Abide and thou art tan maugre thi berd Without thou cast thee vnto loue abay Fleth the shott of swete regard.
Note: Sense 2.(a)
Note: New spelling
Note: ?Modify gloss