Middle English Dictionary Entry

carpen v.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms carpen v. Also kerpen, charp.
Etymology ON; cp. Icel. & Swed. dial. karpa brag, boast, dispute, quarrel. ME evidence suggests that modern Scand. meanings represent a late development and that the verb orig. meant 'speak, talk'.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) To talk, chat, converse, discourse; ~ toward, address (sb.); (b) tell (sth.), say; ask (a question); as I have herd ~, as I have heard tell; as men do ~, as people say; to ~ the soth, to tell the truth; (c) ~ ayen(es, answer (sb.), reply to; ?speak against (sth.) [quot.PPl.B]; ~ of, ~ on, speak of (sth.), talk about; ~ to, ~ til, ~ unto, speak to (sb.); ~ with, talk with (sb.); (d) ~ to, converse with (sb.); fig. attack.
Show 48 Quotations
2.
To tell (a story), relate (an event); ?also, write about (sth.); recite or sing as a minstrel; ~ of, tell the story of, sing about, ?write about.
Show 15 Quotations
3.
(a) To chatter, gossip, talk frivolously, jest; (b) cry out, wail, complain; (c) speak opprobriously, find fault, carp.
Show 12 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9)170 : Þen þe kinge con crye And carputte of venerie, To make his howundus hardi.
    • Note: New form: 3 sing. pret. carputte.
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.(c).
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section is incomplete and needs revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. Provisional revised form section (including suppl. form): Also carp(e, karp(e, karppe, carpin, karpin, carpon, charpen; sg.3 carpith, etc. & carppez; p.sg. carped, etc. & carput(te, kerpede; ppl. i(carped & carpit.--notes per MLL

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