Middle English Dictionary Entry
chācen v.
Entry Info
Forms | chācen v. Also chaci(en, chasen, chassen. P. chācede, chāste; ppl. chāced, ichāst. |
Etymology | OF chacier |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. cacchen v. and chacchen v. The three verbs are essentially one, the differences reflecting variety in French and Anglo-French, with considerable overlap of meaning but also at least the beginnings of a split between 'chase' and 'catch' senses.
1.
(a) To engage in hunting, go hunting; (b) to hunt (game); (c) to blow a hunting signal.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)194 : In þat forest he wolde chace, Þat bor to take.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)263/130 : Hedde he no talent to chase.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)42/24 : Þei..chacen after bestes to eten hem.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)1506 : By whas leue..Are ȝe here alle chasand [vr. chasant]..ffor to destruye þe kynges dere?
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)2 : The hunter must all day renne & folow hys howndes..thus he chaset.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)171 : An-huntynge wente Syr Launfel, To chasy yn holtes hore.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)2741 : Tristrem on huntinge rade, An hert chaci bigan.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)1206 : Þe hert to chacen [vr. chase] and þe hinde.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)262/65 : Þis hert he chased vp and doun In wode and pleyn.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.5255 : Lich to the chaced wylde bor..This worthi kniht..His weie made.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)42/5 : Thys harte woll I chace.
c
- c1425 Twiti Venery(1) (Vsp B.12)152 : Whan he [the hert] is ferre from me, than shall I chase hym in thys maner..I chase with my houndis that be huntyng.
2a.
(a) To pursue (sb.) with intent to overtake; press upon (a fleeing enemy), harass; (b) to attack (sb.); ~ after, ~ at; (c) to put (sb.) to flight, rout; (d) to drive (sb. from or to a place); banish; ~ out, expel.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)216 : Komes þer a werwolf..grimly after a gret hert..& chased him.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)955 : Þe oþre..chacyeþ forþ Olyuere And leggeþ on hym strokes harde.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1008 : Ȝowre lord fled out of þe place, And þe toþer gan hym chace Heder into his awyn halde.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3162 : So gan he threte..And thurgh the haye he dide me chace.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)37/31 : Þere passed Moyses with the children of Israel ouerthwart the see all drye, Whan Pharao the kyng of Egypt chaced hem.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)357 : He schased þe Erle..halfendele amyle.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)2943 : The hethen..fast gan flee..and Partanope Chaseth hem fast to the Castell.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10906 : All fell to þe flight..Chasid hom with choppis þo chyuallurs ladis To the side of the sea.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)13/24 : All þis nyght I..was chasid & charrid.
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1207 : Lordinges, for my loue no lenger ne stintes, but chases þat kene kniȝt þat þis kare vs werches.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.137 : Þe kyng of Pers þey chasede..and made him flee.
- (c1400) Higd.(1) (Hrl 1900)515 : William..chased Odo and made hym flee.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)6331 : Ector euere hem schased..And sclow hem.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2237 : They chasse and choppe doun oure cheualrous knyghttes.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)15789 : Ryhtful kynges..Sholde hunte hem [tyrauntys] out, and at hem chace..Rather than outher hert or hynde.
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)449 : The cuntrey gedyrd abowte hym faste, And aftur hym ȝorne they chaste.
c
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)p.188 : Hou pursued on þousand, & ij chaceden x þousand?
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.327 : Þe Danes hadde i-spoylled Londoun and Kent, and chassed Kyng Berthulphus [Higd.(2): caused Bertulphus..to flee; L præfugaverant].
- (c1400) Higd.(1) (Hrl 1900)515 : The kyng of Fraunce..cam with a grete multitude and was dispitouslich and foulich ychased.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)20/24 : & went hym forþ prechynge & chascynge þe fendes toforne hym þorouȝ out al Galile.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)4504 : Þe Bretons chased Iulyus.
d
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.345 : Saturnus was i-chased out and wente into Ytaly.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1756 : The Iewes han conspired, This innocent out of the world to chace; An homycide ther to han they hired.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2157 : His meynee..chaced out the frere, And forth he gooth.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3766 : Þis esau..Oute o þe land did iacob chace.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.2 : We be comen alle of kynde of Germenie, Þat chaced has þe Bretons here of þer kythe.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.16 : Right vnto Donkastre þe Danes gan him chace.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.45 : Eilred..gadres oste stark & chaces kyng Knoute in tille Danmark.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.50 : Knoute com..& chaced him [Olaf] out of Norweie.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)2/32 : Euery gode cristene man..scholde..peynen him..for to..chacen out all the mysbeleeuynge men.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.2552 : Which wer freendis & foon to the cite..Which sholde be chacid & which shold abide.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)57 : The which for a lych cas hade ben chassede owte of the pallas howse.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)1115 : Emere was ouyr þe see chasyng Garcy to hys cuntre.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)9 : Grayne..came in to this londe and chasid oute the Sarsynes.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)3619 : He ladde me..Al envyron the verger That Daunger hadde me chased fro.
2b.
To remove (sb. from office); deprive (of sth.); ~ from, of, out.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.366 : O Sathan enuyous, syn thilke day That thow were chaced from oure heritage.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)443 : Þat emperise al heuenz hatz..Of erytage ȝet non wyl ho chace, For ho is Quen of cortaysye.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.123 : Basilius..was chased out of the kyngis servyse.
3.
(a) To harass (sb.); afflict; ~ unto deth; (b) ~ at, to rail at, assail verbally; ~ agein, retort.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1815 : Bote þow do after þat is lettre spake, He wol þe chacy as ys fo & werche þe sorwe & wrake.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.526 : Loueth youre enemys, and preieth..for hem that yow chacen and pursuen.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)6703 : Þe strenthe of hungre sal þam swa chace Þat þair awen flesshe þai sal of-race.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5999 : Pore men..I wol not have hem in despit..For chynche and feloun is Richesse That so can chase hem and dispise.
- a1450 Who þat wole knowe (Dgb 102)189 : Þouȝ summe of thy breþeren don a trespas..Loke not þat þou hym chace, Ne sclaundre hym not to haue shame and wo.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer ABC (Benson-Robinson)48 : Thin enemy and myn..Unto my deth in poynt is me to chace!
- ?a1475 LDirige(2) (Dc 322)233 : As thyne enemy thow dost me chace, Demyng me in grete hardnesse.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)287 : But feruent loue so sore me hath I-chasede, That I..am casten in your chayne.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)7532 : Ye han also the man do chace, That he dar neyther come ne go.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3212 : Sodeinly þei gan echon to chace At Pentheus & lowde ageyn hym crie, Reprevyng hym.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.908 : Thow were wont to chace At Love in scorn, and for despit him calle Seynt Idyot.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1801 : Though that he be come of blood roial, Hym liste of pride at no wight for to chace; Benigne he was to ech in general.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3020 : Beryn made hym angry..Geffrey chasid hym ageyn: 'sey me ȝe or nay!'
4.
(a) To expel (evil spirits), cast out; ~ out; (b) to eliminate or drive out (sth.); ~ awei, ~ fro, ~ out; (c) to dispel (darkness), do away with; ~ awei; (d) to repel (sth.), ward off; ~ awei.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)111/13 : Hij þat leueden it schulden mowen chase þe fendes..in his name.
- c1440(?a1375) Abbey HG (Thrn)61/35 : Þe Holy Goste..chasede owte þe fowle wyghtes.
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn:Horstmann)319 : Thurghe grace þat he had of god he chased owte fendis of þame þat þay had duellede with.
b
- c1405 Chaucer CT.Pars.(Heng)I.531 : Thanne is loue the medicyne þat chaceth [vr. casteth] out the venym of enuye fro mannes herte.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5879 : Þe wande..of disciplyne smert Sal chace foly out of þe childes hert.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.281 : Thou thiselve, that art plaunted in me, chacedest out of the sege of my corage alle covetise of mortel thynges.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.400 : God..chasith out alle yvel fro the boundes of his comynalite.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Serv.& L.(Corp-C 296)237 : Prelatis þat schulden distroie synne & chasse it out of londe.
- c1450 My ladyes (Frf 16)47 : Danger..So chasyth pete frome your remembraunce, That to your grace may ther no wyght strecche.
- ?c1450(?c1390) ?Chaucer Merc.B.(Benson-Robinson)14 : So hath your beautee fro your herte chaced Pitee, that me ne availeth to pleyne.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)150 : Charite & chastete ben chased out clene.
c
- c1400(a1376) *PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)[7.186] f.18a : To chase [Vrn: caste] awey hungir.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2638 : A, slowe sonne..Sped thee to sprede thy beemys bright, And chace the derknesse of the nyght.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.3.2 : Whan that nyght was..chased awey, dirknesses forleten me.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.186 : Þe sche[n]yng of þat souereyn light..Chaseth awey þat foule derke nyght.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)244/35 : The colde chasyth the naturall hete.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)198a/b : Crisolitus..ferreþ feendes and chaseþ hem.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)223a/a : Ius [of Draguncia]..chaseþ awey [L fugat] serpentis wt smelle.
- a1400(c1340) Rolle Psalter (Hat 12)4/10 : Þe sange of psalmes chaces fendes, excites aungels tille oure help.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)52/25 : Þis wecche chasiþ so þe fende, þat he fleeþ from alle such wakars.
5.
(a) To propel or drive (sth.); ~ aboute; ~ upward; ~ to and fro, toss (sb.) around; (b) to impel or urge on; (c) to hurry, rush.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.302 : The thridde [periferie] of thair..is..chased sore aboute, Til it to fyr and leyt be falle.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)138a/b : Hayle..is impressioun I gendred of colde vapour & moist I chasid & I dryue [L fugato] by coolde to þe innere partie of þe cloude.
- a1400 Grete ferly (Roy 17.B.17)11 : Þo world chases a mon to & froo, now to weele now to woo.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4316 : Anticrist..sal..chace þe wyndes about and þe ayre.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.4.7 : The manaces of the see, commoevynge or chasynge [L exagitantis] upward hete fro the botme.
b
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)557 : Turne noght, Lord, fro me thi face..In wey of charite thow me chace!
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)8003 : Þai salle be chaced ogayne þair wille Tylle alle manere of thing þat es ille.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)164/14 : Þei beren all weys a lytill whippe in hire hondes for to chacen with hire hors.
c
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.51 : Comynge fro a cuntre þat men called Ierico, To a iustes in iherusalem he chaced awey faste.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)361 : He come chasande agayne; Alle his men ware full fayne, Fande he neuer ane slayne.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10436 : Þen Achilles come chaseond with a choise wepyn.
6.
To pursue (a narrative), go on with.
Associated quotations
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.341 : But shortly forth this matere for to chace, Thise arn the wordes.