Middle English Dictionary Entry
āǧen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | āǧen v. Ppl. āǧed, āǧit, āched. |
| Etymology | Found mostly as a participial adjective, probably an adjective in -ed suf.(1) derived from age n., reanalyzed to create a verb; perhaps modeled on such pairs as L senesco (seneo) v. / senex adj. and F vieillir v. / vie(i)l adj. Also cp. OF se aagier, eogier become of age. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To grow old, age; (b) ppl. aged, advanced in years, old; also mature; (c) aged men, those with authority, elders.
Associated quotations
a
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)8 : Agyn, or growyn agyd: Seneo, senesco.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)91 : Þe more a man agyth, þe harder he is.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)222/17 : I was ȝonge and I haue achede [L senui].
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2795 : Sche cleped..An aged vekke, fer in ȝeris ronne.
- (1420) Proc.Privy C.2.272 : I am agid man, evermore..desiryng the good pees..of this reaume.
- (1434) *Anc.Pet.(PRO)166.8254 : He ys an aged man, impotent and sike.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)239/10 : Sche was to agyd & to weyke to holdyn foot wyth hem.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)8 : Agyd: Antiquatus, senectus, veteranus, veteratus.
- (1442) Doc.Ireland in RS 69281 : He is agyt, onwely, and onlusty to labour.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)24546 : He was j-aged jn many a day.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)85.15 (v.2:p.99) : Though I be yung and a childe in body, yit i bere within me an aged [L senile] hert.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4932 : She is agyd, and wil not holde hire content with this.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.138 : The parson seyd he was agyd and syklow.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)89/226 : I am so Agyd and so olde.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.83 : Agit folk, with hedis hore and olde.
c
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton) : They .. assamblyd alle the senyors and aged men [Vulg. Exod. 4.29: seniores] of the chyldren of Israhel.