Middle English Dictionary Entry
cunnen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | cunnen v. Also cunnin. Froms: sg. 3 cunneþ, pl. cunnið; p. cunnede. |
| Etymology | OE cunnian, cunnode. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To make an attempt; -- with clause; (b) to try or seek (to do sth.); (c) to taste (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)14/27 : Heo sceoldon cunniæn, hwæder heo mynton ænine mon ofahsian þe hine lacniæn mihte.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)22/30 : Ac cunniæð ȝyt, hwæðer ȝe hit on æniȝre oðre stowe finden maȝon.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11598 : Forrþi wollde he fandenn himm, To cunnenn ȝiff he mihhte Onn aniȝ wise wurrþenn wis To witenn whatt he wære.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)151 : Men foleȝeden ure drihten..to kunnen if heo mihten him mid sunne undernime.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)87 : Swiche hertes fondeð þe fule gost..and cunneð gif he mai þer-inne herbergen.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)12137 : Þe deofell..wollde cunnenn swa To brinngenn inn hiss herrte Erþlike þingess lufe.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)12298 : Þa cunneþþ he to swennchenn þe Þurrh sinnfull modiȝnesse.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)30/36 : Ah þe gode..ich folhi neodelukest, þe cunnið to beon cleane.
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)833 : & tohh het [i.e. water] owwhar funde þær, Ne wollde het næfre cunnenn, Forr he wass filled..Off Haliȝ Gastess drinnchess.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)50/3 : He..underueng hit [galle]..he dude his deorewurðe muð þerto, & smeihte ant cunnede þerof.