Middle English Dictionary Entry

cutten v.(1)
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms cutten v.(1) Also couten, cotten, kitten, ketten. Forms: sg. 3 cutteth, cut, kit; p. sg. cut(te, kit(te, kette & cutted; ppl. i)kut, i)kit, i)cǒt, i)ket & cutted, kitted, cǒtted.
Etymology Presumably OE *cyttan, since ME has the normal regional variants of the vowel.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
To cut with a sharp implement; make an incision, cut; of an implement: have a cutting edge; be sharp.
Show 6 Quotations
2.
To cut into (sth.); cut (sth.) open; slit (a throat, sails); ~ atwo (on two)..
Show 13 Quotations
3.
To cut (sth.) off or away, sever; cut off a piece of (sth.): (a) without adv.; (b) with awei, of, oute; (c) with from or of.
Show 42 Quotations
4.
To cut (sth.) up; chop (wood), slice (bread); cut or tear to pieces, rend: (a) without adv.; (b) with adv. or adv. phrase: ~ asonder; ~ in (on) two; ~ in (on) peces; ~ smale, to cut up fine, mince.
Show 28 Quotations
5.
To cut (sth.) down; cut (weeds); fell (trees) or chop (wood); (a) without adv.; (b) with doun.
Show 10 Quotations
6.
To make or shape (sth.) by cutting or carving; cut up (into strips).
Show 5 Quotations
7.
(a) To shorten or take in (a garment); ppl. of a person: wearing short or tight clothes, scantily dressed; (b) ppl. ornamented with slashes [cp. cut-werk].
Show 10 Quotations
8.
Misc. uses: (a) to prune (vines, trees); (b) to circumcise; (c) to geld (a horse); (d) to operate surgically; (e) to break up the soil, as by hoeing or plowing; (f) to dissolve; dilute; (g) ?to penetrate; (h) to intersect or cross; (i) ppl.?incomplete.
Show 18 Quotations
9.
Fig. uses: (a) to sever or disrupt (friendship, etc.); ~ atwo; (b) ~ awei, ~ of, to extirpate, remove, or eliminate (sth.); omit (the execution of a request), neglect; (c) ~ doun, to strike (sb.) down; (d) ~ herte, to pierce the heart, cut to the quick.
Show 16 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)203/17 : The kynge sterte up unto hym and raught hym a buffette and kut his baly in sundir.
    • Note: Quot. belongs to sense 2., where it is needed for date.
    Note: Revise boldfaced verbal phrase: "~ atwo (on two, insonder)."
  • ?a1476 Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.530 : It is used if ony be founde cuttyng purses or pikeyng purses or other smale thynges…[he] be brought in to the high strete.
    • Note: Needed for phrase ~ purse. (MED does not have phrase, although it is given as the etymology of cutte-purs.)
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 3.(a) (which has two quots. with the phrase ~ purse; this phrase should be added to this sense).
    Note: Gloss: "~ purse, to steal one's purse by cutting it from the girdle from which it was suspended."
  • a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)153/11 : The heeres of his hede were kutte of for he schuld be vnlykynge to se to euery man.
    • Note: Quot. belongs to sense 3.(b), where it is needed for date.
  • (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.391 : He [Pope Gregory I] made alle þe hedes and lymes of mawmettes i-kut of [vr. ykitt; Higd.(2): to be kytte aweye; L abscindi].
  • a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)177/26 : When he seeþ his felawes a-slepe, he kutte of his membres and…slytte his wombe with the same knyf.
    • Note: Additional quots. for sense 3.(b).
  • (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.37.1 : King Ezechie..kutte his clothis, and wrappid is with a sac.
    • Note: Quot. belongs to sense 4.(a).
    Note: Gloss: "to rend (one's garments) in grief, indignation, despair, etc., tear."
  • a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)19/8 : Men & wymmen..wiþ curious aray are streyt sett, as clooþ vpon þe teyntour, þat þei seme small kuttid aboue þe knees, as þauȝ þei schulden wade & stampe in myres aftir eles.
    • Note: Quot. belongs to sense 7.(a), where it is needed for date.
    Note: New combination: smale cutted.
    Note: Gloss: "smale cutted, dressed in tightly fitting clothes." (See smāl(e adv., sense 3.(a).)
  • a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)18/16 : Pray God that he…kutte fro you alle evels.
    • Note: Quot. belongs to sense 9.(b), because it provides a transitive example without the adverbial phrases ~ awei (of).
    Note: Revised gloss for sense 9.(b): "to extirpate, remove, or eliminate (sth.); omit (the execution of a request), neglect; awei (of)."
  • a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)17/37 : Kutteþ a-way fro youre-self alle maner evelis of thouȝtis.
    • Note: Quot. belongs to sense 9.(b), where it is needed for date.
  • a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)63/15 : The herte is kitte what tyme it is defoulid þrouȝ sorowe.
    • Note: Quot. belongs to sense 9.(d), where it is needed for date.--all previous notes per MLL
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. Significant forms missing from form section. 1. Add to 'Also': cotte. 2. Add to p.sg.3: kotte, citte. 3. Add to p.ppl. cut, i(kutte, kutted, kitte, kette. In p.ppls., add an -(e to cutted, i.e. cutted(e. 4. Create forms: p.pl. kottede; imperative pl. kuttus.--per MJW

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