Middle English Dictionary Entry
ai adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | ai adv. Also (Orm.) aȝȝ & ay(e, ei. |
| Etymology | ON *ai, corresp. to OE ā (ME ō ); cp. OI ei. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of continous actions or states: (a) all the time, always, constantly, unceasingly; (b) eternally, forever.
Associated quotations
a
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)46 : A welle he sekeð ðat springeð ai.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)150 : Bote bid tu ðe ai, boðe bi nigt & bi dai.
- a1350 Horn (Hrl 2253)1543 : In trewe loue hue lyueden ay.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.572 : Þi man y wil be & serue þe ay Þer while mi liif lest may.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.174 : His libertee this brid desireth ay.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.3125 : Thurgh whiche Envie is fyred ay.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)16334 : For þof þou pouste haf a quil, þou sal noght haf it ai.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)11.19 : He soiourneþ with ous freres, And ay hath..and wol her-after.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1645 : For I am evere agast, forwhy men rede That love is thyng ay ful of bisy drede.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)54/6 : Þe pryncez þat slewe Darius..helde þam in hidils ay, till þay myȝte gete knaweynge of Alexander will.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)115/86 : Jos. Say, Marie doghtir, what chere with þe? Mar. Right goode, Joseph, as has been ay.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)564 : And Olyuer, his awnn fere, that ay had bene trewe.
- c1475 Babies' Bk.(Hrl 5086)135 : Byfore him stonde..Withe clene handes, Ay Redy him to serve.
- a1500(c1380) Wycl.Papa (Ryl Eng 86)477 : Þey dwellen ay in synne þe while þei holden ony lordchip fro þe chirche.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)110 : That Ay is hend, is not to hyde.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)6/20 : And sewet Crist forþe ay, tyll he stegh ynto Heuen.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.84 : In Bretayne then this Ioseph dyd conuerte Brytons ay, howe to knowe the incarnacyon.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)89/329 : My eyes must run and sorrow aye, without ceasing, night and daye.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3636 : Godess þeowwess blomenn aȝȝ.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)18521-2 : Forr aȝȝ wass Sune & Faderr aȝȝ & eȝȝþerr aȝȝ wiþþ oþerr.
- a1250 Ancr.(Tit D.18:W&H)6 : Almihti Godd..Beo he ai ihehet fram worlde into worlde.
- a1250 Orison Lord (Lamb 487)185 : And weneð ei to beon bi-clupped bi-twene þine blisfulle earmes.
- ?a1300(a1250) Harrow.H.(Dgb 86)20/247 : Long is O and long is ay, Tille þat comeþ domesday.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1031 : He most ay lyve in þat loȝe in losyng evermore.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)720 : Let chylder vnto me tyȝt..Þe innocent is ay saf by ryȝt.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)12 : Þe sam God ay was þat es now, Þat woned ever in his godhede.
- a1425 Rolle FLiving (Arun 507)420 : Þe life þat lastis ai.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)86/56 : That daye [Sabaoth]..hallowed shalbe aye.
2.
Of recurring actions or events: (a) every time, in every case, on every occasion, again and again; (b) at any time, ever; (c) in each instance.
Associated quotations
a
- a1250 HMaid.(Tit D.18)41/687 : Haue eauer i þin herte þe eadieste of meidnes..& bisech ai [Bod: aa] hire þat ha þe lihte.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3390 : Hise concubynes Ay dronken, whil hire appetites laste, Out of thise noble vessels sondry wynes.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.395 : Thogh he preise, he fint som lak, Which of his tale is ay the laste, That al the pris schal overcaste.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1080 : Þe clai ai vp þat bodi kest.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.212 : To helpen hem of alle þinge ay as hem nedeth.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)73 : Þay wenten to sete, Þe best burne ay abof, as hit best semed.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.483 : But cesse cause, ay cesseth maladie.
- a1425 Rolle FLiving (Arun 507)414 : Þat þou haue ai sorugh of alle þi synnes.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)40 : Of harpyng..He wane þe pryse aye.
- a1450(1401) For drede (Dgb 102)23 : Falshed endes ay in shame.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)4492 : Naght were it for to done To borwe of hire [Avarice]; euere is hir answere nay; That sche naght haþ, also sche swerith ay.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)714 : Ai bus þai do os oþer demys.
- c1450(?a1400) Siege Milan (Add 31042)249 : He bare down Worthy lordes..Ay, to his launce gane breke.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)48 : That poyetis of prise have preuyt vntrew: Ouyd and othir þat onest were ay.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)3683 : I durst assaye him tho no more, I hadde such drede to greve him ay.
b
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)159 : Welcome..be ye ay!
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2355 : Tullius seith that grete thynges ne ben nat ay acompliced by strengthe..but by good conseil.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.931 : Bet is a tyme of cure ay than of pleynte.
- a1425 Rolle FLiving (Arun 507)414 : Þe thar noght telle al þe sothe aie.
c
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)128 : Ay two had disches twelue, Good ber, & bryȝt wyn boþe.
3.
Of a changing action or state: progressively, consistently; ai lenger, longer and longer; ai ner and ner, nearer and nearer; ai the ner..the hotter, the nearer, the hotter; etc.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8679-80 : Aȝȝ summ ȝho mare & mare toc, Aȝȝ wex itt mare & mare.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4304 : With the staf she drow ay ner and ner And wende han hit this Aleyn atte fulle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.286 : For ay the more I crie faste, The lasse hire liketh forto hiere.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)375 : Water wylger ay wax..Hurled into uch hous.
- a1425(c1300) NHom.(1) Martin AM (Cmb Gg.5.31)73 : Ay the halyar that a man es, The mar lufes he meknes.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.449 : For therby to ben esed wel he wende, And ay the ner he was, the more he brende. For ay the ner the fir the hotter is.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)11/4 : Ay þe nerre Alexander þat he drewe, þe mare he felle to the erthe.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)962 : He..gladded me ay more and more.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)252/8-9 : Ay þe more att he gaff..to pure men, ay þe mor God blissid his howse.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)6312 : It wex ay lengar mare and mare.
- ?c1450 *Horse(1) (Dc 291)136a : Schorte heere and not rough, ay the schorter the better.
4.
Phrases & combs.: (a) ai ok ai, ai and o, ever and ai, always, forever, eternally; (b) for ai, in ai, for ever and ai, forever, eternally; (c) ai whan, whenever; ai whiles, as long as, whenever; (d) ai forth, always, forever; ai mare, for evermore; ai siþþen, ever since.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)2263 : Crist shall rixlenn aȝȝ occ aȝȝ.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3212 : Hiss drinnch wass waterr aȝȝ occ aȝȝ.
- ?c1250 Ar ne kuthe (Gldh)43 : That we moten ey and o habben the eche blisce.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9615 : Þou will soth here euer and ai.
b
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)981 : Þanne ys my worschip lost for ay.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6218 : Þis folk..suld vs serue for euer and ai.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)61.8 : God oure helper in ai es he.
- ?a1450 Chaucer TC (StJ-C L.1)2.1083 : But þat was endles for ay and o.
- c1475 Earth(3) (Brog 2.1)25/58 : Leste it lede þe into hele, to logege þer for ay.
c
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)615 : Ac wond wold ich nouȝt to þe..ay whan ich hent þe haches þat so hard aren.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7435 : Ai quen he [Saul] was trauaild mast..And he [David] bigan to..sing, Of his vn-ro he tok lething.
- a1400 Rolle Encom.Jesu (Hrl 1022)187 : Þe flesch may noght..defayle, ay-qwyles þo saule..is rauyssched.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)376 : An angell to hyr apperede..ylke day..& fede hyr ay whils hir gud thoght.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)316/30 : & þer servid our Ladie ewhils he liffid.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)92/19 : Lat the seke drynke no drinkis but ther-of aywhyles it lastes.
d
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8547 : Aȝȝ siþþenn fareþþ all þatt follc Till helle þatt tær deȝeþþ.
- a1250 HMaid.(Tit D.18)21/300 : Þeos ne schulen neauer song singen in heuene, ah schulen weimeres leod ai mare in helle.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)126 : His godhede lees he nouȝt..þat he nas god ay forþ.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)7563 : Kepyng claim Ay forthe of þe saint cors.
5.
Cpds.: (a) ai-dwelling, ai-lastand, -lasting, everlasting, eternal; ai-lastingli, -lastanli, eternally; ai-livand, having eternal life; (b) used as personal names.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Rolle Encom.Jesu (Hrl 1022)186 : Ay-lastande saluacion.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)141/306 : Warto cum ȝe vntill vs, Appostels of ay-lifand Jhesus?
- a1425 Rolle FLiving (Arun 507)418 : Þe ioie ai-lastand.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.6.95 : A maner ymage or liknesse of the ai duellynge presence.
- c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)312 : Thou may haue mede ay-lastanly.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.My Lady (Add 16165)75 : Þemeraude eke is ay lasting.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)66 : Ailastand lyght.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)7 : Þe ordinaunce of God, ordeyning aylastingly þe contrary.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)1b : Aylasting: Eternus, Coeternus, incessans, eternalis, sempiternus, perpetuus, perpes, perennis.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)384/533 : Vnto endles wo ay-lastand pyne.
b
- (1294) Close R.Edw.I400 : Roger Ayqued.
- (1315) Pat.R.Edw.II250 : William Aydrunken.
- (1316) Pat.R.Edw.II597 : John Ayprest.
- (1333) Pat.R.Edw.III504 : Michael Ayslegh.
- (1334) Pat.R.Edw.III569 : Adam Ayredy.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)25016 : Þe toþer for soȝ edwin þai calde, Þis names aiforde in worlde to halde.
Note: Need date in 4.(d)
Note: aiforde = ai forth
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12532 : Ich wilni al þæt wit beiene aȝæð, habben hit nu and aȝe [Otho: euere].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8094 : Sauued be þou, nov and ai.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)5150 : I am wiþ ȝow, now & ay.
Note: New phrase: 4.(a) nou and ~, now and forever;--per SMK
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1500 Hrl.2252 Artist.Recipes (Hrl 2252) 77/19 : Whan thow workys therwith styrre hyt abowte with þi fyngers for hyt drawith aye to the grounde.
Note: Additional quot., sense 1.(a).