Middle English Dictionary Entry
cǒunten v.
Entry Info
Forms | cǒunten v. Also compten. |
Etymology | AF; CF conter, compter. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To count (sth.), enumerate, add up; (b) to reckon (sth.) among, include (sth.) in; ppl. counted, included, including; (c) ?to assign (sth.), distribute.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 In a Pistel (Vrn)43 : Counte þi goode dedes eurichon.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1731 : Maynful Gode Hatz counted þy kyndam bi a clene noumbre.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2746 : No more than a man [may] counte The dropes that of the water be.
- a1450(?c1405) Mannys soule (Dgb 102)91 : To counte þy richesse þou myȝt haue drede.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)482/5 : He wald all way cownt ij thynges to-gedur.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)54 : Þe regne of hem both is counted to gidir for þei regned but uii ȝere.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)117 : Cowntone [KC: Cowntyn]: Computo.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1967 : Yche thyng to compte she [Arsmetryk] tolde vs craftyly.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)79 : To Cownte: numerare.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)47/29 : And compt the nombre of the figures, and wete yf it be ode or even.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)49/22 : First thow most compt the figures by fourthes.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)198a/b : Among þe manere kynde of þe Carbuncles, balagius is y counted [L reducitur].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5203 : Þat man was neuer borne Þat swych a noumbre of schippis saw to-forne -- Countid þe schipis þat Palamydes Brouȝt with hym, her noumbre to encrese.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)1/11 : He..hase vochyd safe to cownte vs in þe nummer of hys sons.
- (1446) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 484 : Payd for bred and ale for to hange with the bellys, and fysche and flesche and chese and all thyngs cowntyd.
- (1459) Paston3.179 : Item, j pece of linen clothe, countyng [?read: contayning] lenthe and brede, iiij ellys.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)29a : To Cownt: connumerare.
c
- (1434) *Proc.Chanc.PRO ser.C 1 file 9no.394 : Thomas Trefrye..be assignement of the Chaunceler..was countyd to John ffrank, clerke of the rolles..to be examined of certayn articles.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)79 : To Cownte: degerere [?read: digerere].
2.
(a) To regard (sth. as sth.), consider; -- with noun or adj.; ~ as, ~ for; (b) to regard (sth.) as important, pay heed to; be interested, care; ~ bi, ~ with, set store by (sth.); (c) in expressions of contempt: to value (sth.), care (for sth.); ~ at a pese, value (sb.) no more than a pea; ~ at nought, consider (sth.) worthless; ~ not at a rish, regard (sth.) as not worth a rush; ~ not thre stres of, not to give three straws for (sth.), not give a damn for; ~ nought a ben bi, care not a bean for (sth.); etc.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.355 : Þey..counteþ [Higd.(2): accompte] reste for likyng and fredom for richesse.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)104b/b : Þe ouer parties of þe world is j countid [L reputatur] more noble & worthi.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1685 : Þus he countes hym a kow þat watz a kyng ryche.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)122/12 : Þis wille is countid for a dede.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.576 : Neuer I herd make mencioun Of swiche another..of swiche larges Nor to counte so passyng of fayrnes.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)75b/a : Þis hurtyng of nucha þat is not counted litel [L non parua computatur].
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)459 : Þei been notte I-covnted men of eny astaate.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1891 : Þou..a freike mad May be countid in this case.
- c1453(c1437) Brut-1436 (Hrl 53)564/2 : He was countet and hold þe best-nurturet man of Englond.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)668/33 : There encountyrd with hym sir Arystaunce that was cownted a good knyght.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)48 : Bere we þe cros, and kownt we gold as cley.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)83/16 : Suche ben compted werse than men.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1268 : He compteth noght toward his wit The wo nomore than the wele.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)27775 : Of slauþe comis..suche heuenes of mannis hert þat countis [Vsp: reckes] noȝt his awen quert.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.301 : For counteth he no kynges wratthe whan he in courte sitteth.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.441 : God amende þe pope þat..counteth nouȝt þough crystene ben culled & robbed.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)12.313 : Clergie and hus consail ich countede ful lytel.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12479 : Þai counted no course of the cold stormys.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)190/12 : He cowntid more be riches of connyng & of hele þan he did be riches of gudis.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)842 : For noriture & connyng, bewte & parentyne, Were tho countid more with þen gold or sylvir.
c
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)3.137 : Heo þat ben Curset in Constorie counteþ hit not at a Russche [vr. cresse].
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)7.155 : I was not wont to worche..And countede [B, C: sette] pers at a peose and his plouh boþe.
- c1390(1377) Death Edw.III (Vrn)43 : Sum tyme þei counted nouȝt a bene Beo al Fraunce.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4056 : Of al hir art counte I noght a tare.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4192 : I counte [vr. sette] hym noght a flye.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1567 : Florent behihte hire good ynowh..Bot al that compteth sche at noght.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1568 : I counte nat a panyer ful of herbes Of scole termes.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)23337 : Of þaire misfare þai counte at noȝt.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)3.141 : To be cursed in consistorie she counteth nouȝte a russhe.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.303 : Caton counteþ hit at nouht.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)67/7 : Feiþ, trouþe, & riȝtwisenesse þei counten at no prijs.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3357 : Al the surplus I count [vr. compte] nat at a myte.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.363 : I counte hem nought a bene!
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)206 : I cownt hym noghte at a cresse.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)717 : He ne counted nat thre strees Of nought that Fortune koude doo.
3.
To render an accounting (of money, property, one's actions, etc.).
Associated quotations
- c1400(a1376) *PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)4.11 : And counte [Vrn: ACounte] wiþ consience..How þu lerist þe peple, þe lerid & þe lewid.
- ?c1430(?1383) Wycl.Curse (Corp-C 296)305 : Þei ben redy to counte for alle þe testament.
- a1450(?c1430) Lydg.DM(1) (Hnt EL 26.A.13)66/542 : I mote go Counte yn ordre by and by, Al so for my shere make a Juste rekenynge.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)552 : Þat þo clerke of kechyn schulde not mys, Þer-fore þo countrollour..Wrytes vp þo somme as euery day And helpes to count.
4.
To tell (a story, the truth), recount.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.892 : Bot forto compten ate leste, As for the while yit it eseth.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)122/11 : And þerfore hath it befallen many tymes of o þing þat I haue herd cownted [F qe ieo oy conter] whan I was ȝong.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)307 : Als clerkes in the cronycle cownten þe sothe.