Middle English Dictionary Entry
ēke n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ēke n. Also eche. |
| Etymology | OE ēaca. The ME var. ēche has the consonant from eken v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. eken v.
1.
(a) An increase, addition, enhancement; an added tract of land [quot.: c1465]; (b) to (on) eke(n, teke(n, in addition, over and above; (c) to eke, to eke this or that, therteke, in addition to this (that), moreover, also.
Associated quotations
a
- a1275 Stod ho (Tan 169*)5 : Skoarn, upbraid, and schome speche, al hit was to sorhes eche.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)9/254 : Þe wordes scholle be ised Wiþe-oute wane and eche.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)615/1 : Of vj acris of londe of þe heche, j acre lieth bi-hinde þe mese.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)6132 : & tekenn all þe tende lott, ȝet birrþ þe brinngenn mare.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)32/340 : Hu murie þu maht libben..to eche [Tit: teke] þe murhðe & te menske in heouene.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)50/528 : Hwil þu swenchest ter-wið, & þine deaðes dute, scheome teke þer sar, wið þe alde wifes scheome creft.
- a1350 Most i ryden (Hrl 2253)35 : Hire chyn ys chosen, & eyþer cheke whit ynoh & rode, on eke, ase rose.
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)4544 : Þær tekenn maȝȝ itt tacnenn wel..Þa mahhtess þatt te Laferrd Crist Uss sette forr to follȝhenn.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5392 : Ȝet itt tacneþþ, tekenn þatt, Rihht ædiȝnessess seoffne.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)42/439,445 : Hu lutel hit freameð ham ȝet her i þis worlt! teke þet, hit reaueð ham þe hehe riche of heouene.. & teke þis, liggen under laðest mon.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)10/24 : To-eke [Roy: teken] þis, þet he is se mihti & se meinful, he [is] leoflukest to lokin upon.
- a1250 SWard (Tit D.18)15/117 : Euchan hateð oðer, and terteken him seluen.
- a1250 Wooing Lord (Tit D.18)287 : Ȝette þu wult hit habbe, and teken al þat tu haues ȝiuen.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)45b : Ȝet ter teken þet, ȝe beon swifte as þe sunne gleam.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)20a : Teke [vrr. teken; to eke] þat, he seið..þat i silence & in hope schal beon ure strengðe.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)51 : Þat lond folc hem ouer-sette..and, to eken, oþer þo gremeden hem sore.