Middle English Dictionary Entry
dafte adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | dafte adj. Also defte. |
| Etymology | OE dæfte & *defte gentle; cp. OE dafenian be seemly, fitting. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Well-mannered, gentle, modest, humble; (b) ?noble, exalted.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)2175 : Ȝho [Mary] wass..Shammfasst, & daffte, & sedefull, & þwerrt ut wel bifundenn.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)4610 : Maggdennhad..Ȝiff þatt itt iss..meoc & daffte & sedefull I þæwess & i lusstess.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)23 : Ne wu he dennede him in ðat defte meiden..ðe him bar to manne frame.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)440/14 : Þer was a fayr yong man..he was so pratie & so defte, at yong wommen wex evyn fond on hym.
b
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)4/92 : I sall be lyke vnto hym þat es hyeste on heghte; Owe! what I [Luficer] am derworth and defte.
2.
(a) Dull, uncouth, boorish, awkward [prob. by way of 'ingenuous, humble, good-natured']; (b) unskilled, untrained, ignorant.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Body & S.(5) (LdMisc 108)p.37 : Ne wist i ȝwat was guod nor il, Bote as a wretche dumb and daft.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)123 : Defte or dul: Obtusus: Agrestis.
b
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)443 : Bot to make it I am daft, For I can noȝt of potter craft.
- a1475 Sidrak & B.(LdMisc 559)6540 : Men of crafte..techeþ other þat ben dafte Konnyng here lyvelode with to wynne And God to serue withoute synne.