Middle English Dictionary Entry
disporten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | disporten v. Also desporten. |
| Etymology | AF; CF deporter. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To pass the time in leisure, sport, or amusement; amuse oneself, be merry; -- refl. or intr.; (b) to make oneself comfortable; cheer up; -- also refl.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3660 : Absolon, That is for loue alwey so wo bigon..was at Oseneye, With compaignye hym to disporte and pleye.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2294 : He..Unto the forest gan to fare..To hunte and to desporte him there.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.849 : Often with hir freendes walketh she, Hir to disporte vpon the bank anheigh.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2040 : Proserpina and al hir fairye Disporten hem and maken melodye.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.742 : Whiles þei on þe stronde leye, Þei no thyng dide but disporte and playe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2403 : I and my feris..Cast vs fully..In þe forest to pley vs and disport.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2014 : Thee to comforte And with thi servise to desporte, Thou mayst full glad and joyfull be, So good a maister to have as me.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)208/3 : For to taken the ayr & to desporten hym.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1441 : To saylen to that lond, hym to disporte.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1112 : The peeple so hem disporte, The werste off thynges gladli to reporte.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)128/12 : Whi will ye not plaie and disporte you otherwhiles?
- a1500(a1450) Parton.(1) (Add 35288)5368 : I wolle ryde A lytell way for to desporte me All alone.
b
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)598 : He dight a fayre chambre belyue Ffor mary and þas vergynis fyue..Þat þai myght in þer disporte.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1398 : With pacience I wol my wo comporte, And with youre lettre of hope I wol desporte.
- (?1468) Paston4.294 : A chambre..for my solace, when I myȝt com thedr and desport me.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)8397 : Thow must be..bathyd offte And, couchyd in a bed ful soffte, Ther-in thy syluen to dysporte.
2.
(a) To amuse or entertain (sb.); (b) to cheer (sb.) up, console.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.724 : Bisyly they gonnen hire comforten..And with hire tales wenden hire disporten.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)52.32 : Manye sche hadde that with hire wente, hire to disporte.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)138/17 : I wolle feste theym for the love of the Duke of Gloucestre..and..dyssporte theym with sume dedes of armes.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1002 : Tho was this wofull wif conforted..and desported, Til that sche was somdiel amended.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1133 : With hire goodly wordes hym disporte She gan, and ofte his sorwes to comforte.
- a1450(?c1430) Lydg.DM(1) (Hnt EL 26.A.13)324 : Dethe hathe of me so grete a-vantage, Al my richesse mai me not disporte.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)571 : Thoo gan he me to disporte And with wordes to comforte.
- a1500 Alex.-Cassamus (Cmb Ff.1.6)330 : Swete hope sauerous comyth me to conforte..They don al hir bessynese, me for to desporte.
3.
(a) To deport (oneself), behave (in a certain way); (b) to busy (oneself), be active.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)36.281 : He..disported hym al that day As a man that In letargye lay.
b
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Pseudo-F.(Dub 245)319 : It were good to many men þat ben closid in þise ordris, þat þei disporteden hem in þe world.
4.
(a) To relieve (sb. of a task); (b) to prevent (sb. from attending).
Associated quotations
a
- (1432) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)131 : Yet on trust of eese..that ye mowe do to the Cite in tyme to come, ye be forborne and disported theroffe as for a while.
b
- (1450) Paston2.186 : My Lord of Oxenford shall be disported of his comyng to the Parlement.