spelev.1
Now dialect and rare.† 3. † b. To respite from death. Obsolete.
1. transitive. To take or stand in the place of (another); to represent.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > delegated authority > action or function of a delegate or deputy > act as deputy for [verb (transitive)]
spelec960
representc1390
to bear the person of?1533
reprehend1598
act1651
personate1651
rep1951
c960 Rule St. Benet (Schröer) 114 For Cristes arwurðnysse and for þæs lufe, ðe he spelað.
c1000 Ælfric Gram. v. 8 Pronomen is ðæs naman speliend, se spelað þone naman, þæt ðu ne ðurfe tuwa hine nemnan.
c1000 Ælfric Homilies II. 62 Næs ðeah Isaac ofslegen, ac se ramm hine spelode.
?c1730 J. Haynes Dorsetshire Vocab. in Notes & Queries (1883) 21 July 45/1 Speal, to spare one and take his place.
2. absolute.1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xiv. 77 Boþe [to] spele and spare to spene vpon þe needful.† b. To set aside; to neglect. Obsolete.
a. To spare or save (something); to leave over; to use sparingly or frugally.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > retaining > sparingness or frugality > be sparing or frugal [verb (intransitive)]
spelec1175
spare1377
to bear (a) low sail1548
to go near hand1592
to live at a low sail1602
the mind > possession > retaining > sparingness or frugality > use sparingly or frugally [verb (transitive)]
sparec1000
spelec1175
to spare for14..
inch out1636
tape1721
to spin out1726
scrimpa1752
the mind > possession > supply > storage > store [verb (transitive)] > reserve > by dint of economy
spelec1175
savec1390
hain?1507
to save up1796
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 10133 Þatt te birrþ hellpenn iwhillc mann..Wiþþ all þatt tu mihht spelenn wel. & libbenn þær wiþþ utenn.
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 31 Ȝef þu ani þing spelest and leuest, þat þu forlest.
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 1204 Wykkedlyche al þat gode he dyspendyþ þat hys fadyr for godenesse spelyþ.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 14470 Schipes he hadde, y ne wot how fele; Alle he tok, & non wold spele.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. vii. 432 As an hounde..so gan ich to brake, And spilde þat ich spele myghte.
c1400 St. Alexius (Trin.) 208 Al þat he spelye myȝte,..His pouere feren he delde.
1880 M. A. Courtney W. Cornwall Words in M. A. Courtney & T. Q. Couch Gloss. Words Cornwall 53/2 Spale,..to make anything last a long time. To spare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)]
fordita800
forheedc1275
forget1297
to let out ofa1300
spele1338
to go beside ——a1382
waivec1400
remiss?a1425
to go by ——?c1450
misknowledge?a1475
misknow1483
misken1494
to go besides ——1530
to let pass1530
unregard1545
unmind1562
overlook1570
mislippen1581
suspend1581
omit1589
blanch1605
to blow off1631
disregard1641
to pass with ——1641
to give (a person or thing) the go-by1654
prescind1654
nihilify1656
proscribe1680
unnotice1776
ignore1795
to close one's mind1797
cushion1818
to leave out in the cold1839
overslaugh1846
unheed1847
to write off1861
to look through ——1894
scrub1943
1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 96 He & oþer fele sent vnto Roberd, Þat stound suld he not spele, sen he þat tiþing herd.
a. To spare (a person); to leave unpunished or unharmed. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > preserve from injury or destruction [verb (transitive)] > specifically a living being
sparec825
savec1275
spelea1300
sover1488
lifeguard1690
a1300 Body & Soul in Map's Poems (Camden) 339 Forlorn wretches that tou miȝtest spele,..wȝi lestouȝ hem be born?
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 12428 Arthur..smot hym sore woundes fele, Nought of hym ne wolde he spele.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 458 Þar-for y am to þe y-sent to spelie þai doȝty men.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > [verb (transitive)] > respite from death
spelea1400
a1400 Seuyn Sages (W.) 542 To-dai tho hast him fram deth i-speled.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > retaining > sparingness or frugality > [noun]
sparing1377
sparingc1386
spelingc1420
parsimony?a1475
parcity1509
frugality1531
spare1577
spare1577
sparingness1579
sparefulnessa1586
savingness1668
frugalness1727
spareness1826
chariness1849
c1420 Anturs Arth. (Douce) xx Þes arne þe graceful giftes of þe holy goste, Þat enspires iche sprete, withe oute speling.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
† spelev.2
Obsolete. rare.
1. transitive.
a. To interpret or explain as.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > interpretation > interpret [verb (transitive)]
unloukOE
areadOE
spele?c1225
inredec1315
expounda1340
construe1399
interpretate1517
explain1538
scan1562
disentraverse1610
unspherea1616
explicate1628
spell1635
disenvelop1741
extract1775
interpret1795
clarify1823
read1847
to read between the lines1866
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 131 Mardocheus is ispeled amare conterens inpudentem.
b. To signify or mean.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > mean [verb (transitive)]
meaneOE
beholdc1175
spele?c1225
bemeana1300
amountc1300
willa1382
import1425
employ1528
intend?c1530
would say1564
understand1617
spella1661
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 130 Þis nome assuer speleð eadi..& bitacneð god eadiouer alle.
2. intransitive. To spell.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > writing > spelling > spell [verb (intransitive)]
spelderc1175
spelea1400
spella1400
writec1620
a1400 Minor Poems from Vernon MS 694/76 Sum leueþ on hit, As children leorneþ for to spele.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Espeler, to spell, to speale; to ioyne letters, or sillables together.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Espelement, a spelling, or spealing of words.
Derivatives
ΚΠ
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Appelleur, a caller; or spealer.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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v.1c960
v.2?c1225