† weenn.
Obsolete.
1. Opinion, belief. (Cf. wone n.3 2.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > [noun]
weenc888
doomc900
advicec1300
wonec1300
opiniona1325
sentence1340
sight1362
estimationc1374
witc1374
assent1377
judgementa1393
supposinga1393
mindc1400
reputationc1400
feelingc1425
suffrage1531
counta1535
existimation1535
consent1599
vote1606
deem1609
repute1610
judicaturea1631
estimate1637
measure1650
sentiment1675
account1703
sensation1795
think1835
c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xl. §3 Ne bið lof na ðy læsse, ac is wen þæt hit sie þy mare.
a1250 Ancr. R. 390 (note) Efter monnes wene.
a1275 Prov. Ælfred 215 in Old Eng. Misc. 115 & ich her ȝu wille leren wenes mine, wit & wisdome.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) 73 Ðis ik wort in ebrisse wen, He witen ðe soðe ðat is sen.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3271 Egipcienes woren in twired wen, Queðer he sulden folgen or flen.
2. Expectation, hope. (Cf. wone n.3 1.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > [noun]
to-hopec888
weenOE
hopea1225
thoughta1350
opiniona1425
attentc1430
looking1440
presume?a1500
beliefa1522
expectation1527
expection1532
looking for1532
looking after?1537
expecting1568
imagination1582
expectance1593
suppose1596
expect1597
expectancy1609
apprehensiona1616
contemplationa1631
prospect1665
supposition1719
speculationa1797
augury1871
preperception1871
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > hope > [noun]
hightOE
weenOE
hopec1200
speir1303
espeire1393
esperancec1430
OE Beowulf 383 Þæs ic wen hæbbe.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 14045 Of þine kume nis na wene. for no weneð heo nauere to soðe þat þu cumen aȝain from Rome.
a1300 Floriz & Bl. (Cambr.) 651 To hire was mi meste wene, For to habbe to mi quene.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 88 It were betre be refused Than forto worchen upon weene.
3. Probability, supposition; doubt.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > probability, likelihood > [noun]
weenOE
likeliheadc1405
likelinessc1405
likelihood1427
probabilityc1443
probablenessc1443
likehood1525
towardness1549
main chance1577
towardliness1579
OE Beowulf 1845 Wen ic talige..þæt þe Sæ-Geatas selran næbben to geceosenne cyning ænigne.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 9358 Þa ȝet hit weore a wene whar þu heo mihtes aȝe.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 6739 Hit bið a muchele wæne whær ȝe i-seon me auere-mare.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 1104 Bituixand þei þe southe had sene, O thing þai wist noght bot a wene.
4. Phrases.
a. wen is, is wen: the probability is (that…), it is probable (that…).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > possibility > [adverb] > perhaps
is wenc897
wen isc897
peradventurec1300
peradventurec1325
perchancec1350
uphapa1375
percasea1393
lightly1395
in casea1398
maybea1400
may chancea1400
may-falla1400
may-fortunea1400
may-tidea1400
perhapa1464
happen1487
perhapsc1520
percase1523
ablea1525
by chance1526
mayhap1533
fortunea1535
belikelya1551
haps1570
mayhappen1577
perhappen1578
possibly1600
not impossibly1667
ables1673
aunters1673
aiblins1720
p'rapsa1745
aunterens1825
mebbe1825
yes-no1898
yimkin1925
ja-nee1937
c897 K. Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care xi. 72 Forðæm hit is wen ðæt se ne mæge oðerra monna scylde ofaðwean [etc.].
971 Blickl. Hom. 235 Wen is þæt ic gefyrenode.
971 Blickl. Hom. 239 Cum nu mid us..þy læs wen is þæt hi us eft genimon.
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) viii. 19 Gyf ge me cuþon, wen is þæt ge cuþon minne fæder.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7152 & wen iss þatt he wass forr dredd. & serrhfull inn hiss herrte.
b. without(en (any) ween, but ween (Scottish), forout(en ween (Scottish): without doubt.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > making certain, assurance > of course, certainly [phrase]
to iwissea1000
mid iwissea1000
in wisc1000
to wis(se)c1000
without(en (any) weenc1175
sans fail1297
thereof no strife1297
but werea1300
forouten werea1300
out of werea1300
without werea1300
without deceit1303
for certainc1320
it is to wittingc1320
withouten carec1320
without nayc1330
without noc1330
without (but out of) dread1340
no doubtc1380
without distancec1390
no fresea1400
out of doubta1400
without doubta1400
for, (in, at obs.), of, to (a) certaintyc1400
withouten stance14..
hazel woods shakea1413
of, on, in warrantisec1440
sure enough?1440
without question?1440
wythout diswerec1440
without any dispayrec1470
for (also of) a surety?a1475
in (also for) surenessa1475
of certainc1485
without any (also all) naya1500
out of question?1526
past question?1526
for sure1534
what else1540
beyond (also out of, past, without) (all) peradventure1542
to be a bidden by1549
out of (also without) all cry1565
with a witness1579
upon my word1591
no question1594
out of all suspicion1600
for a certain1608
without scruple1612
to be sure1615
that's pos1710
in course1722
beyond (all) question1817
(and) no mistake1818
no two ways about it (also that)1818
of course1823
bien entendu1844
yessiree1846
you bet you1857
make no mistake1876
acourse1883
sans doute1890
how are you?1918
you bet your bippy1968
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 4326 Þu findesst wiss wiþþ utenn wen. Rihht ehhte siþe an hunndredd.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 3146 To soðen wihuten wene. þe laȝe hehte Marciane.
?a1366 Romaunt Rose 574 Withouten wene, Wel semyde by hir apparayle She was not wont to gret trauayle.
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iv. 1593 Er Phebus suster lucyna the shene, The leon passe out of þis ariete, I wol ben here with-outen ony wene.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 468 In þat curt, þat es sa clene, May na filth in dwell wituten wene.
c1440 York Myst. xi. 104 I will go witte with~owten wene.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xix. 292 The Erll sperit giff he had seyne The Inglis host; ‘ȝa, schir, but weyne’.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) vi. 162 Thai presit hym so fast, That, had he nocht the bettir beyn, He had beyn ded forouten veyn.
a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 2880 The thrid..was o manly knycht, but weyne.
a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 382 in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 106 Of scotland ye were wall wit ȝe but wene Our fais force to defend.
1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus iii. f. 36v Twentie and fiue, quhen thay war red but wene.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
† weenadj.
Obsolete. rare.
Beautiful.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [adjective]
smickerc725
faireOE
lieflyOE
sheenOE
wenlichc1000
wlitic1000
lovesomec1175
lustya1240
flourisheda1375
lovelya1400
weenc1400
beauteous1435
beautifulc1443
finec1450
pulchriousa1500
speciousa1513
shanda1525
speciosea1525
pulchrousc1540
bonny1580
beauty1598
lovelike1621
killing1634
florid1642
beautied1830
stunning1849
fairsome1862
pulchritudinous1877
beaut1894
loverly1907
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 945 Ho watȝ þe fayrest in felle.., & wener þen Wenore [Guenever], as þe wyȝe þoȝt.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
weenv.
/wiːn/, U.S. /win//wiːnd/. Forms: Old English wénan, wǽnan, Middle English wenen, Middle English weone, Middle English wen, Middle English–1500s wene, Middle English whene, Scottish ven(e, vein, Middle English–1500s Scottish and northern weyn(e, Middle English veyn, 1500s wean, 1500s–1600s Scottish wein(e, Middle English–1600s weene, Middle English– ween; Middle English, 1500s win(n, wyn(n. past tense Old English wénde, Middle English–1500s wende, Middle English wænde, Middle English–1500s wend, Middle English Scottish whende, vend, Middle English–1500s Scottish weind, weynd; Middle English–1500s went(e, Middle English northern weint, Middle English wentt, whente, (1500s Scottish wont, wount, wint). past participle Middle English–1500s wend(e, went, Middle English whent. Obsolete exc. archaic.† 3. With neuter adjective or adverb and preposition: To think (much or highly) of; to feel or be affected towards; to trust in. Also without construction. (cf. overween v.). Obsolete.† 4. intransitive with of, for: To dream of, look for, expect. Obsolete.† 6. In impersonal use. Only in the absolute present participle weening = it seeming, as (because, since) it seemed (to some one). Const. clause (usually with that) or infinitive. Obsolete.
1. transitive. In regard to what is present or past: To think, surmise, suppose, conceive, believe, consider. In Middle English often with well.† b. Const. infinitive to ween to be or do = to think that one is or does. Obsolete.† c. Const. object and complement (noun or adjective). Obsolete.† d. Const. object and infinitive. Obsolete.† e. With simple object (usually a neuter pronoun): To think, believe, credit (something). Also, to surmise or suspect to exist. Obsolete.† f. coupled or contrasted with wit (wot, etc.).
a. Const. object-clause, with or without that.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > accept as true, believe [verb (transitive)]
ylevec888
leve971
ween971
i-weneOE
takec1175
trowc1175
truth?c1250
thinka1275
believec1300
trustc1325
hold1340
trist1340
to give (one's) faith to (also unto)c1405
accept?c1430
admitc1449
credencea1529
to take a person at his (also her) word1535
credit1547
faith1576
to take a person's word1576
receive1581
creed1596
understand1751
Adam and Eve1925
buy1926
the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > form or hold an opinion [verb]
ween971
trowc1000
to be of (the) opinion (that)c1425
to be of (rarely in) mind1567
to take measure(s)1650
to take a fair (also wrong, etc.) measure ofa1797
the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > hold an opinion [verb (transitive)]
ween971
holda1300
believec1325
judgec1325
feelc1380
supposea1387
conceivea1425
take1429
opinea1475
thinkc1480
supponea1500
esteem1507
opinion1555
intend?1577
meditate1585
opinionate1599
opiniate1624
arbitrate1637
apprehend1639
state1671
calculate1805
consider1830
fink1888
the mind > mental capacity > belief > supposition, surmise > suppose, surmise [verb (transitive)]
ween971
readOE
aweena1275
guessc1380
supposec1384
seemc1386
imaginec1405
presupposec1443
deem1470
surmise1509
suspectc1550
doubt1568
expect1592
s'pose1632
fancy1672
sus1958
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > appraise, estimate [verb (transitive)]
talec897
ween971
takec1175
weigha1200
deem?c1225
judge?c1225
guessc1330
reta1382
accounta1387
aretc1386
assize1393
consider1398
ponder?a1400
adjudgec1440
reckonc1440
peisec1460
ponderate?a1475
poisea1483
trutinate1528
steem1535
rate?1555
sense1564
compute1604
censure1605
cast1606
cense1606
estimate1651
audit1655
state1671
balance1692
esteem1711
appraise1823
figure1854
tally1860
revalue1894
lowball1973
971 Blickl. Hom. 55 Þa word þe he wenþ þæt him leofoste syn to gehyrenne.
1154 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) ann. 1137 Al þe tunscipe flugæn for heom, wenden ðæt hi wæron ræueres.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 11585 Forr þatt te deofell shollde. Wel wenenn þatt he wære mann.
1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 10596 He went he had be hys brother.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1543 Ysaac wende it were esau.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7557 Quat! wynsþou i am a hund?
?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) I. lf. 73v Whan they sawe Iupiter, they had went he had ben half man and half hors.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 756/2 The castell which men wente had ben inprennable, is throwen downe nowe.
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 455/1 If they had but tolde the myracles that Christ did, the countries to whom they were sent, woulde haue went that they had lyed.
1580 W. Fulke T. Stapleton & Martiall Confuted iv. 169 Let him looke in his lexicon, where I weene al his Greeke is.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. v. xxxix. 205 The Romanes..weening that there was none left alive.
1614 W. Camden Remaines (rev. ed.) 313 They that be in hell wene there is no other heauen.
1721 M. Prior Colin's Mistakes iv. 3 Well I ween, That..Dan Spenser makes the fav'rite Goddess known.
1805 W. Scott Lay of Last Minstrel iii. xxxi. 89 Some said that there were thousands ten; And others weened that it was nought, But Leven clans, or Tynedale men.
1838 E. B. Browning Deserted Garden xii Though never a dream the roses sent Of science or love's compliment, I ween they smelt as sweet.
1848 E. Bulwer-Lytton Harold II. vi. i. 77 But well I ween that Gryffyth will never keep troth with the English.
ΚΠ
c1200 Vices & Virtues 9 Sume weneð bien sacleas of ðessere senne [of swearing], for ðan ðe me nett hem to ðan aðe.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 12244 Ælc wende to beon betere þene oðer.
c1374 G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite 96 So that she wende haue al his hert yknowe.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 15 Betwen tuo Stoles lyth the fal, Whan that men wenen best to sitte.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12119 Þou wen make-less to be, þat nan in lare sal teche þe.
c1450 Knt. de la Tour cxi. 151 After this sorw, that she went to haue loste her sone, she hadde another.
1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid i. Prol. 131 Quhen we best wene To haue Virgill red, understand, and sene, The richt sentence perchance is fer to seik.
1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 150 The parret..weening to see another parret in the glasse.
ΚΠ
c1230 Hali Meid. (1922) 10 Al is þet tu wendest golt, iwurðe to meastling.
1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 40 Weenynge his liif glorios þat is vicious.
c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 12 Men schal nat wenyn euery thyng a lye For that he say it nat of ȝore ago.
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) ii. lxvi. 100 Gretli j am abasht þat þou þat j wende a nice man answerest me so wel.
1533 T. More Answere Poysened Bk. Pref. sig. Aa.v They..shold shortly perceyue in euery place where they wene themself many, how very few they be.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis ii. 23 Weene you..thee Greekish nauye returned?
a1599 E. Spenser Canto Mutabilitie vi. xi, in Faerie Queene (1609) sig. Hh4v Shee her selfe more worthy thereof wend.
ΚΠ
1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 534 So wis wenst þou þe be.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 96 I wot thou wolt nothing forbere Of that thou wenest be thi beste.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 249 Yat thai may be kend wenand thame self till haue rychtwis caus.
1528 in N. Pocock Rec. Reformation I. 85 We wening the same to have been our way.
1570 J. Dee in H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. Math. Præf. sig. bj While the eye weeneth a round Globe..to be a flat and plaine Circle.
1606 P. Holland tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars 43 Kenning a farre of Pompeis gallies..and weening them to be his owne.
ΚΠ
c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xlii Nis þæt ðeah no licumlice to wenanne, ac gastlice.
c1000 Ælfric Homilies I. 440 Þeah..us gedafenað þæt we hit wenon swiðor þonne we unrædlice hit geseþan.
c1230 Hali Meid. (1922) 11 Hwen þus is of þe riche, hwat wenes tu of the poure.
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 2154 Na man ille dede shuld wene Þar, whar gude lyf byfor has bene.
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde i. 1031 But herke, Pandare, o word, for I nolde That thow in me wendest so gret folye.
c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 244 Hit were a wonder to wene.
c1400 Rom. Rose 5672 Is no man wrecched, but he it wene.
c1480 (a1400) St. Machor 78 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 3 Þis quhen þe king had herd & sen, þe Ioy he had wald na man wen.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccxxxix Neither must we here consyder, what the greatest multitude weneth, but what the trewthe is.
1570 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xx. 117 Quhat sall we wene of tratours kene.
?1577 F. T. Debate Pride & Lowlines sig. Fiii These matters..So straunge, and so incredible to weene.
ΚΠ
c1290 Holy Cross 11 in S. Eng. Leg. 1 Ich wene þat ich wot Ȝwat þis somunce amounti schal.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 47 Þer wonys þat worþyly I wot & wene.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) iv. 771 But quhethir scho..Wenit, or vist it vitterly, It fell eftir all halely As scho said.
a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 1559 Wot ye well and not wene, Whan eyther of hem had other sene, Smertely rerid her dede.
1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 69 Before I ween'd, but now I wat.
g. elliptical or absol. Usually with adverb or conj. (as, than, when, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > believe [verb (intransitive)]
weenc888
believea1225
aglea1325
to give credence toc1395
faithc1438
to add faith to?1483
to give credit to something1533
credit1557
to take (large etc.) stock in (rarely of)1870
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > [noun]
weenc888
rightnessOE
steemc1330
sight1362
witc1374
emprisea1393
reputation?c1400
apprizingc1449
nick?a1450
vail1471
countc1475
opinionc1480
estimationc1522
meting1548
reckoning1548
valuation1548
computation1558
account1583
cess1588
esteem1598
appreciation1605
resentiment1606
repute1610
ratea1616
assessmenta1626
estimate1637
vote1639
supputation1643
compute1646
value1651
resentment1655
contemplation1673
critique1798
appraisement1808
appraisal1817
viewa1854
sizing up1967
chit1989
c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xl. §2 Uton healdan unc þæt wit ne wenen swa swa þis folc wenð.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 9826 & tatt wass mikell wherrfeddleȝȝc Þatt dide hemm swa to wenenn.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 164 Monie þene weneð naut bred inhire breoste sum liunes welp.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 706 Ich am a mad man..Forto wene in þis wise.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xv. 470 Riȝt so rude men..Louen and by-leuen by lettred mennes doynges, And by here wordes and werkes wenen and trowen.
c1400 Rule St. Benet 1019 I am wastid wor þan I wend.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur vi. v. 189 I know you better than ye wene.
c1480 (a1400) St. Barnabas 3 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 249 Bot þai wene wrang.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin i. 19 Thow art not so wyse as thow weneste.
a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) i. f. 10v Which is an opinion not so trewe, as some men weene.
1601 Song of Mary in E. Farr Sel. Poetry Reign Elizabeth (1845) II. 432 Farre more they be than we can weene.
1615 L. Andrewes Serm. (1629) (Nativ. x.) 90 And sure, the way is not readie to hit;..It is but a foolish imagination, so to ween of it.
1746 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Satires ii. viii. 26 If haply right I ween.
1808 W. Scott Marmion i. xxii. 42 Even our good chaplain, as I ween, Since our last siege, we have not seen.
1850 E. B. Browning House of Clouds viii Named as Fancy weeneth.
h. used parenthetically (esp. in I ween) rather than as governing the sentence. In verse often a mere tag.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > supposition, surmise > as I suppose [phrase]
methinkseOE
I weenc1175
afraid1530
I fancy1672
dare say1749
c1175 Lamb. Hom. I. 157 Eiðer of þisse teres schedde þe apostel leste ich wene [L. fudit fortasse apostolus] þa þe he seide [etc.].
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 156 Nis ich wene nan mon. þet [etc.].
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 655 Þre dayes þer-biforn, i wene, Et he no mete.
c1420 J. Lydgate Assembly of Gods 278 Of royall rychesse wantyd she noone I wene.
c1500 Nut-brown Maid xxviii Ye shape some wyle, me to begyle, and stele fro me I wene.
1564 A. Bacon tr. J. Jewel Apol. Churche Eng. (1859) 47 And do all they themselves, ween you, agree well together?
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 741 Nor turnd I weene Adam from his fair Spouse. View more context for this quotation
1764 H. Walpole Castle of Otranto iv He, I ween, is no sacred personage.
1787 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 355 A panegyric rhyme, I ween, Even as I was he shor'd me.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe I. iii. 58 See what tidings that horn tells of—to announce, I ween, some hership and robbery.
1835 E. Bulwer-Lytton Rienzi I. i. v. 86 And never, I ween well, had she greater need of true friends than now.
1842 R. H. Barham Ingoldsby Penance! in Ingoldsby Legends 2nd Ser. 91 A stalwart knight, I ween, was he.
a1873 E. O. M. Deutsch Lit. Remains (1874) 251 There will be a greater harvest still, we ween.
2. † b. with direct object (n. or neuter pronoun).In Old English the object is in the genitive. So (rarely) in early Middle English.proverbial.c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 400 Hym thar nat wene wel þt yuele dooth.1670 Sc. Prov. in J. Ray Coll. Eng. Prov. 272 He that evil does, never good weines.
a. In regard to what is future or contingent: To expect, anticipate, count on; to surmise, suspect; to think possible or likely. Const. object-clause, with or without that, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expect [verb (transitive)]
weenOE
weenc1000
thinklOE
lookc1225
hopec1330
trusta1387
wait onc1390
supposea1393
to wait after ——1393
to look after ——c1400
thinkc1480
attend1483
suppone1490
expect1535
to expect for1538
aspect1548
respect1549
look1560
ween1589
attend1591
propose1594
await1608
to presume on, upon, or of1608
to look forwards1637
prospect1652
to look for ——a1677
augur1678
anticipate1749
to look to ——1782
spect1839
contemplate1841–8
to look forward1848
eye1979
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xx. 10 Þa þe þær ærest comon wendon þæt hig sceoldon mare onfon.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 135 Ne wene nanof hech lif þet ha nebeo ifonded.
c1290 Beket 2045 in S. Eng. Leg. 165 Wenst þou þat ichulle fleo?
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iv. 384 Who wolde haue wend þat yn so lytel a þrowe Fortune oure Ioye wolde han ouerþrowe.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 171 [He] gafe the sauf condyt, wenand jt wald be obeyde.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) iv. 210 My lif wend I thair suld be gane.
1535 Goodly Prymer in Eng. sig. P.ij I had wente that I shulde haue gone to my graue in my beste dayes.
1568 (a1500) Freiris Berwik 240 in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1930) IV. 268 Quha wenit that ȝe sa lait wald haif cum hame?
ΚΠ
971 Blickl. Hom. 51 Gif we ane hwile beoþ on hwylcum earfoþum þær we ures feores ne wenaþ.
a1240 Ureisun in Lamb. Hom. 187 Nai soþes nai. Ne wene hit neuer no mon.
a1250 Prov. Alfred 161 in Old Eng. Misc. 112 Monymon weneþ þat he wene ne þarf, longes lyues.
a1275 Prov. Alfred (2nd version) 650 Ac þanne þu hid lest wenest þe luþere þe biswiket.
1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 317 Whan William was comen, & wende no tresoun, Sone was he nomen, & don in prisoun.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 81 Thei that wende pees Tho myhten finde no reles Of thilke swerd which al devoureth.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10128 Prophecies com al to end, Quen Iues alþerlest it wend.
a1450 Le Morte Arth. 1973 So nere hys herte the sorowe sought All-moste hys lyffe wolde no man wene.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid vi. ii. 38 Ȝour first reskew..Furth of a Gregioun cetie sall be schaw, Quhilk thow lest wenis [L. quod minime reris].
c. With infinitive, present or perfect, with or without to (†for to, †till): To expect, hope, wish; to purpose, intend, be minded.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expect [verb (transitive)]
weenOE
weenc1000
thinklOE
lookc1225
hopec1330
trusta1387
wait onc1390
supposea1393
to wait after ——1393
to look after ——c1400
thinkc1480
attend1483
suppone1490
expect1535
to expect for1538
aspect1548
respect1549
look1560
ween1589
attend1591
propose1594
await1608
to presume on, upon, or of1608
to look forwards1637
prospect1652
to look for ——a1677
augur1678
anticipate1749
to look to ——1782
spect1839
contemplate1841–8
to look forward1848
eye1979
the mind > will > intention > intend [verb] > intend to do something
weenOE
willOE
thinkOE
tightc1300
to be (later also to have it) in purpose1340
tend1340
cast138.
reckona1450
aimc1450
willc1450
esteema1533
suspect1629
predeterminea1641
OE Beowulf 933 Ðæt wæs ungeara, þæt ic ænigra me weana ne wende..bote gebidan.
1154 Anglo-Saxon Chron. ann. 1140 Eustace..wende to bigæton Normandi þær þurh.
c1250 Owl & Night. 814 He [the fox] weneþ eche hunde at wrenche.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 926 Þa heo best wende to fleonne þa weoren heo faie.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 5298 In-to Egipte þen schiped he, ffor wel wend he þer siker haue be.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6853 Your faas þat yow winnes [Gött. wenis] witstand, Sal haue na might o fote and hand.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur ii. vi. 83 I lytel wende to haue met with yow at this sodayne auenture.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xviii. 50 I wend neuir till here that of the!
1561 J. Hollybush tr. H. Brunschwig Most Excellent Homish Apothecarye f. 17v A colde sweat brake out, so that he wened to dye straght waye.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iii. sig. C7v And ramping on his shield, did weene the same Haue reft away with his sharp rending clawes.
1611 Bible (King James) 2 Macc. v. 21 Weening in his pride to make the land nauigable. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) ii. v. 88 Thy Father..Leuied an Army, weening to redeeme, And haue install'd me in the Diademe. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 86 They weend That self same day by fight, or by surprize To win the Mount of God. View more context for this quotation
1805 W. Scott Lay of Last Minstrel ii. xxix. 55 Ye ween to hear a tender tale Of two true lovers in a dale.
1854 J. S. Blackie in Blackwood's Mag. 76 266 Beyond the bounds of earth to fly Impious he weened.
d. elliptical with adverb (e.g. least), or conj. (ere, sooner, than, etc.), instead of infinitive or object-clause.
ΚΠ
c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. vii. §1 Þonne hy læst wenað.
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxiv. 50 Þonne cymþ ðæs weles hlaford on þam dæge ðe he na ne wenþ.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 165 Ich wulle..warpen hire on þet half. & breiden feorliche adun ear he last wene.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 9471 As he stod, er he lest wende, He was schot to deþe.
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 1376 That may fal soner than som wenes.
c1440 Pallad. on Husb. v. 211 And heer an ende, er then y wende, y fynde.
c1450 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi i. xxiii. 31 What houre we wene not þe sonne of man shal come.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xi. 23 And wis menis etling cumis nocht Till sic end as thai weyn alwayis.
a1600 A. Montgomerie Misc. Poems iii. 62 Quhen ȝe leist wein, ȝour baks may to the wall.
1814 H. F. Cary tr. Dante Vision III. xxxi. 53 Round I turned With purpose of my lady to inquire..But answer found from other than I weened.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > have confidence in, trust [verb (transitive)]
trowc888
trista1272
trestc1275
ween1340
affy?a1400
betrustc1440
strust1450
traist1473
atristc1475
intrastea1500
betrow?1567
confide1632
salve1646
bank1872
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 21 Þanne þe man wenþ more of him-zelue þanne he ssolde.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 109 Whan he most in his strengthe wende.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 222 Bot wolde god that grace sende, That toward me my lady wende As I towardes hire wene!
1593 G. Harvey Pierces Supererogation 69 He winneth not most abroad, that weeneth most at-home.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expect [verb (transitive)]
weenOE
weenc1000
thinklOE
lookc1225
hopec1330
trusta1387
wait onc1390
supposea1393
to wait after ——1393
to look after ——c1400
thinkc1480
attend1483
suppone1490
expect1535
to expect for1538
aspect1548
respect1549
look1560
ween1589
attend1591
propose1594
await1608
to presume on, upon, or of1608
to look forwards1637
prospect1652
to look for ——a1677
augur1678
anticipate1749
to look to ——1782
spect1839
contemplate1841–8
to look forward1848
eye1979
1589 ‘Marphoreus’ Martins Months Minde E 1 b Howbeit, it was not that so well, as they do ween for, (being perhappes reserued for his two sonnes hereafter).
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII v. i. 136 Weene you of better lucke, I meane in periur'd Witnesse, then your Master, Whose Minister you are..? View more context for this quotation
5. In renderings of certain Latin words.† a. transitive. To esteem, respect; to reckon or esteem equal to.† b. To impute (an offence) to (a person). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > [verb (transitive)]
haveeOE
weenc1000
praisec1250
setc1374
set by1393
endaunt1399
prizec1400
reverencec1400
tender1439
repute1445
to have (also make, take) regard to or that1457
to take, make, set (no) count of (upon, by)c1475
pricec1480
to make (great, etc.) account (also count, esteem, estimation, reckoning, regard, store) of1483
force1509
to look upon ——c1515
to have (also hold) in estimationc1522
to make reckoning of1525
esteem1530
regard1533
to tell, make, hold, set (great, little, no) store of1540
value1549
to make dainty of (anything)1555
reckon1576
to be struck on1602
agrade1611
respect1613
beteem1627
appreciate1648
to put, set (an) esteem, a high, low esteem upon1665
to think small beer of1816
to think the world of1826
existimate1847
reckon1919
rate1973
c1000 Lamb. Psalter lxxxvii. 5 Aestimatus sum cum descendentibus in lacum, gewened ic eom mid nyþerastigendum to seaðe.
a1300 E.E. Psalter lxxxvii. 5 I am wened in ilka land To þas þat ere in flosche falland.
a1300 E.E. Psalter cxliii. 3 Lauerd, whilk es..sone of man, for þou wenest him [L. quia reputas eum]?
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > accusation, charge > accuse [verb (transitive)] > lay to one's charge, impute
witec893
challenge1297
weena1300
to bear upon —c1300
likenc1400
layc1425
to put upa1438
object1447
establish1483
impose1484
reproach1490
annotea1513
lade1535
appoint1553
burden1559
clap1609
to charge (a fault, etc.) on, upon, against (a person)1611
upcast1825
a1300 E.E. Psalter xxxi. 2 Seli man to wham noght wenes lauerd sinne [L. cui non imputavit Dominus peccatum].
ΚΠ
c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Augustine (1910) 42 For þat same had he do or þis tyme had not Valery sent him owt of þe weye, wenyng to many men þat he schuld not sone come a-geyn.
c1470 W. Gregory Chron. in Hist. Coll. Citizen London (Camden) 234 Wenyng unto the thevys that the boxys hadde ben sylvyr ovyr gylt, but was but copyr.
1485 W. Caxton tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete sig. eiiij/2 Wherof they were sore aferde.., wenyng to them that it had be the deuyl.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Chron. (1812) I. cclxv. 391 They came..to a village called Puiernon, and toke their lodgynge, wenyng to them to be in surety.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Chron. (1812) I. ccclxxxv. 652 Ye duke and his went to Berwyk, wenyng to the duke to haue entred into the towne;..but the capitane of the towne..refused to him the entre, and closed the gates agaynst hym and his.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 233 Aiax..in his madnesse..slewe a greate noumbre of theim, weenyng to hym that he had slain Ulysses and his coumpaignie.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 276 The commons of Roane and of Beuioys..sodainely met with the Englishe Marshalles, wenyng to them they had bene Frenchmen.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.c888adj.c1400
v.c888