aknee, adv., prop. phr.
(əˈniː)
Forms: 1–3 on cneowe, 3 a cneowe, a cnouwe, 4 a knowe, a cneo, akneo, a cne. Also in pl. 3 a cneon, a kneon, 4 aknen; north. 3 o cnewwess, 4 a knewes.
[f. on prep. + knee. Obs. a 1500, but used in sing. by Southey. In plural we now say on my (his, etc.) knees.]
On one's knee or knees.
| c 1200 St. Marherete lxvii, Malchus herde thes wordes, he sette him acne. 1205 Lay. 29573 He lai on cneowe ibede. Ibid. 14305 Reowen sæt a cneowe [1250 a cnouwe]. c 1300 Beket 1696 And to his fet ful akneo. c 1300 K. Alis. 3540 And made mony knyght aknawe, On medewe. 1805 Southey Madoc in Azt. vii. Wks. V. 250 Aknee they fell before the Prince. |
† b. with pl. Obs.
| c 1200 Ormin 6467 Fellenn dun o cnewwess. c 1230 Ancr. R. 44 Ualleð akneon to ðer eorðe. Ibid. 16 Efter þis ualleð acneon to ower crucifix. a 1300 K. Horn 340 (Halliw.) Tho Athelbius astounde Fel aknen [334 in ed. 1866, anon] to grounde. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 2353 To forn him aknewes sche fel. |