▪ I. meek, a.
(miːk)
Forms: 3 meoc, muk, 3–4 mec, 3–5 mek, meok(e, muke, 3–6 meke, 4–5 mieke, meyk, myke, (superl. mekerst(e), 4–7 meeke, (6 myck), 5–7 Sc. meik(e, 4– meek.
[Early ME. meoc, a. ON. mi{uacu}k-r soft, pliant, gentle (Sw. mjuk, Da. myg); related by ablaut to Goth. *mūk-s in mūka-mōdei meekness (Gr. πραότης); also to early mod.Du. muik soft (:—*mūko-).
According to some scholars the same root is found in ON. myki (see muck) and, outside Teut., in OIrish mocht (:—*mukto-) soft, Welsh mwytho to soften.]
1. † a. Gentle, courteous, kind. Of a superior: Merciful, compassionate, indulgent. Obs.
| c 1200 Ormin 2501 Eȝȝþerr [sc. Mary and Joseph] wass wiþþ oþerr mec. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 12254 Newe þy shryfte euer ylyke, hyt makeþ Iesu cryst to þe meke [v.r. myke]. c 1350 Will. Palerne 412 Haue here þis bold barn & be til him meke. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. i. 150 Þeiȝ ȝe ben miȝty to mote beþ meke of ȝour werkis. 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 390 Quhen he wes blyth, he wes lufly, And meyk and sweyt in cumpany. c 1400 Destr. Troy 215 It Ioyes me, Iason, of þi just werkes, Þat so mighty & meke & manly art holdyn. c 1450 Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 201 Every man..Be meke and lowe the pore man to. 1530 Palsgr. 318/2 Meke pityfull, clement. 1557 N. Grimalde in Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 97 Then, for our loue, good hope were not to seek: I mought say with myself, she will be meek. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 115 The Lord is meik, and mercyfull is he. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. iii. i. 255, I am meeke and gentle with these Butchers. 1609 Bible (Douay) Ps. lxxxv. Comm., He is meeke to remitte offences. |
b. As connoting a Christian virtue (
= Vulgate
mansuetus, Biblical
Gr. πρᾶος): Free from haughtiness and self-will; piously humble and submissive; patient and unresentful under injury and reproach.
| c 1200 Ormin 667 Godess enngell iss full meoc, & milde, & soffte, & bliþe. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 103 Ðeos milde meke meiden. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 47/14 He [Edward the Martyr] was meoke and milde inouȝ. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 460 Crist..was porerste man of lif & mekerste & moost vertuous. 1382 ― Matt. xxi. 5 Loo! thi kyng cometh to thee, homly [gloss] or meke, sittynge on an asse. a 1400 Transl. N.T. (Selwyn MS.) 2 Tim. iii. 4 (Paues 119) Incontynent, noȝ[t] muke, with-outen benygnyte. c 1491 Chast. Goddes Chyld. xxii. 60 He that is not meke is proude. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 10 b, With a clene herte & meke spiryte. 1535 Coverdale 1 Pet. iii. 4 A meke & a quyete sprete. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. ii. i. 33 Patience vnmou'd, no maruel though she pause, They can be meeke, that haue no other cause. 1637 Milton Lycidas 177 In the blest Kingdoms meek of joy and love. 1667 ― P.L. iii. 266 His words here ended, but his meek aspect Silent yet spake. 1766 Fordyce Serm. Yng. Wom. (1767) II. xiii. 227 A proud Character was never a meek one. 1838 Lytton Alice 31 ‘God is good to me’, said the lady, raising her meek eyes. 1860 J. W. Warter Sea-board II. 158 Bold bad men far outnumber the meek ones of the earth. |
| absol. c 1200 Ormin 9613 Drihhtin hateþþ modiȝ mann, & lufeþþ alle meoke. 1382 Wyclif Luke i. 52 He puttide doun myȝty men fro seete, and enhaunside meke. 1535 Coverdale Matt. v. 5 Blessed are the meke: for they shall inheret the erth. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 96 Till slay the meik and Innocent. c 1580 Sidney Ps. xxv. vi, The meeke he doth in judgment leade. 1798 Porteus Lect. Matt. vi. (1802) 139 These [blessings], I apprehend, are the peculiar portion and recompence of the meek. |
c. Submissive, humble (
occas. † const. to). In unfavourable sense: Inclined to submit tamely to oppression or injury, easily ‘put upon’; now often in a tone of ironical commendation, with allusion to 1 b.
| 1340–70 Alisaunder 953 Hee..made all þe menne meeke too his wyll. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. x. 83 Drede is such a Mayster Þat he makeþ Men Meoke and Mylde of heore speche. c 1386 Chaucer Clerk's T. 85 Hir meeke preyere and hir pitous cheere. a 1400–50 Alexander 1747 Made to be meke malegreue his chekis. c 1450 Bk. Curtasye 179 in Babees Bk., Be not to meke, but in mene þe holde, For ellis a fole þou wylle be tolde. 1536 R. Beerley in Four C. Eng. Lett. (1880) 34 My lowly and myck scrybulling. c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) ii. 142 Than every man gaif Will a mok, And said he wes our meik. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. x. 44 He humbly louted in meeke lowlinesse. 1741 Richardson Pamela (1824) I. 180 When I have asked thee, meek-one, half a dozen questions together, I suppose thou wilt answer them all at once! 1835 Lytton Rienzi i. i, The boy was of a meek and yielding temper. 1868 Browning Ring & Bk. i. 976 He feels he has a fist, then folds his arms Crosswise and makes his mind up to be meek. 1884 W. C. Smith Kildrostan 92, I hate Your meek and milky girls that dare not kiss A burning passion, clinging to your lips. 1891 Spectator 4 July, [They] put up with angry opposition in a way which, if English statesmen did it, would be denounced as ‘meek’. |
d. Proverbial
phr. (in the various senses above)
as meek as a lamb, a maid, etc., as Moses.
| c 1330 Spec. Gy de Warewyke 260 He þat was woned to be Meke as a lomb, ful of pite. c 1386 Chaucer Miller's T. 16 He was..lyk a mayden meke for to see. c 1470 Henry Wallace ix. 1937 In tym off pes, mek as a maid was he. 1860 Geo. Eliot Mill on Fl. i. xii, Mr. Glegg,..though a kind man..was not as meek as Moses. |
† e. Used as
adv. = meekly.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 167 Ageyn R. he ferd, to fote he felle fulle meke. a 1425 Cursor M. 18982 (Trin.) Boþe on mon & wommon eke Of prophecie shul þei speke meke. 1605 Shakes. Macb. i. vii. 17 Besides, this Duncane Hath borne his Faculties so meeke. |
2. Of animals: Tame, gentle, not fierce.
| c 1200 Ormin 1312 Forr lamb is soffte & stille deor, & meoc, & milde, & liþe. c 1325 Metr. Hom. 158 Douf a ful mec fuel is. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxiii. (George) 278 He folouyt hyre as it had bene Þe mekeste quhelpe wes euir sene. c 1450 Holland Howlat 240 Thir ar na fowlis of reif,..Bot mansweit,..manerit and meike. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xlviii. 111 The meik pluch ox. 1530 Palsgr. 318/2 Meke nat wylde, doulx. |
† 3. a. In physical applications: Not violent or strong; mild, gentle.
Obs. or
arch.| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. xii. 192 His translacion The pynys fruyt [wol] esy make and meke [L. fructum pineum translatione mitescere]. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. ii. 6 It was in the monethe of Maye, whan the waters be peaseable and meke. 1564 P. Moore Hope Health ii. xii. 49 Then must that superfluous humour be pourged out..with a meke medicine. 1781 Cowper Conversat. 268 Venus..with a quiet, which no fumes disturb, Sips meek infusions of a milder herb. 1824 S. E. Ferrier Inher. xlv, A meek, gray, autumnal day. |
† b. meek mother (
tr. pia mater): see
mother.
4. Comb. chiefly parasynthetic
adjs., as
meek-browed,
meek-eyed,
meek-faced,
meek-hearted (hence
meek-heartedness),
meek-mild,
meek-spirited,
meek-swarded; also adverbial, as
meek-dropt adj.| 1863 I. Williams Baptistery i. ii. (1874) 22 The *meek-brow'd child of truth, Humility. |
| c 1829 Mrs. Hemans Child's Last Sleep 14 Love..hath press'd Thy *meek-dropt eyelids and quiet breast. |
| 1629 Milton Hymn Nativity iii, But he her fears to cease, Sent down the *meek-eyd Peace. 1818 Byron Ch. Har. iv. cxvi, The meek-eyed genius of the place. |
| 1871 J. G. Whittier Miriam 29 That lean, fierce priest..*Meek-faced, barefooted. 1933 W. de la Mare Fleeting 92 Meek-faced, they snuff the air. |
| 1535 Coverdale Ps. cxlix. 4 The Lorde..helpeth the *meke-harted. |
| 1849 Rock Ch. of Fathers II. 309 In her *meek-heartedness, the royal ædilthryda desired, and was buried in a wooden coffin. |
| 1951 W. de la Mare Winged Chariot 23 *Meek-mild as chickweed. |
| 1535 Coverdale Ps. xxxvi. 11 The *meke spreted shal possesse the earth. 1759 Sterne Tr. Shandy I. x. (1760) 40 A meek-spirited jade of a broken-winded horse. |
| 1953 C. Day Lewis Italian Visit i. 24 Immortal landscape of a day..*Meek-swarded, comely pastoral. |
Hence
† ˈmekelac (
meocleȝȝc,
meokelec) [see
-laik], meekness, gentleness, lowliness.
| c 1200 Ormin 2535 Annd soþ meocleȝȝc wass opennliȝ Inn hire anndswere shæwedd. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1240 Þæt he þæt ouercom mon, were akast þurh mon, wið meokelec & liste, nawt wið luðer strencðe. c 1230 Hali Meid. 676 (Titus MS.) For mi lauerd biseh his þufftenes mekelac. |
▪ II. † meek, v. Obs. Forms: 3–4
meoke(n, 3–6
meke, 4–6
meeke, (4
mike,
myke, 5
mekyn, 6
Sc. meik), 6–7
meek.
[f. meek a.] 1. trans. To make meek in spirit, to humble;
occas. to appease, mollify.
| c 1200 Ormin 9385 Forr swa to meokenn þeȝȝre lund & teȝȝre modess wille. a 1300 Cursor M. 4299 Strenger þen euer sampson was, Þat luue ne mai him mike wit might. ? 1370 Robt. Cicyle 62 He ete and laye with howndys eke, Thogh he were prowde, hyt wolde hym meke. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 27 By þat word he meked [MS. γ mykede] so þe kynges herte, þat was to swolle for wrethe, þat [etc.]. c 1400 Rom. Rose 3394 To preve if I might meke him so. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione i. xiii. 14 Temptacions are ofte tymes riȝt profitable to man,..for in hem a man is mekid, purged & sharply tauȝt. 1528 Tindale Obed. Chr. Man Pref. 5 b, To humble, to meke and to teach him Gods wayes. 1680 Mrs. Eliz. Nimmo Diary in W. G. Scott-Moncrieff Narr. J. Nimmo (1889) Introd. 16 There was much of the Lord's goodness to be seen in supporting her, and in meeking her spirit. |
b. To ‘bring low’, abase, humiliate.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter xvii. 30 All that dyes in thaire pride he [god] mekis thaim in til the lawe pitt of hell. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 38/1 By cause she synned in pryde he meked her seyeng Thou shalt be under the power of man. 1554–9 in Songs & Ball. (1860) 12 Withe miche soar hongger our bodis that he meikys. |
c. refl. (also
to meek one's heart, soul, mind, etc.): To humble or abase oneself.
| c 1200 Ormin 13950 All forr nohht uss haffde Crist Utlesedd fra þe defell, Ȝiff þatt we nolldenn mekenn uss To follȝhenn Cristess lare. a 1225 Ancr. R. 278 O þisse wise makieð edmod & meokeð our heorte. a 1300 Cursor M. 17578 For him to find qua will him seke, Þair mode til him þai most meke. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. iv. 81 Þenne Meede Meokede hire And Merci bi-souhte. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 423 Þe kyng meked hym and ȝeede barfoot. c 1400 Rom. Rose 2244 He that pryde hath, him withinne, Ne may his herte, in no wyse, Meken ne souplen to servyse. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione iii. lii. 124 Þou woldist meke þiself unto þe erþe. 1508 Fisher 7 Penit. Ps. vi. Wks. (1876) 19 The lyon..wyll not hurte the beest that falleth downe and meketh hymselfe vnto hym. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1570) 186 O men meke your mindes. 1533 More Apol. xiii. Wks. 873/1, I wisse tyll you meeke your selfe and amende [your conditions], thys anger of your husband will neuer be well appeased. 1563–83 Foxe A. &. M. 148/1 But the sayde Constantine meeked himselfe so lowly to the King, that [etc.]. |
2. trans. To tame (an animal).
| c 1450 Mirour Saluacioun 5067 Thow meked the felle pantere. 1526 Tindale Jas. iii. 7 All the natures off beastes and off byrdes and off serpentes and thynges of the see ar meked and tamed off the nature off man. 1653 H. Whistler Upshot Inf. Baptisme 50 The generation of Vipers and other sort of cruel beasts, meeked with Infants at the Ensign of Christ's Kingdom. |
3. intr. To become meek, to be meek.
| a 1300 E.E. Psalter xxxiv. 14 Als wepand, and als dreri, Swa meked I witterli. a 1300 Cursor M. 12373 Þe bestes mekand knaus me. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xx. 35 Ac nede is next hym for anon he meketh, And as low as a lombe for lakkyng of þat hym nedeth. c 1400 Rom. Rose 3541 His herte is hard, that wole not meke, Whan men of mekenesse him biseke. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1952 He mekyt to þat mighty, and with mowthe said His charge full choisly, chefe how he might. |
Hence
† ˈmeeked ppl. a.,
† ˈmeeking vbl. n.| a 1340 Hampole Psalter liv. 21 Noght anly that i pray for my heghynge bot alswa that i pray for mekynge of thaim. c 1400 Prymer in Maskell Mon. Rit. II. 147 Meekid boonys [L. ossa humiliata] shulen ioie to the lord. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione ii. ii. 42 To þe meke man he grauntiþ gret grace, and after his meking liftiþ him in glory. Ibid. iii. lvii. 135 Þou hast neuere despised þe contrite & þe meked [L. humiliatum] herte. |