▪ I. † ele, n. Obs.
Forms: 1 œle, 1–4 ele, 3 eli, ely, eoli.
[OE. œle = OHG. oli (mod.G. öl):—WGer. oli, ad. late L. oli-um (L. oleum). Afterwards replaced by the Fr. form of the same word, now represented by oil, q.v. for the forms oli, eoile.]
= oil.
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxv. 4 Hogofæste uutetlice onfengon œle in fetelsum hiora mið leht-fatum. c 1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 230 Wiþ wambe coþe, seoð rudan on ele. c 1200 Ormin 13252 Forr þatt teȝȝ..Onnfon þurrh hallȝhedd ele att Crist Hiss Hallȝhe Gastess frofre. a 1225 Ancr. R. 428 Me schal helden eoli and win beoðe ine wunden. |
▪ II. † ele, v.1 Obs.
[f. prec. n.]
trans. To anoint.
| c 1205 Lay. 31941 He wes icruned and ieled [c 1275 iheled]. c 1315 Shoreham 41 He schel elye hym wyth ele. Ibid. 42 This children eleth me nauȝt. |
Hence ˈeling vbl. n. last eling: extreme unction.
| c 1315 Shoreham 42 For the sygne of thys sacrement the elyyngys boute. c 1450 Myrc 533 And the laste elynge wyth-owte fayle. |
▪ III. † ele, v.2 Obs.
[f. OF. ele, eele (mod.F. aile) wing.]
To carve (certain birds).
| c 1500 For serve Lord in Babees Bk. (1868) 375 To tyre or to ele a partorich or a quayle y-whyngged: rere uppe whynge and legge, as of an henne; cowche them aboute the carcas; no sawse save salte, or mustard and sugar. |
▪ IV. ele
obs. form of aisle, awl, eel n.