▪ I. slay, sley, n.1
(sleɪ)
Forms: α. 1 sleᵹe, 5 sleye, 7 sleie, 6– sley, 8–9 sleigh (slea). β. 4– slay, 5–7 slaye, 6 slai-, 8–9 slaie.
[OE. sleᵹe stroke, striking, slaying, etc., = OS. slegi, f. the stem of the vb. slay. The related forms in the other Teut. languages retain the vowel a, as MDu. and MLG. slach (Du. and LG. slag), OHG. slag (G. schlag), ON. slagr masc., slag neut., Goth. slahs; cf. also OS. slaga (MLG. slage, LG. slâge, slâe), OHG. slaga (G. schlage) fem., stroke, striking implement.
A variant OE. form appears in the Corpus Gloss. P 376 ‘Pectica, slahae’, in a later vocab. (Wr.-Wülcker 262) written ‘slae’.]
1. An instrument used in weaving to beat up the weft; = reed n.1 10.
| α c 1050 Suppl. ælfric's Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 188 Insubula, webbeamas. Percussorium, sleᵹe. 14.. Lat.-Eng. Voc. Ibid. 601 Pecten,..a sleye. 1530 Palsgr. 13 A sley. 1599 Minsheu, L{iacu}zos para texér, the owfe or threed..which the sleie doth weaue vp and downe. 1615 Markham Eng. Housew. ii. v. (1668) 128 Warp is spun close..because it runs through the sleies. 1656 W. Dugard tr. Comenius' Gate Lat. Unl. 109 [He] weaveth the woof into the warp, and with the sley drawn-to thickeneth the linen cloath. 1701 Minute Bk. New Mills Cloth Manuf. (S.H.S.) 238, 800 Spanish Reids long lithed for broad lomb sleas. 1796 Trans. Soc. Arts XIV. 278 The sleigh is made in the same manner as stocking-frame sleighs are made. 1890 R. Beaumont Woollen & Worsted Cloth Manuf. (ed. 2) 139 The sley is fixed vertically in the going-part of the loom. 1894 Hall Caine Manxman 368 Rocking the child..to and fro like the sleigh of a loom. |
| β 1316 in Rock Text. Fabr. (1870) 96 Item in j slay pro textoribus viij d. c 1340 Nominale (Skeat) 340 A webbe..Wouyn thorue slay Made of yrede (sic) and of birche. 1404 26 Polit. Poems 15 At þe last it goþ,..As ende of web out of slay. 1442 Rolls of Parlt. V. 60/2 The Slayes and Yern therto belangyng. 1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel 791 To weue in the stoule sume were full preste, With slaiis, with tauellis, with hedellis well drest. 1591–2 Proclamation 20 Jan., Some by using of false slaies, and false weauing of their clothes, making the muster ende thereof..closely wouen. 1602 Knaresborough Wills (Surtees) I. 241 My new lynnen loame with all the slayes. 1677 A. Yarranton Eng. Improv. 53 Thou mayest have the Looms, Wheels, and Slayes at first out of Germany and from Haerlem. 1717 Croxall Ovid's Met. vi. 178 The woof and warp..press'd by the toothy slay. 1806 W. Taylor in Ann. Rev. IV. 773 The slay, or file of reeds, with which the weaver approximates the threads of shoot. 1879 T. R. Ashenhurst Weaving Des. Text. Fabr. (1893) 305 There are numerous rules and formulae..for determining the setting of warps in the slay. |
2. attrib. and Comb., as slay-hook, slay-maker; also slay-bar, the reed of a stocking-frame, etc.; † slay-bred: (see quot. and bred n.); slay sword, each of the supports upon which the slay of a loom oscillates during the process of weaving.
| 14.. Lat.-Eng. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 591 Lama, sley⁓brede. 1583 in Wadley Bristol Wills (1886) 236 John Wallys, slaymaker and weaver. 1723 Lond. Gaz. No. 6196/8 John Rew, late of Exon, Slea-maker. 1834–6 Encycl. Metrop. (1845) VIII. 734/1 The warp..is drawn through the reed by an instrument called a sley or reed hook. 1843 Mechanics' Mag. XXXIX. 428 The sley bar has a new and peculiar motion given to it for bringing the work over the needle heads. 1895 R. Marsden Cotton Weaving v. 166 The shaft is cranked, and by means of arms from these cranks is attached to the ‘slay’ or lathe..which oscillates upon the ‘slay-swords’. 1963 A. J. Hall Textile Sci. iii. 142 This reed is fastened to the sley sword S, which is pivoted..so that as required it can swing to and from position X after the insertion of each weft thread. |
▪ II. † slay, n.2 Obs.—1
Some kind of fabric.
| 1745 P. Thomas Voy. S. Seas 58 The plunder..consisted in..fine Linens and Woollens, Britannia's, Slays, and the like. |
▪ III. slay
obs. form of sleigh n.
▪ IV. slay, v.1
(sleɪ)
Pa. tense slew (sluː). pa. pple. slain (sleɪn). Forms: (see below).
[Common Teut.: OE. sléan, north. slán, slá (pa. tense slóᵹ, slóh, pl. slóᵹon, pa. pple. slæᵹen, sleᵹen, slaᵹen), = OFris. slân, slâ (WFris. slaen, EFris. slô, NFris. slaa, slô, slû), MDu. slaen (sclaen, Du. slaan), OS. slahan (MLG. slân, LG. slân, slagen), OHG. slahan, sclahan (MHG. slahen, slachen, etc., G. schlagen), ON. slá (Icel. slá, Norw. and Da. slaa, Sw. slå), Goth. slahan. The relations of the pre-Teut. stem slak- are somewhat uncertain.
All parts of the verb exhibit a great variety of OE. and ME. forms, partly through natural phonetic development, and partly by assimilation to each other. The normal ME. infinitives are slē(n from OE. sléan, and slā(n, slō(n from northern OE. slán or from ON. slá; the later forms sley, slay are due to the influence of the pa. pple.]
A. Illustration of forms.
1. inf. (α) 1–3 slean (3 sclean, sclein), 4–5 sleen; 3 slæn, 3–5 slen, 5 slene.
| c 888 [see B. 3]. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1086, Nan man ne dorste slean oðerne man. c 1200 Ormin 8040 Herode..Let slæn þa little barrness. a 1225 Juliana 49 Þe an to sclein þen oþer. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3729 Ðor ðrette god hem alle to slen. c 1275 Lay. 3943 Raþir ich wolle þe slean. c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. ii. pr. vi. (1868) 53 Busirides þat was wont to sleen hys gestes. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 459/1 Slen, or kyllyn beestys. a 1470 Harding Chron. cviii. x, The Christen folke [they] did brenne, wast and slene. |
(β) 1, 3 slæ, 3–6 sle (5 scle), 4–6 slee (5 sclee), 3–6 slea.
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxiv. 49 [He] ongann slae heafudlinges his. c 1205 Lay. 17952 Þu scalt beien slæ þer. c 1275 Ibid. 16052 Þou lettest slea Constance. 1340 Ayenb. 223 Ham uor to slea. c 1375 Cursor M. 4392 (Fairf.), Þat wife..þoȝt him to slee. c 1400 Beryn 816 Þouȝe men wold sclee hym. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 15576 We schal scle hem In fight. c 1450 Merlin ii. 25 It were beste for vs to sle hym. 1485 Caxton Paris & V. (1868) 28, I shal slee myself. a 1553 Udall Royster D. iv. viii, She shall not slee mee. 1575 R. B. Appius & Virginia in Hazl. Dodsley IV. 153 He..did sle himself outright. 1587 Grove Pelops & Hipp. (1878) 28 He thinks to slea..his daughter. |
(γ) (north. and Sc.) 1, 3–4 slan, 4 slane; 1, 5 slaa, 1, 3–7 sla (5 scla), 6–7 slae, slea.
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Luke xii. 45 [He] onginneð..slaa ða cnæhtas. c 975 Rushw. Gosp. Matt. xxiv. 49 [He] onginnaþ slan efnþeu his. c 1200 Ormin 19921 To slan þatt mann. a 1300 Cursor M. 832 Þe strang þe weker for to sla. Ibid. 13952 Þan soght þai iesu for to slan. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 48 We purpos to slaa þam alle. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 157 He may sla him at his awin will. 15.. in Dunbar's Wks. (S.T.S) II. 318 Thair is nocht thair bot tak and slae. 1583 Leg. Bp. St. Androis Pref. 56 To slea the sanctis of God. 1603 Philotus civ, Themselues to sla. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 40 That the husband did slea hir. Ibid., That he did not slae hir. |
(δ) 3–5 slon, 4–5 slone; 3–6 slo (5 sclo), 4–6 sloo, 5–7 sloe.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1328 Abraham..was redi to slon him. a 1300 Havelok 512 He may me waiten for to slo. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 844 Fader & moder scholde he sloo. a 1400 Launfal 837 To..dampny hym to sclo. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 274/2 Kyllyn, or slone. 1489 Skelton Death Earl Northumbld. 35 To slo their owne lord. 1526 ― Magnyf. 2354 Thyselfe that thou wolde sloo. a 1585 Montgomerie Misc. Poems xxxiv. 13 To slo me, but offence. |
(ε) 4 slaȝe, 5 slayn, 5– 6 slaye, 6 slaie; 4–7 sley (6 sleye), 5– slay (6 sleay).
| 1340 Ayenb. 8 Þou ne sselt slaȝe nenne man. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 139 Some wole..sley sheep of Holy Chirche. a 1400–50 Alexander 1766 (Dubl. MS.), I sall..slaye þe with my handez. c 1460 Promp. Parv. (Winch.), Kyllyn, or slayn. 1479 Barbour's Bruce ii. 205 [He] bad him..byrn, and slay. a 1535 Fisher Wks. (1876) 405 So death doth sleay their soules. 1535 Coverdale Gen. iv. 14 Who so fyndeth me, shal slaye me. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 219 b, To go & slaie them. |
2. pres. ind. a. 1st pers. sing. (also subj.) 1 slea, 1, 3 slæ, 4 sle, 6 slee; 6 sley(e, slaye, 7– slay.
| c 825 Vesp. Hymns vii. 77 Ic..slea & ic ᵹehaelu. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxvi. 31 Ic slæ hiorde. c 1205 Lay. 3943 ær ich þe slæ mid mine spere. 13.. Cursor M. 7632 (Gött.), Þat i him sle it es noght gode. 1508 Dunbar Flyting 235 Cry grace,..or I the chece and sley. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon xvi. 43 Better it were..or I slee thee. |
b. 2nd pers. sing. (α) 1 sles, slaes, 5 slees; 4 slaas, slos.
| c 825 Vesp. Psalter cxxxviii. 19 Hweðer sles ðu..synfulle. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. John xviii. 23 Forhuon mec slaes ðu? a 1300 E.E. Psalter cxxxviii. 18 If þou slaas..sinful. a 1300 Havelok 2706 Þat þou..mine gode knihtes slos. |
(β) 1 slehst, slæᵹst, 3 sleast, 3–4 sleest; 3–4 slast, 6– slayest (poet. slay'st).
| a 900 Kentish Glosses in Wr.-Wülcker 79 Ᵹif ðu slehst. c 975 Rushw. Gosp. Matt. xxiii. 37 Þu þe slæᵹst witᵹa. c 1200 Ormin 6752 Þa slast tu..þin aȝhenn flæsh. c 1275 Lay. 5017 Ȝif þou sleast þine broþer. 1382 Wyclif Matt. xxiii. 37 Jerusalem, that sleest prophetis. c 1440 Jacob's Well 46 Þou sleest him in þat [etc.]. 1535 Coverdale Matt. xxiii. 37 Thou that slayest the prophetes. |
c. 3rd pers. sing. (α) 1 sliehð, slihð, slyhð, slæhð, 2 slehð, 4 slekþ.
| c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xlvi. 347 Ðonne hit mon sliehð [v.r. slihð]. c 900 tr. Baeda's Hist. i. xvi. (1890) 78 Seo haliᵹe æ mid deaðe slæhð [v.r. slyhð]. c 1160 Hatton Gosp. Luke vi. 29 Þam þe þe slehð on þam wange. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 1527 He slekþ hym þat trowyþ hys lesyng. |
(β) 1 slaeð, 3 sleað, slað; 1 sleð, 4–5 sleþ, 4–6 sleth, 5 slethe; 4–5 sleeþ, 5–6 sleeth; 1 slaes, 4 sles(e, 4–5 slees, 7 sleas.
| c 825 Vesp. Psalter lxxvii. 34 Ðonne he sleð hie. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. v. 39 Ᵹif hua ðec slaes in suiðra ceica. Ibid. Luke vi. 29 Seðe ðec slaeð on cece. c 1230 Hali Meid. 29 Cwalm slað [Bodl. sleað] þat ahte. a 1300 Cursor M. 29386 [He] þat sles his fo. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 13890 As þe lyon..sleþ þe best. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xiv. 90 Shrifte of mouth sleeth synne. 1450–80 tr. Secreta Secret. 18 He that slethe the creature. Ibid., Who so sleth any man. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 238 The lawe sleeth the gylty man. 1539 Elyot Image Gov. (1541) 46 He that sleath his prince. |
(γ) (north. and Sc.) 3rd pers. sing. 3 slaþ; 4–5 slas, 5 slase, 5–6 slaes, slais. Also 3 sloð, 5 sloys.
| c 1200 Ormin 2092 He slaþ hiss aȝhenn sawle. c 1220 Bestiary 431 Þer he us sloð. a 1300 Cursor M. 29348 He slas him-seluen. a 1400–50 Alexander 3883 He..Slaes of þa serpentis many..hundreth. c 1400 Cursor M. 29386 (Cott. Galba), Him þat slase Preste or clerk. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 88 It slas þe souerayn vertu. c 1460 Towneley Myst. ii. 372 He that sloys yong or old. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xlix. 44 Evir quhill he be slane he slais. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. II. 2 marg., He slaes the Inglismen. |
(δ) 4 slaȝþ, 5 sleith, 5–6 sleyth, 6 sleythe, sleayeth, 6– (now poet.) slayeth; 6–7 slayes (Sc. slayis), 7– slays.
| 1340 Ayenb. 34 He..himzelue slaȝþ. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 143 Who-So sleyth, he shal be slayne. c 1450 Cursor M. 6673 (Laud MS.), Who sleith eny man with wille. 1535 Coverdale Gen. iv. 15 Who so euer slayeth Cain. 1578 Lyte Dodoens 348 In fine it sleayeth the partie. 1607 Shakes. Timon iv. iii. 435 He slayes Moe then you Rob. |
d. pl. (α) 1–2 sleað; 4–5 slen, sleen (5 scleen); 4–6 slea, sle, 5–6 slee (5 sclee); also north. 5 slees.
| c 888 [see B. 3]. a 1200 Vices & Virtues 61 [They] sleað here auȝene saule. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 1349 Þey sle hem alle. 1388 Wyclif 2 Kings xvii. 26 Lo! liouns sleen hem. c 1400 Mandeville (1839) xxviii. 288 Theise Serpentes slen men. 1559 Morwyng Evonymus 236 Poysones which slee. |
(β) 2 slaȝe(ð, 6 sleye, slaye, 7– slay.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 51 Þenne slaȝe we ure sunne. Ibid. 53 Heo slaȝeð heore aȝene saule. 1535 Coverdale 1 Esdras iv. 5 They..slaye (other men) them selues. 1611 Bible 1 Esdras iv. 5 They slay and are slaine. |
(γ) (Also subj.) 4–5 sla, slaa, 5 slo(e.
| a 1300 E.E. Psalter lxi. 3 Vnto yhe sla. 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 487 Thai sla our folk. a 1400–50 Alexander 3198 Slaa ȝe me þus sudanly? a 1425 Cursor M. 16328 (Trin.), Till þat þei þe slo. |
3. pres. subj. (2nd and 3rd pers. sing.). (α) 1 slae, 1, 3 slea, 4–6 sle, 5 slee.
| a 901 Laws Alfred Pref. §16 (Liebermann), Ᵹif hwa slea his ðone nehstan mid stane. c 975 Rushw. Gosp. Matt. v. 39 Ᵹif hwa ðec slae. c 1000 ælfric Exod. xxi. 15 Se þe slea his fæder. c 1325 Prose Ps. cxxxviii. 18 Ȝif þou sle þe synȝers. 1382 Wyclif Job xiii. 15 If he sle me. |
(β) north. 3–5 sla, 4–5 slo.
| a 1300 in O.E. Misc. 200/5 Loke þat tu ne sla na man. c 1310 in Wright Spec. Lyric P. vii. 29 Er thou me slo. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 61 Suffre þat he sla. c 1460 Towneley Myst. ii. 371, I will that no man other slo. |
(γ) 6 slaye, 6– slay.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xxxvi. 15 That..No wicht ane vder slay. 1535 Coverdale Deut. xix. 6 Lest the auenger..slaye him. 1607 Shakes. Cor. iv. iv. 24 If he slay me He does faire Iustice. |
4. imp. (α) 1 sleh, 2 sleih, 4–5 sle, 4–6 slee, 6 sley; 1 sleah, sleaᵹe, 4–5 slea; 1 slyh, 2 slyᵹh. Also pl. 1 slæð (slæh), sleað (slea), 3 s(c)leaþ, sleoþ, 4 sleth, 5 sleeth, sleeþ; 4 north. sles.
| sing. c 825 Vesp. Psalter lviii. 12 Ne sleh ðu hie. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Mark x. 19 Ne slyh þu. a 1200 Vices & Virtues 67 Ne sleih, ne ne stell. a 1225 Ancr. R. 206 Slea hit mid dedbote. c 1325 Prose Ps. lviii. 11 Lord, ne sle hem nouȝt. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. iii. 264 What þow fyndest þere, slee it. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 162 Go thou and Sle the Synners. 1480 Robt. Devyll 24 Slea me, she sayde. 1539 Cranmer Luke xix. 27 Slee them before me. |
| plur. c 1000 Andreas 1300 Sleað synniᵹne ofer seolfes muð. c 1205 Lay. 28726 Slæð..al þat ȝe findeð. c 1275 Ibid. 4222 Sleoþ ham mid swerde. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 4855 Sleþ hom hastiliche anon. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 1163 Spares non, bot sles on fast. 13.. Cursor M. 6634 (Gött.), Sles vp ȝone caytifes. 1382 Wyclif Exod. i. 16 If it be a maal, sleeth hym. |
(β) sing. 2–4, 6 sla; 3–4 slo, 7 Sc. sloe. pl. 4 slas, slays; slo, slos.
| c 1160 Hatton Gosp. Luke iii. 14 Ne sla ᵹe nanne man. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3505 Ne slo ð u noȝt. a 1300 Havelok 2596 Slos up-on þe dogges. a 1300 Cursor M. 6634 Slas vþ yon caitefs. a 1400 R. Brunne's Chron. Wace (Rolls) 1163 (Petyt MS.), Spares non bot slo all faste. 1611 Sir W. Mure Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 10 Save then or sloe ane captiue. |
(γ) 6 slaye, 7– slay.
| 1535 Coverdale Judges viii. 20 Stonde vp, & slaye them. 1611 Bible 1 Kings iii. 27 In no wise slay it. |
5. pa. ind. (α) 1st and 3rd pers. sing. 1, 3–4 sloh, 4 slohw; 1 sloᵹ, sloᵹh, 4 sloȝ, slooȝ (3 sloþ), 4–5 sloȝe; 3–4 slog, 4–5 slogh (5 sloght), sloghe, sloch; 4–5 slo. 2nd pers. 1 sloᵹe, 3 sloȝe. pl. 1–2 sloᵹon (1 -un), sloᵹan, 1 sloᵹen, 2 sloȝhen, 3–4 sloȝen, 5 sloghen; 4 sloghe, 5 sloȝe; 4 slogh.
| sing. Beowulf 421 Þær ic..sloᵹ niceras nihtes. Ibid. 1565 He..yrringa sloh. c 825 Vesp. Psalter iii. 8 Ðu sloᵹe alle wiðerbrocan. c 1200 Ormin 3590 Daviþþ king sloh Goliat. c 1205 Lay. 10999 Þa þu sloȝe Asclepidiot. c 1275 Ibid. 1290 Manie he sloþ. a 1300 Cursor M. 6120 Þat he ne slo an. a 1300 E.E. Psalter c. 9, I slogh with hand Alle þe sinful. c 1325 Prose Ps. c. 9 Ich sloȝe..alle þe synȝers. 13.. Cursor M. 1046 (Gött.), His aune broþer abel he slohw. 1382 Wyclif Isaiah xxvii. 7 As he slooȝ the slayne men. c 1400 Destr. Troy 9728 Deffibus..oure folk sloght. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 193 He yn þat maner sloch hymself. c 1460 Towneley Myst. ii. 395, I slogh my brother. Ibid. 433 He that slo his brother. |
| plur. c 893 K. ælfred Oros. i. x. 46 Þa wif..sloᵹon þa hysecild. 971 Blickl. Hom. 23 Hie hine..mid bradre hand sloᵹan. 1154 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1138, [They] sloᵹhen suithe micel of his genge. a 1300 K. Horn 195 Hi sloȝen..Cristenemen inoȝe. a 1340 Hampole Psalter xxvii. 5 Þe iowes sloghe crist. a 1400–50 Alexander 3213 (Dubl. MS.), Þees warryd wightez..Þat Sloghen [v.r. sloȝe] so þair souerent. |
(β) sing. 3–5 slowe (5 sclowe), 4–5 sloue; 4–5 slow (5 sclow), 4 sloow, slou (sclou). pl. 3–5 slowen, 5 slowyn, 4 slouen; 4–5 slowe, slow (5 sclow).
| sing. c 1205 Lay. 4355 Seoððen þu hine slowe. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 458 Corineus..slou hom to gronde. a 1300 in E.E.P. (1862) 116 Slowe þu þe holi prophete? 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1221 Þe kynges sunnes..he slow euer vchone. 13.. Cursor M. 14431 (Gött.), Dauid..sclou golias. 1382 Wyclif Isaiah xiv. 20 Thou the puple sloow. ? a 1400 Arthur 528 Engystis Men Þat..sclow þeyre kyn. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 174 The pepill..he slow. c 1450 Knt. de La Tour (1868) 102 Husbondes, whiche the deuelle slow. |
| plur. c 1205 Lay. 1608 Alle heo slowen þat heo neih comen. a 1300 Havelok 2432 Euerilk fot of hem [they] slowe. 13.. Cursor M. 2502 (Gött.), Þair fas foluand þaim slow. 1382 Wyclif Matt. xxiii. 35 Zacharie,..whom ȝee slowen. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 16666 Thei sclow ten thousand. c 1425 Audelay XI Pains of Hell 135 in O.E. Misc. 215 [They] slowyn here childer. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 228 b/2 Where they slowe..many men. |
(γ) sing. 3–4 slouh, 4–5 slowh, slouȝ, 5 slowȝ(e; 4–5 slough, 5 sloughe, slowgh(e. pl. 5 sloughen; 4 slowȝe, 4–5 slowhe, 5 sloughe; 4 slouȝ, slough.
| c 1225 Ancr. R. 136 Iudit, þet slouh Oloferne. 1310 St. Brendan (Bälz) 441 Þis luþer best sone he slouȝ. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 7280 Of þe Peytes þat he slough. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 1608 (Lansd. MS.), I slowhe Sampson schakinge þe piler. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 4046 He..þat hym slowghe. a 1425 Cursor M. 162 (Trin.), Heroude..slowȝe childer ȝonge. c 1450 Merlin xx. 352 Many thei sloughen. 1474 Caxton Chesse iii. i. (1883) 76 For this cause he slough abel. |
(δ) sing. 3 sluȝ, 5 sluȝe, 6–7 slue; 5 slewȝ, Sc. sleuch (sleucht), 6 scleuȝe; 4– slew, 5–6 slewe. Also 2nd pers. 6–7 slew'st. pl. 3 sluȝen, 5–7 slue (5 Sc. sleuch); 4 slewen, 5– slew (5 sclew), 6 slewe.
| sing. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2685 He..sluȝ ðor maniȝe. 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 557 Modreyt..him slew. 1382 Wyclif 1 Kings ii. 25 The which slewȝ hym. c 1420 Avow. Arth. lxv, There hit sluȝe him als. 14.. Sc. Leg. Saints xxv. (Julian) 231 Þat fadyr & modir bath sleucht. 1470–85 Malory Arthur x. xxxiv. 468 Kynge Marke slewe hym. a 1500 Pol., Rel., & Love Poems 124, I scleuȝe my selue. 1559 Mirr. Mag., Clifford iii, That slue duke Richardes childe. 1592 Kyd Sp. Trag. iii. vii, I slew him for your sake. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. iii. iii. 138 But thou slew'st Tybalt. a 1641 Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. (1642) 323 Saxa..slue himselfe. 1671 Milton Samson 439 Who slew'st them many a slain. |
| plur. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3916 Oc he sluȝen king of basaan. 1382 Wyclif Matt. xxi. 39 Thei kesten [him] out..and slewen. a 1400–50 Alexander 2043 (Dubl.), Þai..Slew downe..seges. c 1489 Caxton Blanchardyn xlviii. 187 They kylled and slue..many one. 1490 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 131 Men..that sclew a man. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xix. 22 They slue foure of the best runners. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii. 104 They scaled the walles, [and] slue the watches. |
6. pa. subj. 1 sloᵹe, pl. sloᵹen, 2, 5 sloȝe, 3 sluȝe, 4 slowe.
| c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xxviii. 196 Ðæt hie sloᵹen..kyning. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1086, Swa hwa swa sloᵹe heort. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3976 Had ic an swerd, ic sluȝe ðe. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 467 Þoȝ y slowe þe her in fiȝt. a 1400–50 Alexander 5351 If we þis lede sloȝe. |
7. pa. pple. (α) 1 ᵹeslæᵹen, ᵹesleᵹen, 3 i-slæȝ en, i-sleien, i-slein, 4 i-, y-slayn, 5 y-sclayn, y-slayne, 6 y-slaine; 1 slæᵹen, sleᵹen, 4–5 sleyn, 6 sleyne; 2–3, 6–7 slaine, 4–7 slayne, 5 slayen, 4–6 slayn (4–5 sclayn, 4 sclain), 4, 7– slain.
| (a) a 900 O.E. Chron. (Parker MS.) an. 823, Þær wæs micel wæl ᵹeslæᵹen. c 900 tr. Baeda's Hist. iii. xi. (1890) 190 Þa wæs ᵹesleᵹen..sum leornungmon. c 1205 Lay. 5584 Summe heore men [had] i-slæȝene. a 1225 Ancr. R. 156 Gostliche isleien. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 103 If alle fiȝte and alle [be] i-slayn. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 162 Al the grecans..yslayne thay moght. ? a 1400 Arthur 566 Arthoures nevew..was þere y-sclayn. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. v. 9 Of a forreine foe He is yslaine. |
| (b) c 725 Corpus Gloss. P 287 Percellitur, bið slaeᵹen. c 825 Vesp. Psalter ci. 5 Sleᵹen ic eam. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 103 Leirede and slaine. a 1300 Cursor M. 23964 Hu þai haf þat saccles sclain. a 1320 Sir Tristr. 830 Ȝif tristrem be now sleyn. c 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 4612 Þar sal he be slayn. 1399 Langl. P. Pl. C. i. 113 Hus sones [being] slayen. a 1425 Cursor M. 4168 (Trin.), Þat we haue sleyn him. 1470–85 Malory Arthur xviii. xvi. 754 There..I was nere slayne. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 159 b, Al they that folowed hym..were sleyne. 1584 D. Powel Lloyd's Cambria 2 Who was slaine by his owne men. 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1687) 48/2 Men slain By cruel Men. |
(β) 3 i-, hii-sleȝe, i-slehȝe; 4 sleie, sleye, slaye, 5 slay, scley.
| c 1275 Lay. 10932 He hadde islehȝe moche of hire cunne. Ibid. 13602 Hii-sleȝe we habbeþ þane king. c 1350 Will. Palerne 379 Sche wold haue sleie hire-self. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xviii. 275 Seynt thomas..in holychurche was sleye. ? a 1400 Arthur 223 Þu hast scley frolle in fraunce. |
(γ) 1 ᵹeslaᵹen, 3 i-slaȝen, i-sclawen, i-slawen, 4 y-slawen; 3 slaȝen, 4 slawen, slaun, 5 slawn.
| c 1000 ælfric Hom. II. 124 Se ᵹeslaᵹena bið mid deaðe ᵹegripen. c 1205 Lay. 965 Heora kun we habbet islaȝen. Ibid. 1047 Mine men ȝe habbeð isclawen. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 591 Ðo was ilc fleis on werlde slaȝen. a 1300 Havelok 2681 Þer were a þousind knihtes slawen. 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 4715 Þo he hadde hem slaun ichon. 1382 Wyclif Lev. vii. 8 The slawn offryng of brent sacrifice. |
(δ) 3 i-, 4 y-slaȝe, 3–4 i-slawe, 4–6 y-slawe; 6 y-slaw; 4–5 slawe (5 sclawe).
| c 1250 Owl & Night. 1142 Hwenne þu hongest islawe. c 1275 Lay. 322 He his fader adde islaȝe. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 889 Þe stude þat he was on slawe. 1340 Ayenb. 223 Alle were y-slaȝe of þe dyeule. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iv. 884 Both it hadde vs slawe. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 4308 Harald..was y-slawe at Hastyngus. c 1440 Gesta Rom. xvii. 61 How that he had slawe this brid. |
(ε) 3 i-slæn, 5 sleen, 6 slene.
| c 1205 Lay. 8326 Þine men we habbeð islæn. 1486 Bk. St. Albans d j/2 She hath sleen the fowle. a 1563 Machyn Diary (Camden) 92 Ther wher dyvers of boyth partes slene. |
(ζ) north. and Sc. 4 slan, 4–6 slane, 6 y-slane.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 905 Þou sal be slan wit duble dedd. 13.. Ibid. 4141 (Gött.), Wit his fader þat he be slane. c 1470 Henry Wallace i. 190 Thai had slane mony ane. 1513 Douglas æneid xiii. ii. 3 Sepulturis Of his folkis yslane. 1567 Satir. Poems Reform. v. 31 Nouther..hurt nor slane. |
(η) 4–5 slon, 5–6 slone, 5 sloon.
| c 1375 Lay-Folks Mass-Bk. App. iv. 587 God þat on þe Rode was slon. a 1425 Cursor M. 1075 (Trin.), Whenne Caym had his broþer sloon. c 1440 Alph. Tales 516 Whar þer fadur was slone. c 1485 Digby Myst. i. 361 He hath our children sloon! |
B. Signification. I. † 1. a. trans. To smite, strike, or beat. Obs.
| c 825 Vesp. Psalter lxxvii. 20 Forðon [he] sloᵹ stan & fleowun weter. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Mark xiv. 65 Ða embeht-menn mið fystum hine sloᵹon. c 1000 ælfric Exod. vii. 17 Nu ic slea mid þisse ᵹirde..þises flodes wæter. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3964 [Balaam] wurð ðo for anger wroð, And ðis [ass] prikeð and negt [? read next] sloð. a 1300 Havelok 2633 Þe þredde so sore he slow, Þat he made up-on the feld His lift arm fleye. |
† b. absol. To deal a blow or blows (freq. with on); to knock; to strike. Obs.
| Beowulf 1565 He ᵹefeng þa fetelhilt,..yrringa sloh. 971 Blickl. Hom. 141 Michael..sloᵹ on þæs huses duru. c 1205 Lay. 797 Ohtliche heom slæð on. Ibid. 16488 Aldolf his gode sweord adroh, & uppen Hengest sloh. a 1300 Havelok 2596 Helpes me..And slos up-on þe dogges swiþe. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 311 And as the fisshere on his bait Sleth, whan he seth the fisshes faste. |
† c. To strike or cut off (a limb). Obs.
| a 1000 Laws of Ine §18 Slea mon hond of oððe fot. c 1205 Lay. 3856 Þer he of-toc Morgan.., & sloh he him of þat hæued. |
† 2. To strike (a spark, fire) from flint or other hard substance. Obs.
| c 1000 Saxon Leechd. II. 290 Ᵹif mon on his weᵹe biþ ᵹedwolod slea him anne spearcan beforan. 1375 Barbour Bruce xiii. 36 Men herd nocht ellis bot granys & dyntis, That slew fire, as men dois on flyntis. c 1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 2039 Flynt and fir-yren bath he hade, And fir ful sone thar he slogh. c 1470 Henry Wallace iv. 285 A gret hart has he slayne; Slew fyr on flynt, and graithit thaim at rycht. 1513 Douglas æneid i. iv. 33 First Achates slew fire of the flynt. |
† 3. To throw or cast; to bring down heavily. Obs.
| c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. xxxv. §5 Ᵹif wit ᵹiet uncru word tosomne sleað. Ibid. xxxviii. §1 Þæt hio sceolde..þa men..slean on þa racentan. c 1000 Daniel 344 He on andan sloh fyr on feondas for fyrendædum. c 1205 Lay. 2312 Corineus up ahof, & his eax adun sloh. c 1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 90 The bodie among hem was hent; At the steres thei slough it doun. |
† 4. To pitch (a tent). Obs.
| c 1000 ælfric Gen. xxxi. 25 Iacob sloh his ᵹeteld on þære dune. c 1205 Lay. 7865 Heo sloȝen heoren teldes, wide ȝeond þa feldes. |
II. 5. a. To strike or smite so as to kill; to put to death by means of a weapon; also generally, to deprive of life by violence.
In this sense (which is copiously represented in the illustration of forms above), and in other surviving uses, slay is now mainly confined to literary and rhetorical language, the common word being kill.
| Beowulf 421 Ic..on yðum sloᵹ niceras nihtes. c 893 K. ælfred Oros. i. x. 46 Hi..on ðæt folc winnende wæron, & þa wæpnedmen sleande. 971 Blickl. Hom. 151 On þa ilcan tid þa englas..ongunnan slean þa Iudeas. 1154 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an 1138, [They] flemden þe king æt te Standard, & sloᵹhen suithe micel of his genge. c 1200 Ormin 8089 He..badd tatt mann hemm shollde slæn, Son summ he shollde deȝenn. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 3630 Þo þe king arþure ysey þat me is men so uaste slou. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 13890 As þe lyon for hunger snacches & sleþ þe best þat he first lacches. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 55 Men þat turmenten & slen þe bodi. c 1450 Merlin ii. 25 And so xij made hem redy,..and ran on hym with swerdes and knyves, and slowe hym. 1470–85 Malory Arthur v. iv. 165 The bore that the dragon slough. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 280 The nombre of them that were slaine..was accompted a thousand. 1635 E. Pagitt Christianogr. 215 Two fel at discord between themselves, and the one slue the other. 1781 Cowper Charity 619 Slaying man would cease to be an art. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 633 Two persons..were found murdered; and it was universally believed that they had been slain by Kirke's order. 1888 Masson Med. France 180 The order given by King Philip to slay the Genoese mercenaries. |
| refl. c 1340 Ayenb. 34 He..himzelue slaȝþ ase despayred. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 462 If this man her[e] sle hem⁓self..In my presence. 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas viii. xvii. (1558) 11 b, Arbogast slough him selfe for drede. 1565 Golding Ovid's Met. iv. (1593) 83 Thy love (she said) hath made the slea thy selfe. 1628 in Foster Eng. Factories India (1909) III. 240 Their mother..slew hirselfe, dying with them. |
(b) fig.; esp. To overwhelm with delight, to convulse (someone) with laughter. Cf. kill v. 6 a.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter vii. 14 Goed wordis, þe whilk slas men fra synne, and makis þaim lifand til god. 1593 Shakes. Lucr. 1110 Sad souls are slain in merry company. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xxii, Shooting death-glances at all the servant-girls who were worthy to be slain. 1863 G. Meredith Let. May (1970) I. 203, I have lately been slain by a pretty face. 1927 L. Mayer Just between Us Girls i. 2 Well, anyways, my dear, it simply slayed me. 1937 Amer. Speech XII. 181 (heading) Satchelmouth slays 'em. 1943 H. A. Smith Life in Putty Knife Factory xiii. 225 The boys who slay me..are the ones who have set pieces to recite when they answer the phone. 1953 R. Chandler Long Good-Bye xi. 68 A hoodlum with sentiment... That slays me. 1958 Spectator 21 Nov. 728/1 Frost,..reading naturally and roughly but with a high degree of contrivance, slaying them into calls for encores and favourite poems. 1965 D. Francis Odds Against xi. 150 ‘Oh God, Dolly, you slay me,’ said Chico, laughing warmly. 1975 D. O'Sullivan in D. Marcus Best Irish Short Stories (1977) II. 98 They're fun... They'll slay you! 1977 Guardian Weekly 23 Oct. 4/3 The earliest comment on these lines that I can find comes from Denis Thatcher in October, 1970. ‘Who could meet Margaret..without being completely slain by her personality and intellectual brilliance?’ |
† b. to slay up or slay down, to kill completely or outright; to annihilate. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 6634 Slas vp yon caitefs al bidene! a 1400–50 Alexander 2043 (Dubl.), Manly þai feghtyn, Slew downe on ather syde seges owt of nowmbre. 1545 R. Ascham Toxoph. (Arb.) 82 The Spanyardes..were quyte slayne vp of the Turkes arrowes. 1549 Compl. Scot. 145 Gunnis ande cannons to sla doune the pepil. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. 161 That same tyme..he slawe doune monye of the Nobilitie. |
† c. To kill the inhabitants of (a country). Obs.
| c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 4734 (Kölbing), Þis four heþen kinges..þe cuntre aboute Lounde Slowen & brent to þe grounde. |
6. absol. To commit slaughter or murder.
| c 893 K. ælfred Oros. ii. viii. 92 Hie wæron þa burᵹ herᵹende & sleande buton ælcre ware. a 901 Laws K. ælfred Introd. §5 Ne sleah ðu. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Mark x. 19 Ne slyh [v.r. sleh] þu. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2668 Folc ethiopienes on egipte cam, And brende, & sluȝ, & wreche nam. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5215 Hii ne kepte hit holde noȝt bote..destrue & berne & sle. a 1352 Minot Poems (ed. Hall) iii. 61 Ful fast þai slogh and brend. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 207 His moste gloire Was forto sle and noght to save. c 1440 in Househ. Ord. (1790) 450 A castel that the Kyng and the Qwhene comen in for to see how Seint Jorge slogh. 1535 Coverdale Ezek. ix. 5 Go ye..thorow the cite, slaye, ouersee none, spare none. 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xvi. (Arb.) 188 The Nubiens..sleaing a farre with venim and with dartes. c 1700 Prior To a Lady viii, The Parthian turn'd his Steed,..and as He fled, He slew. 1781 Cowper Charity 49 The hand that slew, till it could slay no more. 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam x. x, We were slaying still without remorse. 1849 Aytoun Poems, Heart of Bruce xxiii, The Moors have come from Africa To spoil and waste and slay. |
7. a. Of the Deity: To deprive (man, etc.) of life; to bring death upon, to destroy.
| c 825 Vesp. Psalter lxxvii. 51 [He] sloᵹ ylc frum-bearn on eorðan [of Egypt]. c 897 K. ælfred tr. Gregory's Past. C. xxxvi. 251 Ðonne God hie sloᵹ, ðonne sohton hie hine. c 1055 Byrhtferth's Handboc in Anglia VIII. 322 God ælmihtiᵹ ferde on egiptena lande, hi sleande & alysende Israela bearn. a 1300 Cursor M. 6122 At þe king-self he be-gan, Þe forbirth slou o beist and man. a 1340 Hampole Psalter ix. 33 Sloand þaim in body noght in saule; [the] riche he sall sla in saule. 1552 Bk. Com. Prayer, Litany, O Almightie God, whiche..didst slea with the plague of pestilence, lx and ten thousand. 1611 Bible Hosea ii. 3 Lest I..set her like a drie land, and slay her with thirst. |
| absol. c 1000 ælfric Deut. xxxii. 39 Ic slea and ic hæle. a 1340 Hampole Psalter 521, I sall sla and i sall make to lif. 1535 Coverdale 1 Sam. ii. 6 The Lorde slayeth, and geueth life. |
b. Of natural forces, accidents, etc.
‘Still in current use in Lincolnshire dialect.’ N.E.D.
| c 1000 ælfric Exod. ix. 25 Se haᵹol sloh..ealle þa þing, þe ute wæron, æᵹðer ᵹe men ᵹe nytenu. 1382 Wyclif Dan. iii. 22 Flawme of the fijre slewȝ tho men. c 1420 Sir Amadace xli, Thay were..With wild waturs slone. 1486 Bk. St. Albans c viij b, The leest mysdyetyng and mysentendyng sleth her. 1611 Stranton Par. Reg. 26 June, Agnes..was buried, being slayne with a coupe wayne in the field. 1686 Merrington Par. Reg., She was suddenly slaine with a sled in hay time. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 724 Th' Infection grew, Tame Cattle, and the Beasts of Nature slew. 1708 J. C. Compl. Collier (1845) 45 There was above thirty Persons..slain by a Blast. 1865 N. & Q. 3rd Ser. VII. 31 His poor father was sla'ain [by a stay falling]. 1877 in N.W. Linc. Gloss. |
| absol. 1559 Morwyng Evonymus 236 There be certaine poysones which slee with the only touching. 1611 Bible Job ix. 23 If the scourge slay suddenly. 1904 M. Corelli God's Good Man xxxii, She was undergoing the operation, which was to save or slay. |
† 8. To put to death as a criminal; to execute.
| c 1200 Ormin 13782 [The Jews] sloȝhenn himm..All gillte⁓læs o rode. a 1340 Hampole Psalter xvi. 12 When þai sloghe crist. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints vii. (James Minor) 430 Þat al þai þat sclew dere Ihesu, I sal sla. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 4756 Ihesu suffrede þe Iuys hym to slen. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 238 So the lawe sleeth the gylty man, and not the iudge. 1611 Bible Acts x. 39 Iesus.., whom they slew and hanged on a tree. 1667 Milton P.L. xii. 414 Naild to the Cross By his own Nation, slaine for bringing Life. |
9. a. To kill (a domestic animal or beast of game), esp. for food or as a sacrifice; to slaughter. † Also, to take (fish).
| c 1000 ælfric Deut. xxviii. 31 Mann slihð þinne oxan beforan þe and þu his ne abitst. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1086, Swa hwa swa sloᵹe heort oððe hinde. c 1205 Lay. 8105 Islaȝene weoren to þon mele, twælf þusend ruðeren sele. a 1300 Cursor M. 3019 Quen he was spaned fra þe pap, His fader slou bath scepe and nete. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 48 Wan prestis slow þe offringis, and bests blod was remissioun of synnis. c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. ii. (1885) 111 As the Hunter takyth the wilde beste for to sle and ete hym. 1535 Coverdale Exod. xxix. 20 As for the other ramme, thou shalt slaye him. 1597 Skene De Verb. Sign. s.v. Assisa, Everie Boat that passis to the draue, and slayis herring. 1611 Bible Lev. iv. 29 And he shall..slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Sacrifice, When the Victim was slain, they flead him. 1837 W. Irving Capt. Bonneville III. 257 While a hunter is..cutting up the deer or buffalo he has slain. 1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting ix. 419, I have..slain this morning..the last rabbit within a circle of eight miles. |
| absol. a 1300 Cursor M. 19869 Petre,..þou sla and ete. 1535 Coverdale Acts x. 13 And there came a voyce vnto him: Ryse Peter, slaye, & eate. |
| transf. 1483 Presentmts. Juries in Surtees Misc. (1890) 29 Flech..þat was sclayn of Setterday afor. |
† b. To destroy (vermin, etc.) by some means. Also in fig. context. Obs.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 206 Þe scorpiunes cundel þet heo bret in hire boseme,..slea hit mid dedbote. a 1400–50 Stockh. Med. MS. 101 To slen lees [= lice]. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. i. 912 Elebur blak with fatte..commyxt and offrid hem [mice and rats] wol sleen. 1495 Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. vii. xxv. (W. de W.) 241 Wormes of the teeth ben slayne [Bodl. MS. kilde] wyth Myrre and Opium. 1578 Lyte Dodoens 415 The same is good agaynst wormes,..for it slayeth them. |
III. † 10. To bring to spiritual death; to destroy with sin. Obs.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 53 Heo slaȝeð heore aȝene saule, and bringeð heom in to þare eche pine of helle. c 1200 Ormin 2092 Whase nile trowwenn þiss He slaþ hiss aȝhenn sawle. a 1225 Ancr. R. 156 Mest al þe world, þet is gostliche isleien mid deadliche sunnen. a 1300 Cursor M. 25697 Wit his ded he boght again, Vr sauls þat wit sin war slain. 1382 Wyclif Wisdom i. 11 The mouth forsothe that lieth, sleth the soule. a 1529 Skelton Bk. Three Foles Wks. 1843 I. 202 O Enuy,..thou brennest the desyres, and sleeth the soule in the ende. 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 199 What daily watch is made, the soule of man to slea. 1611 Bible Rom. vii. 11 For sinne taking occasion by the commandement,..by it slew me. |
| refl. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 1526 Þe bakbyter fyrst hym self sles. |
| absol. 1382 Wyclif 2 Cor. iii. 6 The lettre sleith, forsoth the spirit quykeneth. 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love iii. ix. (Skeat) l. 107 The letter sleeth; the spirit yeveth lyfelich understanding. |
† 11. To overcome with affliction or distress. Obs.
| c 1386 Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 454 (Hengwrt MS.), Ye sleen me with youre sorwe verraily. ― Frankl. T. 165 Thise Rokkes sleen myn herte for the feere. c 1400 Rom. Rose 2593 It makith me fulle of joyfulle thought, It sleth me that it lastith noght. c 1425 Audelay XI Pains of Hell 90 in O.E. Misc. 213 Ȝif þai ferd wel her hertis hit slow, And of here losse were glad and fayne. 1526 Skelton Magnyf. 2311, I am wery of the worlde, for vnkyndnesse me sleeth. a 1568 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) xxiii. 6, I am with sorrow slane, And dyis nicht & day. |
12. a. To destroy, extinguish, put an end to, suppress completely (esp. something bad). Cf. kill v. 4.
| (a) c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 51 Þe we beoð sari in ure heorte þet we isuneȝed habbeð, þenne slaȝe we ure sunne. c 1200 Ormin 6752 Þa slast tu swa þin aȝhenn flæsh & hire fule wille. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xiv. 90 For shrifte of mouth sleeth synne, be it neuere so dedly. c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. Prol. (1872) 2 With this swerd shal I slen envie. a 1450 Myrc 36 But sle þy lust for any thynge. 1538 Bale God's Promises i, Her sede shall..Slee hys suggestyons, & hys whole power confounde. 1560 Becon Comm.-pl. Holy Script. Wks. II. iii. 68 To reconcile both vnto God in one body thorow the Crosse, and slewe hatred therby. 1763 J. Gregg in Bk. Praise (1866) 349 Thoughts must be slain that disobey. 1868 Lynch Rivulet cxlix. v, O heavenly Lord, whose mercy can..Both slay the sins and save the man. |
| (b) c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 103 Þe rihte bileue and þe soðe luue..ben leirede and slaine on his heorte. a 1300 Cursor M. 24692 Þo þou haf oþer vertus slain, In þe þou mai þam couer again. 1539 Elyot Image Gov. (1549) 99 As pride sleeth loue [etc.]. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. iii. 26 For this..Being tasted slayes all sences with the heart. 1819 Shelley Cenci v. ii. 144 To slay The reverence living in the minds of men Towards our ancient house. 1884 Pall Mall G. 9 July 1/1 In the very act of slaying the Bill. |
† b. In phr. to slay care. Obs.
| 13.. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. 695 But make we murie & sle care. a 1400 Siege of Troy 185 in Archiv neu. Spr. LXXII. 16 To Grece þey comen hom And maden murþe and slowe care. c 1420 Avow. Arth. xlix, The king with a blythe chere Bade hom sle care! a 1529 Skelton E. Rummyng 111 Let vs sley care. |
† 13. a. To blight or destroy (vegetation). Obs.
| c 1325 Prose Ps. lxxvii. 52 He sloȝe [L. occidit] her uines wyþ hail. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 453 Tholiues hit forsake; The rootes wol their oyl or slen [L. necat] or slake. Ibid. 1078 The rootes ek of reed and rish thei ete. When wynter sleth their fedyng, yef hem meete. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xiv. 63 Quhilk slayis the corne and fruct that growis grene. 1574 T. Hill On Weather i, Extreme cold doth slea the trees. |
b. intr. Of grain: To become affected by smut, blight, or the like. (Cf. slain ppl. a. 3.)
| 1641 Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 55 But it is observed in wheate, that if the seed bee not chainged once in fower or five croppes it will slay extreamely. 1875 Encycl. Brit. I. 360/2 On muiry soils this [oat] crop is also not unfrequently lost by what is called ‘slaying’. This seems to result from the occurrence of frosty nights late in spring. Ibid., This tendency to slaying in the oat crop. |
† 14. Med. a. To resolve (an impostume, etc.). Obs.
| a 1400 Stockh. Medical MS. ii. 650 in Anglia XVIII. 323 Þe powdir on ded flesch who so leye, Anon it sleth it. a 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 98 Þis medicyne..wonderfully sleeþ þe antrax and vtterly cureþ it. |
† b. To destroy the vitality of (a part of the body). Obs.—1
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens 348 It choketh and troubleth all the inwarde partes,..and in fine it sleayeth the partie. |
▪ V. slay, v.2
Also sley.
[Back-formation from slaying vbl. n.2]
trans. To set (a warp).
| 1828–32 Webster, Sleid, to sley or prepare for use in the weaver's sley. 1888 R. Beaumont Woollen & Worsted Cloth Manuf. 139 The proper method of sleying any particular warp or specific make of cloth. |