† cheve, chieve, v. Obs.
Forms: (4 schef), 4–6 cheve, 4–7 chieve, 4, 7 cheeve, 4–5 chefe, (7 chive).
[ME. cheve, a. OF. cheve-r, f. chef head; but in sense 6 aphetic f. Eng. achieve.]
1. intr. To reach an end or object, succeed; usually with adv. well, ill, etc., to get on, fare.
| c 1300 Beket 856 Thanne we miȝte..The bet cheve of oure consail. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. i. 31 And summe chosen chaffare, to cheeuen þe bettre. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 1841 And nowe has þow chevede soo: it es thyne awene skathe! c 1460 Townley Myst. 108 Go forth, ylle myght thou chefe. 1563 Foxe A. & M. June 1556 One wished them ill to chieue, that should go about such an acte. 1600 Holland Livy x. xviii. 363 All things went well and chieved prosperously [res prosperas esse]. 1674 Ray N. Country Wds. 10 To Chieve, to succeed: as It chieves nought with him..Fair chieve you, I wish you good luck. |
b. To fare well; prosper, thrive, flourish.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xviii. 104 Ȝe, cherles, & ȝowre children chieue shal ȝe neure. c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. xii. 297 Inoculing also in hem hath cheved. 1471 Ripley Comp. Alch. ii. xv. in Ashm. (1652) 138 If thou do contrary thy Warke may never cheve. 1611 Cotgr., Faire bonne fin, to thriue, cheeue, increase, or prosper well. |
2. intr. To make or win one's way, get (to a place); to come, go, proceed: much used in allit. verse. Also to cheve to an end: to come to an end.
| c 1300 St. Brandan 408 After the schip so faste he schef that almest he com therto. c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 63 Þe chauntre of þe chapel cheued to an ende. 1340–70 Alisaunder 78 Hee..cheued forthe with þe childe. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. i. (1495) 590 Yf thou sowest the seed of a tree fyrste it cheueth and spryngeth forth as an herbe. c 1400 Destr. Troy 9331 Our londes haue leuyt..and chefen fro hom Vnto a cuntre vnkynd. |
3. trans. To come into possession of; gain, acquire, win.
| c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1271, I schulde chepen & chose, to cheue me a lorde. Ibid. 1390 Tas [= take] yow þere my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more. c 1430 Chev. Assigne 16 That he hadde no chylde to cheuene his londis. [1614 Davies Eclogue, Willy & Wernocke, O hou it garres old Wernock swinck with glee In that emprise that chiuen featest fame.] |
4. intr. To fall to, befall, happen, come to pass.
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 1125 If hit cheue þe chaunce vncheryst ho worþe. c 1400 Destr. Troy 395 Hym chefet thurghe chaunse childer no mo. Ibid. 518 Auntres..Of chiualry & chaunce, þat cheuyt hym before. a 1440 Sir Degrev. 465 How as evere hit cheve; The knyght takes his leve. |
b. impers. with object in dative.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xiv. 226 And if he chide or chatre, hym chieueth [v.r. cheueþ] þe worse. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 869 Hade I wytene of this, wele had me chefede. c 1400 Destr. Troy 5985 Þurghe Achilles chiualry hom cheuyt the worse. 1611 Beaum. & Fl. Knt. Burning Pestle i. iii, Foul chive him, he is too merry. 1657 Sir A. Cockain Obst. Lady iii. ii, Foul cheeve him for it! |
5. intr. To do homage to. Cf. chevage.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 111 Whan wrathed Steuen with Dauid of Scotland, Þat wild not tille him cheuen, no bowe vnto his hand. Ibid. 323 Grete was þat linage & many to þam cheued. 1436 Pol. Poems (1859) II. 156 God ..Sav Caleys..That ever yt mot wel cheve Unto the crown of mery Yngland, Whils that this world wyll stand. |
6. trans. To bring to an end or issue; to finish, accomplish, perform, achieve.
| [c 1400 Destr. Troy Prol. 16 New stories ben now..Cheuyt throughe chaunce & chaungyng of peopull. Ibid. 947 Thies charmys & enchauntementes are cheuit to noght.] 1426 Pol. Poems II. 132 Gladly he chevith what so he begynne. c 1475 Partenay 597, I shall plainly do your commaundement, What-someuer cost it for to cheue. 1530 Palsgr. 483/2, I cheve, I bringe to an ende, Je aschieve. |