▪ I. † aˈffy, v. Obs.
Forms: 4 afye, (afyghe), 4–6 affye, 4–7 affie, 4–8 affy.
[a. OFr. afie-r, afye-r:—late L. affīdā-re, f. ad. to + fīdāre to trust, f. fīdus trusty, faithful, f. fides faith. Refash. in later Fr. as affier, whence Eng. affy.]
1. trans. To trust, confide (a thing to a person); but from the beginning refl. To confide oneself, trust to, on, or in.
| c 1300 K. Alis. 4753 Joliflich he may hym in her afyghe. c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. C. 331 Þose vnwyse ledes Þat affyen hym in vanyté. c 1380 Sir Ferumb, 756 My godes þat y me affied on. a 1400 St. Alexius 178 To god he gan hym al Affye. c 1450 Lonelich Grail xxvi. 61 In him gan sche hire affye Aboven alle other. 1575 Turbervile Bk. Venerie 112 Let them never affie themselves in yong houndes. 1578 Fenton Hist. Guicciardin (1618) 232 Somewhat affying themselues in the great promises he made. 1613 York Registry MS. Slenningford, I much affie myself in Mr. Heughe Best' just & freindlie dealing. |
2. intr. (by omission of refl. pron.) To confide, trust, rely, put trust. Const. in, rarely on.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 10241 Þo þat þou saghe lyke maumetrye On worldly þyng þey most affye. 1330 ― Chron. 78 On þis Gospatrick William gan affie. 1375 Barbour Bruce x. 271 Tharfor in hym affyit he. a 1470 Tiptoft Caesar's Comm. (1530) ii. 2 In whose great wysedome..Cæsar much affyed. 1559 Myrroure for Mag., Gloucester vi, Most faulte of fayth where I most affyed. 1587 Turbervile Trag. T. (1837) 228 In whom he did affye To shew the case. 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. i. i. 47 Marcus Andronicus, so I do affie In thy vprightnesse and integrity. 1622 M. Fotherby Atheom. 5 Affying only upon his own wit and understanding. 1642 Jer. Taylor God's Judgem. i. i. xxvii. 114 Antiochus for the small trust he affied in him..would not commit any charge..into his hand. |
3. trans. To confide in, trust, give faith to.
| 1330 R. Brunne Chron. 155 To schewe counseil & skille, þat not is to affie. 1587 Turbervile Epit. & Sonnets (1837) 326 So greatly she affied him, Whilest she did beare the sway. 1633 T. Adams Exp. 2 Pet. ii. 5 (1865) 329/2 Who would not rather affy God's word with one singular Noah, than be incredulous with the whole world? |
4. To assure, affirm on one's faith (a thing or fact to a person); to make affidavit.
| c 1500 Partenay 2308 Fair nece..here I you affy That your fadir Deth auenged is well. 1530 Palsgr. 418/2, I affye, I assure or make one certayne of a thynge by my promesse. It is nat for your honour thus by your othe to affye this thyng, and nowe to go from it. 1617 Minsheu Ductor 166 To Affie, Assure, Affirme on his word or credite: vide to Assure. |
5. To secure or make fast by solemn promise; to betroth or espouse (sc. to oneself, or as proxy for another); to take in marriage.
| c 1500 Partenay 6052 Neuer..wold he noght mary..No woman wold betrouth neither affy. 1587 Holinshed Chron. III. 832/2 The said duke affied the lady Marie in the name of his maister king Lewes. 1603 Drayton Barons Warres iii. lxxxiv, The Prince affyes faire Philip [= Philippa] at the last. 1627 ― Agincourt, etc. 68 Comming to Towers, there sumptuously affide: This one, whose like no age had seene before. |
6. To betroth (any one) in marriage to (another); to affiance.
| 1576 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 322 The wise Duke..for more safetie, affied him to his daughter, to be taken in marriage. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iv. i. 80 Daring to affye a mighty Lord Vnto the daughter of a worthlesse King. 1603 Drayton Barons Warres i. xiv, To whom thy only Daughter was affy'd. 1642 Bird Mag. Hon. 34 He was affied to Alice the daughter of the Earl of Moreton. 1655 Digges Compl. Ambass. 13 He was suddenly accepted by that Q. to be affied in contract of Marriage with her. 1705 Rowe Biter iii. Wks. 1792 I. 262, I would not affy my daughter to you. [Meant to be formal and old-fashioned.] |
7. fig. To engage or bind in faith (a thing to a person or vice versâ).
| 1566 Drant Medic. Mor. A, That none contente abyde In trayned trade, that whylome choyse or chaunce to them affyed. 1625 Bp. R. Montagu Appeal to Cæsar 69 (T.) Personal respects rather seem to affie me unto that Synod. |
▪ II. † aˈffy, n. Obs.
Also 4–5 affye, affie.
[f. the vb.]
Trust, reliance.
| c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2167 Wommanes wyt goþ her & þer; in hymen ys noȝtt affye. c 1430 Cheuelere Assigne 10 She sette her affye in Sathanas of helle. |