† hething, vbl. n. Obs.
Forms: 3 Orm. hæþinng, 3–4 heþing, 4 -yng, hethinge, ethynge, 3–6 hething, (Sc. 5 heithing, -ding, heyden, -din, hathing).
[a. ON. hǽðing scoffing, mocking, derision, f. hǽða hethe v.]
Scoffing, derision, mockery; scorn, contempt; dishonour.
| c 1200 Ormin 240 Þatt icc ne beo mang wimmannkinn Till hæþinng butenn chilldre. a 1300 Cursor M. 15881 Þe feluns logh him til hething. c 1386 Chaucer Reeve's T. 190 Allas, quod Iohn, the day that I was born; Now are we dryve til hethyng and til scorn. c 1450 Henryson Mor. Fab. 10 At the last shee saide halfe in hathing. c 1460 Towneley Myst. (Surtees) 236 Both on ernest and on hethyng. ? a 1500 Pebles to Play xi, Ane young man stert upon his feit, And he began to lauche For heydin. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 265 The Scottis men..Bot scorne and hething send to him agane. c 1540 Pilgr. T. 388 in Thynne Animadv. 88 Abjuryd, and to hething scornyd. |
b. An object or cause of scorn or derision.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 15412 Hald yee it na hething. a 1340 Hampole Psalter xxxvii. 7 Comm., Swa makis he me his hethynge. c 1460 Towneley Myst. (Surtees) 174 What, dewille, wille he be there? This hold I great hethyng. |
Hence † ˈhethingful a., scornful, contemptuous.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 3953 Bourdfull among buernes, blithe of his wordis, Hethyngfull to hathels, but it harmyt not. |