† yepe, a. (n.) Obs.
Forms: 1 ᵹeap, (ᵹep), 3 ȝeap, ȝæp, ȝiap, ȝiep, 3–5 ȝep, (4 ȝhepe, ȝeep, yeepe, 6 epe), 4–5 ȝepe, yepe. See also yap a.
[OE. ᵹéap open, wide, spacious, curved, crooked, vaulted, crafty, astute; repr. OTeut. root gaup-, and prob. related to ON. gaupn hollow made by both hands held together, hollow of the foot, two-hands-ful, etc. (cf. geypna to encompass): see gowpen and yepsen.]
1. Cunning, crafty, sly, wily.
| c 1000 ælfric Gen. iii. 1 Seo næddre wæs ᵹeappre þonne ealle þa oðre nytenu. c 1000 Life St. Neot in Cockayne Shrine (1864) 14 An fox þe is ᵹeapest ealra deora. a 1225 Ancr. R. 280 Þe ȝeape wrastlare nimeð ȝeme hwat turn his fere ne cunne nout, þet he mid wrastleð. Ibid. 362 Þeos ȝeape children þet habbeð riche uederes,..tetereð hore cloðes forto habben neowe. |
2. Prudent, wise, sagacious, shrewd, astute.
| c 1000 Sax. Leechd. III. 184 Cild acenned wis, milde, ᵹeap, ᵹesæliᵹ. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 193 Beð ȝiepe, and warre, and wakieð. c 1205 Lay. 7581 Julius Cesar He wes ȝep and swuðe i-wær. a 1300 Cursor M. 5370 A wis man es þi sun ioseph, In al egypti es nan sa yepe [MS. Gött. ȝep]. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 3812 That we sende oure Messager, Wise and ȝepe. c 1485 Digby Myst. iv. 724 Iohn, your cosyn, most virtuus & ȝepe. |
3. Active, nimble, brisk, alert; bold, daring.
| c 1205 Lay. 21503 Cheorles ful ȝepe Mid clubben swiðe græte. 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 3983 Gij to aseylen þai wer ȝep. 13.. Sir Beues (A.) 88 Maseger, be ȝep and snel. 13.. Gosp. Nicod. (A.) 1796 Þai lay in droupand drede And non so ȝhepe a worde to ȝelle. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xi. 17 Þow art ȝonge and ȝepe and hast ȝeres ynowe, Forto lyue longe. c 1400 Destr. Troy 11265 Þai kepyn the cloyse of this clene burgh, With ȝep men at þe yatis ȝarkit full þik. c 1515 Scottish Field 491 (Chetham Misc. II.) And of Yorkshire a yong knight, that epe was of deedes. |
B. absol. as n.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 66 Kumeð þe coue [MS. T. cumes te ȝeape] anonriht & reueð hire hire eiren. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 796 For aungels hit wern, & þat þe ȝep vnder-ȝede þat in þe ȝate syttez. c 1400 Destr. Troy 13231 With-in a yere..þat yepe was with child. |
Hence † yephede [-head], † yepleȝȝc [-laik], † yepship [-ship], cunning; astuteness, sagacity.
| c 1000 ælfric Josh. ix. 16 Eall heora ᵹeapscipe wearð ameldod Israhela bearnum. c 1200 Ormin 2523 Ȝho wass, wiss to fulle soþ, All full..Off soþ clænleȝȝc, off god ȝæpleȝȝc. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 193 Þe apostel..muneȝeð us to þrie þinges, On is ȝiepshipe, þat oðer is wakienge, þe þridde is bede. Ibid. 195 He notede þe naddre ȝiapshipe. c 1205 Lay. 2760 Heo færden mid ȝeapscipe & mid wisdome. a 1250 Owl & Night. 683 (Jesus MS.) Þanne erest cumeþ his yephede Hwenne hit is alremest on drede. |