▪ I. † hean, hene, a. Obs.
Forms: 1 héan, 3 hæne, heane, 3–4 hene, 4 heyne.
[Com. Teut. adj.: OE. héan = OHG. hôni, Goth. hauns contemptible, base, humble: cf. Lettish kauns shame, disgrace, dishonour.]
Mean, abject, poor; humble, lowly.
| Beowulf (Z.) 1275 Þa he hean ᵹe-wat, dreame be-dæled. c 825 Vesp. Psalter ix. 39 [x. 18] Doem ðæm freondleasan and ðæm heanan. c 1205 Lay. 3172 Heo hold me for hæne [c 1275 wrecche]. Ibid. 12136 Hermes heo worhten and hene lond makeden. c 1230 Hali Meid. 13 Who makeð out..of heane hine, of fa freond. c 1325 Pol. Songs (Camden) 150 Me halt hem ful hene. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 26 To stere men to be heuy of þer mysse and to desire to be heyne. |
▪ II. † hean, hene, v. Obs.
Forms: 1 h{iacu}enan, h{yacu}nan, hénan, 2–4 hene(n, 3 heanen, hænen.
[Com. Teut.: OE. h{iacu}enan = OFris. héna (MDu. hônen. Du. hoonen), OHG. hônen (MHG. hœnen, Ger. höhnen), Goth. haunjan, f. haun-s adj.: see prec. (From the OHG. came OF. honir to dishonour, pa. pple. honi, in ‘honi soit qui mal y pense’.)]
trans. To treat with contumely; to insult, humiliate, debase, lower.
| Beowulf (Z.) 2320 Geata leode hatode ond hynde. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Luke x. 16 Seðe iuih teleð vel ᵹeheneð mec henes. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 13 Stala and steorfa swiðe eow scal hene. c 1205 Lay. 6874 Al his folc he hatede and al he hit hænde. c 1230 Hali Meid. 13 Vre flesch is ure fa & heaneð us & harmeð. c 1410 Chron. Eng. 1030 (Ritson Metr. Rom. II. 313) Heo heveden him in henyng, Ant seiden he wes traitour. |