† ˈneven, v. Obs.
Forms: 4 neiuen, neyuen, 4–5 neuyn, 5–6 nevyn, (4, 6 -yne), 4–6 neuin, nevin, neuen, (4–5 -ene), neven, (4–5 -ene); 4–5 nefen; 4 newine, 5 -yn(e.
[a. ON. nefna (Da. nævne), also nemna (Sw. nämna), f. nafn, namn: see name n. and nemn v.
The form nemen(e is occas. found in MSS. where the rime-word shows that neven is intended.]
1. trans. To give as a name to (a person or thing).
| a 1300 Cursor M. 4980 Þai war breþer elleuen at ham, Þai neuend me þe yongeist nam. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 10 Þat burȝe he biges vpon fyrst, & neuenes hit his aune nome. a 1400–50 Alexander 619 And so him neuyned was þe name of his next frendis Alexsandire þe athill. Ibid. 1119 He..comandis þaim swyþe..to make a cite, And neuens it his awen name. |
b. To call (a thing) by a certain name.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 2119 Scamandra þe skyr flode þe scripture it neue[n]s. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy iii. xxvii, I note in sothe what I may it neuene, Outher a dream or veryly a sweuene. |
2. To name (a person, etc.), to mention by name.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 2327 Þis abram þat ȝee her me neuen. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 8012 Þy fader canstow nought neuen. c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame iii. 348 By hym stonden other seuene Wise and worthy for to neuene. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 214 Alle constellaciouns that any man can neven. c 1475 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 284 Many moo londes that I can not nevene. 1513 Douglas æneis vii. v. 60 The maist souerane realme,..That..man can nevin. |
b. To appoint, nominate (a person) to a position.
| 1442 Rolls of Parlt. V. 60/1 Collectours therto to be nevend. Ibid. 60/2 Capitayns as by the Kyng shall be nevend. |
3. To mention, speak of, give an account of.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 4056 Ioseph he sagh a night in sueuen, Þe quilk es worþie for to neuen. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 20 Þe date of Criste to neuen þus fele were gon. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 102 Þe vertuz & þe maners þat y shall neuen þe. c 1460 Towneley Myst. iii. 12 Fulle meruelus to neuen yit was ther vnkyndnes. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. iii. (Percy Soc.) 19 A great gyaunt..To marveylous nowe for me to neven. a 1529 Skelton Col. Cloute 826 He dare not well neuen What they do in heuen. |
b. With clause as object.
| c 1386 Chaucer Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 920 Syn that God..Ne wol not that the philosophres nevene, How that a man schal come unto this stoon. a 1400–50 Alexander 318 How he is merkid & made is mervaile to neuyn. Ibid. 1105, I sall þe neuen sen þou me now prays, Þou sall be drechid of a drinke. |
c. To tell (a story, the truth).
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 2453 Whan it was so neiȝ niȝt, to neuen þe soþe, Þe werwolf wist wel [etc.]. a 1400–50 Alexander 5306 Se þi-selfe a sampill þat I þe sothe neuyn. c 1430 Syr Tryam. 6 Of a story y wylle begynne, That gracyus ys to nevyne. |
d. With as, than, etc.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 2743 Þe word es wers þan man mai neuen. 13.. Ibid. 2085 (Gött), For he liued leleli as I ȝou neuen, He ssittes wid mighti godd in heuen. c 1450 Holland Howlat 716 Thair notis anone, gif I richt newyne, War of Mary the myld. c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 315 Gold perteynyng to þe sonne, as astronomers nevyn. 1513 Douglas æneis iii. ii. 144 A deidlie ȝeir, fer wers than I can nevin, Fell on our membris. |
4. With cognate object: To utter, mention (the name of a person or thing).
| a 1300 Cursor M. 8913 For sco had neuend crist nam,..þai heued þat womman. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 410 Noe þat ofte neuened þe name of oure lorde. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxv. 116 Þan saise þe steward of þe courte þat lord and þat lorde, and neuens þaire names. c 1450 Holland Howlat 33 Bot all thar names to nevyn as now it nocht neid is. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems lxxxv. 60 Thy name I sall ay nevyne. |
5. intr. To tell or make mention of a person or thing.
| a 1330 Roland & V. 157 For þi herodes lete me sle, Þer of y the neuen. 13.. Cursor M. 3116* (Gött.), Of ysaac nou wil i neuen. a 1400–50 Alexander 4881 Of þe noblay to neuen it neyd any cristen. c 1470 Henry Wallace vi. 196 Quhar gret dulle is,..Newyn off it is bot ekyng off payne. |
b. To say, speak.
| c 1400 Song of Roland 1048 Then answerd olyuer with a ruffull steuyn, Angry in hert thus gan he nevyn. |
Hence † ˈnevening vbl. n.
| a 1300 K. Horn (Camb. MS.) 220 Þanne hym spak þe gode king, ‘Wel bruc þu þi neuening’. |