| 释义 |
▪ I. slay, sley, n.1|sleɪ|
Forms: α. 1 sleᵹe, 5 sleye, 7 sleie, 6– sley, 8–9 sleigh (slea). β. 4– slay, 5–7 slaye, 6 slai-, 8–9 slaie.
[OE. sleᵹe stroke, striking, slaying, etc., = OS. slegi, f. the stem of the vb. slay. The related forms in the other Teut. languages retain the vowel a, as MDu. and MLG. slach (Du. and LG. slag), OHG. slag (G. schlag), ON. slagr masc., slag neut., Goth. slahs; cf. also OS. slaga (MLG. slage, LG. slâge, slâe), OHG. slaga (G. schlage) fem., stroke, striking implement.
A variant OE. form appears in the Corpus Gloss. P 376 ‘Pectica, slahae’, in a later vocab. (Wr.-Wülcker 262) written ‘slae’.]
1. An instrument used in weaving to beat up the weft; = reed n.1 10.
αc1050Suppl. ælfric's Gloss. in Wr.-Wülcker 188 Insubula, webbeamas. Percussorium, sleᵹe. 14..Lat.-Eng. Voc. Ibid. 601 Pecten,..a sleye. 1530Palsgr. 13 A sley. 1599Minsheu, Lízos para texér, the owfe or threed..which the sleie doth weaue vp and downe. 1615Markham Eng. Housew. ii. v. (1668) 128 Warp is spun close..because it runs through the sleies. 1656W. Dugard tr. Comenius' Gate Lat. Unl. 109 [He] weaveth the woof into the warp, and with the sley drawn-to thickeneth the linen cloath. 1701Minute Bk. New Mills Cloth Manuf. (S.H.S.) 238, 800 Spanish Reids long lithed for broad lomb sleas. 1796Trans. Soc. Arts XIV. 278 The sleigh is made in the same manner as stocking-frame sleighs are made. 1890R. Beaumont Woollen & Worsted Cloth Manuf. (ed. 2) 139 The sley is fixed vertically in the going-part of the loom. 1894Hall Caine Manxman 368 Rocking the child..to and fro like the sleigh of a loom.
β1316in Rock Text. Fabr. (1870) 96 Item in j slay pro textoribus viij d. c1340Nominale (Skeat) 340 A webbe..Wouyn thorue slay Made of yrede (sic) and of birche. 140426 Polit. Poems 15 At þe last it goþ,..As ende of web out of slay. 1442Rolls of Parlt. V. 60/2 The Slayes and Yern therto belangyng. 1523Skelton Garl. Laurel 791 To weue in the stoule sume were full preste, With slaiis, with tauellis, with hedellis well drest. 1591–2Proclamation 20 Jan., Some by using of false slaies, and false weauing of their clothes, making the muster ende thereof..closely wouen. 1602Knaresborough Wills (Surtees) I. 241 My new lynnen loame with all the slayes. 1677A. Yarranton Eng. Improv. 53 Thou mayest have the Looms, Wheels, and Slayes at first out of Germany and from Haerlem. 1717Croxall Ovid's Met. vi. 178 The woof and warp..press'd by the toothy slay. 1806W. Taylor in Ann. Rev. IV. 773 The slay, or file of reeds, with which the weaver approximates the threads of shoot. 1879T. R. Ashenhurst Weaving Des. Text. Fabr. (1893) 305 There are numerous rules and formulae..for determining the setting of warps in the slay.
2. attrib. and Comb., as slay-hook, slay-maker; also slay-bar, the reed of a stocking-frame, etc.; † slay-bred: (see quot. and bred n.); slay sword, each of the supports upon which the slay of a loom oscillates during the process of weaving.
14..Lat.-Eng. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 591 Lama, sley⁓brede. 1583in Wadley Bristol Wills (1886) 236 John Wallys, slaymaker and weaver. 1723Lond. Gaz. No. 6196/8 John Rew, late of Exon, Slea-maker. 1834–6Encycl. Metrop. (1845) VIII. 734/1 The warp..is drawn through the reed by an instrument called a sley or reed hook. 1843Mechanics' Mag. XXXIX. 428 The sley bar has a new and peculiar motion given to it for bringing the work over the needle heads. 1895R. Marsden Cotton Weaving v. 166 The shaft is cranked, and by means of arms from these cranks is attached to the ‘slay’ or lathe..which oscillates upon the ‘slay-swords’. 1963A. J. Hall Textile Sci. iii. 142 This reed is fastened to the sley sword S, which is pivoted..so that as required it can swing to and from position X after the insertion of each weft thread.
▪ II. † slay, n.2 Obs.—1
Some kind of fabric.
1745P. Thomas Voy. S. Seas 58 The plunder..consisted in..fine Linens and Woollens, Britannia's, Slays, and the like.
▪ III. slay
obs. form of sleigh n.
▪ IV. slay, v.1|sleɪ|
Pa. tense slew |sluː|. pa. pple. slain |sleɪn|. Forms: (see below).
[Common Teut.: OE. sléan, north. slán, slá (pa. tense slóᵹ, slóh, pl. slóᵹon, pa. pple. slæᵹen, sleᵹen, slaᵹen), = OFris. slân, slâ (WFris. slaen, EFris. slô, NFris. slaa, slô, slû), MDu. slaen (sclaen, Du. slaan), OS. slahan (MLG. slân, LG. slân, slagen), OHG. slahan, sclahan (MHG. slahen, slachen, etc., G. schlagen), ON. slá (Icel. slá, Norw. and Da. slaa, Sw. slå), Goth. slahan. The relations of the pre-Teut. stem slak- are somewhat uncertain.
All parts of the verb exhibit a great variety of OE. and ME. forms, partly through natural phonetic development, and partly by assimilation to each other. The normal ME. infinitives are slē(n from OE. sléan, and slā(n, slō(n from northern OE. slán or from ON. slá; the later forms sley, slay are due to the influence of the pa. pple.]
A. Illustration of forms.
1. inf. (α) 1–3 slean (3 sclean, sclein), 4–5 sleen; 3 slæn, 3–5 slen, 5 slene.
c888[see B. 3]. a1122O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1086, Nan man ne dorste slean oðerne man. c1200Ormin 8040 Herode..Let slæn þa little barrness. a1225Juliana 49 Þe an to sclein þen oþer. c1250Gen. & Ex. 3729 Ðor ðrette god hem alle to slen. c1275Lay. 3943 Raþir ich wolle þe slean. c1374Chaucer Boeth. ii. pr. vi. (1868) 53 Busirides þat was wont to sleen hys gestes. c1440Promp. Parv. 459/1 Slen, or kyllyn beestys. a1470Harding Chron. cviii. x, The Christen folke [they] did brenne, wast and slene.
(β) 1, 3 slæ, 3–6 sle (5 scle), 4–6 slee (5 sclee), 3–6 slea.
c950Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxiv. 49 [He] ongann slae heafudlinges his. c1205Lay. 17952 Þu scalt beien slæ þer. c1275Ibid. 16052 Þou lettest slea Constance. 1340Ayenb. 223 Ham uor to slea. c1375Cursor M. 4392 (Fairf.), Þat wife..þoȝt him to slee. c1400Beryn 816 Þouȝe men wold sclee hym. c1400Laud Troy Bk. 15576 We schal scle hem In fight. c1450Merlin ii. 25 It were beste for vs to sle hym. 1485Caxton Paris & V. (1868) 28, I shal slee myself. a1553Udall Royster D. iv. viii, She shall not slee mee. 1575R. B. Appius & Virginia in Hazl. Dodsley IV. 153 He..did sle himself outright. 1587Grove Pelops & Hipp. (1878) 28 He thinks to slea..his daughter.
(γ) (north. and Sc.) 1, 3–4 slan, 4 slane; 1, 5 slaa, 1, 3–7 sla (5 scla), 6–7 slae, slea.
c950Lindisf. Gosp. Luke xii. 45 [He] onginneð..slaa ða cnæhtas. c975Rushw. Gosp. Matt. xxiv. 49 [He] onginnaþ slan efnþeu his. c1200Ormin 19921 To slan þatt mann. a1300Cursor M. 832 Þe strang þe weker for to sla. Ibid. 13952 Þan soght þai iesu for to slan. c1400tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 48 We purpos to slaa þam alle. 1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 157 He may sla him at his awin will. 15..in Dunbar's Wks. (S.T.S) II. 318 Thair is nocht thair bot tak and slae. 1583Leg. Bp. St. Androis Pref. 56 To slea the sanctis of God. 1603Philotus civ, Themselues to sla. 1609Skene Reg. Maj. 40 That the husband did slea hir. Ibid., That he did not slae hir.
(δ) 3–5 slon, 4–5 slone; 3–6 slo (5 sclo), 4–6 sloo, 5–7 sloe.
c1250Gen. & Ex. 1328 Abraham..was redi to slon him. a1300Havelok 512 He may me waiten for to slo. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 844 Fader & moder scholde he sloo. a1400Launfal 837 To..dampny hym to sclo. c1440Promp. Parv. 274/2 Kyllyn, or slone. 1489Skelton Death Earl Northumbld. 35 To slo their owne lord. 1526― Magnyf. 2354 Thyselfe that thou wolde sloo. a1585Montgomerie Misc. Poems xxxiv. 13 To slo me, but offence.
(ε) 4 slaȝe, 5 slayn, 5– 6 slaye, 6 slaie; 4–7 sley (6 sleye), 5– slay (6 sleay).
1340Ayenb. 8 Þou ne sselt slaȝe nenne man. c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 139 Some wole..sley sheep of Holy Chirche. a1400–50Alexander 1766 (Dubl. MS.), I sall..slaye þe with my handez. c1460Promp. Parv. (Winch.), Kyllyn, or slayn. 1479Barbour's Bruce ii. 205 [He] bad him..byrn, and slay. a1535Fisher Wks. (1876) 405 So death doth sleay their soules. 1535Coverdale Gen. iv. 14 Who so fyndeth me, shal slaye me. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 219 b, To go & slaie them.
2. pres. ind.
a. 1st pers. sing. (also subj.) 1 slea, 1, 3 slæ, 4 sle, 6 slee; 6 sley(e, slaye, 7– slay.
c825Vesp. Hymns vii. 77 Ic..slea & ic ᵹehaelu. c950Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxvi. 31 Ic slæ hiorde. c1205Lay. 3943 ær ich þe slæ mid mine spere. 13..Cursor M. 7632 (Gött.), Þat i him sle it es noght gode. 1508Dunbar Flyting 235 Cry grace,..or I the chece and sley. a1533Ld. Berners Huon xvi. 43 Better it were..or I slee thee.
b. 2nd pers. sing. (α) 1 sles, slaes, 5 slees; 4 slaas, slos.
c825Vesp. Psalter cxxxviii. 19 Hweðer sles ðu..synfulle. c950Lindisf. Gosp. John xviii. 23 Forhuon mec slaes ðu? a1300E.E. Psalter cxxxviii. 18 If þou slaas..sinful. a1300Havelok 2706 Þat þou..mine gode knihtes slos.
(β) 1 slehst, slæᵹst, 3 sleast, 3–4 sleest; 3–4 slast, 6– slayest (poet. slay'st).
a900Kentish Glosses in Wr.-Wülcker 79 Ᵹif ðu slehst. c975Rushw. Gosp. Matt. xxiii. 37 Þu þe slæᵹst witᵹa. c1200Ormin 6752 Þa slast tu..þin aȝhenn flæsh. c1275Lay. 5017 Ȝif þou sleast þine broþer. 1382Wyclif Matt. xxiii. 37 Jerusalem, that sleest prophetis. c1440Jacob's Well 46 Þou sleest him in þat [etc.]. 1535Coverdale Matt. xxiii. 37 Thou that slayest the prophetes.
c. 3rd pers. sing. (α) 1 sliehð, slihð, slyhð, slæhð, 2 slehð, 4 slekþ.
c897K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xlvi. 347 Ðonne hit mon sliehð [v.r. slihð]. c900tr. Baeda's Hist. i. xvi. (1890) 78 Seo haliᵹe æ mid deaðe slæhð [v.r. slyhð]. c1160Hatton Gosp. Luke vi. 29 Þam þe þe slehð on þam wange. 1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 1527 He slekþ hym þat trowyþ hys lesyng.
(β) 1 slaeð, 3 sleað, slað; 1 sleð, 4–5 sleþ, 4–6 sleth, 5 slethe; 4–5 sleeþ, 5–6 sleeth; 1 slaes, 4 sles(e, 4–5 slees, 7 sleas.
c825Vesp. Psalter lxxvii. 34 Ðonne he sleð hie. c950Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. v. 39 Ᵹif hua ðec slaes in suiðra ceica. Ibid. Luke vi. 29 Seðe ðec slaeð on cece. c1230Hali Meid. 29 Cwalm slað [Bodl. sleað] þat ahte. a1300Cursor M. 29386 [He] þat sles his fo. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 13890 As þe lyon..sleþ þe best. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xiv. 90 Shrifte of mouth sleeth synne. 1450–80tr. Secreta Secret. 18 He that slethe the creature. Ibid., Who so sleth any man. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 238 The lawe sleeth the gylty man. 1539Elyot Image Gov. (1541) 46 He that sleath his prince.
(γ) (north. and Sc.) 3rd pers. sing. 3 slaþ; 4–5 slas, 5 slase, 5–6 slaes, slais. Also 3 sloð, 5 sloys.
c1200Ormin 2092 He slaþ hiss aȝhenn sawle. c1220Bestiary 431 Þer he us sloð. a1300Cursor M. 29348 He slas him-seluen. a1400–50Alexander 3883 He..Slaes of þa serpentis many..hundreth. c1400Cursor M. 29386 (Cott. Galba), Him þat slase Preste or clerk. c1400tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 88 It slas þe souerayn vertu. c1460Towneley Myst. ii. 372 He that sloys yong or old. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xlix. 44 Evir quhill he be slane he slais. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. II. 2 marg., He slaes the Inglismen.
(δ) 4 slaȝþ, 5 sleith, 5–6 sleyth, 6 sleythe, sleayeth, 6– (now poet.) slayeth; 6–7 slayes (Sc. slayis), 7– slays.
1340Ayenb. 34 He..himzelue slaȝþ. 1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 143 Who-So sleyth, he shal be slayne. c1450Cursor M. 6673 (Laud MS.), Who sleith eny man with wille. 1535Coverdale Gen. iv. 15 Who so euer slayeth Cain. 1578Lyte Dodoens 348 In fine it sleayeth the partie. 1607Shakes. Timon iv. iii. 435 He slayes Moe then you Rob.
d. pl. (α) 1–2 sleað; 4–5 slen, sleen (5 scleen); 4–6 slea, sle, 5–6 slee (5 sclee); also north. 5 slees.
c888[see B. 3]. a1200Vices & Virtues 61 [They] sleað here auȝene saule. 1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 1349 Þey sle hem alle. 1388Wyclif 2 Kings xvii. 26 Lo! liouns sleen hem. c1400Mandeville (1839) xxviii. 288 Theise Serpentes slen men. 1559Morwyng Evonymus 236 Poysones which slee.
(β) 2 slaȝe(ð, 6 sleye, slaye, 7– slay.
c1175Lamb. Hom. 51 Þenne slaȝe we ure sunne. Ibid. 53 Heo slaȝeð heore aȝene saule. 1535Coverdale 1 Esdras iv. 5 They..slaye (other men) them selues. 1611Bible 1 Esdras iv. 5 They slay and are slaine.
(γ) (Also subj.) 4–5 sla, slaa, 5 slo(e.
a1300E.E. Psalter lxi. 3 Vnto yhe sla. 1375Barbour Bruce i. 487 Thai sla our folk. a1400–50Alexander 3198 Slaa ȝe me þus sudanly? a1425Cursor M. 16328 (Trin.), Till þat þei þe slo.
3. pres. subj. (2nd and 3rd pers. sing.). (α) 1 slae, 1, 3 slea, 4–6 sle, 5 slee.
a901Laws Alfred Pref. §16 (Liebermann), Ᵹif hwa slea his ðone nehstan mid stane. c975Rushw. Gosp. Matt. v. 39 Ᵹif hwa ðec slae. c1000ælfric Exod. xxi. 15 Se þe slea his fæder. c1325Prose Ps. cxxxviii. 18 Ȝif þou sle þe synȝers. 1382Wyclif Job xiii. 15 If he sle me.
(β) north. 3–5 sla, 4–5 slo.
a1300in O.E. Misc. 200/5 Loke þat tu ne sla na man. c1310in Wright Spec. Lyric P. vii. 29 Er thou me slo. c1400tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 61 Suffre þat he sla. c1460Towneley Myst. ii. 371, I will that no man other slo.
(γ) 6 slaye, 6– slay.
1500–20Dunbar Poems xxxvi. 15 That..No wicht ane vder slay. 1535Coverdale Deut. xix. 6 Lest the auenger..slaye him. 1607Shakes. Cor. iv. iv. 24 If he slay me He does faire Iustice.
4. imp. (α) 1 sleh, 2 sleih, 4–5 sle, 4–6 slee, 6 sley; 1 sleah, sleaᵹe, 4–5 slea; 1 slyh, 2 slyᵹh. Also pl. 1 slæð (slæh), sleað (slea), 3 s(c)leaþ, sleoþ, 4 sleth, 5 sleeth, sleeþ; 4 north. sles.
sing.c825Vesp. Psalter lviii. 12 Ne sleh ðu hie. c1000Ags. Gosp. Mark x. 19 Ne slyh þu. a1200Vices & Virtues 67 Ne sleih, ne ne stell. a1225Ancr. R. 206 Slea hit mid dedbote. c1325Prose Ps. lviii. 11 Lord, ne sle hem nouȝt. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. iii. 264 What þow fyndest þere, slee it. 1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 162 Go thou and Sle the Synners. 1480Robt. Devyll 24 Slea me, she sayde. 1539Cranmer Luke xix. 27 Slee them before me.
plur.c1000Andreas 1300 Sleað synniᵹne ofer seolfes muð. c1205Lay. 28726 Slæð..al þat ȝe findeð. c1275Ibid. 4222 Sleoþ ham mid swerde. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 4855 Sleþ hom hastiliche anon. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 1163 Spares non, bot sles on fast. 13..Cursor M. 6634 (Gött.), Sles vp ȝone caytifes. 1382Wyclif Exod. i. 16 If it be a maal, sleeth hym.
(β) sing. 2–4, 6 sla; 3–4 slo, 7 Sc. sloe. pl. 4 slas, slays; slo, slos.
c1160Hatton Gosp. Luke iii. 14 Ne sla ᵹe nanne man. c1250Gen. & Ex. 3505 Ne slo ð u noȝt. a1300Havelok 2596 Slos up-on þe dogges. a1300Cursor M. 6634 Slas vþ yon caitefs. a1400R. Brunne's Chron. Wace (Rolls) 1163 (Petyt MS.), Spares non bot slo all faste. 1611Sir W. Mure Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 10 Save then or sloe ane captiue.
(γ) 6 slaye, 7– slay.
1535Coverdale Judges viii. 20 Stonde vp, & slaye them. 1611Bible 1 Kings iii. 27 In no wise slay it.
5. pa. ind. (α) 1st and 3rd pers. sing. 1, 3–4 sloh, 4 slohw; 1 sloᵹ, sloᵹh, 4 sloȝ, slooȝ (3 sloþ), 4–5 sloȝe; 3–4 slog, 4–5 slogh (5 sloght), sloghe, sloch; 4–5 slo. 2nd pers. 1 sloᵹe, 3 sloȝe. pl. 1–2 sloᵹon (1 -un), sloᵹan, 1 sloᵹen, 2 sloȝhen, 3–4 sloȝen, 5 sloghen; 4 sloghe, 5 sloȝe; 4 slogh.
sing. Beowulf 421 Þær ic..sloᵹ niceras nihtes. Ibid. 1565 He..yrringa sloh. c825Vesp. Psalter iii. 8 Ðu sloᵹe alle wiðerbrocan. c1200Ormin 3590 Daviþþ king sloh Goliat. c1205Lay. 10999 Þa þu sloȝe Asclepidiot. c1275Ibid. 1290 Manie he sloþ. a1300Cursor M. 6120 Þat he ne slo an. a1300E.E. Psalter c. 9, I slogh with hand Alle þe sinful. c1325Prose Ps. c. 9 Ich sloȝe..alle þe synȝers. 13..Cursor M. 1046 (Gött.), His aune broþer abel he slohw. 1382Wyclif Isaiah xxvii. 7 As he slooȝ the slayne men. c1400Destr. Troy 9728 Deffibus..oure folk sloght. c1450Mirk's Festial 193 He yn þat maner sloch hymself. c1460Towneley Myst. ii. 395, I slogh my brother. Ibid. 433 He that slo his brother.
plur.c893K. ælfred Oros. i. x. 46 Þa wif..sloᵹon þa hysecild. 971Blickl. Hom. 23 Hie hine..mid bradre hand sloᵹan. 1154O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1138, [They] sloᵹhen suithe micel of his genge. a1300K. Horn 195 Hi sloȝen..Cristenemen inoȝe. a1340Hampole Psalter xxvii. 5 Þe iowes sloghe crist. a1400–50Alexander 3213 (Dubl. MS.), Þees warryd wightez..Þat Sloghen [v.r. sloȝe] so þair souerent.
(β) sing. 3–5 slowe (5 sclowe), 4–5 sloue; 4–5 slow (5 sclow), 4 sloow, slou (sclou). pl. 3–5 slowen, 5 slowyn, 4 slouen; 4–5 slowe, slow (5 sclow).
sing.c1205Lay. 4355 Seoððen þu hine slowe. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 458 Corineus..slou hom to gronde. a1300in E.E.P. (1862) 116 Slowe þu þe holi prophete? 13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 1221 Þe kynges sunnes..he slow euer vchone. 13..Cursor M. 14431 (Gött.), Dauid..sclou golias. 1382Wyclif Isaiah xiv. 20 Thou the puple sloow. a1400Arthur 528 Engystis Men Þat..sclow þeyre kyn. 1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 174 The pepill..he slow. c1450Knt. de La Tour (1868) 102 Husbondes, whiche the deuelle slow.
plur.c1205Lay. 1608 Alle heo slowen þat heo neih comen. a1300Havelok 2432 Euerilk fot of hem [they] slowe. 13..Cursor M. 2502 (Gött.), Þair fas foluand þaim slow. 1382Wyclif Matt. xxiii. 35 Zacharie,..whom ȝee slowen. c1400Laud Troy Bk. 16666 Thei sclow ten thousand. c1425Audelay XI Pains of Hell 135 in O.E. Misc. 215 [They] slowyn here childer. 1483Caxton Gold. Leg. 228 b/2 Where they slowe..many men.
(γ) sing. 3–4 slouh, 4–5 slowh, slouȝ, 5 slowȝ(e; 4–5 slough, 5 sloughe, slowgh(e. pl. 5 sloughen; 4 slowȝe, 4–5 slowhe, 5 sloughe; 4 slouȝ, slough.
c1225Ancr. R. 136 Iudit, þet slouh Oloferne. 1310St. Brendan (Bälz) 441 Þis luþer best sone he slouȝ. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 7280 Of þe Peytes þat he slough. c1386Chaucer Knt.'s T. 1608 (Lansd. MS.), I slowhe Sampson schakinge þe piler. a1400Morte Arth. 4046 He..þat hym slowghe. a1425Cursor M. 162 (Trin.), Heroude..slowȝe childer ȝonge. c1450Merlin xx. 352 Many thei sloughen. 1474Caxton Chesse iii. i. (1883) 76 For this cause he slough abel.
(δ) sing. 3 sluȝ, 5 sluȝe, 6–7 slue; 5 slewȝ, Sc. sleuch (sleucht), 6 scleuȝe; 4– slew, 5–6 slewe. Also 2nd pers. 6–7 slew'st. pl. 3 sluȝen, 5–7 slue (5 Sc. sleuch); 4 slewen, 5– slew (5 sclew), 6 slewe.
sing.c1250Gen. & Ex. 2685 He..sluȝ ðor maniȝe. 1375Barbour Bruce i. 557 Modreyt..him slew. 1382Wyclif 1 Kings ii. 25 The which slewȝ hym. c1420Avow. Arth. lxv, There hit sluȝe him als. 14..Sc. Leg. Saints xxv. (Julian) 231 Þat fadyr & modir bath sleucht. 1470–85Malory Arthur x. xxxiv. 468 Kynge Marke slewe hym. a1500Pol., Rel., & Love Poems 124, I scleuȝe my selue. 1559Mirr. Mag., Clifford iii, That slue duke Richardes childe. 1592Kyd Sp. Trag. iii. vii, I slew him for your sake. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. iii. iii. 138 But thou slew'st Tybalt. a1641Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. (1642) 323 Saxa..slue himselfe. 1671Milton Samson 439 Who slew'st them many a slain.
plur.c1250Gen. & Ex. 3916 Oc he sluȝen king of basaan. 1382Wyclif Matt. xxi. 39 Thei kesten [him] out..and slewen. a1400–50Alexander 2043 (Dubl.), Þai..Slew downe..seges. c1489Caxton Blanchardyn xlviii. 187 They kylled and slue..many one. 1490Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 131 Men..that sclew a man. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xix. 22 They slue foure of the best runners. 1632Lithgow Trav. iii. 104 They scaled the walles, [and] slue the watches.
6. pa. subj. 1 sloᵹe, pl. sloᵹen, 2, 5 sloȝe, 3 sluȝe, 4 slowe.
c897K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xxviii. 196 Ðæt hie sloᵹen..kyning. a1122O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1086, Swa hwa swa sloᵹe heort. c1250Gen. & Ex. 3976 Had ic an swerd, ic sluȝe ðe. c1380Sir Ferumb. 467 Þoȝ y slowe þe her in fiȝt. a1400–50Alexander 5351 If we þis lede sloȝe.
7. pa. pple. (α) 1 ᵹeslæᵹen, ᵹesleᵹen, 3 i-slæȝ en, i-sleien, i-slein, 4 i-, y-slayn, 5 y-sclayn, y-slayne, 6 y-slaine; 1 slæᵹen, sleᵹen, 4–5 sleyn, 6 sleyne; 2–3, 6–7 slaine, 4–7 slayne, 5 slayen, 4–6 slayn (4–5 sclayn, 4 sclain), 4, 7– slain.
(a)a900O.E. Chron. (Parker MS.) an. 823, Þær wæs micel wæl ᵹeslæᵹen. c900tr. Baeda's Hist. iii. xi. (1890) 190 Þa wæs ᵹesleᵹen..sum leornungmon. c1205Lay. 5584 Summe heore men [had] i-slæȝene. a1225Ancr. R. 156 Gostliche isleien. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 103 If alle fiȝte and alle [be] i-slayn. 1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 162 Al the grecans..yslayne thay moght. a1400Arthur 566 Arthoures nevew..was þere y-sclayn. 1590Spenser F.Q. iii. v. 9 Of a forreine foe He is yslaine.
(b)c725Corpus Gloss. P 287 Percellitur, bið slaeᵹen. c825Vesp. Psalter ci. 5 Sleᵹen ic eam. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 103 Leirede and slaine. a1300Cursor M. 23964 Hu þai haf þat saccles sclain. a1320Sir Tristr. 830 Ȝif tristrem be now sleyn. c1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 4612 Þar sal he be slayn. 1399Langl. P. Pl. C. i. 113 Hus sones [being] slayen. a1425Cursor M. 4168 (Trin.), Þat we haue sleyn him. 1470–85Malory Arthur xviii. xvi. 754 There..I was nere slayne. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 159 b, Al they that folowed hym..were sleyne. 1584D. Powel Lloyd's Cambria 2 Who was slaine by his owne men. 1655–60Stanley Hist. Philos. (1687) 48/2 Men slain By cruel Men.
(β) 3 i-, hii-sleȝe, i-slehȝe; 4 sleie, sleye, slaye, 5 slay, scley.
c1275Lay. 10932 He hadde islehȝe moche of hire cunne. Ibid. 13602 Hii-sleȝe we habbeþ þane king. c1350Will. Palerne 379 Sche wold haue sleie hire-self. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. xviii. 275 Seynt thomas..in holychurche was sleye. a1400Arthur 223 Þu hast scley frolle in fraunce.
(γ) 1 ᵹeslaᵹen, 3 i-slaȝen, i-sclawen, i-slawen, 4 y-slawen; 3 slaȝen, 4 slawen, slaun, 5 slawn.
c1000ælfric Hom. II. 124 Se ᵹeslaᵹena bið mid deaðe ᵹegripen. c1205Lay. 965 Heora kun we habbet islaȝen. Ibid. 1047 Mine men ȝe habbeð isclawen. c1250Gen. & Ex. 591 Ðo was ilc fleis on werlde slaȝen. a1300Havelok 2681 Þer were a þousind knihtes slawen. 13..Guy Warw. (A.) 4715 Þo he hadde hem slaun ichon. 1382Wyclif Lev. vii. 8 The slawn offryng of brent sacrifice.
(δ) 3 i-, 4 y-slaȝe, 3–4 i-slawe, 4–6 y-slawe; 6 y-slaw; 4–5 slawe (5 sclawe).
c1250Owl & Night. 1142 Hwenne þu hongest islawe. c1275Lay. 322 He his fader adde islaȝe. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 889 Þe stude þat he was on slawe. 1340Ayenb. 223 Alle were y-slaȝe of þe dyeule. c1374Chaucer Troylus iv. 884 Both it hadde vs slawe. c1420Chron. Vilod. 4308 Harald..was y-slawe at Hastyngus. c1440Gesta Rom. xvii. 61 How that he had slawe this brid.
(ε) 3 i-slæn, 5 sleen, 6 slene.
c1205Lay. 8326 Þine men we habbeð islæn. 1486Bk. St. Albans d j/2 She hath sleen the fowle. a1563Machyn Diary (Camden) 92 Ther wher dyvers of boyth partes slene.
(ζ) north. and Sc. 4 slan, 4–6 slane, 6 y-slane.
a1300Cursor M. 905 Þou sal be slan wit duble dedd. 13..Ibid. 4141 (Gött.), Wit his fader þat he be slane. c1470Henry Wallace i. 190 Thai had slane mony ane. 1513Douglas æneid xiii. ii. 3 Sepulturis Of his folkis yslane. 1567Satir. Poems Reform. v. 31 Nouther..hurt nor slane.
(η) 4–5 slon, 5–6 slone, 5 sloon.
c1375Lay-Folks Mass-Bk. App. iv. 587 God þat on þe Rode was slon. a1425Cursor M. 1075 (Trin.), Whenne Caym had his broþer sloon. c1440Alph. Tales 516 Whar þer fadur was slone. c1485Digby Myst. i. 361 He hath our children sloon!
B. Signification.
I.
†1.
a. trans. To smite, strike, or beat. Obs.
c825Vesp. Psalter lxxvii. 20 Forðon [he] sloᵹ stan & fleowun weter. c950Lindisf. Gosp. Mark xiv. 65 Ða embeht-menn mið fystum hine sloᵹon. c1000ælfric Exod. vii. 17 Nu ic slea mid þisse ᵹirde..þises flodes wæter. c1250Gen. & Ex. 3964 [Balaam] wurð ðo for anger wroð, And ðis [ass] prikeð and negt [? read next] sloð. a1300Havelok 2633 Þe þredde so sore he slow, Þat he made up-on the feld His lift arm fleye.
†b. absol. To deal a blow or blows (freq. with on); to knock; to strike. Obs.
Beowulf 1565 He ᵹefeng þa fetelhilt,..yrringa sloh. 971Blickl. Hom. 141 Michael..sloᵹ on þæs huses duru. c1205Lay. 797 Ohtliche heom slæð on. Ibid. 16488 Aldolf his gode sweord adroh, & uppen Hengest sloh. a1300Havelok 2596 Helpes me..And slos up-on þe dogges swiþe. 1390Gower Conf. I. 311 And as the fisshere on his bait Sleth, whan he seth the fisshes faste.
†c. To strike or cut off (a limb). Obs.
a1000Laws of Ine §18 Slea mon hond of oððe fot. c1205Lay. 3856 Þer he of-toc Morgan.., & sloh he him of þat hæued.
†2. To strike (a spark, fire) from flint or other hard substance. Obs.
c1000Saxon Leechd. II. 290 Ᵹif mon on his weᵹe biþ ᵹedwolod slea him anne spearcan beforan. 1375Barbour Bruce xiii. 36 Men herd nocht ellis bot granys & dyntis, That slew fire, as men dois on flyntis. c1400Ywaine & Gaw. 2039 Flynt and fir-yren bath he hade, And fir ful sone thar he slogh. c1470Henry Wallace iv. 285 A gret hart has he slayne; Slew fyr on flynt, and graithit thaim at rycht. 1513Douglas æneid i. iv. 33 First Achates slew fire of the flynt.
†3. To throw or cast; to bring down heavily. Obs.
c888K. ælfred Boeth. xxxv. §5 Ᵹif wit ᵹiet uncru word tosomne sleað. Ibid. xxxviii. §1 Þæt hio sceolde..þa men..slean on þa racentan. c1000Daniel 344 He on andan sloh fyr on feondas for fyrendædum. c1205Lay. 2312 Corineus up ahof, & his eax adun sloh. c1430Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 90 The bodie among hem was hent; At the steres thei slough it doun.
†4. To pitch (a tent). Obs.
c1000ælfric Gen. xxxi. 25 Iacob sloh his ᵹeteld on þære dune. c1205Lay. 7865 Heo sloȝen heoren teldes, wide ȝeond þa feldes.
II.
5. a. To strike or smite so as to kill; to put to death by means of a weapon; also generally, to deprive of life by violence.
In this sense (which is copiously represented in the illustration of forms above), and in other surviving uses, slay is now mainly confined to literary and rhetorical language, the common word being kill.
Beowulf 421 Ic..on yðum sloᵹ niceras nihtes. c893K. ælfred Oros. i. x. 46 Hi..on ðæt folc winnende wæron, & þa wæpnedmen sleande. 971Blickl. Hom. 151 On þa ilcan tid þa englas..ongunnan slean þa Iudeas. 1154O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an 1138, [They] flemden þe king æt te Standard, & sloᵹhen suithe micel of his genge. c1200Ormin 8089 He..badd tatt mann hemm shollde slæn, Son summ he shollde deȝenn. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 3630 Þo þe king arþure ysey þat me is men so uaste slou. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 13890 As þe lyon for hunger snacches & sleþ þe best þat he first lacches. c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 55 Men þat turmenten & slen þe bodi. c1450Merlin ii. 25 And so xij made hem redy,..and ran on hym with swerdes and knyves, and slowe hym. 1470–85Malory Arthur v. iv. 165 The bore that the dragon slough. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 280 The nombre of them that were slaine..was accompted a thousand. 1635E. Pagitt Christianogr. 215 Two fel at discord between themselves, and the one slue the other. 1781Cowper Charity 619 Slaying man would cease to be an art. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 633 Two persons..were found murdered; and it was universally believed that they had been slain by Kirke's order. 1888Masson Med. France 180 The order given by King Philip to slay the Genoese mercenaries.
refl.c1340Ayenb. 34 He..himzelue slaȝþ ase despayred. c1374Chaucer Troylus ii. 462 If this man her[e] sle hem⁓self..In my presence. 1430–40Lydg. Bochas viii. xvii. (1558) 11 b, Arbogast slough him selfe for drede. 1565Golding Ovid's Met. iv. (1593) 83 Thy love (she said) hath made the slea thy selfe. 1628in Foster Eng. Factories India (1909) III. 240 Their mother..slew hirselfe, dying with them.
(b) fig.; esp. To overwhelm with delight, to convulse (someone) with laughter. Cf. kill v. 6 a.
a1340Hampole Psalter vii. 14 Goed wordis, þe whilk slas men fra synne, and makis þaim lifand til god. 1593Shakes. Lucr. 1110 Sad souls are slain in merry company. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair xxii, Shooting death-glances at all the servant-girls who were worthy to be slain. 1863G. Meredith Let. May (1970) I. 203, I have lately been slain by a pretty face. 1927L. Mayer Just between Us Girls i. 2 Well, anyways, my dear, it simply slayed me. 1937Amer. Speech XII. 181 (heading) Satchelmouth slays 'em. 1943H. A. Smith Life in Putty Knife Factory xiii. 225 The boys who slay me..are the ones who have set pieces to recite when they answer the phone. 1953R. Chandler Long Good-Bye xi. 68 A hoodlum with sentiment... That slays me. 1958Spectator 21 Nov. 728/1 Frost,..reading naturally and roughly but with a high degree of contrivance, slaying them into calls for encores and favourite poems. 1965D. Francis Odds Against xi. 150 ‘Oh God, Dolly, you slay me,’ said Chico, laughing warmly. 1975D. O'Sullivan in D. Marcus Best Irish Short Stories (1977) II. 98 They're fun... They'll slay you! 1977Guardian Weekly 23 Oct. 4/3 The earliest comment on these lines that I can find comes from Denis Thatcher in October, 1970. ‘Who could meet Margaret..without being completely slain by her personality and intellectual brilliance?’
†b. to slay up or slay down, to kill completely or outright; to annihilate. Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 6634 Slas vp yon caitefs al bidene! a1400–50Alexander 2043 (Dubl.), Manly þai feghtyn, Slew downe on ather syde seges owt of nowmbre. 1545R. Ascham Toxoph. (Arb.) 82 The Spanyardes..were quyte slayne vp of the Turkes arrowes. 1549Compl. Scot. 145 Gunnis ande cannons to sla doune the pepil. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. 161 That same tyme..he slawe doune monye of the Nobilitie.
†c. To kill the inhabitants of (a country). Obs.
c1330Arth. & Merl. 4734 (Kölbing), Þis four heþen kinges..þe cuntre aboute Lounde Slowen & brent to þe grounde.
6. absol. To commit slaughter or murder.
c893K. ælfred Oros. ii. viii. 92 Hie wæron þa burᵹ herᵹende & sleande buton ælcre ware. a901Laws K. ælfred Introd. §5 Ne sleah ðu. c1000Ags. Gosp. Mark x. 19 Ne slyh [v.r. sleh] þu. c1250Gen. & Ex. 2668 Folc ethiopienes on egipte cam, And brende, & sluȝ, & wreche nam. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5215 Hii ne kepte hit holde noȝt bote..destrue & berne & sle. a1352Minot Poems (ed. Hall) iii. 61 Ful fast þai slogh and brend. 1390Gower Conf. III. 207 His moste gloire Was forto sle and noght to save. c1440in Househ. Ord. (1790) 450 A castel that the Kyng and the Qwhene comen in for to see how Seint Jorge slogh. 1535Coverdale Ezek. ix. 5 Go ye..thorow the cite, slaye, ouersee none, spare none. 1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xvi. (Arb.) 188 The Nubiens..sleaing a farre with venim and with dartes. c1700Prior To a Lady viii, The Parthian turn'd his Steed,..and as He fled, He slew. 1781Cowper Charity 49 The hand that slew, till it could slay no more. 1817Shelley Rev. Islam x. x, We were slaying still without remorse. 1849Aytoun Poems, Heart of Bruce xxiii, The Moors have come from Africa To spoil and waste and slay.
7. a. Of the Deity: To deprive (man, etc.) of life; to bring death upon, to destroy.
c825Vesp. Psalter lxxvii. 51 [He] sloᵹ ylc frum-bearn on eorðan [of Egypt]. c897K. ælfred tr. Gregory's Past. C. xxxvi. 251 Ðonne God hie sloᵹ, ðonne sohton hie hine. c1055Byrhtferth's Handboc in Anglia VIII. 322 God ælmihtiᵹ ferde on egiptena lande, hi sleande & alysende Israela bearn. a1300Cursor M. 6122 At þe king-self he be-gan, Þe forbirth slou o beist and man. a1340Hampole Psalter ix. 33 Sloand þaim in body noght in saule; [the] riche he sall sla in saule. 1552Bk. Com. Prayer, Litany, O Almightie God, whiche..didst slea with the plague of pestilence, lx and ten thousand. 1611Bible Hosea ii. 3 Lest I..set her like a drie land, and slay her with thirst.
absol.c1000ælfric Deut. xxxii. 39 Ic slea and ic hæle. a1340Hampole Psalter 521, I sall sla and i sall make to lif. 1535Coverdale 1 Sam. ii. 6 The Lorde slayeth, and geueth life.
b. Of natural forces, accidents, etc.
‘Still in current use in Lincolnshire dialect.’ N.E.D.
c1000ælfric Exod. ix. 25 Se haᵹol sloh..ealle þa þing, þe ute wæron, æᵹðer ᵹe men ᵹe nytenu. 1382Wyclif Dan. iii. 22 Flawme of the fijre slewȝ tho men. c1420Sir Amadace xli, Thay were..With wild waturs slone. 1486Bk. St. Albans c viij b, The leest mysdyetyng and mysentendyng sleth her. 1611Stranton Par. Reg. 26 June, Agnes..was buried, being slayne with a coupe wayne in the field. 1686Merrington Par. Reg., She was suddenly slaine with a sled in hay time. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 724 Th' Infection grew, Tame Cattle, and the Beasts of Nature slew. 1708J. C. Compl. Collier (1845) 45 There was above thirty Persons..slain by a Blast. 1865N. & Q. 3rd Ser. VII. 31 His poor father was sla'ain [by a stay falling]. 1877in N.W. Linc. Gloss.
absol.1559Morwyng Evonymus 236 There be certaine poysones which slee with the only touching. 1611Bible Job ix. 23 If the scourge slay suddenly. 1904M. Corelli God's Good Man xxxii, She was undergoing the operation, which was to save or slay.
†8. To put to death as a criminal; to execute.
c1200Ormin 13782 [The Jews] sloȝhenn himm..All gillte⁓læs o rode. a1340Hampole Psalter xvi. 12 When þai sloghe crist. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints vii. (James Minor) 430 Þat al þai þat sclew dere Ihesu, I sal sla. c1420Chron. Vilod. 4756 Ihesu suffrede þe Iuys hym to slen. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 238 So the lawe sleeth the gylty man, and not the iudge. 1611Bible Acts x. 39 Iesus.., whom they slew and hanged on a tree. 1667Milton P.L. xii. 414 Naild to the Cross By his own Nation, slaine for bringing Life.
9. a. To kill (a domestic animal or beast of game), esp. for food or as a sacrifice; to slaughter. † Also, to take (fish).
c1000ælfric Deut. xxviii. 31 Mann slihð þinne oxan beforan þe and þu his ne abitst. a1122O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1086, Swa hwa swa sloᵹe heort oððe hinde. c1205Lay. 8105 Islaȝene weoren to þon mele, twælf þusend ruðeren sele. a1300Cursor M. 3019 Quen he was spaned fra þe pap, His fader slou bath scepe and nete. c1400Apol. Loll. 48 Wan prestis slow þe offringis, and bests blod was remissioun of synnis. c1460Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. ii. (1885) 111 As the Hunter takyth the wilde beste for to sle and ete hym. 1535Coverdale Exod. xxix. 20 As for the other ramme, thou shalt slaye him. 1597Skene De Verb. Sign. s.v. Assisa, Everie Boat that passis to the draue, and slayis herring. 1611Bible Lev. iv. 29 And he shall..slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. 1728Chambers Cycl. s.v. Sacrifice, When the Victim was slain, they flead him. 1837W. Irving Capt. Bonneville III. 257 While a hunter is..cutting up the deer or buffalo he has slain. 1863W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting ix. 419, I have..slain this morning..the last rabbit within a circle of eight miles.
absol.a1300Cursor M. 19869 Petre,..þou sla and ete. 1535Coverdale Acts x. 13 And there came a voyce vnto him: Ryse Peter, slaye, & eate.
transf.1483Presentmts. Juries in Surtees Misc. (1890) 29 Flech..þat was sclayn of Setterday afor.
†b. To destroy (vermin, etc.) by some means. Also in fig. context. Obs.
a1225Ancr. R. 206 Þe scorpiunes cundel þet heo bret in hire boseme,..slea hit mid dedbote. a1400–50Stockh. Med. MS. 101 To slen lees [= lice]. c1440Pallad. on Husb. i. 912 Elebur blak with fatte..commyxt and offrid hem [mice and rats] wol sleen. 1495Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. vii. xxv. (W. de W.) 241 Wormes of the teeth ben slayne [Bodl. MS. kilde] wyth Myrre and Opium. 1578Lyte Dodoens 415 The same is good agaynst wormes,..for it slayeth them.
III. †10. To bring to spiritual death; to destroy with sin. Obs.
c1175Lamb. Hom. 53 Heo slaȝeð heore aȝene saule, and bringeð heom in to þare eche pine of helle. c1200Ormin 2092 Whase nile trowwenn þiss He slaþ hiss aȝhenn sawle. a1225Ancr. R. 156 Mest al þe world, þet is gostliche isleien mid deadliche sunnen. a1300Cursor M. 25697 Wit his ded he boght again, Vr sauls þat wit sin war slain. 1382Wyclif Wisdom i. 11 The mouth forsothe that lieth, sleth the soule. a1529Skelton Bk. Three Foles Wks. 1843 I. 202 O Enuy,..thou brennest the desyres, and sleeth the soule in the ende. 1573Tusser Husb. (1878) 199 What daily watch is made, the soule of man to slea. 1611Bible Rom. vii. 11 For sinne taking occasion by the commandement,..by it slew me.
refl.1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 1526 Þe bakbyter fyrst hym self sles.
absol.1382Wyclif 2 Cor. iii. 6 The lettre sleith, forsoth the spirit quykeneth. 1387–8T. Usk Test. Love iii. ix. (Skeat) l. 107 The letter sleeth; the spirit yeveth lyfelich understanding.
†11. To overcome with affliction or distress. Obs.
c1386Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 454 (Hengwrt MS.), Ye sleen me with youre sorwe verraily. ― Frankl. T. 165 Thise Rokkes sleen myn herte for the feere. c1400Rom. Rose 2593 It makith me fulle of joyfulle thought, It sleth me that it lastith noght. c1425Audelay XI Pains of Hell 90 in O.E. Misc. 213 Ȝif þai ferd wel her hertis hit slow, And of here losse were glad and fayne. 1526Skelton Magnyf. 2311, I am wery of the worlde, for vnkyndnesse me sleeth. a1568A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) xxiii. 6, I am with sorrow slane, And dyis nicht & day.
12. a. To destroy, extinguish, put an end to, suppress completely (esp. something bad). Cf. kill v. 4.
(a)c1175Lamb. Hom. 51 Þe we beoð sari in ure heorte þet we isuneȝed habbeð, þenne slaȝe we ure sunne. c1200Ormin 6752 Þa slast tu swa þin aȝhenn flæsh & hire fule wille. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xiv. 90 For shrifte of mouth sleeth synne, be it neuere so dedly. c1391Chaucer Astrol. Prol. (1872) 2 With this swerd shal I slen envie. a1450Myrc 36 But sle þy lust for any thynge. 1538Bale God's Promises i, Her sede shall..Slee hys suggestyons, & hys whole power confounde. 1560Becon Comm.-pl. Holy Script. Wks. II. iii. 68 To reconcile both vnto God in one body thorow the Crosse, and slewe hatred therby. 1763J. Gregg in Bk. Praise (1866) 349 Thoughts must be slain that disobey. 1868Lynch Rivulet cxlix. v, O heavenly Lord, whose mercy can..Both slay the sins and save the man.
(b)c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 103 Þe rihte bileue and þe soðe luue..ben leirede and slaine on his heorte. a1300Cursor M. 24692 Þo þou haf oþer vertus slain, In þe þou mai þam couer again. 1539Elyot Image Gov. (1549) 99 As pride sleeth loue [etc.]. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. iii. 26 For this..Being tasted slayes all sences with the heart. 1819Shelley Cenci v. ii. 144 To slay The reverence living in the minds of men Towards our ancient house. 1884Pall Mall G. 9 July 1/1 In the very act of slaying the Bill.
†b. In phr. to slay care. Obs.
13..Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. 695 But make we murie & sle care. a1400Siege of Troy 185 in Archiv neu. Spr. LXXII. 16 To Grece þey comen hom And maden murþe and slowe care. c1420Avow. Arth. xlix, The king with a blythe chere Bade hom sle care! a1529Skelton E. Rummyng 111 Let vs sley care.
†13.
a. To blight or destroy (vegetation). Obs.
c1325Prose Ps. lxxvii. 52 He sloȝe [L. occidit] her uines wyþ hail. c1440Pallad. on Husb. iii. 453 Tholiues hit forsake; The rootes wol their oyl or slen [L. necat] or slake. Ibid. 1078 The rootes ek of reed and rish thei ete. When wynter sleth their fedyng, yef hem meete. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xiv. 63 Quhilk slayis the corne and fruct that growis grene. 1574T. Hill On Weather i, Extreme cold doth slea the trees.
b. intr. Of grain: To become affected by smut, blight, or the like. (Cf. slain ppl. a. 3.)
1641Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 55 But it is observed in wheate, that if the seed bee not chainged once in fower or five croppes it will slay extreamely. 1875Encycl. Brit. I. 360/2 On muiry soils this [oat] crop is also not unfrequently lost by what is called ‘slaying’. This seems to result from the occurrence of frosty nights late in spring. Ibid., This tendency to slaying in the oat crop.
†14. Med.
a. To resolve (an impostume, etc.). Obs.
a1400Stockh. Medical MS. ii. 650 in Anglia XVIII. 323 Þe powdir on ded flesch who so leye, Anon it sleth it. a1425tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 98 Þis medicyne..wonderfully sleeþ þe antrax and vtterly cureþ it.
†b. To destroy the vitality of (a part of the body). Obs.—1
1578Lyte Dodoens 348 It choketh and troubleth all the inwarde partes,..and in fine it sleayeth the partie.
▪ V. slay, v.2
Also sley.
[Back-formation from slaying vbl. n.2]
trans. To set (a warp).
1828–32Webster, Sleid, to sley or prepare for use in the weaver's sley. 1888R. Beaumont Woollen & Worsted Cloth Manuf. 139 The proper method of sleying any particular warp or specific make of cloth. |