† forbysenn.
Obsolete.
a. An example, pattern, type.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > an individual case or instance > [noun] > typical or representative case > typical or representative thing or person
forbysenc1175
figurea1340
forbyseninga1400
samplera1400
plot1551
pattern1555
resembler1581
representative1653
specimen1654
exponent1825
type1845
typification1845
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 81 Her of me mei ane forbisne of twa brondes.
c1220 Bestiary 307 Ðe hert haueð kindes two and forbisnes oc al so.
c1320 Cast. Love 980 A forbysne of boxumnes.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xviii. 277 He is a for~busne to alle busshopes.
b. An illustration, parable.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > teaching > means of teaching > [noun] > parable or exemplum
forbysenc1175
likenessc1175
sermona1616
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 79 God almihti seið an forbisne to his folk in þe halie godspel and seið [etc.].
c1308 Song Times in Pol. Songs. (Camden) 197 Of thos a vorbisen ic herd telle.
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. ix. 24 ‘Bi a forebisene’ seide the frere, ‘I schal the feire schewe.’
c. A proverb.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > saying, maxim, adage > proverb > [noun]
byspelc1000
bywordc1050
forbysena1250
riotc1330
proverbc1375
sayingc1390
paroemia1550
nayworda1616
diverb1624
proverbial1645
sooth1655
proverbialism1830
a1250 Owl & Nightingale 99 Thar-bi men segget a vorbisne, Dahet habbe that ilke best, That fuleth his owe nest.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 47 Vor ase zayþ þe uorbisne ‘leuedi of uaire diȝtinge is arblast to þe tour.’
d. A token.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > [noun] > an indication or sign
tokeningc888
fingereOE
senyeOE
markOE
showing?c1225
blossomc1230
signa1325
signifyingc1384
evidencea1393
notea1398
forbysena1400
kenninga1400
knowinga1400
showerc1400
unningc1400
signala1413
signification?a1425
demonstrancec1425
cenyc1440
likelinessc1450
ensign1474
signifure?a1475
outshowinga1500
significativea1500
witter1513
precedent1518
intimation1531
signifier1532
meith1533
monument1536
indicion?1541
likelihood1541
significator1554
manifest1561
show1561
evidency1570
token-teller1574
betokener1587
calendar1590
instance1590
testificate1590
significant1598
crisis1606
index1607
impression1613
denotementa1616
story1620
remark1624
indicium1625
denotation1633
indice1636
signum1643
indiction1653
trace1656
demonstrator1657
indication1660
notationa1661
significatory1660
indicator1666
betrayer1678
demonstration1684
smell1691
wittering1781
notaa1790
blazonry1850
sign vehicle1909
marker1919
rumble1927
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 4593 For þoru þis for-bisin here, Witt þu þar sal be seuen ȝere of plente..in þi kingrike.
1485 W. Caxton Trevisa's Higden (1527) ii. i. 58 Soo some partes of a mannes bodye be forbyson & bodyng of wondres.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
† forbysenv.
Obsolete.
1. transitive. To furnish (a person) with examples.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > an individual case or instance > find or furnish an instance or example of [verb (transitive)] > furnish (a person) with examples
forbysenc1374
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde ii. 1341 (1390) It nedeth me nought thee longe to forbyse.
a1400 (a1325) [implied in: Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15327 For a forebisining [Gött. forbiseneng] nu your fete þus haf I weschen all. (at forbysening n. 1)].
2. To give (something) as an example.
Derivatives
forˈbisned adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > an individual case or instance > [adjective] > of or relating to exemplification > given as an example
forbisnedc1220
c1220 Bestiary 589 Ðis forbisnede ði[n]g.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.c1175v.c1220