† hentn.
Obsolete.
1. An act of seizing; a grasp.
ΚΠ
a1513 W. Dunbar Ballat Abbot of Tungland in Poems (1998) I. 58 Scho was so cleverous of hir cluik..Scho held thame at ane hint.
2. figurative. That which is conceived in the mind; intention, design.
ΚΠ
1565 J. Hall Courte of Vertue f. 52v The fyrmament And heauens hente Thee prayse which arte worthy, (For thy fauour) Of all honoure Vnto eternitie.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxv. xiv. 557 So [they] put the Consull out of his hent [L. consilia ducis disjecit].
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
† hentv.1
α. Middle English heint (northern), Middle English hint, Middle English hinte, Middle English hynt, Middle English hynte, Middle English hyntt, Middle English–1500s hente, Middle English–1600s (1700s–1900s archaic) hent, late Middle English hant (East Anglian); also Scottish pre-1700 hynte, pre-1700 1700s hint, pre-1700 1700s–1800s hynt.
β. Scottish pre-1700 hyntyt, 1800s hinted.
3. Past participle.α. Middle English hente, Middle English hint, Middle English hynt, Middle English ihent, Middle English yhent, Middle English–1600s (1700s–1900s archaic) hent; also Scottish pre-1700 hynt, pre-1700 1700s hint, 1800s hente (archaic).
β. late Middle English hyntyd, 1700s hinted; Scottish pre-1700 hinted, pre-1700 hyntit.
Obsolete.
1. transitive. To hold, grasp (a person or thing) in one's hands or arms; to seize, catch; to arrest, capture. Also intransitive. Scottish and archaic in later use.In quot. OE1 with the object in the genitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > hold or grip [verb (intransitive)] > lay hold
fang855
hentOE
grispc1420
grip1489
the mind > possession > taking > seizing > catching or capture > catch or capture [verb (transitive)]
i-lecchec1000
fang1016
hentOE
takeOE
alatchlOE
catchc1275
wina1300
to take ina1387
attain1393
geta1400
overhent?a1400
restay?a1400
seizea1400
tachec1400
arrest1481
carrya1500
collara1535
snap1568
overgo1581
surprise1592
nibble1608
incaptivate1611
nicka1640
cop1704
chop1726
nail1735
to give a person the foot1767
capture1796
hooka1800
sniba1801
net1803
nib1819
prehend1831
corral1860
rope1877
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)] > remove or take away > seize and remove
plitchOE
hentOE
to catch awayc1400
snip1577
OE Laws of Cnut (Nero) ii. xlviii. §2. 346 Gif he mann afylle, beo he utlah, & his hente mid hearme ælc þæra þe riht wylle.
OE Laws of Cnut (Nero) ii. xix. §2. 322 Gyf se þonne berste, nime þonne leafe ægþer ge heonon ge þanan, þæt he mote hentan æfter his agenan.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 209 Ðe sinfulle haueð leid grune me to henten.
a1350 ( in R. H. Robbins Hist. Poems 14th & 15th Cent. (1959) 16 Ȝef hee mowen him hente..duere he shal abugge þat he bigon batayle.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1010 (MED) Þan eiþer hent oþer hastely in armes, & wiþ kene kosses kuþþed hem to-gidere.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3841 Abute hir hals þan he hir hent [Gött. hint].
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xxv. l. 339 (MED) Whanne þe Child was Middis his fallynge..they sien ix hondes..and this Child they henten Anon.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin vi. 101 He hente the swerde be the hiltes and drough it oute.
c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece Hyst. & Cron. Scotl. xiii. xx. f. 202/2 Scho hint his hors be ye renȝeis.
1566 T. Drant tr. Horace Medicinable Morall sig. A.ijv When hande nil houlde or hente.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iv. iii. 124 Iog-on, Iog-on, the foot-path way, And merrily hent the Stile-a. View more context for this quotation
1647 H. More Philos. Poems 273 A naked sword in his dry hand he hent.
1810 A. Cunningham in R. H. Cromek & A. Cunningham Remains Nithsdale & Galloway Song 277 Those aged matrons..could say..to the moon, ‘hynte me in thy arm, for I am weary!’
1906 C. M. Doughty Dawn in Brit. IV. xiii. 183 Both harts in hills of Wittig's march, And hinds, he hent: and, (tamed by his great force;) Them herded, like a flock!
2. transitive. To lay hold of and convey (something) somewhere; to snatch, carry off; to take away. Frequently with adverb or prepositional phrase indicating the direction of motion.In quot. OE with the object in the genitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > hold [verb (transitive)] > lay hold of or grasp
i-fangc888
gripc950
repeOE
befongOE
keepc1000
latchc1000
hentOE
begripec1175
becatchc1200
fang?c1200
i-gripea1225
warpa1225
fastenc1225
arepa1250
to set (one's) hand(s onc1290
kip1297
cleach?a1300
hendc1300
fasta1325
reachc1330
seizec1374
beclipc1380
takea1387
span1398
to seize on or upon1399
getc1440
handc1460
to catch hold1520
to take hold1530
to lay hold (up)on, of1535
grasple1553
to have by the backa1555
handfast1562
apprehend1572
grapple1582
to clap hold of1583
comprehend1584
graspa1586
attach1590
gripple1591
engrasp1593
clum1594
to seize of1600
begriple1607
fast hold1611
impalm1611
fista1616
to set (one's) hand to1638
to get one's hands on1649
OE Let. to Brother Eadweard (Hatton 115) in Old Eng. Newslet. (2007) 40 42 Swa hwa swa fehð fugel oððe deor,..swa hwa swa þæs blodes hent and him to mete macað he losað of his folce.
c1330 (?c1300) Amis & Amiloun (Auch.) (1937) l. 2017 Þe squier þo þe coupe hent, & to þe castel-gat he went, & ful of win he it bare.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 13236 Þis bodi vte of erth þai hint [Fairf. hent].
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 983 Þe lorde..Hent heȝly of his hode, & on a spere henged.
a1450 York Plays (1885) 187 Lord god!..Þat..wolde..hendly hente me oute of hell.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Nov. 169 Dido nis dead, but into heauen hent.
1647 H. More Philos. Poems 243 For a time into high heaven hent.
a1718 T. Parnell Poems Several Occasions (1721) 38 'Till one at last that Robin hight, (Renown'd for pinching Maids by Night) Has hent him up aloof.
1823 Edinb. Mag. & Literary Misc. July 30/2 Whene'er this queer and comic lass But hinted up her keeking glass, They throng'd in bouracks at her ca'.
3.
a. transitive. To strike (a person or thing), to hit.In quot. OE with the object in the genitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > strike [verb (transitive)] > succeed in striking
hentOE
hitc1275
atreachc1330
reacha1400
attain1477
attaint1523
nail1785
catch1820
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 144 Dioclitianus..het hine lædan on heardum bendum ut to anum felda and hine þær gefæstnian and hentan his mid flanum [L. ut sagittarii eum figerent] oð þæt he his feorh ageafe.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2715 Moyses..hente ðe cherl wið hise wond, And he fel dun in dedes bond.
a1450 (?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (Caius) (1810) l. 6783 That other he hint upon the hood.
1585 S. Daniel tr. Horace in tr. P. Giovio Worthy Tract contayning Disc. Imprese sig. B.iiii (margin) The lightning hents the highest hilles [L. feriunt summos fulmina montes].
b. transitive. To get to (a place); to arrive at, reach.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > arrival > arrive at or reach [verb (transitive)]
to come toOE
reachOE
hita1075
ofreachlOE
catchc1330
latchc1330
recovera1375
getc1390
henta1393
win?1473
fetch1589
to fetch up1589
obtain1589
attainc1592
make1610
gaina1616
arrive1647
advene1684
strike1798
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > reaching a point or place > reach (a point or place) [verb (transitive)]
areach1014
reachOE
ofreachlOE
overtakec1225
catchc1330
acomec1350
touchc1384
getc1390
to come at ——a1393
henta1393
overreacha1400
win?1473
aspire1581
obtain1589
attainc1592
make1610
gaina1616
acquire1665
advene1684
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. l. 1574 To schip they gon and forth thei wente, Til thei the havene of Tharse hente.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 882 Tuo outlandes kynges on þis lond hauens hent.
a1500 Partenay (Trin. Cambr.) l. 5272 When of lusignen the faire Cite hent.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iv. vi. 15 The generous, and grauest Citizens Haue hent the gates. View more context for this quotation
4.
a. transitive. To get, receive (something); to obtain; to meet with; to experience.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (transitive)]
wieldeOE
haveeOE
ofgoOE
oweOE
addlec1175
winc1175
avela1200
to come by ——a1225
covera1250
oughtc1275
reachc1275
hentc1300
purchasec1300
to come to ——c1330
getc1330
pickc1330
chevise1340
fang1340
umbracec1350
chacche1362
perceivea1382
accroacha1393
achievea1393
to come at ——a1393
areach1393
recovera1398
encroach?a1400
chevec1400
enquilec1400
obtainc1422
recurec1425
to take upc1425
acquirea1450
encheve1470
sortise1474
conques?a1500
tain1501
report1508
conquest1513
possess1526
compare1532
cough1550
coff1559
fall1568
reap1581
acquist1592
accrue1594
appurchasec1600
recoil1632
to get at ——1666
to come into ——1672
rise1754
net1765
to fall in for1788
to scare up1846
access1953
the mind > possession > taking > take [verb (transitive)]
nimeOE
haveeOE
atleada1000
latchc1000
take?a1160
takec1175
hentc1300
catcha1382
privea1387
nighc1400
betakec1420
fonc1425
prend1447
win1515
c1300 St. Mary Magdalen (Laud) l. 320 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 471 In schipe wexez ofte soruwe, peril and teone and grame..In þe .se. þou miȝhtest ful sone hente schame.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 1131 Ac þe emperour mid is suerd [a1400 Trin. Cambr. schelde] þen stroc hente inou, & adrou is suerd an hei.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xiv. 161 So that I no harmes hent.
1591 R. Greene Maidens Dreame l Then thought I straight such friends are seldom hent.
b. transitive. To apprehend, understand (something).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > perceive [verb (transitive)]
acknowOE
keepc1000
feelOE
findOE
seeOE
yknowc1275
apperceivec1300
descrivec1300
knowc1300
perceivec1330
taste1340
tellc1390
catcha1398
scenta1398
devisea1400
kena1400
concernc1425
descrya1450
henta1450
apprehend1577
scerne1590
to take in1637
discreevec1650
recognize1795
absorb1840
embrace1852
cognizea1856
cognosce1874
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > understand [verb (transitive)]
yknoweOE
acknowOE
anyeteOE
latchc1000
undernimc1000
understandc1000
underyetec1000
afindOE
knowOE
seeOE
onfangc1175
takec1175
underfindc1200
underfonga1300
undertakea1300
kenc1330
gripea1340
comprehend1340
comprendc1374
espyc1374
perceivea1387
to take for ——?1387
catcha1398
conceivea1398
intenda1400
overtakea1400
tenda1400
havec1405
henta1450
comprise1477
skilla1500
brook1548
apprend1567
compass1576
perstanda1577
endue1590
sound1592
engrasp1593
in1603
fathom1611
resent1614
receivea1616
to take up1617
apprehend1631
to take in1646
grasp1680
understumblec1681
forstand1682
savvy1686
overstand1699
uptake1726
nouse1779
twig1815
undercumstand1824
absorb1840
sense1844
undercumstumble1854
seize1855
intelligize1865
dig1935
read1956
a1450 (?a1349) in H. E. Allen Eng. Writings R. Rolle (1931) 44 Wa fra me away war went, and comne war my covaytyng, If þat my sawle had herd and hent þe sang of þi lovyng.
1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Love in W. W. Skeat Chaucerian & Other Pieces (1897) 1 (MED) This book..is dolven with rude wordes..and so drawe togider to maken the cacchers therof ben the more redy to hente sentence.
5. transitive. Of a state or condition: to come upon (a person or thing) suddenly; to take hold of, to affect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (transitive)] > suddenly or violently
overgoOE
ofseche?c1225
catcha1275
henta1375
to come upon ——a1382
seizec1381
takea1382
to catch to ——c1400
overpass?a1513
re-encounter1523
to come over ——1726
to come on ——1850
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 907 Sum-time it [sc. þat hache] hentis me wiþ hete as hot as ani fure, but quicliche so kene a cold comes þer-after.
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 1657 I was with this rage hent That caught hath many a man and shent.
a1547 Earl of Surrey Poems (1964) 11 There might I see how Ver had every blossom hent.
1616 W. Browne Britannia's Pastorals II. i. 22 Men, whose watchfull eyes no slumber hent.
6.
a. transitive. To make (one's way).
ΚΠ
1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. eviiv Ayen the water his way eeuen iff he hent.
b. intransitive. To make one's way, to go. archaic in later use.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [verb (intransitive)]
nimeOE
becomec885
teec888
goeOE
i-goc900
lithec900
wendeOE
i-farec950
yongc950
to wend one's streetOE
fare971
i-wende971
shakeOE
winda1000
meteOE
wendOE
strikec1175
seekc1200
wevec1200
drawa1225
stira1225
glidea1275
kenc1275
movec1275
teemc1275
tightc1275
till1297
chevec1300
strake13..
travelc1300
choosec1320
to choose one's gatea1325
journeyc1330
reachc1330
repairc1330
wisec1330
cairc1340
covera1375
dressa1375
passa1375
tenda1375
puta1382
proceedc1392
doa1400
fanda1400
haunta1400
snya1400
take?a1400
thrilla1400
trace?a1400
trinea1400
fangc1400
to make (also have) resortc1425
to make one's repair (to)c1425
resort1429
ayrec1440
havea1450
speer?c1450
rokec1475
wina1500
hent1508
persevere?1521
pursuec1540
rechec1540
yede1563
bing1567
march1568
to go one's ways1581
groyl1582
yode1587
sally1590
track1590
way1596
frame1609
trickle1629
recur1654
wag1684
fadge1694
haul1802
hike1809
to get around1849
riddle1856
bat1867
biff1923
truck1925
1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. aiiv His hors he tyit to ane tre treuly that tyde, Syne hynt to ane hie hall.
1579 J. C. Poor Knight his Pallace sig. Giv To Seas hee hent, whose washinge waues did cause him to returne.
1714 ‘N. Ironside’ Orig. Canto of Spencer xlvi. 30 Strait without Word or Answer forth he hent.
Phrases
P1. to hent in (also upon) hand.
a. To take possession of (something).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > taking possession > take possession of [verb (transitive)]
take?a1160
seizec1290
raima1325
to take in possessiona1325
to hent in (also upon) handa1350
occupya1382
to take possession?a1425
to take upc1425
uptakec1425
to take in1523
possess1526
master1826
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 50 Y tolde him..hou þis hende haþ hent in honde on huerte þat myn wes.
b. To take (something) in hand, to undertake.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake [verb (transitive)]
underfoc893
fandOE
onfangOE
undernimc1000
takec1175
to take tillc1175
to take toa1250
underfongc1330
undertakea1340
to take in (also on) handa1350
undertakec1385
attamec1386
to take in (also on) handc1390
embrace1393
emprisec1410
to put to one's hand (also hands)c1410
to go upon ——c1450
enterprise?1473
to set (one's) hand to1477
go?a1500
accept1524
assume1530
to hent in (also upon) handc1540
to swallow up1544
to take to task1546
to go into ——?1548
to set in hand1548
to fare about1563
entertain1569
undergo1606
to set about ——1611
to take up1660
to come at ——1901
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 122v To hent vppon hond soche a hegh charge.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. vii. sig. Kk Great labour fondly hast thou hent in hand.
P2. to hent (up) one's heart and variants: to take heart, to summon up courage.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > encouragement > pluck up courage [verb]
findOE
to take (in early use nim) heartc1275
to have the heartc1300
to hent one's heartc1325
to pull upa1393
to fang upa1400
pluckc1400
to take courage1490
to take heart of grace (and variants)c1520
to lift up one's heart, mind, soul1535
to get (also gather, keep, etc.) heart of grace1581
hearten1587
to pluck up one's courage1660
flesh1695
pluck up courage1726
to pick up1735
to call forth1802
to pluck up1827
to muster up1893
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 4182 Verst he was sore adrad..& naþeles he hente herte.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 4484 Right so þi frendes als faste Heuy hertis sall hente.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 149 Therfore hent vp your hert & your high wille.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
hentv.2
/hɛnt/, U.S. /hɛnt/, Irish English /hɛnt/, /hɪnt/ British regional and Irish English. Agriculture.
transitive. To plough (the strip of land) between ridges (ridge n.1 5a) in a ploughed field, esp. as a method of sowing seed or to improve drainage.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > breaking up land > ploughing > plough (land) [verb (transitive)] > other systems of ploughing
hent?a1605
to throw down1620
size1707
bout1733
to turn off1754
back-furrow1855
?a1605 MS BL Add. 61822 f. 58 in E. Greenfield ‘For to plant all Maner Plants’: French & Eng. Househ. Bks. (Master's thesis, Univ. of London) (2015) 80 Ye cann do no better & to hent the clifte presently after wheat sowing.
1736 W. Ellis New Exper. Husbandry 98 Before they [sc. the Ridges and Sleevings of the Stitches] can be hented up, the Rains fall, and in that Condition the Ploughman is obliged to go home, and leave the Grain exposed to the Fowls.
1811 Belfast Monthly Mag. Feb. 171 It may be well if they avoid hinting the furrows until the weather becomes dry, or near the time of sowing.
1814 W. Greaves Treat. Nat. & Pract. Agric. ii. 41 By double henting the furrows, or going up and down with the plough which we call henting, you will be able to draw the wet into the furrow.
1840 Freeman's Jrnl. (Dublin) 18 Jan. The common mode being to plough shallow, and to trench or hint the furrows.
1867 W. Dickinson Suppl. Words & Phrases Cumberland 18 Hent, to plough up the bottom furrow between ridges.
1996 C. I. Macafee Conc. Ulster Dict. 172/1 Hint, hent, hant, plough or turn over with a spade, the strip between ridges.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† hentv.3
English regional (south-western). Agriculture. Obsolete.
transitive. To gather and store (straw, wheat, etc.). Cf. end v.2
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > cultivation of plants or crops > storage or preservation of crops > [verb (transitive)] > gather into barn or granary
garner1474
barn1594
imbarn1610
granell1621
henta1641
granary1862
silage1885
a1641 J. Smyth Berkeley MSS (1885) III. 24 To hint, i.e. to end.
a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 351 The straw as well as the peas, if not well hinted and dried, are dangerous to give to a horse.
1777–8 R. Wight Horæ Subsecivæ (MS Bodl. Eng. lang. d.66) 210 [Gloucestershire] ‘I have hented or hinted my Corn well This Year.’ ‘This Barley was well hented, or saved.’
1893 G. E. Dartnell & E. H. Goddard Gloss. Words Wilts. 79 Never zeed a better crop o' wheat, if so be could be hinted well.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
† hentprep.conj.
α. late Middle English ent, late Middle English hent.
β. 1500s hento.
Obsolete.
A. prep.
Until (a specified time). Also with following to in same sense.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > antecedence [preposition] > until
toc1000
fortc1200
tillc1330
hentc1426
pending1837
'til1939
c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 13 He kepis not to restore Þat he takys amys to no maner mon, Hent his endyng.
c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 72 Þenke þer-on and þenke not erke, Hent to þe last endyng.
1573 in J. Raine Depositions Courts Durham (1845) 252 The brother did put him of warke hento suche tyme as he brought answear from that wyfe.
B. conj.
Until the time when.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > the past > antecedence or being earlier > antecedence [conjunction] > until
forth thatc888
till1154
a thatc1175
fortc1200
fort thatc1200
all-whata1225
alfort?a1300
toa1300
hentc1426
c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 14 We were put in paradise to haue wele withoutyn woo, Hent we had vnblest brokyn þe comanndmentis of our Kyng.
a1450 Castle of Love (Bodl. Add.) l. 1476 in C. Horstmann Minor Poems Vernon MS (1892) i. 402 (MED) Ther nere never i-wyst ne holden Hent [c1390 Vernon Er] he himselvyn come wolde.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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