lite adj.(1)

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TR2.1198 Thĕrwíth ăl rósy̆ héwĕd thó wĕx shé,
TR2.1199 Ănd gán tŏ hómme, ănd séydĕ, “Só Ĭ trówĕ.”
TR2.1200 “Ăquíte hy̆m wél, fŏr Góddĕs lóve,” quŏd hé;
TR2.1201 “My̆sélf tŏ médĕs wól thĕ léttrĕ sówĕ.”
TR2.1202 Ănd héld hĭs hóndĕs úp, ănd sát ŏn knówĕ;
TR2.1203 “Nŏw, góodĕ nécĕ, bé ĭt névere sŏ lítĕ,
TR2.1204 Yíf mĕ thĕ lábŏur ít tŏ sówe ănd plítĕ.”

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translations (Windeatt: 1998):
  •  At that she then went a very rosy colour, and began to hum, and said:
  •  ‘Mmm…So I believe!’
  •  ‘For God’s sake, pay him back handsomely for it then!’ said he. ‘In return I’ll sew up the letter myself.’
  •  And he held his hands up and went down on his knees:
  •  ‘Now, dear niece, however little it may be, give me the task of sewing and folding it!’
  • Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): それを聞くと彼女は頬を薔薇色に染めた、そしてぼそぼそ言い始めて、「そう思いますわ」と言った。「後生だから、若君に報いておやりなさい。返礼として私の手でその手紙を縫い合わせよう。」そして両手を差し上げて、」跪いた。「さあ、姪よ、それがどんなにささいなことであれ、手紙を縫い、折りたたむ仕事を私にさせておくれ。」
  • Chinese translations (Fang: 1956):
  •  她于是满颊泛红,哼着歌调,说道,“我看不坏。”
  •  “好好回复他,看天神面上,”他说;“为酬劳你起见,我可以替你把信缄好。”他举起双手,两膝跪下,“好甥女,任凭这事如何简单,让我来替你做好。”

Word Information

  • Etymology: OE
  • Addresser: Pandarus
  • Addressee: Criseyde
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A (but see 2.118–9)
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: Others (to sew and fold the letter)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: predicative 

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: Not quoted
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003: 100): lite: little
  • Fisher (1989: 438): lyte: little
  • Benson (1987): N/A
  • Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
  • Donaldson (1975): N/A
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

little, trivial

Comments from the Editor

See my comment of ‘god’ (adj., Tr2.1203).