v.
WA mekyn (D)
'humble' (Modern English meek)
PGmc Ancestor
*meuk-
Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)
mjúkr (adj.) ‘soft, agile; meek, mild’
(ONP mjúkr (adj.))
Other Scandinavian Reflexes
OE Cognate
Phonological and morphological markers
Summary category
B1
First attested in Orrm and then frequent and widespread in ME. OED3 cites some (rare) poetic use in MnE.
Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus
WA 1746, 2838
TPD emend <meke> in the A MS of WA at 2838 to *meken (cp. D mekyn). In their glossary, they appear to associate it instead with the causative v. (see mekned (v.)), translating the two instances (1746 and 2838) as 'become humble' and 'make humble' respectively. It might, however, better be read as reflexive and so associated with OED3 sense (1b) 'meek one's heart, soul, mind etc.' (cp. MED's sense (1c)). In practice, of course, it isn't always possible to differentiate conclusively between the two verbs.