v. Obs. [f. A- pref. 1 intensive + blaw-an to BLOW.]
1. To blow or breathe upon or into. lit. and fig.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. ii. 7. God … on ableow on his ansine lifes orðunge.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 99. Crist ableow þana halȝa gast ofer þa apostlas … þe helende ableu his gast on his apostlas.
c. 1320. Arthour & Merlin, 8546. Aswon tho sche ouer threwe Wawain sone hir ablewe.
2. intr. and trans. To puff up, swell. lit. and fig.
c. 1000. Saxon Leechdoms, II. 250. Eft, þonne se milte ablawen wyrð, sona he aheardian. Ibid., 168. Ablawunge & aheardunge þæs blodes on þam milte.
c. 1315. Shoreham, Poems, 160. Thos he [the devil] gan hyre herte ablowe, And hy sey that frut … Was fayr and god. Ibid., 166. Þet was ablowe þorȝ þe fenim of þe fende.
