v. Obs. For forms see GIVE. [f. A- pref. 1 out, away, up + GIVE. OE. agifan is cogn. w. OHG. ar-, ur-, ir-, er-geban (mod.G. ergeben), Goth. us-giban.]

1

  1.  trans. To give up, give back; render, surrender.

2

c. 1000.  O. E. Gosp., Matt. xxvii. 17. Hwæðer wille ʓe þæt ich eow aʓyfe, þe Barraban, þe þanne Hælend.

3

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 29. Ah soðliche al he hit mot aȝefen ȝif he hit haueð. and ȝif he hit naueð aȝefe swa muchel swa he mei.

4

1205.  Layam., 22165. Aȝif us ure icunde lond.

5

a. 1250.  Owl & Night, 139. Thos word aȝaf the niȝtingale.

6

  2.  intr. To give way or yield; to abandon a state of rigidity; cf. to give.

7

1681.  J. W[orlidge], Syst. Agric., 155. As soon as your Hops are of the Kiln,… lay them in some room or place … that they may cool, agive, and toughen.

8