Obs. [Early ME. kete (kēte), not known in OE.: etymology uncertain.
Perh. related to ON. kæti sb. cheer, gladness, f. kátr cheerful, merry. Kluge (Paul’s Grundr. (ed. 2), I. 939) suggests an unrecorded ON. kætr; beside kátr, but of this there is no evidence. Cf. also Björkeman Scandinavian Loanwds. in ME. (1900), 174.]
A. adj. 1. Of persons (or animals): Bold, forward; brave; distinguished.
c. 1275. Sayings of Bede, 47, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 506. Pikede beþ þe shete, And wormes þer beþ kete [rhymes hete, ounimete] To don þe soule tene. Ibid., 131. Satanas þe kete [rhymes strete, ounimete, biȝete] Here soule wille derien. [Cf. other versions in Sinners Beware, 53, 143, in O. E. Misc., 73, 76.]
c. 1350. Will Palerne, 330. Whanne þou komest to kourt among þe kete lordes.
c. 1400. St. Alexius, 201 (Laud MS.). He to a borugh com Þat mychel was & kete [rhyme grete inf.].
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. i. 5. In this … holding thei ben so kete and so smert and so wantoun.
2. Of things: Great, strong, powerful, violent.
a. 1290. Magdalena, 369, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 472. Þe stormes beoth so kete [rhyme lete inf.] To quellen us huy þenchez.
a. 1300. Fragm. Pop. Sc. (Wright), 262. For the grete hete Of the sonne that is above, the leomes beoth so kete.
c. 1330. Syr Degarre, 337. Thanne he herde a noise kete In o valai, an dintes grete.
B. adv. Boldly, bravely; quickly.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 3667. Þe Sarasyn þat opon him set After Richard prikede ket. Ibid., 4596. A litel by-fore þe ȝeate…. Charlys gan fiȝte … And sloȝe þe Sarsyns kete.
Hence † Ketly adv., quickly, hastily. Obs.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1986. Ȝhe … kom ketly to þemperour & kurteisly him gret. Ibid., 3023. Þan þat comli quen ketli vp rises.
