Obs. (exc. in pa. t. QUOTH). Forms: Inf. 1 cweðan, (cwæðan, cwiðan, cuoeða, etc.), 2 cweþen, 2–3 queðen, 5 queth(yn, (qv-, qw-). Pres. t. (1 sg.) 1 cweðe, (cweoðu, cueðo, etc.), 4 queþe, 4–5 queth(e, 5 qwethe, 6 queythe. Pa. t. 1 cwæð, etc., 1–2 cwed, 1–3 cweð, 2 cwet, quað, 3 cwaþþ, qu(u)ad, queð, 4 quaþe, quath, (queþed, 5 ? qwithit): see also QUOTH. Pa. pple. 1 cweden, 2 i-cweðe(n, 2–3 i-queðen, 3 i-cwede, i-queðe, queðen, 6 queythed. [OE. cweđan (cwæđ, cwǽdon, cweden) = OFris. quetha, queda, quan, OS. queđan (quađ, quath, quad; quâđun, quâdun), OHG. quedan, chweden (quad, quat; quâdun, quâtun: MHG. queden, keden), ON. kveða (kvað, kváðum, kveðinn: Da. kvæde, Sw. qväda to sing), Goth. qiþan (qaþ, qêþum, qiþan):—OTeut. *kweþan, kwaþ, kwǽđum, kweđono-.]
1. trans. To speak, say, tell, declare, call.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter ii. 7. Dryhten cwæð to me, ‘sunu min ðu earð.’ Ibid., xli. 4. Ðonne bið cweden to me … ‘hwer is god ðin.’
971. Blickl. Hom., 183. Þa cwæþ Neron to Petre, ‘ʓehyrstu, Petrus, hwæt Simon cwiþ?’
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 37. Do summe of þisse þinge þe ic wulle nu cweþen.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1496. Sel me ðo wunes, ðe queðen ben ðe firme sunes.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 22973. Mani man … Wat noght þis word i for-wit quath.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 1224. Sertes, þys were our most profit, Wiþ loue & leue he queþe [v.r. quede] vs quyt.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4325. I sall quethe þe forqui & quat is þe cause.
b. intr. in phr. Quick and quething: Alive and able to speak.
1529. More, Dyaloge, I. Wks. 131/2. A man and a woman whyche are yet quicke and quething.
1546. Gardiner, Declar. Joye, 39 b. I meruayle where he had lerned that lesson being yet quicke and quethynge.
2. To promise. rare.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 64. God hem quuad ðor seli suriurn. Ibid., 2788. Nu am ic ligt to fren hem ðeðen And milche and hunige lond hem queðen.
3. To assign by will, to bequeath.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 6294. Hous, and rente, and ouþer þyng, Mow þey queþe at here endyng. Ibid. (c. 1330), Chron. (1810), 133. To temples in Acres he quath fiue þousand marke.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 321. I queþe me to þe trone of þat Iuge þat neuere haþ ende.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 4794. My body, I quethe also To the sepulkre, for dayes thre.
1463. Bury Wills (Camden), 16. Item I geue and quethe to William Hussher iijs. iiijd.
1530. Palsgr., 676/2. Hath he queythed you any thyng in his testament?
b. ? To bestow, deliver. rare–1.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6973. To Qwintilion the quem he qwithit a dynt, Woundit hym wickidly.
Hence † Quething vbl. sb., bequeathing; quething word, last farewell. Also † Quethe-word, a legacy, bequest.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 373. By beggynge, by queethyng [v.r. queþinge] … and oþer fals meenes [they] cryen evere after worldly godis.
1481. in T. Gardner, Hist. Dunwich (1754), 148. Of Cutberd Eyer, for the Queth Word of Tym Chawmbyr 40s.
c. 1490. Promp. Parv., 420/2 (MS. K.). Qvethe worde … legatum.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IX. viii. 62. Thi last regrait and quething wordis to say.
1532. Churchw. Acc. Wigtoft, Lincs., in Nichols, Illustr. Anc. Mann. (1797), Item, receyvyd of Margaret Brygg for ye quethword of Robt Brygg hir husband 1/-.
