v. Obs. Forms: 1 belúc-an, 2–3 biluk-en, 4 belouke, (belok). Pa. t. 1–3 belé·ac, 3 bilek, -leck, -loc. Pa. pple. 1–2 belocen, 2–4 beloken, 3–4 biloken, -luken, biloke, 5 belocke. [OE. bi-, be-lúcan (corr. to OS. bilûcan, OHG. bilûhhan, MHG. belûchen), f. bi-, BE- about + lúcan, in Goth. lūkan, to shut, close.]
1. trans. To close, to shut (a door, etc.).
971. Blickl. Hom., 9. Heofonrices duru … belocen standeþ. He þone halʓan ham beléac.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxv. 10. Seo duru wæs belocyn.
c. 1160. Hatton G. Beloken.
2. To shut (a person, etc.) in or out.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Past., 399. On sumere lytelre byriʓ belocene.
c. 1175. Cott. Hom., 225. God be-léac hi binnan þan arce.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1079. He hire bi-lek in one bure.
c. 1320. Sir Beves, 3024. Belok hem thar oute for love o me.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, III. xxiii. How ye may suffre the great harmes kene … Duryng the syege in this towne beloke.
3. To enclose, encompass.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter, xxx. 9 [xxxi. 8]. Ne biluce me in honda feondes.
c. 1200. Ormin, 12126. Þatt Est, and West, and Suþ, and Norrþ þiss middellærd bilukenn.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter xxx[i]. 8. Ne þou me belouked in hend of fa.
c. 1314. Guy Warw., 229. A strong cite biloken with walle.
4. To include in an expression.
c. 1200. Ormin, 11495. Cristess lare … bilokenn iss I tene bodewordess.
1340. Ayenb., 99. He beloukþ ine ssorte wordes al þet we may wylny of herte.
