v. Obs. Forms: 1 þafian, þeafian, 2 þeafen, 3 þeauien, þauien, ðauen, þafe, 3–4 þaue. [OE. þafian: etymology unascertained; not known in the cognate langs.] trans. To consent to; to allow, permit; to submit to, suffer, endure; to tolerate. Cf. I-THAVE.
835. Kentish Charter of Abba, in O. E. Texts, 448. Ic ciolnoð mid godes ʓefe ærcebiscop ðis write and ðeafie.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxviii. § 6. Þonne þe ðincð se earmra se þæt yfel deð ðonne se þe hit þafað.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. vii. 4. Broþur þafa [c. 1160 þafe] þæt ic ut ado þæt mot of þinum eaʓan.
a. 1023. Wulfstan, Hom., iii. (Napier), 23. Eal þæt he for us and for ure lufan þafode and ðolode.
[c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 121. God iþeafede þet to alesendnesse alles ileffulles moncunnes.]
c. 1200. Ormin, 5457. Godd ne þole nohht Ne þafe laþe gastess To winnenn oferhannd off uss Þurth heore laþe wiless.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3139. Euerilc hus-folc ðe mai it ðauen On ȝer sep oðer on kide hauen.
c. 1300. Havelok, 2696. Was neuere non þat mouhte þaue Hise dintes, noyþer knith ne knaue.
Hence † Thaving (in 4 þafung, etc.) vbl. sb., permission, consent.
13[?]. Ancr. R., 344 (MS. Cott. Cl.). Þurch min þafunge [MSS. Corpus, Ti. þeafunge, Ca. þauunge].
