prep. (conj.) Obs. Forms: α. 1 toʓæʓnes (-ʓeæʓnes, -ʓeeʓnes), 1–2 toʓeanes, -ʓenes, to ʓeʓnes, 2–4 toȝeines, 3 toȝenes, -ȝenys, toȝanes, (to janes, teȝenes), 3–4 to ȝeȝnes, to-ȝeynes, 4 to yans, to ayens, to ayans. β. 5 to ȝepst, -e. γ. 1 toʓe&ʓn, 3 toȝen, to ȝein, 3–5 to ȝen. [OE. tóʓæʓnes, tóʓéanes, etc., formed, with advb. genitive -es, on the simpler *tóʓæʓn, tóʓeæʓn, from TO prep. + ʓæʓn:—*gagn-, gęgn- ‘against,’ the second element also of AGAIN, AGAINST. In this word, the simpler tóʓeæʓn was nearly superseded by the form in -es, and was rare both in OE. and ME.: see the γ-forms above. In the 15th c., to-ȝenes began to be strengthened by adding -t, as in agains-t, amids-t, amongs-t (app. after superlatives); if the word had survived into mod.Eng., its form would have been to-yenst or to-yainst; being entirely southern, it never had hard g, as in again, against.]
1. Towards with hostile intent; in opposition or hostility to, contrary to; = AGAINST A. 11, 12.
Beowulf, 666. Hæfde kyning wuldor grendle to-ʓeanes … sele-weard aseted.
a. 1000. Ags. Ps. (Spelm.), xl. 8. Toʓeanes me runedon ealle fynd mine.
c. 1005. O. E. Chron., an. 1001 (Parker MS.). Him þær toʓeanes com Palliʓ.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 55. Flesliche lustes and fule sinnes flited eure toȝanes þe wreche saule.
c. 1205. Lay., 4536. Scip ærne to-ȝen [c. 1275 to-ȝein] scip. Ibid., 9792. Þer ute wes heom to-ȝæn Þe kæisere Uaspasien.
a. 1225. St. Marher., 15. Ah þeo ꝥ stalewurðe beoð ant starke to ȝein me.
c. 1275. Passion, 83, in O. E. Misc., 39. If he ouht prechede to-ȝeȝnes þere lawe.
1300. Vox & Wolf, 95, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 61. Hit wes to-ȝeines his wille.
1340. Ayenb., 6. Yef he zuereþ uals be his wytinde, he him uorzuereþ and deþ to ayans þise heste.
a. 1440. R. Gloucester’s Chron. (Rolls), App. G. 197. Þou to ȝenst kunde … Bringest me in sorewe. Ibid., App. EE. 20. Charlemaines spere Þat to ȝenste þe saracins he was ywoned to bere.
b. In defence or protection from; = AGAINST A. 13
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 66. God is ꝥ ȝe asken red, & salue ꝥ he teche ou to ȝeines fondunges.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 56. Þe king hadde al to fewe Toȝenes so vele schrewe.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 172. He þat scholde me socoury to ȝen myn enymys.
a. 1440. R. Gloucester’s Chron. (Rolls), App. XX 380. Þe castel of ȝipeswich … Þat huwe bigod hadde iholde to ȝen his kinedom.
2. Towards, forward to, so as to meet; AGAINST A. 5.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Mark xiv. 13. And toʓeæʓn iornað iuh monn. Ibid., Matt. xxvii. 32. ʓemoeton monno cyriniscne cymmende toʓeeʓnas him [L. venientem obuiam sibi].
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 136. Se ealda man Symeon eode toʓeanes þam cilde.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 347. Þos goð un-ieþe to-ȝeanes þe cliue aȝean þe heȝe hulle.
c. 1205. Lay., 3626. Aganippus … Ferde him to-ȝenes.
3. Of time: Towards, at the approach of; towards the coming, arrival, or convenience of (a person); = AGAINST A. 17, 18.
971. Blickl. Hom., 53. Þonne biþ hit eft him toʓeanes ʓehealden.
c. 1122. O. E. Chron., an. 1095 (Laud MS). Toʓeanes Eastron com ðæs Papan sande.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 177. To-ȝenes sumere þis woreld floweð … to-ȝanes wintre heo hebbeð.
c. 1250. O. Kentish Serm., in O. E. Misc., 26. To James þo sun risindde. Ibid., 34. To-ȝenes þan euen.
b. as conj. = AGAINST. B.
a. 1440. R. Gloucester’s Chron. (Rolls), App. XX. 376. God him greiþede pes to ȝenst he bere croune.
4. Towards; with respect to; in regard to; = AGAINST A. 3.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 145. Þos word he seide et sumtime toȝeines þet he walde þis lif forleten.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 9. Ure lif we ledeð richtliche toȝenes ure louerd ihesu crist. Ibid. Teȝenes ure emcristene we sulle laden ure lif edmodeliche.
5. Opposite, facing; = AGAINST A. 1. rare.
c. 1450. Two Cookery-bks., 112. Bray hit wel in a morter, & drie hit toȝenst ye sonne.
