Forms: α. 1 tácnian, 2 tacnien, 2–3 tacnen (Orm. -enn), 3 taknen, 4 -nyn, takenen, 4–6 takin, -yn. β. 3 toknien, -ny, tocknen, 3–4 tokenen, 3–5 toknen, (5 tooken), 3– token. [OE. tácnian (also ʓe-) = MLG. têkenen, OHG. zeihhanôn (Ger. zeichnen):—OTeut. *taiknôjan, f. *taiknom, TOKEN sb.]
1. trans. To be a token or sign of; to signify, represent, denote, mean, betoken.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxix. § 13. Þon tacnnað [se steorra] æfen.
971. Blickl. Hom., 19. Smeaʓean we nu … hwæt þæt tacnode.
[c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 7. Nu we wulleð seggen mare wet þis godspel itacnet.]
c. 1205. Lay., 32115. To wulche þinge hit iteon wolde Þat him wes itacned þere [i.e., in the dream]. Ibid., 32131. Al swa godd him hafde itakned to don.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2957. What þat it tokeneþ telle wol ich sone.
c. 1425. Craft of Nombrynge (E.E.T.S.), 5. A cifre tokens noȝt.
c. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, 14. Suche pronosticacions sheweþ and tokneþ to þe pacient þat þe leche is experte in þe knowyng of þe fistule.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), II. 424. Quhat this takynnit I will nocht tell ȝow heir.
1889. C. C. R., Up for the Season, etc. 16. On fair leaves and ladies as yet there no shade is To token their coming decay.
2. To be a type, emblem, or symbol of; to typify, symbolize.
971. Blickl. Hom., 35. Þa Easterlican daʓas tacniaþ þa ecean eadiʓnesse.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 280. Wæter ʓetacnað … mennisc inʓehyd.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 763, in O. E. Misc., 24. Crist is tokned ðurȝ ðis der.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6341 (Cott.). Þis wandes takens persons thre. Ibid., 18644. He [Christ] es takend to leon.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 809. And by thys dowe wych thow dost se,… I am tookenyd.
1552. Grindal, Fruitful Dial., in Foxe, A. & M. (1570), 1558/2. The token of the body of Christ is [not] the thing tokened; wherfore they are not one.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea, II. xiii. 195. The principle of the ‘moveable column’ would be well enough tokened by that simple skinful of water.
† 3. To mark with a sign or significant mark.
c. 1300. Cursor M., 21713 (Edin.). Þe signe of taue in alde laiis Bitaknis cros nu in ure daiis. The men that tarwiþ takind ware Oft it helpid fra misfare.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xli. (Agnes), 30. With þe fare blud of his passione [He] taknys þar chekis vpe & done.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 431 b/1. He was marked or tokened on the lyppes of hym with an hote and brennyng yron.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XI. viii. 23. Quhen thou takynnit þes sa worthely With syng tropheall the feyldis.
† 4. intr. To make a sign or signs. Obs. rare.
1535. Coverdale, Prov. vi. 12. He wyncketh with his eyes, he tokeneth with his fete, he poynteth with his fyngers.
5. trans. To betroth, promise in marriage. dial.
1880. in W. Cornwall Gloss.
1910. E. Phillpotts, Thief of Virtue, I. ii. 10. ‘How can she throw over the man afore they’m tokened?’… ‘If they are tokened, does it follow they’ve let all the world know it?’
† 6. Token up, to put up in writing, write out. Obs. rare.
1535. Coverdale, Dan. v. 23. Therfore is the palme off this honde sent hither … to token vp this wrytinge. Ibid., Ecclus. l. 27. I Iesus the sonne of Sirac … haue tokened vp these informacions and documentes of wyszdome and vnderstandinge in this boke.
Hence Tokened, Tokening ppl. adjs.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. x. 9. Eno. How appeares the Fight? Scar. On our side, like the Token’d Pestilence, Where death is sure.
1820. Clare, Rural Life (ed. 3), 109. We’ll mix our wishes in a tokening tear.
