Dative Subjects (was: Re: Genetic Descent)

[Thomas McFadden]

> As for "like", Whitehall gives the sense development as 'to be of like form'
>  > 'be like' > 'be suited to' > 'be pleasing to'. "Me liketh" is an example
> of the fourth sense, which is now archaic in most dialects (but recall the
> 7-Up slogan "You like it; it likes you"). "I like" is a specialization of
> the third sense "I am suited to". It cannot plausibly be regarded as derived
> from the fourth sense by Fillmorian shift.

is the third sense attested at the relevant time?  i ask simply because i
had always assumed the story was correct that had the modern usage
deriving out of the fourth sense after the collapse of the case system in
ME.  but it would be very interesting if it could be shown that what you
say is correct.