atte abrayde

[LanDi Liu]

Could "atte abrayde" be a adjunct describing how they they sang?
(Suddenly breaking out).  What does OED say about "atte"?

Randy

On Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 11:40 AM, James Harbeck <jharbeck at sympatico.ca> wrote:
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       James Harbeck <jharbeck at SYMPATICO.CA>
> Subject:      atte abrayde
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>
> A friend has asked me about this phrase, which may be encountered in
> the old carol "Sir Christemas": "Wher'for syng we all atte abrayde"
> (see
> http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/i_am_here_syre_christmasse.htm
> ). "Abrayde" is (as per the OED etc.) an older spelling of the
> obsolete verb "abraid," which has several meanings, the most likely
> relevant of which is "To break forth abruptly into speech; to burst
> into a cry; to shout out."  But there's really nothing in nouns to go
> on, and this song seems not to have found its way into the OED. My
> best guess is that this is a nominalization, perhaps for the nonce
> just to fit the rhyme. But I'm interested in any other ideas.
>
> Thanks,
> James Harbeck.
>
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--
Randy Alexander
Jilin City, China
My Manchu studies blog:
http://www.bjshengr.com/manchu

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