v. Obs., also abaue, abaw(e. [Prob. a. OFr. abaub-ir, abab-ir to astonish, confound, frighten, disconcert, repr. L. ad to + balb-um stammering. No Fr. form abavir is cited by Godef., but its rise from ababir would be regular. The derivation from Fr. esbah-ir, sometimes proposed, does not account for the final -ave, -aue, -awe.] trans. To put to confusion, discomfit; also intr. (rare) to be confounded (Fr. s’abaubir).
1303. R. Brunne, Handlyng Synne, 9536. Loke how ȝe mow be a-bawede Þat seye þat þe Jewe ys sauede.
c. 1375. Chaucer, Dethe of Bl. (Fairf. MS.), 614. And al abawed where so I be My pees in pledynge and in werre.
c. 1430. Lydgate, Bochas (1554), IV. i. 101 a. They were abaued [rhymes with saued]. Ibid., Minor Poems, 144. To fynde a mene the sowle for to save. Of this terrible doolful inspeccioun The peeplis hertys gretly gan abave.
