Obs. Also 1 biʓ-, bic-, bileofa, bilifen, 1–3 biliue, 3 bileue, -leoue, -lif, 4 bylyf, -lyue. [OE. biʓleofa, f. biʓ, bí, BY + lif life, -leofa living.] That which one lives by; living, sustenance.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. vi. 21. Of eallum mettum … þæt hiʓ beon æʓþer ʓe ðe ʓe him to biʓleofan.
c. 1000. O. E. Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 492. Pulmentum, bilifen.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 99. He let hem reine manne to bi-liue.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 168. Kinges & kaiseres habbeð hore bileoue of oure large relef.
c. 1275. Prov. Ælfred, 96, in O. E. Misc., 109. His medis to mowen, his plouis to drivin to ure alre bilif.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIX. 230. With sellyng and buggynge her bylyf to wynne. Ibid. (1393), II. 18. He het þe elementes … brynge forth ȝoure bylyue.
