v. Obs. Forms: (4 schef), 4–6 cheve, 4–7 chieve, 4, 7 cheeve, 4–5 chefe, (7 chive). [ME. cheve, a. OF. cheve-r, f. chef head; but in sense 6 aphetic f. Eng. ACHIEVE.]
1. intr. To reach an end or object, succeed; usually with adv. well, ill, etc., to get on, fare.
c. 1300. Beket, 856. Thanne we miȝte … The bet cheve of oure consail.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 31. And summe chosen chaffare, to cheeuen þe bettre.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 1841. And nowe has þow chevede soo: it es thyne awene skathe!
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 108. Go forth, ylle myght thou chefe.
1563. Foxe, A. & M., June, 1556. One wished them ill to chieue, that should go about such an acte.
1600. Holland, Livy, X. xviii. 363. All things went well and chieved prosperously [res prosperas esse].
1674. Ray, N. Country Wds., 10. To Chieve, to succeed: as It chieves nought with him…. Fair chieve you, I wish you good luck.
b. To fare well; prosper, thrive, flourish.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 104. Ȝe, cherles, & ȝowre children chieue shal ȝe neure.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., XII. 297. Inoculing also in hem hath cheved.
1471. Ripley, Comp. Alch., II. xv. in Ashm. (1652), 138. If thou do contrary thy Warke may never cheve.
1611. Cotgr., Faire bonne fin, to thriue, cheeue, increase, or prosper well.
2. intr. To make or win one’s way, get (to a place); to come, go, proceed: much used in allit. verse. Also to cheve to an end: to come to an end.
c. 1300. St. Brandan, 408. After the schip so faste he schef that almost he com therto.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 63. Þe chauntre of þe chapel cheued to an ende.
1340–70. Alisaunder, 78. Hee … cheued forthe with þe childe.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. i. (1495), 590. Yf thou sowest the seed of a tree fyrste it cheueth and spryngeth forth as an herbe.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 9331. Our londes haue leuyt … and chefen fro hom Vnto a cuntre vnkynd.
3. trans. To come into possession of; gain, acquire, win.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1271. I schulde chepen & chose, to cheue me a lorde. Ibid., 1390. Tas [= take] yow þere my cheuicaunce, I cheued no more.
c. 1430. Chev. Assigne, 16. That he hadde no chylde to cheuene his londis.
[1614. Davies, Eclogue, Willy & Wernocke. O hou it garres old Wernock swinck with glee In that emprise that chiuen featest fame.]
4. intr. To fall to, befall, happen, come to pass.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1125. If hit cheue þe chaunce vncheryst ho worþe.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 395. Hym chefet thurghe chaunse childer no mo. Ibid., 518. Auntres … Of chiualry & chaunce, þat cheuyt hym before.
a. 1440. Sir Degrev., 465. How as evere hit cheve; The knyght takes his leve.
b. impers. with object in dative.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIV. 226. And if he chide or chatre, hym chieueth [v.r. cheueþ] þe worse.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 869. Hade I wytene of this, wele had me chefede.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 5985. Þurghe Achilles chiualry hom cheuyt the worse.
1611. Beaum. & Fl., Knt. Burn. Pestle, I. iii. (1613), C 4. I foule chiue him, he is too merrie.
1657. Sir A. Cockain, Obst. Lady, III. ii. Foul cheeve him for it!
5. intr. To do homage to. Cf. CHEVAGE.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 111. Whan wrathed Steuen with Dauid of Scotland, Þat wild not tille him cheuen, no bowe vnto his hand. Ibid., 323. Grete was þat linage & many to þam cheued.
1436. Pol. Poems (1859), II. 156. God … Sav Caleys … That ever yt mot wel cheve Unto the crown of mery Yngland, Whils that this world wyll stand.
6. trans. To bring to an end or issue; to finish, accomplish, perform, achieve.
[c. 1400. Destr. Troy, Prol. 16. New stories ben now … Cheuyt throughe chaunce & chaungyng of peopull. Ibid., 947. Thies charmys & enchauntementes are cheuit to noght.]
1426. Pol. Poems, II. 132. Gladly he chevith what so he begynne.
c. 1475. Partenay, 597. I shall plainly do your commaundement, What-someuer cost it for to cheue.
1530. Palsgr., 483/2. I cheve, I bringe to an ende, Je aschieve.
