v. Obs. Forms: 4 chevesschen, chevese, 4–5 chevis(e, 5 -yche, -yss, -esshen, -isshe, -ice, cheveys. [ME. chevis-, chevish-, a. F. cheviss- extended stem of chevir, chevissant, to bring to a head or end, finish, achieve, make an end of, carry out, succeed with, execute, manage, furnish, etc., f. chef (chev-) head.]
1. trans. To achieve, perform, accomplish.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8329 (Cott.). Þat he ne it thoght to cheuis sua, Als þe angel brogh[t] him bodeword aa.
2. intr. To get on, speed, succeed.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VII. 427. Gif that thai mycht cheviss [chewyss] swa … That thai mycht vyn the vode agayn, His men, thai thoucht, thai suld nocht dreid.
14[?]. Legenda Aurea, 64 b (in Promp. Parv.). And the nexte nyght after he departed in thabyte of a brother of Sympringham, and so cheuyssed yt he wente ouer see.
3. intr. (refl.) To come to an end or issue, come to terms with, get on with.
1406. Occleve, Misrule, 101. I nat can with reason me chevice.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., III. xi. 191. They sawe that they conde not cheuyshe with them by loue.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W.), III. xiv. (1495), 321 b. They bounde hym bothe handes and feet; for otherwyse coude they not cheuysshe with hym.
4. refl. To furnish, provide for, help, take care of (oneself), provide for one’s sustenance.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6409 (Cott.). ‘Cheues þe,’ he said, ‘wit man an freck And ga fight a-pon amalec.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. X. 72. Souereyn [of] him-self his soule for to ȝeme, And Cheuesschen him from charge.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Compl. Mars, xiv. Alas! your honour and your emperise, Neigh ded for drede, ne can her not chevise.
1402. Occleve, Lett. of Cupid, in Arb., Garner, IV. 65. O Woman! how shalt thou thyself chevice; Sith men of thee so mochil harm witness?
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, lxxxiii. 106. Rebecca loued best her sone Jacob … because he coude best cheuisshe hym selff, and was of good puruiaunce.
a. 1500. Ratis Raving, 3874. Had scho done weill Scho had ben maryt richly: Now lat her chewys her, fore thi.
b. To occupy oneself (for any one).
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6427. He shal cheveys hym for me, For I trowe he can hampre thee.
5. trans. To provide, procure, obtain, earn.
1340–70. Alisaunder, 966. Ðof þow haue cheuesed þee a chylde.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 74. Chevystyn or purveyn [v.r. chevyschen, cheuesshen], provideo.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 66. If I sawe … alle that I coude fine and cheuisshe perisshe in the … depnes of the see.
6. trans. To provide (funds), raise (money), borrow.
1455. Marg. Paston, Lett., 260, I. 354. Wochesafe to chevesshe for her … xxti marke for to be payed to Mastre Ponyngs.
1469. Sir J. Paston, ibid., 621, II. 374. I beseche you to sende me comfort with what money ye coude fynde the menys to get or chevysche uppon suerte sufficient.
1487. Act 3 Hen. VII., c. 6 § 3. Forfeyture of the Value of the Money or Goodez so chevysched or lent.
b. intr.
1494. Fabyan, VII. ccxxv. 253. Well I knowe he must cheuich for money to perfourme yt iourney.
