Now only arch. and dial. Forms: α. (with apparent traces of pl. inflexion) 1 ʓenóʓe, 2 inóʓe, 3–5 in-, ynoghe, -oghȝe, -oȝe, -oȝhe, -ohe, -ouȝe, in-, ynowe, -owȝe, 4–5 anowe, (5 enoghe, enughe, inowhe), 3–6 ynowe, 6 enowe. β. (without traces of inflexion) 3–5 in-, ynou, 3–7 in-, ynow, (4–6 inew, ynew, 4 aney, 6–9 Sc. anew, 8–9 dial. enew, enoo), 4– enow. [See ENOUGH. The forms of ENOUGH and enow cannot always be discriminated with certainty, as the phonetic value of the ME. and early mod. ȝ, gh, was not uniform. The same graphic form, indeed, may sometimes represent two different pronunciations, one belonging to each series.]
A. adj.
1. ‘The plural of ENOUGH’ (J.). (The recent literary use is almost peculiar to Sc. writers.)
Beowulf, 3103 (Gr.). Þæt ʓe ʓenoʓe ne on sceawiað beagas and brad gold.
c. 1033. Charter Cnut, in Cod. Dipl., VI. 183. Leofric eorl, and Osgod Clape, and Ðored, and oðre ʓenoʓe.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 13. Ic eou wille ȝeuen wela and westme inoȝe.
c. 1200. Ormin, 7932. Þatt witenn menn inoȝhe.
c. 1225. Leg. Kath., 514. Ah wordes þu hauest inohe.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4563 (Gött.). In a medow sliht, floures and gress i-now i fand.
c. 1320. Seuyn Sag. (W.), 921. He kest the bor doun hawes anowe.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 558. His Systir Son him slew, And gud men als, ma then Inew.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3931. Bernes was diȝt þe deth with dintis enoghe.
c. 1430. Hymns Virg. (1867), 76. God haþ mercies y-now in stoore For a þousand worldis.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, C j b. Yeue hir birdis Inow both morow and euyn.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. vii. (vi.) 23. I than, by cleir takynnis anew, Manifestlie all the Greikis falsheid knew.
1535. Coverdale, Ezek. xxxix. 10. They shall haue weapens ynew to burne.
1581. Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 67. He would be sure to name windes enovve.
1611. Chapman, Iliad, XX. 24/278. His meere lookes, threw darts enow, t’impresse Their powres with trembling.
1656. Sanderson, Serm. (1689), 266. The Devil will be sure to suggest enow of these pretensions.
1702. Addison, Dial. Medals, i. 24. I think there are at Rome enow modern works of Architecture to employ any reasonable man.
1752. Hume, Ess. & Treat. (1777), I. 23. There are enow of zealots on both sides.
1820. Scott, Ivanhoe, xxxii. Take with you enow of men.
1824. L. Murray, Eng. Gram., I. 254. Enow was formerly used as the plural of enough; but it is now obsolete.
1828. Steuart, Planter’s G., 253. Accidents enow will happen, without aggravating them by carelessness.
1868. G. Macdonald, Eng. Antiphon, 210. Without yet having generated thoughts enow concerning the subject itself.
b. predicatively.
1647. May, Hist. Parl., Pref. 5. Any English man, whose yeares have been enow to make him know the Actions that were done.
1760. Sterne, Serm., Yorick (1773), IV. 31. As if the causes of anguish in the heart were not enow.
1796. C. Marshall, Garden., xii. (1813), 154. Three or four [fruits], on a long and strong branch, are quite enow.
1825. Scott, Talism., xix. Those charges, which there are enow to bring against him in his absence.
c. absol. = ‘persons enough.’
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. D viij. There are inow, and more than a good meanie.
1646. Crashaw, Steps Temple, 74. There are enow, whose draughts, as deep as hell, Drink up all Spain in sack.
1669. Shadwell, Royal Shepherdess, I. i. Thou wilt surely have Enow to court thee.
1805. Wordsw., Prelude, V. (1851), 91. Enow there are on earth to take in charge Their wives, their children, and their virgin loves.
2. As adj. sing. = ENOUGH a. 1 a.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 388. Þe kyng and Roberd … wyþ gret ost and strengþe ynou to Engelond come.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2190 (Gött.). Of þat nacion sprang foli enou.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XV. 139. Ich haue mete more þan ynowe.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 130. Plenteythe of fysshe þey hadden ynowe.
1471. Sir J. Paston, in Lett., 670, III. 7. I have hey i new of myn owne.
1672–5. Comber, Comp. Temple (1702), 90. And hence we see we have Reason enow to confess our Sins.
b. predicatively; = ENOUGH a. 2.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 385, in Lamb. Hom., 183. Crist scal one beon inou . alle his durlinges.
1607. Tourneur, Rev. Trag., V. i. That’s enow a’ conscience!
1814. Byron, Lara, I. xxviii. It was enow To seal his lip, but agonise his brow.
c. absol. = ENOUGH a. 3.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 27601 (Cott.). Inow no mai man find o þaa.
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, II. lvii. (1859), 56. Ynowe to doo for many a day herafter.
a. 1440. Sir Degrev., 1024. Whedur he wol tornay or fyȝthe, He shal have i-now!
1597. Daniel, Trag. Philotas, in Farr, S. P. Jas. I. (1848), 275. I know t’have said too much, but not ynow.
B. adv. = ENOUGH adv. in various senses.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 83. Þat folk was þo of þis lond y payed wel ynow.
c. 1300. Beket, 2213. Honurede that holi bodi: and custe hit ynoȝe.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 1404 (Fairf.). Lorde I-noghe [Trin. Inouȝe] now liued haue I.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 893, Tisbe. To make myn wounde large I-now I gesse.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., 295. It may weel ynowȝ accorde with resoun.
a. 1553. Udall, Royster D., I. ii. (Arb.), 14. Bee of good cheere; anon ye shall doe well ynow.
1676. Hobbes, Iliad, XIII. 271. Or if you had been hurt ’tis sure enow, Nor in your back nor neck had been the wound.
1814. Southey, Paraguay, I. 19. A few firm stakes … Circling a narrow space, yet large enow.
1850. Mrs. Browning, Rom. Ganges, xxiii. None are frail enow For mortal joys to borrow!
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., III. IV. 235. Bright enow With gold and gems.
b. ellipt. = ENOUGH adv. 1 c.
c. 1440. Anc. Cookery, in Househ. Ord. (1790), 451. When hit is innowe take hit up.
