Obs. Forms: 1 ful(l)wian, fullian, 3–4 folle(n, 3 south. volle(n, 3 fulhe(n, vulȝen, fulewen, folewen, 2–4 fulwe(n, fulȝe, 2 fule(h)ȝen, 4 folwen, fologhe, 5 folowe, 4–6 fulle, (4 fully). [OE. fullian, fullwian, f. FULL adv. + OTeut. *wîhêjan, wîhjan (OHG. wîhen, mod.Ger. weihen) to consecrate, f. *wîho- (OS., OHG. wîh, Goth. weihs) holy.

1

  The word thus means ‘to consecrate fully.’ A convert who was deemed not sufficiently instructed for baptism, or who shrank from assuming the responsibilities which it involved, was frequently prime-signed, i.e., marked with the sign of the cross only, the ‘full consecration’ by baptism being deferred till a later period.]

2

  trans. To baptize.

3

c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., I. xv. [xxvi.] (1890), 62. Ongunnon heo somnian & singan … & men læran & fulwian.

4

a. 1000.  Martyrol. (E.E.T.S.), 80. He wæs ȝefullwad æt Rome.

5

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John i. 33. Se þe me sende to fullianne on wætere.

6

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 101. Heo setteð heoran handan ofer ifulȝede men.

7

c. 1205.  Lay., 2402. Þe king heo lette fulwen æfter þon lawen.

8

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 1391. Hwi ne hihe we for to beon Ifulhet [v.r. ifulhtnet] as he het his.

9

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 239. As ȝoure fader dude, do, And be yuolled in holy water.

10

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 164. Alle arn laþed luflyly … Þat euer wern fulȝed in font þat fest to haue.

11

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 5697. He wolde fully … þan Amyral þat was þere.

12

c. 1430.  Chev. Assigne, 369. The sixte was fulwedde cheuelere assigne.

13

c. 1450.  Myrc, 85. To folowe the chylde ȝef hyt be nede.

14

1483.  Festivall (W. de W., 1515), 32 b. Cryste … was fulled in water.

15