†aˈbave,v.Obs.Also abaue, abaw(e.[Prob. a.OFr.abaub-ir, abab-ir to astonish, confound, frighten, disconcert,repr.L. ad to + balb-um stammering. NoFr.form abavir is cited byGodef., but its rise from ababir would be regular. The derivation fromFr.esbah-ir, sometimes proposed, does not account for the final -ave, -aue, -awe.]trans.To put to confusion, discomfit; also intr.(rare) to be confounded (Fr.s'abaubir).1303R. BrunneHandlyng Synne 9536Loke how ȝe mow be a-bawede Þat seye þat þe Jewe ys sauede.c1375ChaucerDethe Blaunche (Fairf.MS.) 614And al abawed where so I be My pees in pledynge and in werre.c1430LydgateBochas (1554) iv. i. 101 a,They were abaued[rhymes with saued].―Minor Poems 144To fynde a mene the sowle for to save. Of this terrible doolful inspeccioun The peeplis hertys gretly gan abave.