Tag: 1400 – 1499

Word of the Day: MISPROUD

ETYMOLOGY
from mis- (wrong, unfavourably) + proud

EXAMPLE 1
“…Ȝyf a man haue mysdo or seyde,
And men hym blame for þat mysbreyde,
Ȝyf he susteynë hys mysdede,
And hys mysawe wyl nat drede,
Þat cumþ of mysprout herte and hy
Þat wyl nat knowe hys owne foly…”

From: Robert of Brunne’s “Handlyng Synne” (Harley MS)
By Robert Mannyng, a1400

EXAMPLE 2
“…It was in 1397, ninety years since the first assertion of Swiss independence, when Leopold the Handsome, Duke of Austria, a bold but misproud and violent prince, involved himself in one of the constant quarrels with the Swiss that were always arising on account of the insulting exactions of toll and tribute in the Austrian border cities…”

From: A Book of Golden Deeds of All Times and All Lands
By Charlotte Mary Yonge, 1864

Word of the Day: REBELLANT

ETYMOLOGY
from Old French rebellant, pr. pple. of rebeller (to rebel),
(used as adj. and n. in 14th–16th c.)

EXAMPLE 1 (for adj.)
“…That other infortuny is exterialle, that man scholde haue his inferior rebellante to hym, in that he was inobediente to God his maker…”

From: The Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain and Ireland During the Middle Ages,
Edited by Churchill Babington, 1869
Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden Monachi Cestrensis (Harley MS. 2261)
By Ranulf Higden

EXAMPLE 2 (for n.)
“…With Tantalus hild starued Ghosts, whose pleasure was their paine,
Whose euer Hords had neuer vse, and gettings had no gaine.
To Besides assisted Soules of Vnthrifts, whose supplies
Did passe from them as Sea through Cieues, whose wastes no wealthes suffise.
Vnto Ixeon stood their Sprights that had their lusts for law,
Rebellants to a common good, and sinning without awe.
To Titius lastly ioyned Ghosts, whose hearts did emptie hate
As Todes their poyson, growing when it seemeth to abate.…”

From: Albions England; or, historicall map of the same island 
By William Warner,

Word of the Day: STRIVABLE

ETYMOLOGY
from Old French estrivable, from estriver (to quarrel, contend) + -able

EXAMPLE
“…that eke the lay peple of the newe lawe is bounde, undir perel of greet synne, forto receyve her feith and al the leernyng of Goddis lawe, now beyng, in ech doutable and strivable poynt therof, fro and of the preestis of the newe lawe, and forto obeie to hem therynne, in lasse thanne the case of the seid excepcioun kan be executid …”

From: Book of Faith; a fifteenth century theological tractate
From the manuscript in the library of Trinity college, Cambridge
By Reginald Pecock, c1456

Word of the Day: FEDDLE

ETYMOLOGY
perhaps representative (with some change of sense) Old English  fedels (fatted bird),
the Germanic base of feed (vb.) + the Germanic base of ‑els

EXAMPLE
(for n. 2)
“…It will be of a pretty little Infant: O how heartily I shall love it! I do
already dote upon it; for it will be my dainty Fedle-darling, my genteel Dilli-minion …”

From: The third book of the Works of Mr. Francis Rabelais
Translation by Thomas Urquhart. 1693

Word of the Day: WILY-PIE

ETYMOLOGY
from wily (crafty, cunning, sly) + pie (a cunning, sly, or wily person, obs.)

EXAMPLE
“…So fiercely he fighteth, his mind is so fell,
That he driveth them down with dints on their day-watch;
He bruiseth their brainpans and maketh them to swell,
Their brows all to-broken, such claps they catch;
Whose jealousy malicious maketh them to leap the hatch;
By their cognizance knowing how they serve a wily pie
Ask all your neighbours whether that I lie…”

From: Divers Ballads and Ditties Solacious
The Ancient Acquaintance, Madam, Between us Twain
John Skelton, (1460? – 1529)

Word of the Day: DEBATOUS

ETYMOLOGY
from debat (debate, a controversy or discussion + -ous

EXAMPLE
“…Appetytes of auaryce be to them so amerous
Abusyon and arrogaunce ben of one affynyte
Aduenture and angre ben aye so debatous.
Faynynge estate of counterfet auctoryte
Adulacyon of aduenture mayst thou not auaunt the
As a lyer in goodnes in thyne araye doest appere
Englande may wayle that euer it came here…”

From: Here Begynneth a Treatyse of this Galaunt
By John Lydgate (attributed name), ?1510

Word of the Day: TOILOUS

ETYMOLOGY
from toil (strife, turmoil, dispute) + -ous

EXAMPLE
“….R
to riotus, to reueling, ne rage not to rudeli.
S
to straunge, ne to stirynge, ne straungeli to stare.
T
to toilose, ne to talewijs, for temperaunce is beest.
V
to venemose, ne to veniable, & voide al vilonye.
W
to wielde, ne to wraþful, neiþer waaste, ne waade not to depe..”

From: Aristotle’s A B C
in The Babees Book,
Lambeth Manuscript. a1430

Word of the Day: PERQUIRE

ETYMOLOGY
adj. & adv.: from French par cœur (by heart, by memory, perfectly, exactly)
vb.: from Latin perquirere (to make diligent search for), formed on  per-  + quærere (to seek)

EXAMPLE (for vb.)
“…Sweetly disposed soul (for so I hope)
Though most deluded by thy self, and Pope;
Perquire Zoographers, and none recite,
A Romane Pope turn’d willing Anchorite.
Now they so much abhor such doubtful ways,
They’ll not to Heaven go, without false ayes.…”

From: Divine Glimpses of a Maiden Muse
By Christopher Clobery, 1659