Middle English Dictionary Entry
cǒupāble adj. & n.
Entry Info
| Forms | cǒupāble adj. & n. Also copable, cupabil, coubabil, coulpable, culpable. |
| Etymology | OF coupable & L culpābilis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of persons: guilty, blameworthy, culpable; (b) ~ in, ~ of, guilty of (a crime, sin); ~ upon, blameworthy in (sth.); (c) of things, actions, etc.: blameworthy, sinful, wicked.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2731 : The law seith that he is coupable that entremetteth hym..with swich thyng as aperteneth nat vn to hym.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.275 : I beknowe me coupable.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1328 : Þou art coupable [vr. culpable].
- a1400 Swete ihesu crist to þe Culpable (Add 47663 M)2 : Swete ihesu crist, to þe, copable [vr. Coubabil] wrecche ich ȝelde me.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.302 : Our kyng sent messengers..to schew..Of Inglis & Frankis who was most culpable.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.648 : He fro my wheel was sodenli cast doun, Which neuer in woord nor deede was coupable.
- (1442) Visit.Alnwick51 : Whilke payne we shalle do execute agayn alle thayme whiche may fynde culpable in that party.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)41.187 : Thanne they that Cowpable were herde Josephe Speken In this Manere.
- c1450 ?Suffolk Myn hert ys set (Frf 16)55 : Euery creature That ys gylty and knowyth thaym-self coulpable Demyth alle other thair case semblable.
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.24 : My wylle was oft to ȝeld me culpapulle.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.195 : Moyses thabbot desirede to comme and iugge a broþer culpable [L culpabilem], toke a lepe fulle of gravelle on his backe.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)p.497 : I fele me cupabil.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)22/9 : He which was in oo tyme so hye in synne and so culpaple was so soone after founden in grace.
b
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.28 : Men of þe tounes nellez noȝt sewen for neȝeborusipe wuche bez copable of þe dede.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2758 : Mi Sone, art thou coupable of Slowthe In eny point which to him longeth?
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1503 : Wherof a tale unto hire Ere, Which is coupable upon this dede, I thenke telle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2180 : A Philosophre..seide him wel hou that flatours Coupable were of thre errours.
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.858 : He was gylty and coulpabyll of all ye trespasse abouen sayd.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1317 : My lorde meruailles hym..Why thow morthires his men..Þat are noghte coupable þerin.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)87/11 : It was founde that the said Mardocheus was not culpable therof.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1055/23 : She ys nat culpable of thys treson.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.99 : That the impatience of women scholde schewe the victor of Affrike gilty or culpable of suche a crime.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.313 : He was culpable [Trev.: greetly to blame; L culpabilis] in mony thynges.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Pseudo-F.(Dub 245)312 : We ben coupable in þis synne.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)34.13 : Thai wild haf made me culpabil of syn.
- a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)2.S.430 : To speke only off women I ware to blame..For men also be culpable in þe same.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.414 : Precious clothyng is cowpable for the derthe of it and for his softenesse.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)348 : So þat þe persoon..make not bi culpabil glotony such mater of seed habundaunt in his body.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)325 : Ricchessis ben not causis of tho synnes, but ben oonli occasiouns of tho synnes; and that oonli to the freel and culpable wil of men.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)312 : I can excuse nott, the dede is so culpable.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)464/43 : Wasshe a wey owr spottes all culpabylle.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)123/22 : Ofte tymes in myn eyen it is founden culpable þat to þe iugement of man it semeþ laudable.
2.
Deserving (of death, to die); -- with of, to.
Associated quotations
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1226 : 'He is coupable [vr. worþi],' þe gywes sede, 'to deye on þe rode-treo.'
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.571 : As a iustice dampneth hym that is coupable [vr. copable] to the deeth.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.149 : He is of the deth coupable.
3.
(a) Liable; ~ in, ~ of, in danger of (judgment, hellfire), liable to (punishment); ~ to, liable to (be condemned, be punished); (b) accused, charged (with false accusations).
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Mat.5.21 : He þat sleþ, he schal be coupable in þe dome [L reus erit judicio].
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.16 : And sich is coupable aȝens God to be jugid to helle [L reus erit judicio; cp. Mat. 5.22]..he þat scorniþ þus is coupable to falle in conseile [L reus erit concilio]..þat man, as Crist seiþ, is coupable of þe fier of helle [L reus erit gehennæ ignis].
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.3.13 : Artow comen for thou art maad coupable [L rea] with me of false blames?
4.
As noun: (a) culprit(s, the guilty; -- also pl.; (b) an accomplice.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.67b : Ȝif þe copable ne apere noȝt after þe secunde somunse.
- (1422) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)10.213a : The consentants and culpables thereof shull lesen the Grace of the said Kings.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3351 : He..ay for-yaf the gylty and coupable.
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Vit.(1) (Vit A.16)272 : Consentauntes of the coupable.
b
- (1422) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)10.213b : Upon Peyne to lesyng by hym..that shall done the contrarye, and her Concentauntes and Culpables thereof, the Grace and Mercy of the said Kyngs.