Middle English Dictionary Entry
cǒuth adj. (& n.)
Entry Info
| Forms | cǒuth adj. (& n.) Also couthe, cowh, cowth(e, kouth(e, cout, kowd, cuth(e, kuth, cuð, kuð, (cptv.) cuðre & (early) coð. |
| Etymology | OE cūþ, ppl. of cunnan. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. cǒnnen.
1.
Of things or events: (a) known; well-known, familiar; ~ inough, familiar, common [rendering Latin satis nota and similar phrases]; fallen ~, become known; maken ~, make known; (b) evident, true.
Associated quotations
a
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1127 : Hit wæs ful cuð ofer eall land.
- ?a1300(c1250) Prov.Hend.(Dgb 86)st.37 : Mani man and mani wif Wenen to leden here lif Here in derne senne. Wille þei, nille þei, out hit shal And ben ful couþ overal.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)279 : Þat word was sone wide couth a-mong þeuwe and freo.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)2170 : In-to al þe toun of Caunterburi couth it was anon.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10593 : Hii mette..at lincolne..& smite þer an bataile þat wel couþ is.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)171/3631 : God for-bede..Þat no wimman is priuite To noman þourȝ me be kouþe!
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.14.7 : How schal it be kowd [L scietur] that is songun, ether that that is harpid?
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.297 : Name and fame was couþ þerof among þe comoun peple.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.766 : This name of thraldom was neuere erst kouth, til that Noe seyde that his sone Canaan sholde be thral to hise bretheren for his synne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2109 : Tho fame..Aboute flyh..And made it cowth in alle londes [etc.].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2543 : Lapis animalis..The whos vertu is propre and cowth For Ere and yhe and nase and mouth.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.389 : Lo nou, which a wreche, That mete and drinke is him so couth, And hit ther comth non in his mouth!
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5456 : Whan it is couth And drawe into the worldes fame, It schal ben hindringe of his name.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.11 : Precheours that bers witnes Of his to com and mas it couthe.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)16881 : Soone was his birying couþ to þat fals lede.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.240 : Sone it was fulle couth þat Leulyn did outrage.
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.10r : Adactis is half erbe & half tre, cowh ynowh.
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.50r : Bistorta: geniculata, gemelancia or gemelanca, genicularis media.., genicle .., erbe cowh & comown growyng þer folk wonyth & tredith mykel fast by þe paþ.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.61 : This thing anon was couth in every strete.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2000 : Kisse thou shalt my mouth, Which to no vilayn was never couth For to aproche it, ne for to touche.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2671 : The wyndis..How thei amonge hem self discorde, is couth.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24377 : A, leuedi, hu þou fand it cuth [Frf: couþ] þe sagh o symon muth..He said, a suerd suld..thirl thoru þin aun hert.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1490 : Ȝet I kende yow of kyssyng..Quere-so countenaunce is couþe, quikly to clayme.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)757 : Loo, this sentence ys knowen kouth Of every philosophres mouth.
2.
Of persons: (a) known, familiar; ~ man, an acquaintance; ~ folk, acquaintances; sibbe and couthe, kinsmen and acquaintances; ne ~ ne uncouth (strange), neither acquaintance nor stranger; (b) known (to sb.); familiar or intimate (with); -- with dat. or til, to phr.; (c) acquainted or familiar (with sb. or sth.); -- with dat. or of, to, with phr.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8922 : Þeȝȝ..sohhtenn himm Bitwenenn sibbe & cuþe, & teȝȝ ne fundenn nohht off himm.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2446 : Heo gæderede..alle þat cuðe folk þat hire freond weoren, & alle þa vncuðe to hire comen.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)799 : Feole cuðe men ba & utcumene copnið & kepeð hwuch ure is kempe to ouercumen oðer.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)115b : Heo ne schulen cussen na mon, ne cuðmon ne cunnes mon [Nero: ne kuð ne unkuð].
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)922 : In eauer euch londe ich am cuuþ, East & west, feor & neor.
- c1390 Vrn.Mir.Virg.(Vrn)96 : To askes he þouȝte þe child to brenne..And þouhte þat neuer couþ scholde him kenne.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)12131 : Ani man, vnknauen or cuth.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)87.8 : Fer made þou mi kouth [L notos] fra me, Þai set me wlatinge to þam to be.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1054 : If..to be couþe in his corte þou coveytes þenne, To se þat Semly in sete.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)18.196 : Feer fro kuth [vrr. couthe, kith] and fro kyn.
- a1475 In place (Hrl 3954)197 : Euery man, boþe fremyd & kouth, Xul comyn.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)10341 : Ȝyf hit beo a couþ man of þe contre þat goþ þider [etc.].
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)745 : He sayd he was knoun and couthe, And was comun fro bi southe.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)114 : With mete ne bere þy knyfe to mowthe, Wheþer þou be sett be strong or couthe.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)26/792 : Loke, boy, ne be naȝt betrayd Of kouþ ne strange!
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)747 : Cuð he wes þen cnihten & heo hine icneowen.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10621 : Þaa þat [Ld: to whome] þis maiden was to cuth [Ld: knowen was], þam thoght of hir wel gret selcuth.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24721 : Þat blisful brid, iohan..þat þou sa cuth was till.
c
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)18/159 : Ȝef þu cneowe ant were cuð wið þe king.
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)104 : He..wilneþ for to beo þe cuþ.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23102 : Ful wel es him þat won mai þar! þat kyth was neuer cuth o [Göt: to] care.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24711 : Crist made þe [John] cuth of his consail And priuest of his kin.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)842 : Þare was thre clerkes of þe southe Of england with þe bischop couthe.
3.
(a) Renowned, famous, respected; ~ of name; for ~ of largesse, being famous for hospitality; (b) ?also, knowledgeable, expert.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)9240 : Sannt Johan i wessteland Wass wurrþenn cuþ þatt time, & menn himm sohhtenn fasste to.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)17b : Na wepmon ne chastie ȝe ne edwiten him his unþeaw, bute he beo þe ouer cuðre halie alde ancres hit mahe don summes weis.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2768 : His nome was wel wide cuð.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2119 : He wes heh king; coð hit wes wide of him.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2666 : Bi dat time ðat he was..Wið faigered and strengthe kuð, folc ethiopienes on egipte cam.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9339 : Nimeþ þe wreche of ȝoure fon..Þat ȝoure dede mowe be couþ bi norþe & bi souþe, Þat it be onour to ȝou.
- 1372 My folk now (Adv 18.7.21)26 : Alle þi fon i slou for þe & made þe cout of name; & þu heng me on rode tre.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.14 : Than longen folk to goon on pilgrymages..To ferne halwes kouthe in sondry londes.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)191 : Þe kidde king Alixandre þat couþ is in erþe, Þat name haþ of noblete.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2638 : My fader was a philisofer..& his nome kouthe.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)624 : Syr Launfal schud be stward of halle, For to agye hys gestes alle, For cowþe of largesse.
b
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.22va (2.1) : Þogh it so be þat som saie 40 [colors of urine]..noȝtforþan þe more partie of auctoures and most autentik and moste couþe maken destinccion but of 20 coloures.
4.
(a) Familiar with proper manners; ~ of court thewes; courteous, polite (behavior); bi couthe, courteously; (b) genteel, gentle.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3659 : Wiþ alle worschip & wele william þei receyued, wiþ clipping & kesseng & alle couþe dedes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6836 : To pilgrime and to vncuth þou ber þe wit þi dedis cuth.
- ?a1425 Const.Masonry(1) (Roy 17.A.1)51 : Uchon sculle calle other felows by cuthe, For cause they come of ladyes burthe.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)21 : The ryeall renkys of the rownnde table..Kynde men and courtays and couthe of courte thewes.
b
- a1450 SLeg.Suppl.Bod.(Bod 779)419/129 : A dekene..beriid here bodyis so fayre & so couþe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)269/373 : Comly lady, good and couth, ffayn wold I comforth the.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: The nominal uses of this word may need to be placed in a separate sense or subsense, noted "as noun:" and defined, or at least noted "as noun:" and defined within the senses where they currently are.--per MLL
Note: For sense 3.(b), cp. editor's gloss: 'knowledgeable'; but the example may simply mean 'well-known, respected'.
Note: For the phrase ~ inough (sense 1.(a)), note that this is a favorite of Henry Daniel, especially in MS Arun 42 of the Herbal, where "cowh ynowh" shows up 20 times, "cowþ ynowh" twice; "couth ynowh" once -- alongside "comyn ynowh" once; "cowþ & comown ynowh" once; "erbe couth" or "cowh ynowh" twice; "cowh erbe ynowh" once; "cowȝ" or "cowh ynowȝ" twice; "comown ynowȝ" once; "couwþ ynowþ" once; "comown & cowh ynoh" once; and "erbe couth" thrice. It is much less common in MS Add 27329. In every case, he uses it to summarily classify a given plant or plant variety as 'common' or 'familiar.'