Middle English Dictionary Entry
daliaunce n.
Entry Info
| Forms | daliaunce n. Also dalians, daleance, dalliaunce, deliaunce, delionce. |
| Etymology | From dā̆lien , but perhaps AF. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Polite, leisurely, intimate conversation or entertainment; exchange of pleasantries; chatting, small talk, gossip; knightli ~, polite conversation; leued ~, rude talk; don ~, to engage in conversation, be sociable; fallen in ~, start to talk; haven ~, have (someone's) company.
Associated quotations
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.211 : In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan So muche of daliaunce and fair langage.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Th.(Manly-Rickert)B.1894 : He semeth eluyssh by his contenaunce, For vn to no wight dooth he daliaunce.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.565 : We hadde swich daliaunce, This clerk and I, that of my purueiaunce I spak to hym and seyde hym how that he, If I were wydewe, sholde wedde me.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1012 : Wawen & þe wale burde Such comfort of her compaynye caȝten to-geder Þurȝ her dere dalyaunce of her derne wordez.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1529 : Why! ar ȝe lewed, þat alle þe los weldez? Oþer elles ȝe demen me to dille your dalyaunce to herken?
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)p.111 : Al maner of dolosite to ȝou is enditid, as in thi lewid daliaunce apertli thou hast preved.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.156 : How large he was, and of dalliaunce The most goodly.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3782 : Wonder knyȝtly, boþe in port & chere, Þei had hem boþe as þei mette..And at the laste þei fille in dalyaunce.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3872 : To whom Hector nat to hastely Answerid ageyn..Avised wel in al his daliaunce.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2850 : To speke of hym..It cureth me of all my sorwe. To me is noon so high plesaunce As of his persone dalyaunce.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.337 : Ȝif Eve hadde..venquishid þe fend, and not hadde daliance wiþ him.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)206/18 : All his frendes maken..hire dalyance, how the foules comen þider.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)138/2 : Þai schuld com in to his Paradys..and haue lyking and dalyaunce of þam, and euermare be maydens.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)223/33 : A-for-tyme..hys langage [was] al uanyte; now..hys dalyawns was ful of vertu.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)112 : Dalyaunce: Confabulacio, collocucio, colloquium.
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick177 : Ye suffre none of your susters..to hafe communycacyone, dalyaunce, ne speche wyth any seculere persone wythe owte lefe of yowe.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.Diet.(Sln 3534)22 : In fedyng jentyl, prudent in daliaunce, Cloos of tung.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)291 : To speke..Of womanhed..of semlyhed, Of port benygne, & of daliaunce.
- a1450 St.Etheldr.(Fst B.3)274 : Among lordus in dalyans he was of fulle myelde chere.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)4883 : I had lever haue the delyaunce Of yow Partanope.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4546 : Þan þai solast hom somyn..And dryvon furth þat day with dalians to end.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)7709 : Glotonye Hath in hym sylff..Woodnesse off Tast..And outrage ek off dalyaunce.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.SPuer(1) (LdMisc 683)43 : Off honest myrth let be thy dalyaunce..speke no rebaudrye!
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.2998 : Ther is no man of witt and good discrecion That woll desire a mannes wyffe to mysgouernaunce..Thurghe sugred flaterie and feyned daliaunce.
- ?1457 Hardyng Chron.A (Lnsd 204)p.748 : Of gentyll bourdes and knyghtly daliaunce He hath no make.
- a1500(c1380) Chaucer Rosem.(Benson-Robinson)8 : Whan that I see you daunce, It is an oynement unto my wounde, Thogh ye to me ne do no daliaunce.
- a1500 Now ȝee that will (Cmb Ff.1.6)64 : One of soo grete gentillnesse, Of curtaise..of port, and dalyaunce.
2.
Serious, edifying, or spiritual conversation; communion; godli ~, gostli ~, holi ~, vertuous ~.
Associated quotations
- a1425(a1349) Rolle MPass.(2) (Upps C.494)44/23 : Lete me vpon þis boke stody..and euer to be my meditacioun, my speche, and my daliaunce.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)2/32 : Wonderful spechys & dalyawns whech owr Lord spak and dalyid to hyr sowle, techyng hyr..how sche schuld han pacyens, settyng all hyr trost..in hym only.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)29/13 : Sche was in gret rest of sowle..& had hy contemplacyon..& many holy spech & dalyawns of owyr Lord Ihesu Cryst..wyth many swet terys of hy deuocyon.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)214/15 : Heryng & vndirstondyng þis swet dalyawnce in hir sowle as clerly as on frende xulde spekyn to an-oþer.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.3467 : Of rethoriciens..The sugrid langage & vertuous daliaunce..Appesid of tirauntes the rigerous vengaunce.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)3938 : In-to othir daliauns goostly gan þei falle.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)5622 : Marthe..hadde wyth hym [Christ] a long dalyaunce.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)3.1422 : Swiche-maner daliauns hadde þese folkis than..in hye communycacyon.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)342/171 : Ȝour goodly dalyaunce plesyth us so, We may nevyr haue of ȝow oure fylle.
3.
Amorous talk or to-do; flirting, coquetry; sexual union.
Associated quotations
- c1390 Form Conf.(1) (Vrn)341 : Disyringe for to haue dalyaunce wiþ hem, in cluppyng, in cussyng, in vnclene touching.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.66 : At festes, reuels and at daunces, That been occasions of daliaunces.
- (c1422) Hoccl.Dial.(Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)706 : His lust and his desir..With ladyes to haue daliance.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)124/19 : For þai trowe þat, when þai er deed, þai schall in anoþer werld..hafe dalyaunce with wymmen, as þai hafe here.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)653 : So may ye surely..to my-selfe come, With daliaunce to dele as your dere wyffe.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)96/31 : A yong wenche..laid hur done be þis yong man & made hym dalyans.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Pseudo-F.(Dub 245)309 : Freris..chesen to..haue heere daliaunce wiþ wymmen for here leccherose lyues.
- a1500 Moste glorious lord (Voss Germ.Gall.Q.9)151 : Thow hym [Christ] consauedest with-owtyn delyonce.
4.
Delay, procrastination [prob. confused with delaiaunce].
Associated quotations
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)26134 : Him rew his synnis sare & for-þink his lange daliaunce [Vsp: delaiance], þat he fordrawen has his penance.
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)264 : If any man haue deserued rewarde..be toward..withoute daleance, And by your selfe lete it be doon frely.