Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēceivǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | dēceivǒus adj. Also dessevous, disceivous. |
| Etymology | From dēceiven . |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of persons: deceitful; (b) of things: not to be trusted in, deceptive; (c) of a medical patient: uncertain of being helped or hurt (by a certain treatment).
Associated quotations
a
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)38a/a : Linguosus: tungy or ianglisse or desseuous.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)217/28 : Suche a man is lechelorus and disceyuous.
b
- a1500(a1449) Lydg.WWorship (Add 34360)25 : Worldly worship is ioye transitory..Disceyt disceyvous ful dissymulable.
c
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)167a/a : Tho þat haue þo þynges..lene, þai ben desceyuous [L fallaces] to the lower purgacioun.