Middle English Dictionary Entry
dē̆dlī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | dē̆dlī adj. Also -lich(e, -lik(e, -leche, -le(i & dedeli, dedelike. |
| Etymology | OE dēadlīc |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. dēd adj.
1.
(a) Subject to death, mortal; ~ eie, human eye; ~ man, mortal man, human being; ~ bodi, ~ flesh; (b) as noun: a mortal man; (c) perishable, fleeting, transitory; mundane, temporal; ~ letteres, earthly learning; ~ lif, mortal life; ~ lond, land of mortals, transitory world; ~ skinnes, fleeting parchment.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)223 : Se lichame is deadlic þurh adames gylt.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)966 : Godd, þe is undedlich, mahe deð drehen, & deadlich mon mahe deð ouercumen.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1101 : He underfeng ban & flesch of ure cunde, þet is bruchel & dedlich.
- c1275 Ken.Serm.(LdMisc 471)215/41 : Mirre..signefieth þet hi hedde be-liaue þet he was diadlich -- þet diath solde suffri for man ken.
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)328 : He is godes sune and is a dedlich mon.
- (a1333) Herebert Wele heriȝyng (Add 46919)6 : Al þat ys in heuene þe heryȝeth..al þyn ouwe hondewerk and euch dedlych mon.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)12/16 : He is man dyadlich.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)244/20 : Ne eȝe dyeadlich ne may naȝt ysy.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Esth.13.2 : Thei shulden vse the pes desirid to alle deadli men [L mortalibus].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.135 : Witeþ, al mortal and dedley men, þat the power of kynges is vayne.
- c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)291 : Seþen þat þou art dedliche [F mortel; L mortalis], Keep þe in þi weies euene.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.7 : Adam of thilke Appel bot..Which dedly made the mankinde.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10919 : Godd bicom man dedli þus.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)41/27 : Þe werkis of deedli men..duren but a while.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.6.201 : Alle men ben mortal or dedly.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)30/11 : The monstre..seyde he was a dedly creature such as god hadde formed.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)274 : He goth with hem..kepynge now the mekenesse in his body glorifiede that he schewed bifore in his body dedly.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.1295 : For bi the passiouns which he dede endure, It shewed he was a dedli creature.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)24/5 : Bot goddez, þat..neuermare dyez, deynez noȝte for to hafe þe felachipe of dedely men.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)7190 : Þou schalt take..for a deedly husbond, a spouse immortal.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4057 : Be driȝtin, sirs, I am a duke dedelike my-selfe.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)25/28 : This book tretith who þat a mannes soule is not dedly but hath lif for euer.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)999/31 : That was the dedly fleyssh whych He had takyn in the wombe of the Blyssed Virgyne Mary.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)3/24 : Þese two..schal ȝeue influence in us, and þe condiciouns of heuene..in as miche as it is possible in deedly nature.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)53 : Judas sold him onis dedly, and not glorified..wen he trowid him not God, but a deadly man.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)4585 : In flesche that dedely is our soule lenges.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.25.68b : Þat leve is not easy to gete, spirites for to apperen to dedly poepil.
b
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)25/12 : Þis treuly to all dedely [L cunctis mortalibus] is vntrowabyll.
c
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)61/14 : For ði scal godes wraððe..forliesen hem..of ðese deadliche lande ðe hie on wunieð and swa michel luuiȝeð.
- a1250 HMaid.(Tit D.18)13/163 : Þis mihte is þat an þat i þis deadlich lif scheaweð in hire estat of þe blisse undeadlich i þat eadi lond.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)110/9 : Vor hi byeþ ous nyeduolle ine þise lyue dyadlich.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)50 : The bisshop of Rome that lyuith now in deadli lif.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)5/18 : Þe Holi Goost sodenli enspirid hem [the Apostles]..& þei þat han traueilid in deedli lettirs mekid hem silf.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)26/7 : Þe passiouns of þis tyme, þat we suffren in þis deedli lijf, ben as noo passiouns.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)84/25 : Godd of his grace will make me to passe oute of þis dedly lyf.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)145/27 : And he myght giffe þam thinges þat ware aylastand and noȝt dedly [Tit: jnmortall], þan wald þai thank him mykill.
- (1434) Misyn ML (Corp-O 236)108/26 : Qwhy bisys þou for dedely þingis? qwhy ȝernis þou with grete desire þingis þat sall perys?
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)225/16 : He xal comyn hom in safte, not only in-to þis dedly lond, but also in-to þe lond of leuyng men, wher deth xal neuyr aperyn.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)230 : Whils we lend in þis dedely life.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1030/7 : My trew chyldren..bene com oute of dedly lyff into the spirituall lyff.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)17.13 : He sett myrknesis his tapissynge, that is, in this myrk lyf and dedly, he hid him fra vs.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)49/27 : It is swilk a secre þat vnnethis mannys brest may it vnderstonde; how may it þanne be wrete in dedly skyns?
2.
(a) Inimical to life, destructive, killing, fatal; ~ wound, mortal wound; ~ deth, ~ pein, ~ sorwe; (b) to the death, wishing to kill; ~ enemi, ~ fo, mortal foe; ~ hate, ~ hatred; (c) of a medicine: mortificative.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)2338 : Ȝif hi drinkeþ dedlich þing, hit ne shal ham nouȝt anuye.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4583 : Ac ouercome nas he noȝt, þei is wounden dedlich [B (Pep 2014): deedly] were.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)6305 : Non of hem had dedeli wounde.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8950 : Þai..deden þe paiens dedliche harm.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3903 : Thogh hise deedly woundes so soore smerte, His mantel ouer his hipes caste he.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.998 : If a man hadde a deedly wounde.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.904 : I not hou charite may stonde Wher dedly werre is take on honde.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2163 : Pirrus..This worthi queene..With dedli swerd soghte out and fond, And slowh hire.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)101/2 : If a feuere come to an heed or to a senewe þat is woundid, & if þe crampe folowe, euermore it is deedliche.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1260 : Alisaundre ful wel ysaye Þat it was a dedly playe.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.235 : Þe sothfaste sone..saued mankynde Fro þe dedly deth and þe deueles power.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3327 : His venym..was ful dedly and mortal.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3712 : Hir dedly sorwe he may beholde & rede.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2567 : Quene Thetides..gan þe swerd of Pirrus to embrace, Preiyng him his dedly hond restreyne.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1340 : Fro deedly woundes he kepe me.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)128 : Thorgh me men gon into that blysful place Of hertes hele and dedly woundes cure.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5803 : Ther may no lawe louers weel constreyne, So inportable is ther dedli peyne.
- a1450 WBible(2) Prol.Josh.(2) (NC 66)p.556 : And we, heiȝynge to the cuntre of heuen, owen to passe ouer with a deeff eere the dedliche songis of meremaydens.
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)258 : Ye Thus causeles the cause be Of my dedly adversyte.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)338/27 : They were two dedly knyghtes.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)102/159 : Þer is non..þat ffor man wole suffre A deddly wounde.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)64/2 : Eschewe þe dedly venyms of women.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8550 : Alle heo beoð i Doure, þine dædliche iuan.
- (1258) Procl.Hen.III in PST (1868)21 : And ȝif..onie cumen her owȝenes, we willen..þat alle vre treowe heom healden deadliche ifoan.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)349 : Y þe no finde mi dedliche fo.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)600 : A leyde to þe Sarsyn strokes smerte, riȝt als til his dedly fo.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.204 : Hire flesshly loue was deedly hate.
- ?a1425 Const.Masonry(1) (Roy 17.A.1)p.266 : Throwgh enuye or dedly hate, Ofte aryseth ful grete debate.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)405/445 : A dedly hatreed gan in his herte awake.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)115 : Dedely enmy: Hosticus.
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)371/24 : The Duk of Orlyaunce sent..besechyng hym of his help & socour ayens his dedely enymye.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)24 : He said he had nat offendit, bot slayne the Kyng his dedely enmye.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)321/21 : Yondir is your dedley enemy.
- c1475 Earth(3) (Rwl F.32)22/78 : Whi louyst thou erthe That is thi dedly foo?
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)210/5 : That neuer thou spare thyn enemy dedly.
c
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)186a/b : Arsenek and orpyment..hote in þe þridde degree and drye in þe secounde, and ouer for þai ben roting and ful dedly [*Ch.(1): mortificatiue].
3.
Destructive of the soul; also, very wicked; ~ sinne, ~ vice, one of the seven deadly sins.
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1195 : Þene wiðerwine of helle..mid woh hefde to deð idrahen moncun þurh dedlich sunne.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)14b : He dude þreo utnume heaued & deadliche sunnen.
- c1275 Ken.Serm.(LdMisc 471)218/143 : Þet scab bi tokned þo litle sennen; si lepre be tokned þo grete sennen þet biedh diadliche.
- ?a1300(c1250) Prov.Hend.(Dgb 86)st.9 : If þou..falle..In ani dedlik [vr. wikid] sunne.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4030 : Leste we velle in dedlich sunne.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)95/268 : Þe dede ydo in lechery Hys ryȝt a dedleche senne.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)9/11,12 : Lecherie..is on of þe zeuen dyadliches zennes, þaȝ þer by zome bronches þet ne byeþ naȝt dyadlich zenne.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)18.13 : Lord, make me clene of my dedelich priuetez [L occultis meis].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.227 : Þat man is clene of dedely synne þat may crepe vnder þat stoon.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)9.46 : Folewe þi Flessches wil..And do dedlich sunne [B: a dedly synne].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.956 : I haue declared yow..the seuene deedly synnes.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.577 : Ther ben yet of an other forme Of dedly vices sevene applied.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)11241 : Ȝyf þou of dedly synne be shryue, þo þat are venyal beþ þe forȝyue.
- (1415) Hoccl.Oldcastle (Hnt HM 111)325 : A preest in deedly synne falle..he may nat make Crystes body.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)4/20 : How a man schal knowe when his þoȝt is no sinne; & ȝif it be synne, when it is deedly & when it is venial.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)69/105 : Bot fore he was in didle syn, Þe fynd entyrd anon him yn.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)193 : Þei demen it dedly synne.
- (c1434) Drury Wks.(CmbAdd 2830)78/109 : The sacrament of matrimonye excludyd dedly synne in þe werk of generacion be-twyx man & woman, so þat þat xuld be dedly is but venyal.
- c1440(?c1350) Mirror St.Edm.(4) (Thrn)24/4 : Þir are þe seuen dedly synnes: Pryde and Envy, Ire, Slouth, Couetyse, Glotony and Lechery.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)165 : Þilk oþer gretter synnes y-cleepid comounly deedly synnes.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)276 : That the sones of Israel neiȝe no more to the tabernacle of boond of pees, neither do deedli synne.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3676 : Þis Burgeys..And my mastir..Were marchaundis in comyn..Saff of lyffe & lym, & of dedely synne.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)984 : Dedly synne ys now yow with-In.
- a1500 Form Conf.(2) (Nero A.3)303 : And first of dydly synnys, and thoo that he is in dowt, whether they be dedly or weniall.
4.
(a) Of death; ~ bed, deathbed; ~ signe, ~ token, a sign of approaching death; ~ soun, sound of dying men; (b) like death, deathly; lifeless looking or sounding; dull, gloomy, grim; ~ chere, lifeless appearance, gloomy manner; ~ derknes, ~ mirknes, gloomy darkness; ~ soun (vois), dull or lifeless sound (voice); (c) dying, about to die, near death; ben made ~, to be in danger of dying.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)129/17 : Gladliche I leue þe cure, if þat I se ony deedly tokenes [Add: dedlye signes].
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)130/3 : If þat þe signys ben not deedliche.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2506 : Þe dedly soun..to Achilles is ronne Of hem þat laye ageyn þe hote sonne With mortal woundes ȝeldinge vp þe breþe.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)29a/b : The tokenes of antrax..and euery euel, venymouse pustle þat, after þat haþ appered, goþ aȝeyne is dedely & moste if þere appere euel tokenes.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)880/31 : Joseph was leyde in hys dedly bedde.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.913 : She hadde swowned with a deedly cheere.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1082 : What eyleth thee, That art so pale and deedly on to see?
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)17881 : Þe folk in dedeli mirknes [Trin-C: dedly derkenes] stadd Sau grete light.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1666 : With a dedly chere, Sche koude somer in-to wynter torne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4963 : And vp she roos, deedly of visage.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.871 : Aboute hire eyen two a purpre ryng Bytrent, in sothfast tokenyng of hire peyne, That to biholde it was a dedly thyng.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)869 : Who coude wryte which a dedly cheere Hath Thisbe now.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)2595 : She..kessed hym with a dedely chere.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)162 : Ther were a fewe welles Came rennynge fro the clyves adoun, That made a dedly, slepynge soun.
- c1450 Metham Physiog.(Gar 141)125/22 : Yff the coloure be pale off the eyn and slepi or dedly..yt sygnyfyith frowardnes.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)26 : With the ymportible payne of turment, he cried then pitously withe dedely voice.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1337 : His coloure gan to chaunge in-to a dedely hewe.
- a1500(?c1370) ?Chaucer Comp.A.(Benson-Robinson)4 : I, which that am the sorwefulleste man..Beginne right thus my deedly compleininge.
- a1500(?c1370) ?Chaucer Comp.A.(Benson-Robinson)27 : For al my deedly chere.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.5089 : And sche tho made a contienance, Hire dedlich yhe and ate laste In thonkinge as it were up caste.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1040 : Lo, lord, my lady hath my deeth ysworn..Vp on my dedly herte haue som pitee.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)43.24 : For al dai dedelike [vr. dedlic] er we [L mortificamur] for þe; Als schepe of slaghter wend er we.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1312-5 : At the laste þis dedly man abreyde..so þat eche bal Gan turnen vp of his dedly eye.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2216 : And lyke a man dedly and mortal, In his tent Achilles abood.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)116a/b : Riȝt fatte men after nature dieþ titter þan smal men, or ar made more dedely þan lene men [L grossi valde secundum naturam cito mortales magis fiunt macris].
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)885 : This woful man, that was nat fully ded..On hire he caste his hevy, dedly yen.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)415/29 : And when he was deadlyke, he began to wax passand mery.
5.
(a) Dead, deceased, also as noun; (b) inanimate, lifeless; (c) insensible, death-like; (d) mortified, gangrenous.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)78.2 : Þai set dedelike [WB(1): the smyten to deth; L morticina] of þi hyne euen Metes of þe foghles of heuen.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)413/919 : They thouhte it was a merueile ful vnkouth To heere this language of a dedly hed.
- c1450 3 KCol.(2) (Add 31042)670 : The place that they hade in this life purveyde Nowe es yclosede ther-in thies bodies three, Noghte dedely lyke, bot slepynge semys to bee.
b
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)18/161 : Ower lahelese lahen..leareð ow to luten dedliche schaften as ȝe schulden to..godd.
c
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Say.Nightingale (Trin-C R.3.20)42 : I fell anoon in to a dedly sleepe.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)14 : Me did oppresse a sodein dedeli slepe.
d
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)55b/b : Particuler membres ben schewed to be deedly when þat þe principal veynes and arteries..by þe whiche þai were quycked..ben vttrely kutte asondre..and þay bygynne to wexe blak & softe.