Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēgrāden v.
Entry Info
| Forms | dēgrāden v. Also disgraden. Ppl. dēgrāded, dēgrāde, dēgrāted, degraid, disgrāded, disgrāted. |
| Etymology | OF degrader (vr. des-) & ML dēgrādāre; also cp. ML disgrātiātus, whence the ME var. -grāt-. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To put (sb.) down from high rank, demote, depose; also fig. overthrow (sb.), bring down, humble, deprive (sb. of bliss); (b) to deprive (sb.) of ecclesiastical rank; reduce (a cleric) to a layman; depose (a pope, cardinal, bishop), unfrock (a priest); (c) to conquer (sb.); (d) to revoke (an ordinance).
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 Whon Men beoþ (Vrn)11 : Whon þei gon ricchest men on aray, Hou sone þat god hem may degrade.
- a1425 Templ.Dom.(Add 32578)742 : And he þat is pore in his gost Þere sall no deuell hym degrade; Þe kynge of heuene sall be his ost And in þat kyngdome sett hym sade.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.300 : Fortune list hym to disgrade.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.1561 : Saladyn..Disgraded [vr. Disgratid] hem, brouht hem doun ful lowe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12576 : The grekes..Ordant hym [Palomydon] Emperour by opon assent, And Agamynon degrated of his degre.
- ?a1475 LDirige(2) (Dc 322)311 : Of heuen blysse me nought degrade [rime: glade, fade, made, shade, lade]!
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)34a : To Degrade: Degradare.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)94 : Degradid: degradatus.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)23/20 : Lucifer..thoght hymself as worthi as hym that hym made; In brightnes, in bewty, therfor he hym degrade.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.35 : Eleutherius..ordeyned..þat no man schulde be degraded, noþer i-putte out of his staat and of his degree, but it were lawefulliche accused toforehonde.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)37 : Therfore Lawe canoun..ordeynith this peyne, that he that swerith thus, or blasfemith God in other manere, be deposid or degratid if he is a clerk.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)159/23 : Holy cherche was neuer wont to disgrade Erchebisshop wiþouten cause resonable.
- ?a1425 Wycl.CChron.(2) (Em 85)176/56 : Sergius þe iij..was degratid fro his popehode.
- ?a1425 Wycl.CChron.(2) (Em 85)177/58 : Pope John..degratid formosus and mad him a lewid man and mad him for to forswer Rome and alle degreis of þe chirch.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.PPriests Benef.(Corp-C 296)246 : He [a priest] schal be..enprisoned, disgratid, or brent.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)63 : Sir William Sautry was degradyd off his preesthode and brente In Smythfelde ffor a Lollard and an herrytyk.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)402/17 : We rede..of one þat hight Formosus, at was furste a cardynall & syne pope; And pope Iohn cursyd hym & degradid hym agayn vnto þe lay astate.
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Cleo.(Cleo C.4)147 : The sayd Sir Richard whas disgrated.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)112 : Formosus..was disgraded..fro all the ordres of the Cherch onto lay astat.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)241 : In this ȝere Pope Urban degraded these cardinales.
c
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)104 : Hym thoghte desdayne of þe knyghte..And thoghte þe best how he myghte Þat doghety degrade.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2670 : Darye..semblis his knyȝtis..And gessis him wele þare to degrayd [Dub: degrad] þe grekis maistir.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3125 : And if [he] grant him noȝt degrayd [Dub: degradyd], bot for þe gre threpis, Bid buske him eft to þe bent, vs bataill to ȝeld.
d
- ?a1425 Wycl.CChron.(2) (Em 85)176/54 : Stephin iij..made voide alle dedis and degradid ordynauncis of his predecessour.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1425 Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)26/12 : Þerfore be cause of more alteracioun of Eire, þe bones þat ben cleped petrosa ben added-to in þat place þat þe eire þat passeþ þurȝ hem to þe braine mowe ben degraded in manye maners.
- ?a1425 Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)26/21 : Þe first skille is be cause þat þe eire þat passeþ þoruȝ hem to þe braine miȝte ben alterate þat it hurte not þe braine and þat it miȝte be degraded wiþ manye reuoluciouns.
- ?a1425 Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)34/8 : Þe firste skille is be cause þat þe nutritiue blode of þe yȝen mowe be degraded manye folde oþer in manye maners.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)20a/a : To þe more alteracoun of þe eir þe petrous bonys ben addid…þoruȝ whom þe eir passynge to þe brayn mowen in þe mo placis be degratid.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)20a/a : Þe eir…schulde resseyue sum alteracioun or þat he come to þe brayn and…þoruȝ þilke reuolusiouns be þe þe more degratid, lest þat he hurte the brayn.
Note: New sense: 'to weaken, diminish in force.'--per AS