Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēliciǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | dēliciǒus adj. Also dilicious, dilecious, (error) delycion. Sup. deliciousest, deliciost. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Delightful to the senses; charming, beautiful; (b) spiritually delightful; (c) elegant, luxurious; (d) of food, drink, eating: rich, choice, epicurean.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 SLeg.Patr.(Corp-C 145)632 : Þis holy lime..delicious was and god.
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)304/8 : Heo tok Jhesus in to hire hous wiþ semblaunt good and dilicious.
- (c1390) Chart.Abbey HG (LdMisc 210)341 : Sche seiȝe þe apples were fayre to here siȝt & delicious to þe mo[u]þe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.671 : For though he hadde..the faireste love of alle, Yit wolde his herte on othre falle And thenke hem mor delicious.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)38 : Ȝee shullen heren noble geste..Deliciouse it is to ylest.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5841 : Nor of [vr. al] þe tres, so delicious, Of paradys were nat so precious.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.3.12 : Thise ben..enoynted with hony swetnesse of Rethorik and Musike, and oonly whil thei ben herd thei ben delycious.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)62/27 : Fro Ierusalem ij myle is the mountjoye, a full fair place & a delicyous [Eg: a lykand; F delicious].
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)25/30 : Þai er swete and deliciouse in þe mouthe [F douces et de bon sauour].
- a1450(c1400-25) Legat Serm.PD (Wor F.10)14/171 : Angelus of heuene with here harpes & here giternis sunge þis delicius dite & tis suete songe.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.1465 : They were depeynted..With all maner frutis and of diuers spicerie Delicious in taast.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)226/11 : He that hath lytill fete and streyte..and more delycious to se than stronge fette, thay bene febill and feynte.
b
- a1400 Rolle Encom.Jesu (Hrl 1022)187 : Þer skrythes in to my mynde delyciost [Thrn: delycyouseste] swetnes.
- c1440(?a1375) Abbey HG (Thrn)52/7 : Swylke abbayes..are wele at ese, and þe more dylecyous duellyng es þer.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)3.739 : Þat blissed lord whiche is ful delicyous -- I mene ihesu.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)63 : He was swech a lover of vertue, that he was cleped 'The most delicious of alle men'.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)217b/b : Out þerof is ywronge an oynement for kynges þat smelleþ wel and is most delicious [L deliciosum].
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)49.156 : I haue..many Riche Clothes, and delicious.
d
- a1325 SLeg.Patr.(Corp-C 145)616 : Oure Louerd us vet ene Wiþ delicious [Ld: riche] metes of heuene.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Wisd.19.11 : Thei askeden metes of delicious eting [L escas epulationis].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)76b/b : Me vsiþ not at soper to seue [Tol: serue] men with grete me [Tol: mete] & comyn..but with special liȝt mete & delicious [L deliciosa].
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6638 : A ryche man..every day nobly was led, And with delycyus metys fed.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)71/12 : Þai hafe ane oþer maner of drinke gude and delicious [F douce].
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)13 : Þei..drynkyn dilicious ale.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)244/33 : Sche etith þe most delicyows & delectabyl metys þat comyn on þe tabyl.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)54/6 : The flesshe is tempted by delicious metes and drinkes.
- a1500 Eglam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)929 : Dylycyus [vr. Dylecyous] metys they hur badd.
2.
Of persons: loving luxury, sensual, voluptuous; ~ affeccioun, sensual desire.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.957 : Bot, Sone, if that thou understode What is to ben delicious, Thou woldest noght be curious Upon the lust of thin astat.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)39a : Meng hit with wyne and..that ys a purgacion for delicious men.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)79/11 : Þe proude secheþ þing honourable..And þe delicious [Ayenb.: þe lostuol], þat loueþ likyng, þing delitable.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)9.6 : The folk of the deuels cites is deliciouse affecciouns of flescly lust.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.31 : Of mete nor drinke was sho neure yhit diliciouse.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)99/14 : Reymond was a man..of grete Purueyaunce, nothynge delycious [Dub: delycion], nothyr of mete ne of cloth.