Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēlīt(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | dēlīt(e n.(1) Also (late) delight, deliht. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An emotion of pleasure; esp., sensuous delight; ~ in, ~ of, ~ on, delight in (sth.); fleshli ~, foul ~, sexual gratification; haven ~, to take pleasure; (b) spiritual or intellectual delight; (c) pleasure (in doing sth.), a desire (to do sth.); -- with inf.; (d) a desire to have or enjoy something; setten at no ~, to set (sth.) at no value, have no desire for; setten ~ upon, desire (sth.), set one's heart on (sth.); also, the second stage of sin, pleasure in the contemplation of sin, desire to sin.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)4/17 : Þi folc..eggið þe to brudlac..and makieð þe to þenchen hwuch delit were þrin.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)13b : Þes eappel..bitacneð alle þe þing þa þet lust falleð to & delit [Pep: delices] of sunne.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)261/5 : Heo dude folie..þaron heo hadde..gret delijt.
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)195 : Gret deliȝt [Ashm: delit] he hadde and Ioye of þe foulene murie song.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)250 : He hadde children to; On hem was his delite.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)617 : In tristrem is his delit.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3340 : At Babiliogne was his..see, In which his glorie and his delit he hadde.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1679 : For in his huntyng hath he swich delit, That it is al his ioye and appetit.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.904 : They take no reward in hire assemblynge but oonly to hire flesshly delit.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3512 : In blod was whilom thi delit.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4903 : In schetyng most was his delite.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)7090 : Þai in vanyte had here delyte.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5095 : Fleshly delit is so present With thee.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1380 : Thow ne feltest maladye, Save foul delyt which that thow callest love.
- c1440 Tales Contrition (Thrn)7/8 : Ȝet walde I hafe delyte in myn alde lyfe.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)145 : We schulen haue grete sensual delite and sport.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1831 : We ben shrewes..And han delyt in wikkednesse.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)34a : Delite:..delectacio..leuamen..solacium.
- a1605(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(2))18110 : Of ther sylvar I make them quite, in falsnes I ha so gret delyght.
b
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)8/75 : Ha..habbeð mare delit þrin þen ei oðer habbe i licunge of þe worlt.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)21241 : In cristis werkis was his delite.
- c1440(a1349) Rolle Desire & D.(Thrn)57/6 : Gernyng and delite of Jhesu Criste, þat has na thyng of worldes thoghtes, es wondyrfull, pure, haly, and faste.
- c1440(a1349) Rolle Desire & D.(Thrn)58/18 : Thre thynges makes delite in Gode heghe.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)145 : Þis now seid greet kunnyng getyng..and þerof folewyng greet joie and delijt in wil.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1117 : And þat lufe & swete delite..in vs salbe so parfite.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)22.1 : He ledis me in sted of pasture, that is, in vndirstandynge of his word and delite in his luf.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.571 : Lat the iustice be war..that he do it nat for delit to spille blood.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.945 : And somme seyn that greet delit han we For to be holden stable and eek secree.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23339 : Bot suld þai haf a gret delite To se þam setlid in þair site.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)174/3 : He ȝaf a man greet delite [L delectationem] for to lie bi a womman.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4344 : Guydo..haþ delyt to speke cursidly Alwey of wommen.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4270 : His brother..hadde..gret delyt To meten hym.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.143 : A man haþ delite to see a pley.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)128 : The fyrst cause is for to excyte Mennys affeccyoun to haue delyte Thys blyssyd virgyne to loue & serue.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)376/63 : I hadde delite with hym to dele.
- ?a1450(?c1400) Wycl.LFCatech.(Lamb 408)95/1377 : On is latsumnesse or delyt to draw on lenthe ony maner good dede þat we schuld do.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)149/98 : To loue þe is my delyte.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)6555 : For heroud had ful grete delite to se Ihesu Crist.
- a1500 Ihesu þat hast (Lngl 29)124 : To suffre scornys & grete despite For loue of þe is my delite.
d
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.297 : Ther is no dedly synne that it nas first in mannes thoght, and after that in his delit, and so forth in to consentynge and in to dede.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.684 : He set hire chiere at no delit Bot he have al his appetit.
- a1400(?c1300) LFMass Bk.(Roy 17.B.17)71 : In thoght, in speche, & in delite, In worde, & werk I am to wite.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.847 : For þer-vppon was sette al his delit.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)68/19 : Þe first wose is delyȝte; þe secunde is wyll; þe thredde is dede.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)5869 : Or what thyng myghte to yt suffyse To appese hys gret delyt Or staunche hys gredy appetyt.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)1 : He that thus vs distroyeth, how is he born in whom we knewe non erthely delyte.
2.
(a) A delightful thing; a delicacy, a luxury; also fig. a sinful thought; (b) something spiritually delightful; (c) a delightful activity, amusement, sport; esp., sexual intercourse; ~ of foles, a sport of fools, senseless behavior; fleshli ~, foul ~, sexual intercourse; marcial ~, martial sport, fighting; accomplishen (don, performen) ~, to have sexual intercourse.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)78b : Ruben, þu reade þoht, þu blodi delit, ne waxe þu neauer!
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.83 : Þis Ive..forsaked al þe delites [L deliciis] of þe world.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)2.68 : Glotonye and grete oþus Ich ȝiue hem I-feere, Wiþ alle delytes and lustes þe deuel for to serue.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.625 : Hise cokes ben for him affaited..That him schal lacke no delit.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4748 : Pryme temps full of frostes whit And May devoide of al delit.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)66/9 : Of whilk paradys..þai say it es a place of delytez, whare a man schall fynd all maner of fruytez..riuers rynnand with wyne, mylke, and hony.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)253 : We hafe as losels liffyde..Wyth delyttes in this lande.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)9308 : What for laughynge & oþer tyhtes, What for presentes & oþer delites [vr. sightes], Þe Erl perceyued [etc.].
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)116/9 : Cownsel es doyng away of worldes rytches and of delytes.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)27a : Þis cross..is a swetnesse & a delit of heorte swa unimete swete.
- c1400 Ihesu my lefe (BodDon c.13)5 : My delite & my hame, Ihesu my blisful kynge, swete ert þou.
- c1440 Ihesu cryste saynte (Thrn)66 : Ihesu, my dere & my drewrye, Delyte þou arte to synge.
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle Heyle Ihū my (Cmb Dd.5.64)14 : Þou art joy þat lastes ay, all delyte þou art to se.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)138.10 : That nyght of anguys is made lightnynge til me..thorgh crist, that is my delitys.
c
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)22/349 : Al þet fule delit is wið fulðe aleid.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)138.10 : Þe nyȝt is my liȝting in my delites [L deliciis].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.159 : This false iuge gooth now faste aboute To hasten his delit al that he may.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.190 : For men han euere a likerous appetit On lower thyng to parformen hir delit Than on hire wyues.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.420 : Him lacketh appetit, Which longeth unto such delit.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1396 : Maydens hadden swich despit To been defouled with mannes foul delit.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2949 : He to a-complische his fleschely fals delite..Wrouȝt euery þing to hir entent contrarie.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3016 : And to swe her inward appetite, þis her Ioye and þis is her delyte, In etyng, drinkyng, and in couetyse.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.762 : Swych is delit of foles to bywepe Hire wo, but seken bote they ne kepe.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Tim.5.6 : Sche [a widow] þat is lifande in delytis [L deliciis], sche is dead.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1587 : To don with gentil women his delyt -- This is his lust.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.309 : And lik as knihtis in marcial delites For comoun proffit dede hemsilf auaunce.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)364 : Ȝe scholde neuere comen to-fore justice, and ȝit haue ȝoure delytes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3743 : Be-ȝonde ilka ȝere make we vs festis And thretti dais..oure delitis hauntis.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)103 : But now our religious lifiþ..most in delitis and habundiþ in worldly riches.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)34a : Delite:..delectamentum..oblectamentum.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)181 : Whan he hadde don his delite with the quene, a-noon after she fill on slepe.
3.
(a) The quality of delightfulness; beauty, charm; (b) bi ~, with ~, delightfully, beautifully; of such ~, with such beauty, so delightfully; (c) a delightful state or condition; liven in ~, to live surrounded by pleasures; out of ~, without joy, miserably; (d) delight personified.
Associated quotations
a
- a1250 Orison Lord (Lamb 487)187 : Hwi nis me unwurhþ elc wurþliche þing aȝein þe muchel delit of þi swetnesse?
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)358 : Fortiger..held fest..Of gret delite & noble play.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.490 : Vnnethe is ther any synne that it ne hath som delit in it self.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.581 : And it to make more plesaunt of delyt, A-mong þe marbil was alabaster white.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4073 : Hir wommen..wern echon, for þe more delyt, On her armvre þat day clad in whyt.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.1.12 : Thow hast remounted and norysshed me with the weyghte of thi sentences and with delyt of thy syngynge.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.2904 : Philipot..Wrouhte atires plesaunt of deliht [rime: whiht, appetiht].
- c1440(a1349) Rolle Bee (Thrn)55/42 : Some..are fedde in delite of Goddes lufe.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)577/45 : Deliciositas: delyte.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.545 : Of spicerie, of leef, bark, and roote, Shal been his sauce ymaked, by delit To make hym yet a newer appetit.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.384 : He hath hire wroght of such delit That sche was rody on the cheke And red on bothe hire lippes eke.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1104 : In vchonez breste watz bounden boun þe blysful perle wyth gret delyt.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.999 : To fore whiche was set by gret delyt A borde of Eban and of yvor whyt.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)874 : And in an overgilt samit Clad she was by gret delit.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1199 : With sadel red, enbrouded with delyt..Sit Dido.
c
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)335-7 : To lyuen in delyt was euere his wone, For he was Epicurus owene sone, That heeld opynyoun that pleyn delit Was verray felicitee parfit.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.1135 : Who lyued euere in swich delit a day?
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.190-1 : If that I crave Delit, thogh I delit mai have, Delit schal passen in myn age.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.68 : Thus in delit he lyueth, and hath doon yoore.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2096 : Alisaunder..plaieþ atte ches in his delyt.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)642 : Al wer we dampned for þat mete To dyȝe in doel out of delyt.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2241 : Þat counseil..Is worþi litel..þat cast nat by and by þe course of þinges..What weye þei trace, to wo or to delite.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.2.90 : Epicurus..juggid and establissyde that delyt is the soverayn good.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3387 : Thow has lyffede in delytte.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)606 : In wrathe ys turned my pleynge, And my delyt into sorwynge.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)34a : Delite: apricitas.
d
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4979 : With Delit she halt sojour.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)224 : By hymself..Saw I Delyt, that stod with Gentilesse.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.20va (1.4) : Fode þat is kindeli hote causeth rudyhede & clerehede in þe vryn, as þai þat eten hote metes and drynkes & delyte.
Note: Additional quot., ?sense 2.(a). Editor's gloss: 'a culinary delicacy'. Harvey and Tavormina note that only Roy and BodeMus mss. offer 'delyte'; "most other witnesses have the much easier 'spices'."