Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēn n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | dēn n.(2) Also dein, deen, dean, dien, doien. |
| Etymology | OF deien, diien, doien (from L decānus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The head of the chapter of canons of a collegiate or cathedral church; (b) a church official invested with jurisdiction over a subdivision of an archdeaconry.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (1340) Statutes Realm1.294b : Dean & Chapitre des Eglises Cathedrales. ]
- [ (1352) in Beltz Garterp.xlviii fn. : A sire William Mugge, dean de Wyndesore, un tonel de vin. ]
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.297 : Þis was þe firste þat dede þe priour of Durham a benefet, þat he schulde be deen [L decanus] and archedekon in al þat bishopriche.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.337 : Sir Alisander was hie dene of Glascow.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.65 : Þis freke bifor þe den of poules Preched of penaunces.
- (1413) Will in Bdf.HRS 218 : John Prophete deen of ȝork.
- (1429) RParl.4.346b : John Arundell, Dean or Wardein of the Chapelle Roial of Seint George in the Castell of Wyndesore and the College of the same.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)114/32 : Be-for þe hy awter was sett þe Abbot of Leycetyr..þe Den of Leicetyr.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)206 : The deen went to him..With his conchanones.
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick196 : Our worshipfulle maistere, the dene..charged the said chanouns for to yeve to the saide pouere bedefolk x marce.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)400 : The grete lordschipis of barunries..whiche weren ȝouun summe to bischopis, summe to archidekenes, summe to deenys.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)644/18 : The archedecun ne deene ne othyr ministers.
- (c1475) Exped.Edw.IV (Arms 2M.16)4R : Dene of the Kynges chapell.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)34a : A deyne: decanus.
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)144 : Þe dene of þe dere place devysit al on fyrst Þe fyndynge of þat ferly.
b
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)192 : Officials and denes that chapitles sholden holde, theih sholde chastise the folk and theih maken hem bolde. Mak a present to the den..And have leve..to serve the fend.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)2.150 : Lette..alle Denes and Sodenes as Destreres dihten, For þei schullen beren Bisschops.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)29539 : Of a prest assoylid..Þat power has to vnbind þe..Als dene or officiall.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.PPriests Benef.(Corp-C 296)249 : Whanne þei ben falsly amendid bi officialis & denes, no man be hardy to waken hem out of here lustis of synne.
- a1475 Fulfyllyd ys (Hrl 5396)p.236 : W[ith] offycyal nor den no favour ther ys, But if sir symony shewe them sylver rounde.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)417 : Bischops & archidekenes wiþ þer officials & denes shulden not amersy pore men; for þis is worse þan comyn robberye.
2.
(a) The official head of a group of ten; (b) a guild officer [see quots.]; (c) the senior member or presiding officer (of the College of Cardinals); (d) the head of the peers (of France).
Associated quotations
a
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)109 : I took of youre linagis wise men..and I ordeinide hem princis, and tribunis, and centuriens..and deenis.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.18.21 : Tribunes and centuriouns..and deenys, whiche schulen deme the puple in al tyme.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)33b : Þere were also oþere reweleres vndir þe centurius þe whiche were yclepid denys, decani, for euery suche hadde ten kniȝtes vndir hir rewlyng.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)37b : Þe worþiest persone in þe companie of x was made souereyn & rewelour of þe ten & cleped deen of of þe companye.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.59rb : Poruyde of all the peple wyse men & ordeyne of them trybunes & centuriones & denes [Vulg.Exod.18.21: decanos] that may in all tymes juge the peple.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)214/26 : Euery gouernoure had tene Vicaries in his hoste..euery ledere ten doiens, and euery doiens ten men.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)109/11 : Tene lederes come with vche a vicayre, with vche a ledere tene dyens, and with vche a dyen ten men; And þes makyn in somme tene thowsand ffyghtynge men.
b
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.46 : On Dene, for to warnyn alle þe gild breþren and sistren..and on clerke to wryten þe nessessariis of þe gild.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.78 : If ye deen faile of is somouns, he shal paye, for ilk broyere..yat is nouht somound j d.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.83 : Ye Den schal do somoun alle ye Gilde breyere..to ye mornspeche.
c
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)140 : He þat is now den of þe cardinalis hith prosper de columpnis.
d
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Sudden FPD (Trin-C R.3.20)37 : Lo here þis Eorlle and Duc of Burgoyne boþe, Oon of þe douspiers and deen of Fraunce.
3.
(a) As surname; (b) in surnames: denes-clerk, ~ sone.
Associated quotations
a
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 388 : Hugo Den.
b
- (1285) Close R.Edw.I311 : Thomas le Denesclerk.
- (1295) Plea R.Edw.II in WSAS 1025 : Henry le Denesone.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)72/33 : Wel ȝong he was þer ymad ey den of gret poer; Wanne he weste eny of þe chanones do eny fol ger, Ne sparede he noȝt to chasti hom.
Note: In sense 1.(a), add combination: heigh~.--per SMK