Middle English Dictionary Entry
āliēn, ālien adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | āliēn, ālien adj. Also alyon. |
| Etymology | L aliēnus & OF alien. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of nationality, domicile, or provenience: foreign (ruler, merchant, etc.); foreign (country); foreign (goods, ship, etc.); (b) of a religious establishment: granted or subject to a foreign religious organization; chirche ~, priorie ~, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.136.4 : Hou shul wee singe the song of the Lord in an alien [changed to: hethen; WB(2): alien] lond?
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.447 : No man suffre gladliche an alien lord [Higd.(2): a straunge gouernour and an aliaunte; L alienigenam dominum].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3914 : 'Certes,' quoþ þe aliene kniȝth, 'J am no traitour.'
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)112/3 : Ȝif he [Jesus] wolde..do away þe aliene kyng [Herod].
- (1418) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)123/23 : Noon Alyon Strav[n]ger or englyssh Brocour.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Judg.19.12 : An alien folk that is not of the sones of Yrael.
- (1433) *Anc.Pet.(PRO)26.1284 : Soche brocours aliens..Any alien brocour.
- (1433) Proc.Privy C.4.145 : No manere shippes with marchandises densyns ne aliens to withdrawe hem fro þat port.
- (1449) RParl.5.142b : All manere of Merchandise of every Merchant Deniszein and Alyen, aswell of Merchauntz of the Hansze of Almaigne, as every other Merchaunt Alien.
- (1463) RParl.5.506a : Dyvers Lombardes and other Aliens Estraungiers.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)1110 : Take hede he must to aliene commers straungeres, and to straungers of þis land, resi[d]ent dwelleres.
- a1500 in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.192 : A ship alyen comyng with coles.
b
- (1437) Proc.Privy C.5.24 : He was constreyned to paie to þe Kyng dismes..for þe said priouries alienes.
- (1461) RParl.5.468b : Provided alwey that this Acte of restitution be not prejudiciall to..any Priorye or Possessions Aliens.
- (1473) RParl.6.74b : That..this Acte..be [not]..prejudiciall to any..Priories Aliens, Possessions Aliens, Personages or Chirches Aliens.
- (1473) RParl.6.79a : The Priory of Cowyk Alien..the seid Priory Alien.
2.
Theol. (a) Of a different faith; not of the true faith or in accord with it; ~ god, false god; (b) aberrant or excluded (from the faith); ~ fro, also fig.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Ezek.44.7 : Alyen sonys, vncircumcidid in hert and vncircumcidid in flesh.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)81/25 : Bifore me þou schalt not haue noon alien goddis.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Lev.16.1 : The two sones of Aaron..offrynge alien fier.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Josh.24.23 : Do ȝe awey alien goddis fro the myddil of ȝou, and bowe ȝoure hertis to the Lord God of Yrael.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)119/18 : Þou schalt not haue alien goddis bifore me.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)111/351 : Nabugodhonosor, from oure faythe alyene [rime: I weyn].
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.41 : Loke thowe ne be gods alien wirchiphing.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Jer.2.21 : I..plauntede thee a chosen vyneȝerd, al verre sed..thou art turned to me in to..an aliene vyne.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.32.22 : A man alien [Gloss: fro God] and proud.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)676/25 : He is aliene fro the most holy body and blode of god and of oure lord.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)104 : Alien sonis han liȝed to me, alien sonis han ȝeldid and crokid fro þi pathis.
3.
alien fro, of, remote from (sth.); free from (corruption), deprived of (bliss), diverted from (one's way), etc.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) Prol.John (Dc 369(2))233 : As straunge fro sorwe of deeth, as he is founde alien fro [WB(2): cleene fro] corupcioun of fleisch.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)13b/a : Aungels..beþ aliene and clene of al erþeliche contagioun.
- ?c1400 Wycl.CGosp.Matthew (Add 41175:Hudson)65/196 : It is .. aȝens kynde. and most aliene fro treuþe þat þe ilke þyng þat was not no but it were in þat suget or þat substance, mowe be whanne þe ilke suget schal not be.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.11.36 : He schal make thee alien [L abalienabit] fro thin owne weies.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.94 : Þise goodes..Wiche þat nature haþ oþer-wise be-stowen And vtterly made fro the aliene [rime: to bene].
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.44.28a : Fro þe souereyn ioye..of heuene he shal be aliene, & neuere shal he come þerto.
4.
Miscell. uses: (a) someone else's, not one's own; (b) foreign (matter); (c) strange (things).
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.18.13 : Make thou me cleene fro my priuy synnes; and of alien [L alienis] synnes spare thi seruaunt.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)2 Cor.10.16 : Not to ioye in an alyene [L aliena] rewle.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)78a/a : Nature entent to expulsion of aliene þingez.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)118a/a : If any man..falle fro hyȝnez &..seiþ aliene or straunge þinges [*Ch.(2): raveth; L aliena dicit], it is to suppose þat þe brayne..is hurt.