Middle English Dictionary Entry
depthe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | depthe n. Also depeth. |
| Etymology | From dẹ̄p adj., on the model of lōng: lengthe, etc. Not attested in OE, but cp. Goth. diupiþa, OI dȳpt. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Deep water, the sea; the primeval waters that preceded creation; also fig.; (b) the bottom of the sea; also fig.; (c) the innermost part, bottom of a wound or ulcer; fig. bottom (of the heart).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.51.10 : Thou driedist the se, water of the huge depthe [L aquam abyssi].
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)22 : Of the greete depthe of euelis that ben falle..is not..to declare fulli.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.1.2 : Derknessis weren on the face of depthe [WB(1): the see; L abyssi].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.41.8 : Depthe [WB(1): depnesse; L abyssus] clepith depthe.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.148.7 : Ȝe of erthe, herie ȝe the Lord; dragouns, and alle depthis of watris [WB(1): depnessis].
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.43/13 : The depth of the see, that that was beforne y-pesid, now was excitid by þe rage of wyndys.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.129.1 : Fro Depthis [L De profundis] I criede to thee.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.51.10 : Thou driedist the se..the whiche puttest the depthe of the se [L profundum maris] weie [L viam].
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)138 : It spedith to him, that..he be caste doun in to the depthe of the see.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.15.5 : The depe watris couerden hem; thei descendiden into the depthe [L in profundum] as a stoon.
c
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)37/2 : For if þe wounde were deep, & þi sowynge not deep, nede þer muste be in þe depþe of the wounde a greet holownes.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)90/3 : Cauterie ouþir brennynge schulde make þe depþe [L profunditatem] of þe vlcus holowere þan he was.
- ?c1400 Chaucer Bo.(Add 10340)3.m.11.2863 : Where for elles demen ye..the ryhtes..but yif so were þat the noryssynges of resoun ne lyuede I-plowngyd in the depthe of yowre herte.
- ?a1450 Lanfranc (Add 12056)60/23 : Brennynge of hote eyren to þe depþe [Ashm: ground] of þe wounde ys most proffytable.
2.
(a) The dimension of depth, distance or extension downward; also, thickness; (b) of a piece of land: the extent measured horizontally, depth; (c) of truth: greatness.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.180 : The thridde intelligence..cleped is Geometrie, Thurgh which a man hath thilke sleyhte, Of lengthe, of brede, of depthe, of heyhte To knowe the proporcion Be verrai calculacion.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)18.94 : The viij Reveres were Of on clernesse, of on depthe & bred.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.14.103a : Ther is no body parfight withowt thre dymensions, þat is, brede, lengthe, and depthe..And alle this thre dymencions in þat body, þat is, in lengthe, bred, and depthe, is but the same.
b
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)389/21 : Adam..graunted..to Waryne Miller all his lond..in depith vnto the lond of Robert Pur of Chester.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)392/24 : That lond..lieth bitwene the place of the kyng and the lond that was somtyme of William Cusseblankpayne, and his said lond strecchith hit-self in depyth vnto the lond that was somtyme of Thomas fitz Ailrich.
c
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)103/27 : Þe first word scheweþ vs þe lengþe of his endelesnesse..þe þridde, þe depþe of his soþnesse.