Middle English Dictionary Entry
dē̆scent n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dē̆scent n. Also decent, des(s)ent & discent, dissent. |
| Etymology | OF descent(e |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The fact of being a lineal descendant (of a certain family or stock), descent; ~ of line, lineage, genealogy; (b) descent as conveying a right or valid claim; bi (lineal, treue) ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1348 : Borne, by discent, of þe blood roial.
- (1425) RParl.4.267a : Howe yat my Lord ye Chaunceller had..yeven hem knowelech of ye Pedegrewe..of his Discent of ye Blode Riall.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)39.567 : Now have I told the Al the hole decent Of Alle thy lyne.
- (1459) Paston (Gairdner)3.151 : Dyverse personis of dyverse desentes pretende..to be next heneritere to me aftyr my deseas.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)23 : The noble actys of the seyd erles of Angew, wyth her lynealle dessentys, ben wryten yn the cronicles called Ymago historiarum.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)215/13 : Ioachym com by descent from Dauid.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)324 : This Lamb was Crist which lyneali doun cam, Bi descent conveide the peedegre Fro the Patriarch i-callid Abraham.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7642 : Þe lond þat com of Hermesente Was Ywains þurch riȝt decente.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4642 : He schold have entred, as eyr þis eritage to hold, after þe kinges day, bi dessent of blode.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1789 : Thurgh wisdom..Mor than for eny reverence Of his lignage, as be descente, The regne of thilke empire he hente.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3432 : [Spartacus] fell riht heir, as be descente, To Perse and was coroned king.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.249 : Þis ilk þre barons, þorgh descent of blode, Haf right & resons to þe coroune fulle gode.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3391 : To regne in Fraunce by lyneal discent.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1201 : Adrastus..chosen was..to be crowned kyng..Not be dissent nor successioun, But al only of fre eleccioun.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)12 : The vjte Herry..By trewe dissent crovnyd kyng off Fraunce.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)44 : Alysaundre..Born, by discent, Iustly to Succede..as trewe Enherytour Afftir his ffadir to Regne in perce and mede.
- a1500(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(1))16858 : Thys I Cleyme off herytage, by lyneal Dyscent off Successioun, be Tytle off myn Awncetrys.
- a1600(a1463) Fortescue Title York (Jul F.6)500 : Roger sumtyme Erle of Marche, by whom the forsaide Edwarde that now claymeth the realme of England conveieth his title and discente.
2.
(a) Transmission (of possessions) to lawful heirs; also fig.; (b) a legacy so transmitted or received.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1449) Lydg.PPs.102 (Trin-C R.3.20(1))130 : Of þis lord, þe gret rightwysnesse, Meynt with his mercy, by lyneal discent Shal sprede to children þat doon hir bysynesse For to obserue..his testament.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.7.59b : To whom the synne of Adam hath atteyned be veray succession and descent of kyndely heritage.
b
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)130 : The grete lordis off þe lande, by reason off nev dissentes ffallyng vnto ham, by reason also off mariages..shall often tymes growe..to be off livelod and poiar like a kyng.
3.
(a) Setting (of the sun); (b) falling or lighting (of censure upon a person).
Associated quotations
a
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.331 : Bot þat þe sonne riseþ verrayment, Lo, of necessite it hath dissent.
b
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.319 : Repentynge hym that he hadde evere ijaped Of Loves folk, lest fully the descente Of scorn fille on hymself.