Middle English Dictionary Entry
dē̆strucciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dē̆strucciǒun n. Also distruccioun, destruction, destroccioun, destrition, districcioun, destruxioun, distruxion. |
| Etymology | OF & L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Devastation or destruction (of a city, nation, building, the World); don (maken, wirchen) ~, to cause damage or destruction, devastate, destroy; gon (turnen) to ~, go to wrack and ruin.
Associated quotations
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2110 : Thanne gooth the world al to destruccioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)170a/b : Þe londe is bareyne..for distrucciouns y made with enemyes.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.323 : Þe pape..mad distructioun Of londes & feez.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)84/18 : What tokens schulden comen tofore þat destruccioun and tofore þe juggement.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.369 : Þe gret meschefes and destrucciouns In Colchos wrouȝt on sondry naciouns.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.6.7 : Thei doon as greet damages and destrucciouns as dooth the flaumbe of the mountaigne Ethna.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)930 : Whan Troye brought was to destruccioun By Grekes sleyghte.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)51 : Tenauntes shulden not doone in the tenementes wast ne destruccione.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)89 : With outen doyng of wast or distruccioun in the heritage.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)443 : Þe tale Of Troye þe firste destructione.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3240 : Þy blame ys now ȝyt fol grym, Þat..schapest oure desherytysoun & þys londes destruccioun!
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)14.100 : As moche distroccioun As he may don.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)56/13 : Thei stode disseuered..whiche was one of þe chefe occasion of distruccion.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)4 : iiii hundred ȝere aftir þe destruccioun of troye.
- 1451-1500 Tundale (Wagner)606 : Þai þat..in þe stede of religioune Makes ony distruccioune.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)37/16 : The Sarezynes..brenne and..make grete destruction.
- c1485(?a1400) Child Bristow (Hrl 2382)328 : Where his fader dud destritione..They shuld come to his sone, And he shal..his good ayen restore.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)243 : Whan the kynge..saugh his londe thus turne to distruxion.
- a1500 Methodius(3) (Stw 953)441 : Cusdro þan hys oste a-rayyde..to don dystruxcoun I-now.
2.
(a) Destruction of life, death; also, danger to life [quot.: a1500]; (b) the act of destroying life, a murder.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2538 : It were destruccioun To gentil blood, to fighten in the gyse Of mortal bataille.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1067 : Fro the heihte..He [Icarus] fell to his destruccion.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Heb.8.13 : Þat þing þat waxeþ old is nyȝ his dystruccioun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.14 : Þis peple..Were brouȝt echon to destructioun with sodeyn tempest.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.220 : Howe he purveieth the destruccioun of his nevewe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1226 : Þe dedly cruel hate, Þat stynte may nor cesse..To grete damage and destruccioun On ouþer part.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)1786 : Þeo rede dragoun Bytokenyþ gret destruccioun.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.43 : Pestilence and destruccioun to goode folk.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.11.100 : Every beest..eschueth deeth and destruccioun.
- (1443) Doc.Trade in BRS 777 : He lith..in prison, to his finall distruccion and undoyng.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)82/27 : Wiþ oute greuous peril & opun destruxioun none bodi may dwelle ne abide þere.
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.m.6.2 : How many grete harmes and destrucciouns weren idoon by the emperour Nero.
3.
(a) Harassment or ruin (of a person); also, a hardship [quot. Lovel.Grail]; (b) spiritual or moral ruin.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)6078 : Wende we wille to þe douk..And bring him to destruccioun. His londes we schul þurchernne [etc.].
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)14/261 : Þai wald..Saue þe child fram destruccioun, Fram schame and fram vilani.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1105 : Thei schopen the destruccioun Bothe of the kyng and of the town.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.478 : Hath he nat be chef occasioun Of ȝoure vndoynge & destruccioun?
- (1423) Pet.Sutton in Fenland NQ 7308 : The tenants er chargyd for evry acre yerely..iij s..to thare destruccion.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)15.52 : I schal hem sende ful hard chaunse..I shal hem sende Manie distrucciouns.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)4500 : Destruccione of holy chirche & of pore men.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2007 : Ire is a synne..And to hym self it is destruccioun.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1387 : To brynge folk to hir destruccioun.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)2 Cor.10.8 : In to edyficacyoun, and not in to..destruccyoun.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)1618 : The Jewes seid þat he [Jesus] come In destruccion here of man.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)6/23 : She thanked God humbly, that had kept her from shame and distruccion.
4.
(a) Impairment or ruin (of a religion, an organization); violation (of a law); (b) obliteration (of idolatry, sinfulness); elimination (of sinful desire).
Associated quotations
a
- (1386) RParl.3.225a : Nichol Brembre..with stronge honde..was chosen Mair, in destruccion of many ryght.
- c1400(1389) Wycl.25 Art.(Dc 273)461 : Lest..worldly occupacioun of his proude prestis..be magnified into destruccione of Cristis religione.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.722 : Of this comth pouerte and destruccioun, bothe of spirituel and temporel thynges.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)74/12 : Þe destruccioun and þe vndoyng of his order.
- (1433) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)164 : And grevoux..hurt to alle oþer men of such occupac'ons, and a likly districc'on of all þe craftes.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.236 : In destruccioun of Maumetrie, And in encrees of Cristes lawe.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Heb.9.26 : He apered ones in þe ende of þe worlde to distruccioun of synne by his owne sacrifyce.
- c1425 Contempl.DLGod (Mdst Mus.6)9 (C.55) : Þoru mekenes þi flescheliche lustis ben distruid; bi þat destruccion alle vices ben put out and vanschid away.
- (c1454) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35324 : To the worschippe of god, edifiing of feyth, and destruction of vices.
5.
A source or cause of damage, impairment, ruin, or destruction; ben ~ to.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.866 : Al that is enemy and destruccioun to nature is agayns nature.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)129b/b : Priuacioun of matiere and fourme is nat ellis but distruccioun of alle þingis.
- (1414) RParl.4.58a : The forseide Priour and Chanons hav seid..that they ben chief Lordes of the Fee..which is an heye prejudice to the Kyng..and ane heye destruction to hise trewe lieges.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.438 : Priam..was confusioun To þe Grekis, and destruccioun.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.5.104 : The whiche servantes, yif thei ben vicyous..it is a gret charge and a destruccioun to the hous.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)30a/a : Estiomene..is deth forsoþe & destruccioun of þe membre.
- (a1440) Let.Coventry in EHR 55642 : The tenants pleyned to the maistre that hit shuld be destruccon of hir houses to make a tauerne ther.
- (c1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.48 : Your owyn wylfullnesse..shal be youre distrucion.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)52/7 : Youre owne son..shall be the destruccion of all thys realme.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)64/14 : That swerde shall be youre destruccion.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)138 : Þe makyng pouere of þe commons..shalbe þe distruccion of the grettest myght off owre reaume.
6.
Misc. uses: (a) recession, decline (of a sore); (b) cancellation (of a charge).
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)24b/b : Þis distruccioun ofte tymes is of þe partie of beynge of apostemes.
b
- (1472-73) RParl.6.37a : If the said Murtherers..plede any foreyn plee..in distruction or barr of the said appele [etc.].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1456) Pet.Chanc.in Seld.Soc.10138 : The saide John purposeth to have CCCCL le. and more of the saide Robert for the lenynge of lxxx li., ayeynes ryght and conscience, in fynall distruccion of the saide Robert.
Note: New spelling (emend existing form in form section): Also distruccio(u)n.
Note: Postdates sense: belongs to sense 3.(a).
Note: ?Correction: in sense (a), note that "the destruccioun..of the town" in the (a1393) quot. does not belong to this sense.--all notes per MLL