Middle English Dictionary Entry
dette n.
Entry Info
Forms | dette n. Also det(e, deatte, ded, debt. |
Etymology | OF dete, dette & L dēbitum. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. duete.
1.
(a) Whatever one owes another in goods, money, tribute, rent, dues, or the like; a debt; paien (quiten, yelden) ~, to pay a debt; borwen ~, incur a debt; axen ~, demand payment of a debt; (b) the state of one who has debts, indebtedness; ben in ~, to be in debt; ben out of ~, have no debts.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Magd.(2) (LdMisc 108)121 : Noþur of heom nadde ȝware-of þe dette for-to ȝelde.
- c1300 SLeg.Nich.(Hrl 2277)324 : Þis liþere Cristene man..þoȝte þis Gyw bitraye..He forsoc þe Gywes dette.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)432 : He ne worþ muche by-grad þere, þat shal oþer dette.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)35/4 : [Usurers] makeþ ofte of þe gauel principale dette.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.473 : Þe kyng..sawe in his slepe meny clerkes..[vr. chorls] rise on him..and axede of him dette [Higd.(2): þeire dewte; L debitum].
- (1387) Will in Bk.Lond.E.209/9 : Y will that my dettes be payd.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.35 : Alle the bretheren..shullen be redy..for to here the Countes..for the dettes þat he owen to..þe compayne.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)7.91 : Þauh I dye þis day, my dettes beoþ I-quit.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1578 : Sikerly my dette shal be quyt Towardes yow.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)331a/a : Fiscus is a comyn sak..in þe whiche þe eschetour..doþ þe commune dette and custume þat is y payed to kynges.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Magd.(Phys-E)p.18 : A man haht him fifty penis, Another an honderet..And he..forgaf thaim thair dette bathe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21428 : He him asked..Þat he suld yeild him for his dett Þat ilk weght..of his aun flexs.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)4.307 : Fals leches..asken hure huyre er þey hit haue deseruede..and goode men..When þe dede ys ydo..And þat ys..A maner diwe dette for þe doynge.
- (1415) Will in Bdf.HRS 228 : Þan my vessells of siluer..be sold and paied for my debtes wher myn other gods faillen.
- a1450(1410) This holy tyme make (Dgb 102)129 : Þere þou hast borwed, quyte þy dette.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)895 : And is Darius so of his dett duly depryued..na tribute him fallis.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1849 : Oure fermes & our landis..all I deme it as det & to a day borowid.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1710 : [He] made vs..[T]o be his trewe attourneys and treete for his debtes.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)351/28 : He had not payed dettis þat he had borowid.
- (c1466) Paston (Gairdner)4.253 : I bequeath to the Whight Fryers..to helpe to pay hir debts, xx li.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)135/21 : He by ase ys þe poure ine dette, þet is y-ualle ine þe hand of gaueleres.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.280 : Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette, So estatly was he of his gouernaunce.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1566 : He was riche and cleerly out of dette.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2588 : Thei..spille more than thei spede..Which bringeth in poverte and dette To hem that riche were afore.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4057 : We thee preie That thou relesse thilke dette Which upon ous thi fader sette.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)7.81 : He þat biddeth, borweth, and bryngeth hym-self in dette.
- (a1450) Doc.in Kingsford EHist.Lit.(CotR 2.23)360 : The Kyng is xxvj M li. in det, and he may dispend but xxxiiij M.
- c1475(a1400) Amadace (Tay 9)p.28 : Oute of the cuntray I wille weynde Quil I haue gold..to spende And be owte of dette.
- (1464) Paston (Gairdner)4.90 : The Abbot of our Monastery..lefte us in grete ded.
- c1500(1463) Ashby Pris.(Trin-C R.3.19)44 : I am put to vnpayable det..to god I clepe..To help me out of det or I dy.
2.
Law accioun (ple, pledinge) of ~, a suit to recover what is owed.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)611 : Þat playdingue þat of dette were..scholde beon i-brouȝt bi-fore þe kinge..and to holi churche nouȝt.
- a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)p.90 : Of plee of dette is þus vp-on heued answere: ȝif þat þe axkere bryngeþ skore oþer wryt [etc.].
- (1463) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2 p.64 : All maner accions of dette.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.49b : Every persone..so distreyned..mowe..haue..an action of dette ayenst hym [etc.].
3a.
(a) A moral, religious, or social obligation; an act conforming to such an obligation; don (paien, yelden) ~, to do (one's) duty; withholden ~, fail to do (one's) duty; bihest is ~, a promise is binding; (b) whatever is due (to sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.41 : Biheste is dette, and I wol holde fayn Al my biheste.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.252 : Wel may he be sory..that no goodnesse ne hath to paye with his dette to god.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.370 : He that is dettour to god ne yeldeth nat to god al his dette, that is to seyn, al the loue of his herte.
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)276 : Do þi dette & þi seruise to þin euencristen as redili as ȝif vre lord him-self bad þe do so.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)79a/a : Honest traueile is..dette of ȝouþe..ioye of elde..and enemye of ydilnes.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)352 : Ech man is endettid to oþir to helpe him..Dette is not to charge, but ȝif it turne to goostli help.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.1.14 : I haste me to yelden and assoilen to the the dette of my byheste.
- a1450(?c1400) Wycl.LFCatech.PN (Add 17013)338 : Þes dettes þat we owen to god are seruises þat we owen to hym.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1772 : Of a trewe man be-heste is dette.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.283 : I spede me..for to pay my det.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)355 : His brethyr duly dyde þer dette.
b
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)68 : Þere shal mede wiþouten let Be sett to him for dew dett.
- 1386-1398(a1349) Rolle Com.LG (Rwl A.389)70 : Ȝef þi hert to hym, for it is his dette.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)3617 : Thurgh penance..þe dette of payn may be qwitte son.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)27808 : Rightwis es he, To gif ilk man his det sertayne, Wheþer he haue serued Ioy or payne.
- a1450(c1400-25) Legat Serm.PD (Wor F.10)7/14 : Whos euer wil nat for pride be obedient to myn ordinaunce & resseyue my dette, he schal be ded.
3b.
(a) ben in ~, to be obliged (to do sth.), be in duty bound; (b) to be indebted (to sb.), owe thanks.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)8760 : In det he was, þe temple to make.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.261 : We ere in dette, at nede to help þe kyng.
b
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)3947 : He thanked hir..And sho him thanked..So aþer was in oþer det.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)541 : A ful grete necligence Was yt to the..That thou forgate hire in thi song to sette, Syn that thou art so gretly in hire dette.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)21 : He suffride iewes to sle him wrongfully, & to such obedience was mankynde in dette to god.
3c.
(a) after ~, as ~, according to justice or nature; (b) bi ~, thurgh ~, as an obligation or duty; (c) of ~, with ~, as a matter of duty or justice; duly, in justice; also, ?in gratitude [quot. Gower 6.1502]; (d) withouten ~, without being in duty bound.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.4.4 : To hym forsoþe þat werkys, mede schal not be put to aftyr grace but aftyr dette [L debitum].
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.633 : The pohen..Wol legge in on yeer thries dew as dette.
b
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)4/41 : Prelates..and prestes That er halden be dette for to lere thame.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)72b/b : He trowiþ þat his lord doþ for hym by dewte & dette more þan by grace.
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn:Horstmann)315 : He hyghttes vs mede, if we do with gud wyll þat we thurgh dett awe for to do.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2214 : What man that is of traiterie..Atteint, the jugge..schal slen, of pure dette.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1552 : A lawe he sette That every man, of pure dette..Honoure scholde thilke ymage.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1502 : Here king is come hom ayein..Taillage upon hemself thei sette, And..of pure dette Thei yeve here goodes to the king.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.120 : Wit dett mai þou noht ask me Bot Manhed, þat I toc of þe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6469 : His comamentes ten..we agh þam hald wit dett.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.80 : Þis relik is nat to hym mete..For I it cleyme duely of dette.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)41/9 : Forto lyue anentis god largely..is forto..paie to god what we ben not bounde forto ȝolde..not of comaundement, neiþir of dette.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)49/28 : To þat þat fallis to ȝow to enquere..me byhoues, and of dette ys holden, to answere.
d
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)120/22 : Huanne þe yefþe comþ..of þe welle of loue..wyþ-oute enie dette, þanne is hit ariȝt ycleped yefþe.
4.
Theol. (a) A debt incurred through sinful behavior, guilt, sinfulness; (b) that which spouses owe to each other, sexual intercourse; ~ of matrimoni, ~ of the bodi; (c) that which man owes to his nature, death; dethes ~; paien ~ onto nature, to die.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)34a : We..ahen godd greate deattes of sunne..We seggeð: forȝef us ure deattes, alswa as we forȝeoueð ure deatturs.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)34b : Þu art endeattet toward me swiðe wið sunnen..ich wulle neomen onward þe deatte þe þu ahest me.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)113/19 : 'Leue uader, uoryef ous oure dettes, ase we uoryeueþ oure dettours.' Oure dettes byeþ oure zennes.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)5.145 : Sunne wol I lete And..bidde þe Rode of Bromholm bringe me out of dette.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25109 : Forgiue þou til us dettes vrs, Als we forgiue til vr detours.
- a1400 Mary moder well (RwlLtrg g.2)8 : Marie, out of synne help þou me, And out of dette, for charite.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.33.20b : Trostende..in þe merci of Oure Lord..ffor wite þou wel þat þou art excused of þi dette.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)222/17 : Me may do þe dede of spoushod wyþ-oute zenne..huanne þe on yelt to þe oþre his dette þanne he hit akseþ [etc.].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.941 : She hath merite of chastitee, that yeldeth to hire housbonde the dette of hir body.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.130 : Man shal yelde to his wyf hir dette.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2048 : Whan he wolde paye his wyf hir dette In somer seson.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)1 Cor.7.3 : For fornycacioun eferich man hafe his wyf..& þe housbonde ȝelde his dette to his wyf.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)11/36 : Sche had neuyr desyr to komown fleschly wyth hyre husbonde, for þe dette of matrimony was so abhominabyl to hir.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)347 : Seint poul..biddiþ þe husbond paie his fleischli dette..no man synneþ as for þis þat he askiþ and takiþ his dette and his riȝt.
- a1500 Doct.Galen (Hrl 78)39 : Thryis a wooke pay þy dette which þowe art bounden-to by þe bonde of þy mariage.
c
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)2/25 : Ȝef he schel libbe to elde..he schel..his deþes dette ȝelde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3311 : She fil in-to seknesse, And hir dette ȝalde vn-to nature, Whiche eskape may no creature.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Guy (LdMisc 683)185 : But he, allas! fflouryng in hys myght, Paide his dette of deth on-to nature.
- a1500 Craft Dying (Rwl C.894)407 : Deth is noþing els but a..payinge of dettis of naturall dutees.
5.
The state of owing retaliation for injury.
Associated quotations
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.462 : Þat dint..was iuel sett. Wele schal y com out of þi dett, ȝif þat I libbe may.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)16998 : Thei..lefft here fyght..Iff any lefft In other det, Thei thenke hit schal be wel quyt.
- a1456(a1426) Lydg.Mum.Hertford (Trin-C R.3.20)110 : Hir fist ful offt made his cheekis bleed..She cast hir not to dyen in his dette.
6.
det-bunden, in duty bound.
Associated quotations
- a1500(a1450) St.Robt.Knares.(Eg 3143)1121 : Detbundon this order ys..thase cayteffes to Thaim to raunsoune and to by Wyth the third partt off thar tresory.