Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēvǒut adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | dēvǒut adj. Also devouth, devot(e, devolte. Pl. dēvǒut(es. |
| Etymology | OF devo(u)t & L dēvōtus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of a person, the heart, mind, etc.: filled with religious awe, reverence, or devotion; devout, pious; ~ to, devoted to (God, the Virgin, a Saint); (b) of religious actions or behavior: pious, devout; of outward appearance: seemingly devout.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)101b : Þurh aromaz, þe beoð swote, is understonden swotnesse of deuot heorte.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7604 : In chirche he was deuout inou.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)27/752 : Repentaunt and ryȝt deuout, Take hys deaþ in þy meende.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.131 : She, ful deuout and humble in hir corage..Hadde next hir flessh yclad hire in an haire.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.22 : Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage To Caunterbury with ful deuout corage.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.636 : Thus this double Ypocrisie With his devolte apparantie..semeth to be riht wel thewed, And yit his herte is al beschrewed.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)186a/b : Deuoute to godde, peysible and trewe to men.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)29109 : It sal vaile him ilk note In penance if he be deuote.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)406 : In hys place þou schal apere, Be dep deuote in hol mekenesse.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.35.29 : Alle men and wymmen with a deuowt mynde [L mente devota] offerden ȝiftis.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.113 : God wole have oure herte devoute to him wiþouten ende.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)38/32 : The monkes..ben full deuoute men.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)446 : Þe defaute of þe knowing of hem [truths]..han cast doun manye a deuout famose persoon.
- (1447) in Mullinger Cambridge 1314 : Two noble and devoute contesses, of Pembroke and of Clare, founded two collages.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)74/16 : Þes iij worschippeful kyngis were..so deuoute and so feruent in her oblacioun.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)186/9 : I am Saynt Nicholas at þou hase bene devote to.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)315/9 : A noble knyght..þat was deuowte vnto our Ladie.
- c1455 Spec.Miser.(Tak 32)405 : Devowte preestis thanne schall I gare, In here Massis for thee to pray.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)36/19 : He callys douowte sowles to hys blysse.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)52/29 : He was conuerted..from an hegh man and a prowde ynto a meke man and a devot.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)98/1 : Lowli seruauntes & deuowtes hand maydenes of owre lorde Ihesu criste.
b
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)268 : In deuoute preiers, feruent desyres, and gostly meditacions.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.669 : Bot yet his herte..Among hise bedes most devoute Goth in the worldes cause aboute.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)202 : Ther liueth he now in deuoute prayer.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)82/33 : Þe wordes of deuote prayere.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)206 : Þanne he schal receive þis now seid grace..which þis..deuout vse of þe eukarist bryngiþ.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)367/340 : Seyng oure observaunce wyth devouth sound.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)2/29 : Bihoueful into deuoute lyuyng.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)279/1 : The chyrche ys also halowet for deuout prayng.
- a1500 Play Sacr.(Dub 652)733 : I commande yow..On yower feet for to goo bare, In the devoutest wyse that ye can.
2.
Of a divinity or a religious institution: deserving of reverence or devotion, sacred, holy.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)166 : Summe to Vernagu þer vouched a-vowes solemne, Summe to Diana deuout & derf Nepturne.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.151 : Hire olde usage nolde they nat letten, As for to honoure hir goddes ful devoute.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)10 : Of the blessed lyf of oure lord Jesu crist..sche ches certeyne parties moste deuoute, in the whiche sche sette hir meditacioun.
- (1449) Will Sus.in Sus.RS 43210 : That..a prest..syng..xxx masses at Scala celi..and..at other Devout placys in Rome.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer ABC (Benson-Robinson)145 : Temple devout, ther God hath his woninge..To you my soule penitent I bringe.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)111/14 : He come to a chapell ryght devoute.
3.
(a) Of a person or institution: devoted, dedicated, faithful; also, eager (to do sth.); (b) of humility: respectful.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1449) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35277 : Þe scoles off devinite, þe whych we may nott complysshe with outt grete helpe..of oder devote persons.
- (1450) RParl.5.199b : Provided also that the seide Petition..extende not..unto Herry Abyndon, oure servaunt and Clerk of oure devote Collage of Eton.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)182/24 : Man es made..more brynnynge in loue..redyer to obeyssaunce, more deuote to doynge of thankes.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)6275 : He..vowed while he was lyuand To be his [St. Cuthbert's] deuoute seruand.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.544 : This tygre, ful of doublenesse, Fil on his knees with so deuout humblesse, With so heigh reuerence..So lyk a gentil louere of manere.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 ?Scrope Ribot First Monks (Lamb 192)48/5 : Helye ȝeldyd thys mownt devowtere [L deuociorem] to hys dysciplys to a contynual resydence to be mad.
Note: New spelling (comparative)
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(?1451) Petrarch Secret.(Add 60577)5/69 : He ys relygyovs in syght, forhede and face, hys eyne full deuoute and sobure ys hys pace, hys habyte off Aufryc.
Note: Probably belongs to sense 1.(b) 'devout of appearance,' though editor (following Lat graves) glosses a little more generally as 'serious, grave, full of dignity.'