Middle English Dictionary Entry
dīē̆te n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dīē̆te n. Also diate, dite; pl. dietes, etc. & diettis. |
| Etymology | ML diaeta, diēta & OF dïete. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A day's journey; (b) a day of meeting set for the transaction of business; also, the meeting so arranged; ~ of meting.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)73.416 (v.2:p.57) : Turnyng hoomward ageyn by the dyettis, bi than she had perfourmed the last daies iournee [L diaetas] she was perfitely hool.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)67 : How many daies iourneys? Þis terme, or this dyet, is not ellis but the terme of thi lyf.
b
- (1471) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)11.717a : It is Appointed..that the Twenty fourth Day of September next comeyng, at the Towne of Alnewyke, shall be kept a Dyet, by the grete Commissioners of both Landes, for Reforming of the said Wrongs and Injuries.
- (1473) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)11.789b : When the Diet of Metyng ar set betuix Wardains, Leutenants, or thaire Deputis..when thai com to thaire Diet of Metyng, they shall cum in pessable wise.
- c1480(1462) Let.Edw.IV to James III (Add 48031)144 : Then assentes, agrementes, and conclusions .., and mocions for the determynacion of the remanent abiding another diete appointed upon the westmarchis of our lande, wer put in remembraunce of writing enterchaunged bitwene theme undir thier signes manuelles to the keping of the said diete.
2.
Way of living; course of life; in our dietes, in our days, in our lifetime.
Associated quotations
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)749 : Our wittis fyve Mow nat comprehende, nowe in our dietes, As som tyme myȝte, these olde wise poetes.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1431 : Ech day our diete Shall be mery & solase, & this shall be for-ȝete.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)334 : There was a man-sleer taken, and put into prison, and put to his diete; wherfore he sorowed gretly that he was put fro mannes sight.
3.
(a) Provision of food or drink; foodstuff; ben at dietes, to take one's food, eat; (b) customary way of eating, personal diet; (c) a diet prescribed by a physician or surgeon.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)31a : Þet dei hwuch wes his diete i þe ilke blodletunge, se baleful & se bitter?
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)75a/b : Men nedeþ gretter & largere diete in wintir þanne in somer.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)460 : Of no diete þat day þe deuel haf he roȝt.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)183 : Withe daynteths one desse thi dyetes are dyghte.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4274 : Þat we fede vs with in-fere & fillis full oure tables, A dayntefull diete þat damage vs neuire.
- (1455) RParl.5.293b : The said Prince shall sojorne and be at diettez with the Kyng..the Kyng shall have yerely for the seid diettez..all such yerely summez of money.
b
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.435 : Of his diete mesurable was he.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1451 : Gouerneth yow also of youre diete Atemprely, and namely in this hete.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4026-8 : No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte, Hir diete was acordant to hir cote; Repleccioun ne made hire neuere syk; Attempree diete was al hir phisyk.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.252 : And thanne I drinke a biter swete..Lo, thus I tempre mi diete.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.622 : There is yit on of such diete [rime: trete], To which no povere mai atteigne.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.1279 : Of his diete catour was scarsete; His costful foode was vertuous abstinence.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)31 : Of þis same seynt to telle þe lyf real, Both of his diete and eke of his wede.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4438 : Quat dewis ȝow þan þire diatis & all þis dere fode.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)1 : Yf a man lak leches or medicens he schall make..hys medicens or leches..good dyet of cleyn metes & drynkes sesenable.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1707 : Loke, how a sek man for his hele Takth baldemoine with Canele..Ryht upon such a maner lucre Stant Florent, as in this diete: He drinkth the bitre with the swete.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)72/2 : Of gouernaunce & diete of men þat ben woundid.
- c1400 *PPl.C (Trin-C R.3.14)[23.174] f.71a : Lyf leuede þat lechecraft lette shulde elde And dryue a wey deþ wiþ dyetis & draggeis.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)8 : Whan a man is sik, men butt hym to dyette [F on le met on diete] and yeueth hym to drynk watir ymakyd with sugre or tysane.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)0b/a : Cyrurgie..is a science of curyng sikenes in þe which falleþ..manuale operacioun with oute excluding of þe toþer tvo instrumentez of medicyne, videlicet of pocioun & of diete [L diete].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)25a/b : Perticler [cure of flegmon] haþ 4 intencions; þe first ordeyneþ þe life i. diete [L vitam].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)72a/b : And of þe dyte, þat it be more þenne or sotil.
- c1450 Lydg.Diet.(Lamb 853)61 : Forȝete not þis diete, for it is good & trewe.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)178/20 : Of dyetis and domys þat longyth to phesyk, In all þis scyens is non us lyke.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.35.80b : A kyng..must be gouerned in diete and medicyne þat nedith to helpe of his persone.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.18va (1.4) : By þis worde 'diete,' vnderstonde reulyng and kepyng in leuyng. For in wel rewelyng stant moste þe helthe or vnhelthe in man, os etyng and drynkeyng noȝt but in tyme when..þe appetite wille, and þat him leue alwaie some apetite.
Note: Additional quot., ?prob. sense 3.(b).