Middle English Dictionary Entry
diffūse adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | diffūse adj. Also defuce, diffuhs. |
| Etymology | L diffūsus, ppl. of diffundere & OF difus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. diffused.
1.
Widely spread or dispersed.
Associated quotations
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)144 : Floures of the heuynly bames, Of whos swetnes the verrey preelect Diffuse odour..Hath wellyd out.
- 1534(?a1500) Cov.Pl.ST (Croo:Craig)334 : Novellis, novellis Of wonderfull marvellys, Were hy and defuce vnto the heryng!
2.
(a) Of discourse or writing: long drawn out, extended, prolix; (b) of matters, events, etc. : complex, difficult to summarize or understand; ?also, confused, obscure.
Associated quotations
a
- (1430) Proc.Privy C.4.26 : Þees matiers of pees finale & of matrimonye & þe menes þerto be ryȝt greete and diffuse.
- (1447) Shillingford33 : A long and right a diffuse letter y send..by the Mayer of Excetre.
- (1447) Shillingford34 : Meny diffuse supplicacions.
- (1450) RParl.5.182a : The seid mesprisions..which to reherce were over longe and to diffuse.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)141.185 (v.2:p.400) : Gerard .. in his omelyis explityth this same processis by mannye diuers and coriously endytyd circumstauncys, the whiche for yt ys diffuhs and prolix I passe ouyr at this tyme.
b
- (1448) Shillingford62 : The mater to be comyned and entreted at home..was harde and diffuse.
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.400 : The toun-clerk..shalle yeve no jugement..in or vppon eny diffuse matier biforn them, without the aduise of the Recordor of the same cite.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)11.442 (v.1:p.118) : Of blissid Thomas troubelous exile vij yere in Fraunce .., for as moche as the matier is longe and diffuse and may nat be delarid ner tolde shortely, I ovirsitt it in this werk.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)82/103 : Þis matere is dyffuse and obscure.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.106a : I haue not translated worde for word..somwhat be cause of hard Frensch..somewhat also be cause of somme thinges þat were diffuse and in som place ouerderk.