Middle English Dictionary Entry
dignitẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dignitẹ̄ n. Also dingnite. |
| Etymology | OF dignité |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) High personal or spiritual worth, worthiness, nobleness; bi (for) goddes ~; (b) of things: worth, excellence; of ~, excellent, honorable; (c) an excellent quality or attribute; -- also used iron. [quot.: c1440]; (d) a source of honor, a distinction; (e) gravity (of countenance), dignity.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)38b : Ne nis nawt edscene of hwuch dignete ha [the soul] is, hu heh is hire cunde.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4270 : Thou shalt be deed, by goddes dignytee!
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2109 : Namoore of this, for goddes dignytee!
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.782 : By goddes precious dignytee! who wende To day that we sholde han so fair a grace?
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)330 : For-þi es godd..Nan elder þan his creature..Bot elles wel mare in dignite.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)12358 : Þus þai saide apertele, 'ȝone childe [Jesus] is of grete dignite.'
- a1450 The holy gost (Trin-C O.3.58)8 : Marye bar boþe god and man, Thorw vertu & þowr dyngnyte.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)77/157 : Ȝe muste love god..ffor his hyȝ and sovereyn dygnyte.
b
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)6/41 : Of se swiðe heh stal of se muche dignete, & swuch wurðsjchipe as hit is to beo godes spuse.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)112/32 : [Sacramental] bread..ouergeþ alle substances..ine uirtue and ine dingnete.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1040 : The Pater noster..is pryuyleged of thre thynges in his dignytee, for which it is moore digne than any oother preyere.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)325b/b : Alle holnesse and perfitenesse longeþ to oon and to vnite..for singuler dignite.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)15a/b : Þe herte..is of so grete dignitee [*Ch.(2): worþynesse; L dignitatis] þat it may noȝt longe tyme sustene passions.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)18/21 : Caliphes..es a name of grete dignitee and of grete worschepe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)28/166 : My [God's] name is of dignyte, and also full glorius To knowe.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)329b/b : Oon haþ þis dignite, þat he conteyneþ in hit self al þe vertu of þe nombres þat comeþ þerof.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)24/31 : Þou sent vs a handballe, and þir oþer thynges..the whilke contenez in þam so grete dignytez.
d
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)153/15 : Hit ys a gret dygnyte to a man to se hys one kynde..sytte at þe ryȝt hond of þe Fadyr of Heuen.
e
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.1.3 : Philosophie..kepynge the dignyte of hir cheere and the weyghte of hir wordes.
2.
High esteem, degree of esteem, rank in order of esteem.
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)14/180 : Eadi meiden, understont te in hu heh dignete þe mihte of meidhad halt te.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)119/28,30 : Alle þe uirtues..eche..be þe ordre of hare dingnete. Alsuo ase zeue benes byeþ yzet beuore be þe ordre of hare dingnetes.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Col.1.18 : That he be holdinge primacie, or the firste dignyte, in alle thingis.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.6366 : Virginite, Which tho was of gret dignite.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)205b/a : Smaragdus is pris of alle grene stones..men in olde tyme ȝaf þer to þe þridde dignitees [after margarites] and nowches.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11470 : Þou bethleem iuda, þof þou be noght þe mast cite, þou es noght lest of dignite.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)28/7 : Þai be not of dignitee as Ierusalem es.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)1817 : The Amatiste followeth the rubye in dignitee.
3.
(a) High rank or position; position of honor; social rank; man of ~, a dignitary; (b) a high office; a position of honor; beren the ~, to be the ruler, reign; gon to a ~, receiven (taken, underfon) ~, assume an office or position of honor; (c) authority conferred by high office; official authority (to do sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1036 : For gold ne passez nouȝt so muche In bounte led, i-wis, Al-so dignete of þe preost herre þane þe kingus is.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)24/28 : Huanne þe ilke, þet is zuo heȝe arise ine prosperite, þengþ in his herte uerst to þe dignete, efterward to his prosperite.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)215/20 : Þere ssolle þe greate lhordes and þe greate lheuedyes uoryete..hare dingnete, and hare heȝnesse.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1646 : Thy laude precious Parfourned is by men of dignytee.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4249 : He [a king] mot be more magnefied, For dignete of his corone, Than scholde an other low persone Which is noght of so hih emprise.
- (1399) RParl.3.424a : Ȝe renounsed and cessed of the State of Kyng, and of Lordesship and of all the Dignite and Wirsshipp that longed therto.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)56/1 : The folk stonden all aboute in diuerse stages after þei ben of dignytee or of worschipe.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)12.185 : From so gret povert to hy dignete.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)334 : All folk..Þat takes swilk staite of dignite.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)351/71 : This seyd judas was Amonges us noumbryd Apostyll and had lych dygnyte.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)165/26 : He was not no kyng of hy degre, But anoder þer was ouer him of greter dignite.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)65/9 : Legat of the courte of rome, and heyghest of dygnyte ouer al thay that there were.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)100/25 : None religious ne seculere, of what astate or dignite þat he be.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)302 : Bischop i-sacret he was And onder-feng þis dignete, þe guode Man seint thomas.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)42/6,8 : Dyngnetes of holi cherche, ase byeþ bissopriches, abbayes, oþer denyes, oþer oþre dingnetes þet me makeþ be chyezinge.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3360 : This kyng..wende that god..Ne myghte hym nat bireue of his estat; But sodeynly he loste his dignytee.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.3 : He was i-made archebisshop of Caunterbury..he wolde take þat dignytee þe more holyliche.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.146 : Þise suld kepe þe lond, & þe dignites.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1801 : Daryous þat day..watz..Done doun of his dyngnete.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)97/21,25 : Seynt Austyn hade þe Pallioun of þe dignite of þe erchebisshop..Iustyn..helde þe dignite of Rouchestre.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1127 : He shal ha repair To Regne in Thebes..Ther to receyue fully his dignyte.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)2310 : A messanger..brouȝt worde to Waspasian, That Nero was deed..That was Emperoure of Rome..Thei haue al ychose þe, Forto bere þe dignite.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)59b/a : Senatus: dignite of senatour.
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick187 : Vndere peyn of..perpetuelle amocyone fro your dignytee and office of prioresse.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)32/25 : Fra þe tyme þat oure Fadir was dedde, & we were sett in þe Trone of his dingnytee.
- c1450(?a1402) *?Trev.Reg.Princ.(Dgb 233)1a/a : Dignytees and hye astates duren Ileche long.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)60/89 : Whan he [Jesus] is gon to his dygnyte he xal send þe sprytt to his discyplis.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)20/15 : Thei renounced all maner richesse, dignites, worshipes, frendes, & kynne.
c
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)prol.92 : Erchedekenes and Deknes þat Dignite hauen, To preche þe peple and pore men to feede.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10958 : Clerk behoueþ hym for to be, Þat shulde receyue swyche dygnyte For to gouerne holy cherche.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20874 : Þas daies gallicanes contres Pertende to romes dignites.
- (1450) RParl.5.212b : [They]..sore wounded Thomas Tresham..ayenst youre peas, your Corone and your dignite.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)648/5 : To be free & quiete fro all exaccion..sauynge the bisshops ryht, & the dignite of the churche of lincolne.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)169/13 : Crist..ȝaf hit to hem and to al oþyr prestes..power and dignite forto make his body of bred and wyne yn þe auter.
4.
(a) An honored person; a dignitary; (b) a group of worthies; also as term of association: a group (of canons).
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(a1349) Rolle MPass.(1) (Cmb Ll.1.8:Horst.)89 : Þe dignyte so excellent, þe faderys sone of heuene, by-twene two theuys þou hengyd on þe cros.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6105 : These grete lordshipes, these hih dignites..Whan thei sitten hiest in ther sees.
b
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2524 : Bytwene þe tombe, hym þouȝt, þat marter þo stode, With angelus & aposteles dignite..He saw stonde among hem also þat blessud virgyn seynt Ede.
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A dignite of chanons.
5.
Astrol. The situation of a planet in which its influence is heightened, either by its position in the zodiac or by its aspects with other planets.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)108a/a : Astronomeris..takeþ hede of houses ascendentis, þat is to menynge of arisinge of signes and dignitees of planetis.
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)introd.76a : In whiche 5 partie thow schalt fynde..tables of dignitees of planetis.
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[2.4] 86a : The lord of the ascendent..is fortunate when he is in..a succident where as he is in his dignite & conforted with frendly aspectes [of planets] & wel receyued.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)10/26 : Whan the planetis entrede..in-to their exaltacions, in whiche thei had her dignitees.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450 Terms Assoc.(2) (Cmb Ll.1.18)232 : A dignite off chanonez.
Note: Additional quot. for sense 4.(b).