Middle English Dictionary Entry
discharǧe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | discharǧe n. Also descharge. |
| Etymology | OF descharge |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Release from financial liability; freedom from assessment; lettre patent of ~, warraunt of ~, a document conveying release from liability; (b) a document conveying release from liability.
Associated quotations
a
- (1423) Pet.Sutton in Fenland NQ 7308 : As it pleases to youre discrecion to allowe hem..a warraunt of discharge to youre auditours and to youre resceyvors.
- (1424-5) Doc.Lynn in Nrf.Archaeol.6224 : Ȝe shal come to þe gilde halle..& trewe counceil ȝyve for þis toun..in expensis et acountis ȝelding, & trew alowaunce making, & oþer chargis & dischargis.
- (1426) Proc.Privy C.3.221 : Þei have not þeir 'quietus est' out of þeschequier for þeire discharge.
- (1432) Let.Christ Ch.in Camd.n.s.1910 : That they wolde do leyth us have trewe and clere declaration of here agrement of the summe wych ys due aftyr here own rekenyng, alleyyng and seavyng for hem sufficient dyscharge of eny payment wych oghte to be alowyd of us.
- (1433) RParl.4.425b : In partie of relese and discharge of the poure Tounes, Citees and Burghes.
- (1437) *Plea & Mem.R.Lond.GildhA 64.6b : Alle manere descharges of þe saide summes.
- (1445) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)11.77 : We..Charge you that..ye do make oure Letters of Warrant..unto oure said Squier, for his Discharge for the Deliverance of the Jewelles aforesaid.
- (1450) RParl.5.199a : Provided also that this Acte extende not to adnulle..youre Letters Patentes of relesse, quitclayme and discharge, made to the Citezeins of the Cite of Chestre.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.59a : That they..have allowaunce and discharge, and be allowed and discharged of all..sommes of money.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)129 : Wich encrease any subget desirith ffor his owne discharge off þat he beyrith to the sustenance off his prince.
b
- (1425) Grocer Lond.in Bk.Lond.E.204/285 : This is the Dyscharg off Esmond Twyn and Thomas Catteworth off the same ȝer.
2.
(a) Relief from misfortune or an unhappy state; also, help, benefit; (b) release from custody; (c) release from a task or duty, fulfillment of an obligation; (d) release from blame or censure, exoneration; also, a pardon.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Gower CA 1st Concl.(Bod 902)8.3104* : Love..ne berth no contretaile, Which mai the conscience charge, But it is rather of descharge.
- (1404) RParl.3.549a : The Kynges entent is..for to put in execution..alle the articles contened in the Petition of the Comune, in all hast that he may, in discharge of his poeple.
- (1434) Proc.Privy C.4.213 : Þe whiche offre..shuld..have be of greet availle & discharge to you.
- (1463) Papers Trevelyan in Camd.6782 : To restore the sayde Thomas Whalesborughe his heres that be ryghtfull enheritors to that lande, in discharhge of that noble prynces is sooll.
b
- (c1458) Let.Oxf.in OHS 36344 : So þat sayd meyre, ballywys and burgeses, or syche delyverance by them be do made, have a sufficientt and a lawful discharge for þe same prisoner.
c
- (1434) Proc.Privy C.4.213 : We..comen..to þis your greet consail for oure discharge and acquitaille to God, to your highnesse, and to your subgites.
- (1447) Shillingford14 : Hengston seide openly that Radeford and he..were well negh accorded; and my lord seide..'Wolde hit were so, for oure discharge.'
- (1451) Paston2.220 : Then Bettes toke Gonnor a supersedias..I bad hym take it me for my discharge.
d
- (1450) RParl.5.176b : I trust youre Highnesse and youre lande shull be content of me, and thenke that it shall suffice to my discharge with his mercy.
- c1450 ?Suffolk O ye louers (Frf 16)p.172 : But yf the god lyst for to be so large To graunt his pardon as for thair dyscharge.
- (1471) Paston (Gairdner)5.110 : John Pampyng roode ffor a dyscharge ffor yow.
3.
Dispossession of an office; writ of ~.
Associated quotations
- (1424) Proc.Privy C.3.150 : The Kynges sergeantes to be sworin trewly and plainly to yeve the poore man..trewe counsail in his matere..oute eny good takyng of hym, on peyne of discharge of þeir offices.
- (1455) Doc.in HMC Var.Col.4203 : iij writtes of dyscharge..by the meanes whereof he hoped to have ben discharged of the seid office.