Middle English Dictionary Entry
discolǒuren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | discolǒuren v. Also decolouren, descolouren, discoleren, discouloren. |
| Etymology | OF discolerer & L dēcolōrāre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To change the natural color of (sb. or sth.); discolor, stain; (b) fig. to tarnish (majesty).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))SSol.1.5 : I be broun, for discoloured [L decoloravit] me hath the sunne.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.664 : Why artow so discoloured of thy face?
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)29a/b : It happiþ þat it [heat] discoloureþ a þing.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)81a/a : Þese ben þe signes of frenesye: discoloured vrine duringe þe feuere, wiþ woodnes & contynual wakinge.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)59/36 : Of rawnes of digestion is þe vryne discolored.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)20a/b : If þe lyuer suffre defaute of clensynge of þise, þan þe body is made þynne & discolored.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)31 : Sche become throw here ensorgyng in envye..discolourd and grene as ivy leffe.
b
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.11 : What man wylle not haue me in derision intendenge to decoloure [L decolorarem] the maieste of soe highe mater after so nowble wryters?
2.
To deprive (sb. or sth.) of natural color; make wan or pale.
Associated quotations
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1079 : Ys Fysage al dis-colourid was, for is blod was gon away.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.1908 : The descoloured pale hewe Is now become a rody cheke.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)30a/b : Coolde discoloureþ þingis & makeþ hem of hiewe as we seeþ in wintir.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)283/14 : His iȝen wolen be discolourid [L discolorata], as it were þe colour of askis, or pale.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)1595 : The hert was so sore ybound Of Generides for that wound, That al discoulored tho he was.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)51 : Hir face and chere whiche he wende had al be discolered by fastynge.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)67/6 : And with thes wordes she fell in swone and was all discolored.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14868 : I wexe megre, pale, and lene, Dyscolouryd off verray tene.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)230/9 : Tho that haue eyen discolourid and trowbelid tokenyth drede, for he that Is a-drede wexit pale.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)296 : The paale mone is þe Emperesse, þe which hathe conceivid, and for hire conceiving is þe mor discolourid.
3.
Associated quotations
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.836 : Stalons best beth clere in oon coloured..hem that beth discoloured Excuse, and in a maner so exclude.
- 1652 Ripley CAlch.in Ashmole TC (AshmTC)p.141 : Wyth Flowers dyscoloryd bewtyosely to syght [BodeMus: Withe flowers beauteful vnto sight].