Middle English Dictionary Entry
discǒmfitūre n.
Entry Info
| Forms | discǒmfitūre n. Also -tour(e, discomfatur. |
| Etymology | OF desconfiture |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. discomfiten.
1.
(a) The fact of being defeated, defeat; ben at ~, to be defeated; driven, putten, turnen to ~, defeat (an enemy); (b) the act of defeating in battle or personal combat, overcoming; ~ upon, victory over (an enemy or opponent); (c) a cause of defeat.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2721 : Soothly ther was no disconfiture, For fallyng nys nat but an auenture.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)223 : Of þat discomfitoure [Hrl: discomfeture] ne wyst he nouȝt.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.184 : I [Ulysses] haue..Ben oft cause of her discounfeture.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)14212 : Moddred ne myghte in bataille dure, But euere was at desconfiture.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)12.453 : Fowhten þere, And put hem Alle to discomfiture.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)117/22 : The Cristen people herd of the dyscomfatur of the Saresyns.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)8168 : Ther folwe shal dyscoumfyture On the party that doth a-byde.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)3932 : So longe laste the turnament..The inner syde..Was drevyne to dyscomfettoure.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)2511 : The men of Perse were att discomfeture.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)135 : Thei saugh theire party turned to disconfiture.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)27/20 : But the dis-comfyture turned vp-on oconghoure, and many of his men were sleyn.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1429 : Of armys þe renoun and þe glorie, Discomfeture & bringyng to outraunce.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5686 : Hit..telles þe disconfiture, How Marius slow þe Peyt Rodrik.
- (1458) Paston (Gairdner)3.125 : The Kyng of Hungerye, whych had the descomfytur uppon the Turks.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)31 : The men of armes of the countre of Gaule..had in a tyme a discomfiture and the overhande uppon the Romains.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.439 : He [Priam] allone was confusioun To þe Grekis, and destruccioun, Her outter meschef and discounfeture.
2.
(a) Frustration of plans, foiling of effort, thwarting; (b) utter dejection; (c) ?physical undoing.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)254 : Nothyng may so moch hir plese As myschef and mysaventure; Or whan she seeth discomfiture Upon ony worthy man falle.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)10151 : Thampte..Thanne al hys laboure were in weyn; But, for dysconfyture, He wyl nat cessyn to recure That he hath lost.
b
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)326 : In this world nis creature Wakynge, in more discomfiture Then I, ne more sorowe endure.
c
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)18/25 : Hough may it be þat man woll do so moche amysse and by errour mysmake the noble lawe of natur .. that for his worldely dedis .. now woll .. vndo himself by dethe and discomfiture, by iniury or by faulte of enduringe?