Middle English Dictionary Entry
discreciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | discreciǒun n. Also discrescioun, -crescon, -cres(s)ioun, -creacion & descrecioun, -cression. |
| Etymology | ML & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The ability to distinguish between right and wrong, moral discernment or judgment; (b) the ability to make sound decisions, practical judgment; (c) the ability to perceive and understand, rational perception; (d) Discretion personified; (e) yeres (age, time) of ~, the age at which a person is presumed capable of making decisions on his own.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)160/4 : Discrecion and scele..is þe cartere of uirtues..and þe roþer of þe ssipe of þe zaule..and brengþ uorþ þet hi ne guo naȝt amis ariȝthalf ne alefthalf.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Heb.5.14 : Of parfit men..that..han wittis excersysid..to discrecioun [L discrecionem] of good and yuel.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.824 : Dronkenesse bireueth hym the discrecioun of his wit.
- a1425 Templ.Dom.(Add 32578)170 : Wise demynge, to myn a-vise, Discrecioun men calle it here, To knawe vertuys wele fro vice, Gud fro ille in þe same manere.
- a1425 This is goddis (Wht)117 : Late drede and good discrecyoun Thyn herte holly vp to [me] seende.
- c1432-a1500(c1390) Chaucer L.St.(Robinson)18 : Through covetyse is blent discrecioun.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)15/24 : Thorw inoportunyte of temptacyon & lakkyng of dyscrecyon, sche was ouercomyn.
- ?a1450(?c1400) Wycl.LFCatech.(Lamb 408)41/620 : Also haue mynde how ofte þou hast brokyn godys hestys sytthe þou haddyst dyscrecioun of good and euyl.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)206/14 : Discrecioun is al oon with prudence, which is an intellectual or knowal vertu requyrid to renne with ech moral vertu.
- c1475 Ye prowd (Hrl 372)p.251 : Ye poopeholy prestis, fulle of presomcioun, With your wyde furryd hodes, voyd of discrecioun.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)157/6 : He..ȝeueþe hom dyscrescyon forto know þe good from þe euell, and þe bettyr from þe wors.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1779 : That lord hath litel of discrecioun That in swich caas kan no diuisioun, But weyeth pryde and humblesse after oon.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1033 : Thise ben general almesses or werkes of charitee of hem that han temporel richesse or discrecioun in conseilynge.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2116 : It sit wel every king to have Discrecion, whan men him crave, So that he mai his yifte wite.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.613 : He is a man of heigh discrecioun; I warne yow wel, he is a passyng man.
- (?1410) Hoccl.Somer(2) (Hnt HM 111)62 : Discrecion mesurith euery thyng.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2953 : Age experte no thyng vndertaketh But he to-forn, be good discrecioun, Make a due examynacioun How it wil tourne oyther to badde or good.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.43/20 : The gretenes of peryll hadde stonyid ther mynde, berefte them discrecyoun of ther crafte.
- (1426) Proc.Privy C.3.188 : My said lordes spirituel & temporel..shal, as ferforth as þeir cunnyng & discrecion [vr. discrecions] suffisen..consail & avise þe Kyng.
- (1430) EEWills84/3 : I..ordeyne my testament in þys maner, beynge in fol discrecion And hool mynde.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)162/18 : Hir confessowr, seyng be þe eye of discresyon it was expedient to be do, comawndyd hir..to etyn as oþer creaturys dedyn mesurabely.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1247 : And þat hatz þis man considered be hy discrecion.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)13 : To punysshe tyrauntys & cherysshe hem that be meke With two cleer Eyen of discrecyoun.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)535 : Scho with gude descrecioun Sal rewle hir wordes bi right reson.
- (1451) in Black Leathersellers30 : That all maner fals and disceyvable werkes..be demed by the Mair and Aldremen..as theim semeth by their discrecions the said defautes been worthy.
- (c1453) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35320 : We..pray you that, after youre grete sadnes and avised discrecion, wold make this oure writyng and testimony be publyshed ther.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)150 : Ye prudent iugis, the Egle & the Leoun..Weieth this mater in your discrecioun, Whedir Goos or Sheep..may..Vn-to an Hors be likned & comparid.
c
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3822 : The storie of Alisaundre is so commune That euery wight that hath discrecioun Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.12.10 : To anothir..is ȝouun..discrescioun, or verrey knowynge [L discretio], of spiritis.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10160-1 : A parysshe prest was yn a tounne, A man of ful grete dyscrecyounne -- Dyscrecyun a ryȝt wyt ys On boþe partys ryȝtly to ges.
- c1400 Prep.Euch.(Ashm 1286)122/6 : Bifore þe resceyuynge of cristis body..þat a man knowe by vertu of discressioun what he schal resceyue.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4899 : And Priamus..With-Inne hym silfe conceivynge more & more, By evidence of discrecioun, Þe couert gyle and þe false tresoun.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)32.308 : Now schal I tellen the my Resoun As Cometh to myn ȝonge discressioun, For I nam but ȝong, and litel of wyt.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)7906 : Shulld thys be treson? Me thenketh in thys haue ye no reson. But dyscrescion now telleth me He loued yow.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)1 : Truly vn to my symple discrescion it semyth me good & honest dysportes and games in wyche a mans hert joythe with owt any repentans.
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.39 : Then here dyscression schal wel know and fynde That to have mynd of deth it is ful nessesery.
d
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1821 : Wher was þi guyde, wher was þi maistres, Discrecioun, so prudent and so sad, Avisely þat schulde þe haue lad From þe tracis of sensualite?
- c1440(?a1375) Abbey HG (Thrn)55/21 : Damsele Discrecyone, þat is witty and be full ware, sall be tresorere.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.PPeace (Hrl 2255)99 : In thes seven sustryn was no divisioun..Content with litel was Discrecioun.
- c1455 Spec.Miser.(Tak 32)189 : Diskressioun is thee name of mee, Of thyse Maydenys, Moder & Maysteresse.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)78/193 : Ther ben sefne prestys in dede..dyscressyon, devocion, dylexcion, and deliberacion..With declaracion, determynacion, dyvynacion.
e
- (1395) EEWills5/31 : If Thomas here sone forsayd dyeth or he haue age of discrecioun, to ordeyne of his part of that moneye, I wol that it torne to profet of his fader and his moder.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)56/22 : Siche þefþe and trespace is siche stelyng of children wiþinne þe ȝeres of discrecioun while þei beþ vnder fader & moder keping.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1600 : Sche was also..Wexe vn-to ȝeris of discrecioun, Able for age maried for to be.
- (1424) EEWills58/17 : When þei come to ȝeres of discrecion, if þey lif so longe.
- (?1427) RParl.5.410a : At suche tyme as..he shuld come to yeres of discretion..that the Kyng shulde have a gode reckenyng..when he comes to his yeres of his discretion.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)184 : Whanne we ben growen into ȝeris of discrecioun.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)205 : Þouȝ þei hadde passid out of þis lijf eer tyme of discrecioun..or after ȝeeris of discrecioun, how euer weel þei hadde lyued in vertues aftir doom of resoun.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)202 : I herd oþir crie..That..Yrendred were into religioun Or þei hade yeris of discresioun.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)1.14.7a : Sethe he cam to yeres of discreacion, this labour hath he in ded disallowed.
2.
(a) An act of judgment, a decision; distinguishing (one thing from another); (b) the exercise of sound judgment, prudent behavior; (c) moral control, moderation; bi (in, with) ~, in moderation; ben of ~, haven ~, kepen ~, to be moderate, act prudently or temperately.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)283/3 : Sumtyme a man mai not ȝeue a discrecioun of blood [L discernere sanguinem] fro vrine, for a litil blood colourid miche vrine.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.10.216 : Tak now thus the discrecioun [vrr. discressioun, descression; L discretionem] of this questioun.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)169 : After that it be taxed by enquest or by discrecioun of the court.
- a1450(a1397) WBible(2) GProl.(Hrl 1666)p.2 : Salamon..axide that God schulde ȝeue to him wijs herte, that he myȝte deme his peple, and make discrescyoun either departyng bitwixe good and yuel.
- c1500(a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(Cld A.8)157 : They that opteyne nat that they desire shal have thanne litel coloure of grucche, considryng that they lak it by the discrecioun of þe kynges counseil.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6060 : Þis wyse and crafty Greke Synoun..þoruȝ his castynge and discrecioun, Parformed haþ þis riche stede of bras.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)419 : Wiþ þis discrecioun to be þerwiþ kept, þat for to paie to þee, god, þe lasse moral vertu, þe grettir moral vertu be not lefte vndoon.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)3746 : He may curse..That ever he kam in her forest..for lak of discrecion To hunte at Boor or at lyon.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)206/25 : Bi doom of an oþir discrecioun or prudence bifore goyng to him.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.93 : Marcia..made a law full of ryȝtenousenes and of descrecion [L discretione; Trev.: wit and resoun].
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.861 : Man sholde louen his wyf by discrecioun, paciently and atemprely.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.264 : The more he [Midas] hath of worldes good, The more he wolde it kepe streyte..Withoute good discrecioun This king with avarice is smite.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.622 : I loued neuere by no discrecioun, But euere folwed myn appetit.
- 1386-1398(a1349) Rolle Com.LG (Rwl A.389)64 : Ordeyne þi wakyng and þi praying and þi fasting, þat it be in discrecioun, not ouer-mychel ne ouer-litel.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)79/22 : In alle þin oþer doynges þou schalt haue discrecion, as in etyng & in drynkyng, & in slepyng [etc.].
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)80/2 : In alle þees schalt þou kepe discrecion.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)29/19 : Lauerd, for þi grace giue vs sua at be of discreciun baþe of fastyng and of mete, þat we mai be sauf.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)87/91 : Fastyng and wakyng lettis noght gastly godes, bot helpes, if þai be done with discrecion.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)101/150 : Temperance and discrecion in mete and drynk, that it be nowther til owtrage, ne beneth skilwys sustinance for þi body.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.1245 : There was a man..Venemous in anger..as a bere, Dispetous, vengeable, with-oute discrecyon.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)123.3 : Ire and enuy has na discrecion.
3.
The power to decide or judge, the authority to dispose of sth.; after (bi) the ~ of, according to the decision of (sb.), as (sb.) sees fit; after thi ~, according to your judgment, as you decide; bi his (ther) ~, according to his (their) decision; in his ~, in his discretion, as he chooses; putten in ~ of, to leave (sth.) under the control of (sb.); etc.
Associated quotations
- (1399) RParl.3.451b : Mercy and grace of the Kyng os it longes to hym and his real Estate in his owene discretion.
- (1423) RParl.4.258b : The seid persones so foundon gilty..make fyn aftur the discretions of the Justices, and have imprisonement of a Moneth.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1334 : I..putte it al in youre discrecioun To encresse or maken dymynucioun Of my langage.
- (1432) RParl.4.410a : Ye Kyng have yat oon half, and ye personne..that espieth, fyndeth and preveth hit, be ye discretion of ye Tresorer and Barons of ye Eschequer, that oyer half.
- (1439) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.514 : I prey him..that his reward..may be put in discrecion and iugement of iiij or ij indeferent and discreet persones.
- (1447) RParl.5.138b : That the Justice or Commissionere..have power by his discretion, to amerce the Sherrefs or Sherref beyng in defaut.
- (1449) Will York in Sur.Soc.30156 : I bequeth all the remenant of my beddyng to my pore and nedy servannts to be departed among theym by th' avise and discression of myn executors.
- c1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(2) (Hrl 4016)87 : If þou seest that hit hath to litull of the vinegre, or salt, or saffron, caste thereto more, after thi discrecion.
- (1464) Will Drayles in Antiq.8243 : I wylle haue anothyr goode preste in his stede aftyr the discresyon and pourvyauns of my executoures.
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.379 : Vppon the peyne of xx s. or more, after the discression of the Bailly and Aldermen of the seid cite.
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.386 : Sadd and discrete persones..shulle have power, by ther discressions, to assesse in resonable summes alle maner of persones.
4.
As an honorific title of one asked to exercise official discernment: your (high and) wise ~, your noble and high ~, your sage ~, etc.; -- also used coll.
Associated quotations
- (1413) Will in Bdf.HRS 218 : I truste hiȝliche in ȝowr lordschippes truwthes and discrecions.
- (1421) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.2.186 : The which I remete unto ȝowr hygh discretion.
- (1423) Pet.Sutton in Fenland NQ 7308 : To graunte and relesse unto youre seid povere tenaunts the sume of c marc or as myche as it pleases to youre discrecion to allowe hem of ther rent.
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8510 : Vnto his wirshipfull Mair, and ye Aldermen, and all ye wirshipfull Counsell of ye cite of York shewes, if it lyke vn to youre wirshipfull and wyse discrecion, your concitezin, John Lyllyng, yat [etc.].
- (1429) RParl.4.346b : Please it your right high and wise discretiouns, to preye the Kyng..to graunte his Letters Patentz.
- (c1439) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35184 : To..the Speker, Knyghtes and burges of this worshypfull parliment..we beseche your sage discrecions to consider the gloriose yiftes.
- (1441) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)254 : To the full honurable Lord the Maire of the Cite of London and to alle the worthy Soverayns Aldremen..Lowly compleyneth un to your wise discrecions your servaunt Henry Dene.
- (1447-8) Shillingford105 : Alle the maters..is gode and true..as your full notable discrecions woll rule them to.
- (1449) RParl.5.147b : Hit is not unknown to youre gret discretions, howe hit liked oure Sovereign Lord..to committe the governaunce of the Contrees..to..my Lord of Somerset.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)10 : My ryght souerayn lady, sauynge ȝoure hyȝe and noble discrecion, þis answer is ful heuy to my lady ȝour moder.
- (1451) in Black Leathersellers30 : Unto the full honourables Lord, the Mair and Aldremen of the Citee of London..please it unto your wise discrecions..to graunte and ordeyne that the people [etc.].
- (c1456) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35336 : We be seche devoutly youre noble and hygth dyscrescyone, to have in remembraunce [etc.].
5.
Separation, differentiation, distinction.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)15a/a : Diuers discrecioun [L discretionem] and participacioun of grace in þe aungeles þat beþ I clepid seraphin.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)70a/b : Þe more liche þe doutir is to þe modir in discrescioun [L discretione] of sexus, þe more lief sche is to here.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)71a/a : Þe condiciouns of man & womman beeþ diuers in discrecioun of witte..þe male is more crafty and war þan þe femel to voide & to scape gynnes.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.3.191 : Thanne ne schulle ther nevere be..vice ne vertu, but it scholde rather ben confusion of alle dissertes medlid withouten discrecioun.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)88/14 : Ordeyne now þanne þe substance of þe eyre by discrecioun.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)127/2 : This argument is sideling to the askyng; so shall I make the in this poynt a traversing discrecion [Fr. transuersaine digression]withowt fourme of answer.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)726 : Of the moost wisest, tate [read: take] discrecion That nought eschape by Innocyncye, Neither bi negligence, ne by foly.
Note: New phrase: taken ~, probably belongs in sense 2.(b).--per MJW
Note: For gloss, see taken v., sense 17b.(a), where this quot. is used and phrase is glossed: ~ discrecioun, to follow the discretion or judgement (of sb).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: The example from Chartier in sense 5. is placed there since it makes sense as it stands ("a digressive distinction"), but if it follows the French was instead rather a pleonism ("a digressive digression") and so belongs under digressioun n., rather than here, where indeed this spelling is attested.