Middle English Dictionary Entry
discrẹ̄t(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | discrẹ̄t(e adj. Also discrēte, descret, discreit, discrit(e, disgret. |
| Etymology | OF discré (discrez, discret, etc.) & L discrētus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of persons: wise, morally discerning, prudent, circumspect; ~ and wise; (b) of actions, manner, etc.: displaying such wisdom, discernment, etc.; (c) ?civil, polite, courteous.
Associated quotations
a
- (1386) RParl.3.225b : The moost profitable poyntes of trewe governaunce of the Citee compiled togidre, bi longe labour of discrete and wyse men..outerliche were brent.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.459 : Aidanus was i-sente as þe more discrete man and wys [L discretior].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.48 : With alle attemperance and pacience, With mesure eek of beryng and array, Discreet she was in answeryng alway.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2443 : The pleine trouthe it hath desdeigned Of hem that weren so discrete [rime: beyete].
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[Introd.48] 75a : Now wol I pray mekely euery discrete persone that redeth or hereth this litel tretis to haue my rude enditynge excused.
- (1416) Ordin.Gregge in Hadley Hist.Kingston746 : Ye avyse of ye most dyscrite person yet beying brother or syster.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4 : Ther was a kyng callyd Pelleus, Wys & discrete & also vertuous.
- (1423) Let.Bk.in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)111/111 : He shal nat make non ordeynaunce..without þe consent of þe two Maistres of Cirurgy..and þe discretour partie of Cirurgeans.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.31.19 : Vse thou as a discreet and temperat [L frugi] man these thingis that ben set forth to thee.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)42/30 : Sho sal be wice & discrete in hir commandmentis.
- (1430-1) RParl.4.385b : To the ful wyse and discret Syrys, the Comyns of this present Parlement.
- (1439) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.515 : His reward..may be put in discrecion and iugement of iiij or ij indeferent and discreet persones..therupon chosen to arbitre and deme.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5523 : There come..A discrete man of dedis, dryuen into age.
- c1450 My ladyes (Frf 16)155 : Ful warre, and wis, and ryght dyscreyt ben ye.
- (1461) Grant Arms in Hrl.Soc.77 (Add 14295)192 : A discrete and notable man called William Swayne.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)26/26 : Marie muste also be discrete in prayer, & ordinate in the praysynge of God.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)101 : Discrett: discretus, disertus; vbi wyse.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)243/21 : Þis ȝonge holy dameselle was experte, wyse, and discrete both in Godis wysdom and in the prudence of man.
b
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.84 : Preyers..and penaunce discret Ys þe leueste labour þat oure lord pleseþ.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.943 : Werketh now in so discret a wise That I honour may have, and he plesaunce.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)210/7 : Þat my boke myghte ben examyned and corrected by avys of his wyse & discreet conseill.
- ?c1430 Wycl.CTemp.(Corp-C 296)213 : To lyve in gret mekenesse..and discrete penaunce.
- (1444) RParl.5.122a : Thei then to take the best avise and discretest.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)8 : The Lordes..trustyng holly yn his prudent and discret manehode.
- c1475 Tydynges trew þer (Brm)p.123 : With mynd dyscryt and meke speryte to þe Angell sche seyd.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)229/12 : By þys bryge ȝe schull vndyrstond disgret [vr. discret] obedyens.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.177 : They put nought reddour ne punissyon, By lawe, payne, and discrete prouidence.
c
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.518 : He was noght to synful men despitous, Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne, But in his techyng discreet and benigne.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4061 : Curteys she was, discreet and debonaire, And compaignable, and bar hir self so faire.
2.
Separate, distinct.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)12b/a : Þe essencia of hem [angels] is simple & unmaterial, pure, distingt, & discrete [L discreta].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)111a/b : Þe planetis þat beþ I clepid sidera errencia..haueþ most certeyn mevynge and discrete.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)327b/b : Nvmbres beþ diuidid in þe þridde manere in þis wise, somme discrete and somme conteyned; a discrete numbre is conteyned in discrete vnitees, as þre, foure, fyue, sixe, and so forþ.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)101/2 : Of nombre, sayn these clerkes, that it is naturel somme of discrete thinges, as in tellinge oon, two, three, and so forth.