Middle English Dictionary Entry
distincten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | distincten v. Also de-. P.ppl. distinct(e, distincted. |
| Etymology | From L distinctus, ppl. of distinguere, & OF destin(c)ter, distin(c)ter. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To divide (a thing, a class of things); ppl. distincte, divided (into parts or classes); (b) ppl. distincte(d, separated (from sth.); articulated; marked as separate.
Associated quotations
a
- (1434) Misyn ML (Corp-O 236)105/7 : Þis boke is of mendynge of lyfe..destinct in-to xij chapiters.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)5 : [God] distincted al thing bi partyes in seuene daies.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)156 : Aungelles..be distincte in to iii ierarchies and euery ierarchie distincte in to iii ordres.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)23/45 : Þis kyngdame of Mercees..was distincte and diuidid in to iii partis.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)164a/a : Þe iuncturez wher þe lacerte is shewing or openly distincte fro þe toþer lacerte.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)12/25 : This parte [Wales] was distyncte fro Loegrie [Englonde] whilom by Severne.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)475/10 : The endes ben distyncte or departed bitwene them.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)227/25 : Tho men whych haue the neke wel dystyncted by his yontes..bene of good witte.
2.
(a) To distinguish (one thing from another, or between things); discern (sth.); (b) to be distinct or different; (c) ppl. distinguished; different, differentiated; (d) ppl. as adj. individual, distinct, different; apart, separate.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.57 : Also bihouez naþeles distincten weþer þe tenement..is iholde in socage ore in burgage.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)152/15 : Þanne þes gost be þise yefþe makeþ þane scele, wel to deme..and to destincti be-tuene þe guode þinges and þe kueade.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)11588 : How can he weyl dystyncte þy synne?
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6199 : Ther can no wight distincte it so, That he dar sey a word therto.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)97 : Ye haue my bodi wel distincted from me, and al cleerliche shewed me how alwey he is contrarious to me.
b
- a1500 Discip.Cler.(Wor F.172)57 : Thiese kyndly thynges as wel in vnmesurable floteryng variaunce of merites..distinctith to arbitrement.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.828 : In oother manere ben distinct the speces of glotonye after Seint Gregorie.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)132b/a : Catharacta is distinct fro gutta serena i. clere drop.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)14a/b : 7 tunycles beþ formaly distincte in þe eyȝe.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)44/7 : Þese chanones þat ar called..of ordr of Seint Augustin, þouȝ it be so þat þei be distincte in oþer habite þan þei þat wer with Seint Augustin.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)209/26 : Þe iiij tablis ben not vttinli and seuerali essenciali departid and distinctid.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)267a/b : Ophites..haþ many dyuerse coloures and distincte [L distinctos].
- ?c1400 Wycl.CGosp.Mark (Add 41175:Hudson)44/32 : Here is schewid distinct eþer departid worchyng of godhed and manhed in Crist.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)28b/a : He makeþ distinct capitlez. First forsoþ he determineþ of formicis & herpestibus, after of herisipilla.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)2841 : Yete ye al thre, In personys distinct substancially, Arn but oo god in trinite.
- (1447-8) Shillingford58 : They cleymeth to have a fee called Seynt Stephenys Fee, ceperat and distyncte fro the Cite.
- c1450 Myght wisdom (Add 31042)14 : The distincty partyes of thi highe bewty.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.1668 : Oo god is in heuene, Distynct in persones.
3.
(a) To examine (sth.); (b) to explain (sth.), elucidate; (c) to express or declare (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)13b/a : Aungels..distinctith, metiþ, and weyeþ al men workes, goode & euele.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)1454 : Seiȝe me..Ȝwi was Aleph i nemneð furst In Ebrv, and destincte hit Ase wel ase þou canst.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)4.133 : Clerkes þat were confessours Coupled hem to-gedere Forte Construe þis Clause and distinkte hit after.
c
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)65.12 : Y ne shal ȝelde to þe myn avowes þat myn lippes distincted [L distinxerunt] to þe.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2195 : Þis bataile distincted is Jn þe Freinsshe..þerefore hij habbeþ to coloure Borowed of Latyn a nature.
Note: App. means 'to describe (sth.) by reference to its parts'; E.G. Stanley (Dictionaries 23 (2002), 29): "to describe distinctively." In either case, can be accommodated under 3.(b), appropriately modified.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.56rb (2.7) : Mannes body is distincte in 4 parties.
Note: Antedates sense 1.(a).