Middle English Dictionary Entry
al-mightī adj. (& n.)
Entry Info
| Forms | al-mightī adj. (& n.) Also almyty. |
| Etymology | OE eal-mihtig; cp. L omni-potens. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Almighty, omnipotent; -- (a) of God; god almihti and god-almighti (cpd.); (b) of a member of the Trinity; (c) of a divine attribute; (d) of a non-Christian god or object of worship; (e) of Samson: all-powerful.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1114 : God ælmihtig wunie æfre mid him.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.MQuad.(Hrl 6258B)2/12 : On nama þæs ælmihtiȝon [OE ælmihtiȝan] godes.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)82/27 : Æfre he [God] bið Almihtiȝ.
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)219 : Anȝen godelmichti.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)29648 : Ȝeorne he bad are to þan almihtie gode.
- a1225 PMor.(Eg 613(2))333 : Mid ealmihtiȝes godes luue.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.99 : So hope ich to haue of hym þat his al-myghty A gobet of hus grace.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)363/221 : Almythty god.
- a1500 I comawnde alle þe ratons (Rwl C.228)13 : Sent kasi..prayed to god almyty.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)80/2 : He wæs effre Almihtiȝ Sune of þam Almihtiȝ Fæder.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)10936 : Haliȝ Gast, Allmahhtiȝ Gast.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)1 : Lhord ihesu, almiȝti kyng, þet madest and lokest alle þyng.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)31/4 : I bileue in to God, fadir almiȝti, maker of heuene & of erþe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)309/100 : It was godys son almyghty That hang thore.
c
- c1225 St.Marg.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)11/26 : Ne his swote sauur, ne his al-mihti mihte..ne mei neauer lutlin.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.585 : The hyhe almyhti pourveance.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1737 : The hihe almyhti majeste..sende his Sone fro the hevene.
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5741 : O thou, almyhty Jupiter.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1079 : Almyghty Jove in trone.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)647 : Almyghty queen [i.e. Nature].
- a1500 Play Sacr.(Dub 652)59/69 : Almyghty Machomet.
e
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3213 : Sampson, this noble almyghty champioun..slow and al to rente the leoun.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3242 : O noble, almyghty Sampsoun.
2.
As noun: (a) the Almighty; (b) omnipotence.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)16/15 : Þe biscop..bæd þa þone Almihtiȝæn..þæt he ahofe þene munt.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)986 : As þah Þe almihti ne mahte nawt þeos twa misliche cundes gederin togederes.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)21890 : For loue of al-mihti.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1063 : Þe Almyȝty watz her mynyster mete.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)358/96 : Ye ben messager of all myhty.
b
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)138/244 : Hys al myȝtty hys of suche entaylle, And hys al mytty, hou mytte hyt faylle Of þet god hys?