Middle English Dictionary Entry
divīnāciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | divīnāciǒun n. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The art or practice of foretelling future events from present signs; craft of ~; ~ of briddes; (b) interpretation (of dreams); (c) a result of divination, a prophecy.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)193a/b : In thustia crafte of diuynacoun was firste yfounde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5984 : A man of gret science..Calchas..had experience Specyally of calculacioun, Of sort also and divinacioun, And lernyd was in astronomye.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Num.23.23 : There is no dyuynynge bi briddis [L augurium] in Jacob, ne dyuynacioun [L divinatio] in Yrael.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.3167 : He [Cicero] wrot of dyuynacioun.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)26 : He used ful cursid nygromancy and dyuynacioun, moost speciali in deed mennys bodies.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)59 : The saide Fabius..did gret diligence to lerne and know by augures and divinacions of briddis, and by other causes naturell..in what tymes prosperite..or scarsite..shulde falle to the contre of Romayns.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)110b/b : Saturnus..is Iclepid þe hous of..knowinge of sterres & of diuinacioun of sweuenes.
c
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)128.58 (v.2:p.331) : He knewe weel by the diuynacyon of augurye told hym whan he was in prisoun that he myth not lyuyn past fyue dayis.
2.
(a) The ability to foretell events, gift of divination or prophecy; spirit of ~; (b) foresight, wisdom.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 16.16 : Sum wenche hauynge a spirit of dyuynacioun [L spiritum pythonem].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.57 : Eiþer s[e]ide þat [he] hadde þe better dyuynacioun of foules [L augurium].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)146b/a : Dyuynours meneþ þe rauen haþ a maner vertue of..bodynge, of dyuynacioun, and þerfore among naciouns þe rauoun among foules was I-halowed to appolyn.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)270b/b : In spiþeres beþ tokenes of diuinacioun and of knowynge what weder schal falle.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)111/6 : Niȝt schal be to ȝou for ȝoure visioun & dercknes for ȝoure diuinacioun.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.297 : Then schulde þere be no manere difference..Betwene þe hyhe devyne prescience And Tyresyes diuinacioun [L uaticinio].
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)20722 : In the water and in the se Was al hys crafft..Yt ys callyd Ydromancye..Augurye, or dyvynacioun.
b
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)79/195 : They xal tende upon ȝow besyly with declaracion, determynacion, dyvynacion.