Middle English Dictionary Entry
dī̆vīn(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dī̆vīn(e n. Also devin(e, devien. |
| Etymology | L dīvīnus & OF devin. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. adj.
1.
(a) A religious philosopher or theologian; also, a poet dealing with religious subjects; (b) theology, divinity; bacheler (clerc, maister) of ~.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.219 : Among..philosofres þey þat were i-cleped deuynes [Higd.(2): diuines; L theologi] bere þe prys, for þei treted of God.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.407 : Som poetes beeþ i-cleped dyvynes [Higd.(2): diuynes; L theologi], ffor þey made here deytee of goddes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.957 : If I koude I wolde telle yow the ten comandementz, but so heigh a doctrine I lete to dyuynes.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.651 : Bot the divin seith..That if men weren goode and wise And plesant unto the godhede, Thei scholden noght the sterres drede.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.376 : Þes wordis of Crist ben scorned of gramariens and devynes.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)29 : Clerkis of moral philsophie whiche..ben clepid Dyuynes.
- a1450(c1400-25) Legat Serm.PD (Wor F.10)16/211 : The hiȝe divin Dionisius..seith þat..þe jerarchie of cherubin, seraphin & trones is þe heyȝist & te neste God.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)3/23 : Þis boke I offyr..ne to grete devyens lappyd in questions infenyte, bot vnto boystus & vntaght.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)7869 : He was a clerk honorabill..a philisophir and dyuyne.
b
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)90/1658 : Seint Austine, Þat grete clerk is of dyuyne.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)prol.90 : I sauh þer Bisschops Bolde and Bachilers of diuyn Bicoome Clerkes of A-Counte.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)11410 : Þe clerke seynt Austyne, þat was a mayster of dyuyne.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6488 : Sir, I wole fillen..My paunche of good mete and wyn, As shulde a maister of dyvyn.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)6874 : Þe Erchebischop highte Guncelyns, A ful holy clerk was in deuynes.
2.
(a) One who predicts future events by astrology or augury, or by the interpretation of dreams, signs, or oracles; astrologer, augur, prophet, soothsayer, sorcerer; (b) astrology, augury, prophecy; also, a prophecy.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3553 : In þe sterres he was þe best deuine.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)19/26 : Oþer belefþ more þanne he ssolde, ase doþ þe deuines and þe wichen.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.159 : Here prophetes and here deuynes [L augures] tolde, þat place schulde be heed of þe world.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1302 : Daniel also, þat watz devine noble.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.66 : A gret devyn..Calkas..Knew wel that Troie sholde destroied be, By answere of his god..Appollo Delphicus.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.421 : For Saul hadde cast out alle dyuynes From Israel and ech dyuyneresse.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)17841 : Merlyn, That holden was so worthy a devyn.
- c1460 Ipom.(3) (Lngl 257)345/26 : A duke of Athenes..Adrattus..lived all in sorserys & in enchauntementz, so that he had with him a devine that couth miche of nigromancie.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.385 : Oon of his prisoneres þat was konnynge in devyne [L auguriis] warned hym þat he schulde sone be delyvered out of prisoun.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.282 : Merlyn, in his deuyn, of him has said Þat þre regions in his bandons salle be laid.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)15682 : A clerk couþe of deuin..Of chaunces couþe he telle byforn..& couþe y-now of astronomy.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)262 : The storyes shewyn by dyuyne..the most clere and parfyte begynnyng Of thys worshipfull virgyn forth commyng Out of the stok of Dauid.
3.
(a) Divine nature, divineness; (b) a divinity, God.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.142 : Bachus, which is the god of wyn, Acordant unto his divin A Prest..He hadde.
- a1500 *Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149:Hulme)270b : He [Jesus] ys than so myghty yn dyvyne that no thynge may compare ayenst hym.
b
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)50.713 : Do ȝe be hem hard Iuggement..For the Iuggement Of the high devyne wyle that hard Iuggement to hem propyne.