Middle English Dictionary Entry
divinitẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | divinitẹ̄ n. Also devinite, devenite, diviniti(e. |
| Etymology | OF devinité, divinité. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The quality of being divine; divine nature; divineness; (b) the Divine Being, God.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.340 : Right as a man hath sapiences thre, Memorie, engyn, and intellect also, So in o beynge of diuinytee Thre persones may ther right wel be.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.19 : Is this the librarye..there as thow disputedest ofte with me of the sciences of thynges touchynge dyvinyte and..mankynde?
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)3 : Þe fadir is schaply eendeles myȝty, þe sone eendeles witti, & þe hooly goost eendeles comfortly & soþly byndyng of al dyuynyte.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.181 : As right as wisdome makeþ men be wyse..be wynnyng of dyuynite Men may be maked goddes.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.1516 : I can perceyuen in hem [the heathen gods] noo dyuynyte.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.43 : In crist warre flesshe and sawle and verray divinitee.
b
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.316 : Whil we seken thilke diuinitee That is yhid in heuene pryuely, Algate ybrend in this world shul we be!
- c1475 Tydynges trew þer (Brm)122 : A clene maydyne..Conseyvyd þe secund persone in devynyte.
2.
(a) Theology; knowledge or learning in divine matters or in Scripture; lore of ~; (b) bacheler (clerk, doctor, maister, professour) of ~; commencer (divinour) in ~; scole of ~; (c) a theologian.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(Hrl 2277)241 : To diuinite, as God wolde, þis gode man him drouȝ.
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(Hrl 2277)257 : A dai as þis holi man in diuinite Desputede [etc.].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.363 : Aristotle..wiþdrewe not of dyvynite [L theologiæ].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1512 : I do no fors of youre dyuynytee.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)329b/b : Þough þe consideracioun..be ful profitable to þe lore of diuinite.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1609 : For his depe divinite and his dere sawes..Þat now is demed Danyel of derne coninges.
- (1421) RParl.4.158a : Soule, Body, and wordly Goudes..shulde ben principaly reweled by thre Sciences, that ben Divinite, Fisyk, and Lawe: the Soule by Divinite, the Body by Fisyk, wordly Goudes by Lawe.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)7205 : In a boke þat he made, thurgh study, Of sere questyons of divinite.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7691 : I am licenced boldely In divynite for to rede, And to confessen.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)57/5 : Methafisik and dyuynyte ben worþier kunnyngis þan is prudence or marchaundisyng.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)107 : Rabanus, a munk of Wiltens, a grete poete, and in Divinity ful wel lerned.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.24.46a : If a man hadde knoenge of clergie and of al diuinite, and is nouȝt soþfastli meke, he schal erren and stumblen.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)8/10 : Clerkis not scolid in dyuynite.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)428 : Ȝif dyuynite were lernd on þat maner þat apostlis diden, it shulde profite myche more þan it doiþ nou bi staat of scole.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)145/19 : Ther byth thre Vertues pryncipalle of theologi or dyuynyte..Feyth, Hoppe, and Charite.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.122 : To this science [Theologie] ben prive The clerkes of divinite.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1638 : Thow shalt knowen of oure pryuetee Moore than a maister of dyuynytee.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)7.135 : Were þow a prest, pieres..þow miȝte preche..As deuynour in deuynyte.
- (1422) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.2380 : Chaunceler of oure churche of Hereford, maistre Richard Roderham, doctor of dyvynytee.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)22/11 : A worschepful doctowr of dyuynite..heryng of þis wondyrful werk, inqwired of þis creature alle þe forme of þis processe.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)33/5 : An ankyr, commensowr in dyuinyte, & an holy man.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)472/4 : Ane archbysshop..at was a maister of dyvynitie.
- (1455) Lin.DDoc.77/19 : I wol that the said ij prestis be seculers, bachelers of diuinite, or at the leste maisters of Arte.
- (1458) Will York in Sur.Soc.30228 : Maister William Gulle of Notingham, doctour of divinitie.
- (c1461) Let.Oxf.in OHS 36369 : The grete..costes a bowte the edifieng of owre newe scoles of divinite.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)241 : The cardinal of Venice, cardinal of Jene, whech were worchipful men, and Professors of Divinity.
- a1500(1396) Indent.Francisc.in RS 4.1 (Vit F.12)526 : Thomas Cudner, Doctor of Devinite and Wardyn of the gray freers in London.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)186/6 : Maystyrs of deuenyte.
c
- a1450 Dc.291 Lapid.(Dc 291)p.19 : The bible seith vs and þe diuinitees þat topace..signifieth þe second life of þe high heuenly Kyngdome.
3.
Divination, soothsaying.
Associated quotations
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)4205 : A dyuynere wyth hym had hee..He told hym mekyll..Off devynyte.