Middle English Dictionary Entry
dī̆visiǒun n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | dī̆visiǒun n.(1) Also divisoun, devisioun, devison, deveseoun, diwision. |
| Etymology | L dīvīsio & OF divisïon, devisïon. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The act or processes of splitting or breaking up; branching (of arteries, streams); (b) separability, divisibility; (c) math. the process of dividing numbers, division; (d) hunt. the ceremonious cutting up of a deer; (e) alch. decomposition.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Prov.21.1 : As deueseouns [WB(2): departyngis] of watris [L divisiones aquarum], so the herte of the king in the hond of the Lord; whider euere he wile, he shal bowe it.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1011 : No wikked entente of dyuysioun of shrifte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4539 : This regne thanne he [God] schal divide..And upon that division [etc.].
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)26/12 : Þese arteries ben deuydid many weies, whos Dyuysiouns man mai nouȝt conseyue bi his witt.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.11.169 : Watir and eyr..departen lyghtly..but fyer fleeth and refuseth alle dyvisioun.
- a1500 GLitany (Dc 42)131 : By the dyuysion or partyng of thy vesture and the lotte wiche they caste on thy coote.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)125a/a : Athomus is þe xlvijti part of an vncia, and hatte athomus as it were withoute devisioun and partynge.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.9.19 : For thilke thyng that symply is o thyng, withouten ony devysioun, the errour and folie of mankynde departeth and divideth it.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)6.416 : Thay coniunede be With-oute partyng or dyvysion.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)328a/b : If thow delest an hundred in fyfty..þis diuisioun is þe leste diuisioun..þere may be none lasse diuisioun þan in tweie parties.
- ?c1425 Craft Number.(Eg 2622)7/24 : Þer ben 7 spices or partes of þis craft..The 5. is called multiplicacion. The 6. is called diuision. The 7. is called extraccion of þe Rote.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)43/24 : In makynge of dyvysioun ther ben 3 nombres necessary..the nombre to be dyvydede; the nombre dyvydyng, and the nombre exeant..or quocient.
d
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)18 : A faire þing to be at þe abbaies..and a faire þing is þe kyrre, and a faire þing is to vndo hym wel..and wel faire þing and good is þe deuison, and it be a good deere.
e
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)3001 : For diuisions ye muste vse suche hete as Cokes maketh, when they rost gros meate.
2.
(a) The process of marking off sections or parts; the subdividing of a field of knowledge, etc.; (b) a subdivision, section, part; (c) a class, type, variety; (d) a class of persons, a clan; (e) rhet. one of the divisions of the main body of a sermon or discourse.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[2.31] 92b : The maner of the diuision of thyn astrelabie is this..First it is diuided in 4 plages principales [etc.].
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)61/20 : In þilk wey..wijsdom may be nombrid as oon of þe knowal vertues..but..y procede in an oþir foorm and wey of dyuysioun.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)18/9 : Oon and þe same diuisioun or particioun is of habitual charite into hise spicis, and of moral vertu into hise spicis.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.269 : This Air in Periferies thre Divided is..And upon the divisions There ben diverse impressions Of moist and ek of drye.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)1515 : My lord of heuene..made heuene, erþe, and helle..Thise beþ þe diuisiouns Of þre manere habitaciouns.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.19.8 : These..strikes..dividen the orisounte of thin Astrelabie in 24 divisiouns.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.21.51 : This zodiak is dividid in 12 principale divisiouns that departen the 12 signes.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)327a/a : Many dyuysiouns beþ of nombres..for som nombre is euene and som odde.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)70b/a : Thise ben þe comune dyuiciouns of woundes of the hede.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)83/31 : Y haue trewly leryd þe..diuysyouns and þe knowynges of syknesse.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 370)2 Par.31.2 : Ezechias forsothe sette prestis, companyes, and Leuytis bi their deuysiouns [WB(2): departyngis; L divisiones], echone in propre office.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2024 : Ther were also, of Martes deuysioun, The barbour..and the smyth, That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his styth.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)273 : Hardy knyghtes of renoun, Syn that ye be of my devisioun..ye oghte have som compassioun Of my disese.
e
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)438 : God axiþ not dyuysiouns ne rymes of hym þat shulde preche, but to telle euene goddis gospel.
3.
(a) A dividing line, boundary, barrier; (b) a break or interruption.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[1.19] 82a : These same strykes or diuisiouns ben clepid azimutz.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.105 : Then that floode of Iordan floenge in to the Dedde see makethe admision [read: a diuision] betwene the Iewery and Araby.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1695 : Þe mone hath made deuisioun By hir sodeyn interposicioun, Þat of oure siȝt þe stremys visual May nat be-holde.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.1530 : A hounde is more kynde..Than many a man..ffor yeve an hounde mete, he woll with the endure While his lyffe lasteth without ony deuysioun.
4.
(a) The process of distinguishing, analyzing, defining; definition, description; (b) a distinction or difference; maken ~, to make a distinction; (c) a characteristic or distinctive feature, a symptom; (d) a discrepancy, contradiction, or opposition.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)1b/b : We wote, by dyuysioun of operacions of Cirurgie, þat it is for to louse continuale wt a rasour.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)9b/b : Anothomye forsoþe is a riȝt or euen dyuisioun & determynacioun of þe membres of eueryche body.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)70b/a : The dyuysioun i. þe departynge..ȝeuen aboue namely in byndinge & in sewynge..and in fyndinge þe couenable instrumentes.
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)110 : Wher of asketh quid? Of diuision of a thyng, as what thyng is a man? quid est homo? A dedlych best and resonable, animal racionale.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)37a : Dyuisyon: distinccon.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1780 : That lord hath litel of discrecioun, That in swich caas kan no diuisioun, But weyeth pryde and humblesse after oon.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2445 : Ye han maked no diuisioun bitwixe..youre trewe freendes and youre feyned conseillours.
- ?c1425(c1390) Chaucer Fort.(Benson-Robinson)33 : I have thee taught divisioun bitwene Frend of effect and frend of countenaunce.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1355 : Resoun..Tauhte hym [man]..Twen vice and vertu a gret dyuysioun.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2693 : Of cherl & gentil make this dyuisioun..The stok thei cam fro, therto thei wil resorte.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.2383 : The Riche..Dieth as soone..As doith the pouere..ffor deth maketh no maner diuisioun ffor no synguler fauoure.
c
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)23a/b : Galien putteþ þe firste dyuysioun i. departing..þat euery aposteme oþer it is hote oþer nouȝt.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)45b/b : Þe synthomates i. deuysiouns [L sinthomate; F accidents] of þe Nuke..ben like to þe sinthomate of þe brayn.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)85b/b : Synthomates i. dyuisiouns þe whiche ben aboute þe vlcer.
d
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3468 : Þus þer was a gret diuisioun A-twexe his chere and menyng of his þouȝt.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.147 : Where faileþ my[gh]t þat causeþ blisfulnesse, þere is no mene in þis diuisioun; Vnmyght is þere þat causeþ wrecchidnesse.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.2006 : Ye putte to vs here a grete god..And in ȝowre bookis fynde we ful euene Of a-nother god..If þat ȝoure god be regnande thus allon, Why speke ȝoure bookis of swiche dyuysyon?
5.
The distribution of shares, allotment, allocation; sharing.
Associated quotations
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)46/282 : Heuene ȝe schul haue, And ȝe leue me lond onliche to craue? Me þinkeþ..Þis is non euene diuisioun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.53 : Þe tresour..Ne hath nat bene departed half a-riȝt Among vs, by iust diuisioun.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)341 : God wolde suffre no lenger þe fend to regne oonli in oo siche preest, but..made devisioun amongis two.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2042 : As he made his dyuisiouns, He gaf of Frige..To Leonatus.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)142.109 (v.2:p.408) : A brothir, shuld ye han heuene and leue to me oonly erthe? Sykyr, brothir, yn this diuysoun or [i.e. 'our'] departisoun ys not euenly mad.
6.
(a) Disagreement in sentiment, intention, or action; dissension, discord, strife; schism; (b) estrangement; (c) dissent, deviation; (d) physiol. contrariness of qualities, lack of harmony.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.26.6 : Of thre thingus dradde myn herte..The dyuyseoun [vr. enuyouste; WB(2): Bitraiyng; L delaturam] of the cite, and the gederyng togidere of the puple, [etc.].
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2476 : Bitwixe yow ther moot be som tyme pees, Al be ye noght of o complexioun, That causeth al day swich diuisioun.
- (1386) RParl.FM (C&D)37 : Whether it hath be a cause or bygynnyng of dyuysion in the Citee.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1743 : Upon this division, The lond was torned up so doun.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)1 Cor.1.10 : Breþeren, y prey ȝow..þat ȝe suggen on þing & þat þer ben none dyuysyones [L scismata] among ȝow.
- a1456(c1422) Lydg.Glo.Marriage (Trin-C R.3.20)19 : To exclude alle devysyouns, Of contekk..and of werres.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.Diet.(Sln 3534)29 : Withynne thy hous suffur no devysioun..With thy neighburs lyve euer in rest and pees.
- (1450) Wars France in RS 22.2595 : By dyvyson and controversie of hys petycapteyns.
- c1480(1422) Lydg.SD (Add 48031)50/2 : Every kingdome be division is conveied to his distruccion.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)24528 : Founded..on concord and fraternyte..Voyde of al devysioun.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Pseudo-F.(Dub 245)311 : Mony of þise newe ordris shulden be þus fled as antecristis, for diuision þat þei maken.
- a1500(c1380) Wycl.Papa (Ryl Eng 86)463 : Þis dyuysioun of þes popis may turne to good of many reumes, þat men trowe to noþer of hem.
b
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)46/3 : Sche wist wel..þat hir synnes had maad a deuision bitwix hir & hir God.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)101/119 : Yf mannys sowle xulde abyde in helle be-twen God and man evyr xulde be dyvysyon.
c
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)p.91 : Heresie, that is Grw, is divisioun in Latyn, the whiche in oure langage meneth sunderyng and partyng.
- a1450 3 KCol.(1) (Roy 18.A.10)123/30 : Þis eresye and diuisioun was so gretlich encresed in her kyngdoms.
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.976 : A man..mad upon divisioun Of cold, of hot, of moist, of drye..mot be verray kynde dye: For the contraire of his astat Stant evermore in such debat [etc.].
7.
(a) Separation through death, parting from life; maken ~, to cause death; (b) separation from a spouse.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3826 : Of o þing moste is my greuaunce..How þou madist a diuisioun Of me, allas! and of Patroclus.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3075 : He shal make þe devisioun..of verray ignoraunce, And execute þe fatal purueiaunce..with his spere of stele.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5022 : Ye han..maad dyuysioun Off my too brethre..That heer a-lyue I shal seen hem neuere.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)854 : In þis present lyfe mercy ys plente, tyll deth Makyth hys dywysion.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Judith 4.10 : Thei crieden to the Lord God..lest weren ȝyuen ther childer in to prei, and ther wyues in to deuyseoun [WB(2): departyng; L in divisionem; Gloss.(Cld): bi violence of rauyscheris].
8.
?A dimension.
Associated quotations
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)358 : Forto mete the iiij Elementes after alle her divisions [vr. deuysons; L dimensiones].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(1438) GLeg.Augustine (GiL117) (Eg 876) 616/11 : Alle the boke that thei calle now of the liberall artis, I..red by myself and understode..and alle tho of the crafte of spekinge and deuisinge, alle tho of diuisiones [L de dimensionibus] and of figures of musik and noumbres.
Note: Editor: "diuisiones and...noumbres: diuisions des figures et de musique et des nombres P2, de dimensionibus figurarum et de musicis et de numeris LgA. MED divisioun sense 8 'dimension' gives one (uncertain) exsample."
Note: Glossary: "diuisiones [n.] pl. 'dimensions (?)'."
Note: Additional quote, sense 8.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.7ra (1.2) : riȝt as..þorou þe cribre (þe syue) is separate and diuisede..þe smal mater fro þe grete, þe clene fro þe foule..ryȝt on þe same wise in þe 2 digestioun, i. in þe lyuer, is sequestracioun and diuisioun of þe fode and of þe 4 humores.
Note: Additional quot. Editor's gloss: 'separation into different parts'.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. division.