Middle English Dictionary Entry
dǒuce adj. & n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dǒuce adj. & n. Also dous(e, dos-, duse-, douz. |
| Etymology | OF douz, douce. Many ME phrases are taken directly from OF. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Dear, beloved; ~ amour, sweetheart; (b) ~ Fraunce, beloved France; (c) ~ vie, luxurious life; (d) as noun: paramour; foul ~, filthy harlot; (e) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350 Mon in þe mone (Hrl 2253)30 : We shule preye þe haywart hom to vr hous..ant oure dame douse shal sitten hym by.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)8/161 : Þe leuedi a fond in hire bour, And he hire clepede 'deceamour'.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)83/20 : Oure dowtyr, ryth good and dowse, In to þe tempyl sche must be ledde.
b
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1269 : We buþ knyȝtes alle y-vere, y-born in douce fraunce, And buþ Charlis men, þe Emperere.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1251 : He drawes in-to douce Fraunce.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2168 : Thou letist here passe Ten trattoures of douse France. God giffe the evel grace!
- ?c1450 Brut-1447 (Trin-C O.9.1)488/9 : They brought Quene Margaret out of high douce Fraunce into the partyes of Normandy.
c
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.122 : Diues in deyntees lyued and in douce vye..þo men þat were riche..also lyued her lyf in murthe.
d
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)830 : Philip..Had wed him anoþer wyfe & wayfid his quene..'Fadire,' quod þis fell knyȝt [Alexander]..here to duell with þi douce deynes me na langer.'
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)124/246 : Yit is she [wife] a fowll dowse.
e
- (1275) Hundred R.Tower 1424 : Rogerus Ducedame.
- (1300) Pat.R.Edw.I543 : Arnold Dosynou.
- (1319) Pat.R.Edw.II362 : Reginald Dusemay.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 325 : Richardus Doucesone.
- (1327) Sub.R.Lei.in AASRP 20.1144 : Nicholaus Douceknaue.
2.
Cook. (a) Sweet to the taste; poudre ~; (b) ~ egre, [see egre-douce]; (c) ~ ame, a dish; (d) crevise ~ [see crevise].
Associated quotations
a
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)p.14 : Dresse it forth and cast þer to powdour douce.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.32 : Do þerto wyne..And powder dowce and salt.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)2119 : Of sapours ther be fully nyne..as bitter..soure and dowce.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)129 : Dowce egyr, or sowre an[d] swete menglyd to-gedyr: Mulsus.
c
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)p.35 : Douce ame. Take gode Cowe mylke..persel, sawge, ysope, saueray, and ooþer gode herbes..take capons half yrosted and smyte hem on pecys and do þerto..hony clarified.
d
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)618 : Crevis dewe douz.
3.
Associated quotations
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)230/19 : Glandule & scrophule ben parti of douce fleume or of blood.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.70va (2.10) : Vryn ruf or subruf, menely þik & inequal, & cloudisshe abouen..seith a febre cotidien causede of a fleume þat is callede 'fleuma dulce,' a douce fleume (anglice: a freish fleume).
Note: Additional quot., sense 3. Editor's gloss: ~ fleume 'sweet phlegm, phlegm mixed with blood'.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 3.), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. douce fleume.