Middle English Dictionary Entry
dǒut(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dǒut(e n. Also dut(e, douthe, dought(e, douȝte, dewt, doubt(e. |
| Etymology | OF dote, doute. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A feeling of uncertainty, doubt, or perplexity; ben in ~, haven no ~; putten out of ~, to reassure (sb.); (b) a doubtful point, a question; determinen ~, to resolve a doubt; maken ~ of, to raise a question about (sth.); (c) uncertainty (as to the reality of an event or effect); therof is no ~, it is no ~, it is certain; (d) withoute ~, out of ~, no ~, doubtlessly, certainly, surely.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)2430 : Ne beo þu na þing o dute of al þet tu ibeden hauest!
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)376/9 : For þis Mis-bileue men him cleopeden 'Thomas longue in doute'.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.18 : Thanne was the Bischop in gret doute what were therof to done.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1331 : Denemark shal be þin..Haue þou nouth þer-offe douthe!
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)984 : A child were ibore, & me in doute were Wo were þe fader.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2407 : If..thow be in doute wheither thow mayst parfourne a thyng or noon, chees rather to suffre than bigynne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.181 : This king..was of his axinge in doute, And al the world he caste aboute, What thing was best for his astat.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.833 : For al the good..He lese shal;ther of haue I no doute.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)128/1 : I haue not seen..no way þat myȝte remeue me from doute.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)2/12 : Men ben born aboute in diuerse douȝtis, as wawis of þe see, wrechidli diuidid in wonderful opyniouns.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)936 : Beyng in doute and in non certeyn.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1514 : Al this he ganne to reuolue aboute, Ay in his herte hauyng a maner doute.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1277 : Therof am I no manere thyng in doute.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4330 : Swa þat parfit men sal be in dout Whether he es verray crist or noght.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2102 : Whanne..I hadde putte hym out of doute.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.12.156 : Wenestow..that God ne be almyghty? No man is in doute of it.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)598 : I dar wel putte the out of doute.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)26/24 : Fadir..ȝe assoilen sufficiently my doute.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.193 : Þei seide þat it was nouȝt laweful to make noþer douȝte [L in disputationem aut dubitationem vertere] no questioun of lore þat he hadde i-tauȝt.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)72/14 : Þis book..schal be remeuynge errouris & declarynge & openynge [L diffiniens & declarans] doutis.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.17,19 : Whan o doute is determined and kut awey, ther waxen othere doutes withoute nombre.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.3.2 : Now am I confowndid by a more hard doute than I was.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)28b/a : Þogh þat þilke henry make doute þerof in his notabilitees.
- c1450 Royal SSecr.(Roy 18.A.7)11/34 : And avaunce wijs men..and axe hem questiones and dowtes of diuerse thingis.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)9.21 (v.1:p.96) : Thus assoileth myn auctour the seid doute of Goddis loue touchyng Iohan and Petir.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)72/7 : Answeris ȝeuyng to doutis arising aȝens oure feiþ and þe lawe of kynde.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.296 : Ther of is no doute, that it is dedly synne in consentynge.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17787 : Iesus..Vp-risen es, dut es þar nan.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.366 : This requeste is naught but skylle..Ne doute of reson..is ther noon.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.9.42 : Certes..it nys no doute that it nys right worthy to ben reverenced.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)188a/b : It is in dowte, I trowe, þat it be þe Juse of a colde substaunce.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer ABC (Benson-Robinson)25 : Dowte is ther noon, thou queen of misericorde, That thou n'art cause of grace and merci heere.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)41 : Late it be out of doubte that..they by Goddis might shalbe overcome.
d
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1322 : After his deeth man moot wepe and pleyne..Withouten doute, it may stonden so.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.157 : The sentence of it sooth is, out of doute.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2183 : I may nat..Forbere to been out of youre compaignye; For verray love this is, with outen doute.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1375 : His messageres, wiþouten doute, Rideþ and gooþ her-aboute.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7607 : All is not gospel, out of doute, That men seyn in the town aboute.
- a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.Ps.(Bod 554)143 (Ps.88.6) : No doute, heuenys ben seid þe prechouris of Goddis word.
- a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.Ps.(Bod 554)205 (Ps.118.145) : No doute þat þe cry to þe Lord is maad in veyn which is maad of hem þat preien wiþ sown of bodili vois.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2043 : Dredlesse, withowttyn dowtte, the daye schall be ourez.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)378 : No dowte..siluestre..schulde haue synned more greuously þan giezi did.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)177/612 : With-out dought þou shat welle spede.
2.
Hesitation; haven (stonden) ~, to hesitate.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2536 : Whan the welle of pite is..Defouled with schedinge of blod, The remenant of folk aboute Unethe stonden eny doute To werre ech other and to slee.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)48/152 : I pray ȝow, fadyr, be glad..to werke goddys wyll..haue no dowte, ȝour childe to kyll!
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)38a : A Dowte:..Cuntacio, heresis, hesitacio, hesitacium, -cula.
3.
(a) Anxiety; fear, fright; for doute of, for fear of (death, etc.); ben in ~, haven ~, stonden in ~, yeven ~, to be afraid (of sth.), be frightened; be afraid of losing (one's life); bringen in ~, intimidate (sb.); (b) awe; reverence, respect; ~ of god, the fear of God; (c) horror.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)32/527 : Þet sore sorhfule angoise..þet pine ouer pine..þine deaðes dute.
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)24/210 : Ne schal neauer..min bileaue lutlin for na derf..ne for dute of deaðe.
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)236 : Þe dute of þe deþ is swiþe strong.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)372/169 : Þei he beo grislich for-to bi-holde, ne habbez of him no doute.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)425/153 : Þe toun bi-seged was..And Men ornen into al þe toun ase witlese for doute.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8299 : Þe more was hor doute.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4950 : Non durst him neiȝe..For doute of his hard dent.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)1175 : For dout of deþ nil y nouȝt fle.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)2/42 : Wo dar þeroppe steiȝe, For douȝte of fotes bleddre?
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)10.82 : For doute Men doþ þe Bet; drede is such a Mayster Þat he makeþ Men Meoke.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2118 : Bot he, which stant of him no doute, Awaiteth wel..And him be bothe hornes nam.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4982 : He broghte hire herte in doute.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)12938 : He had no doute wiþ him to mote, But stood riȝt bi his lordis fote.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.290 : Wheþer ȝe ben aposid of princes or of prestis..For to answere hem haue ȝe no doute.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.152 : For doute of dyuerse dredes we dar nouȝt wel loke.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)246 : I deme hit not al for doute, Bot sum for cortaysye.
- (1411) RParl.3.650b : Havyng doute of harme of my body.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4418 : Hem toffende, euery londe hath doute.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)1 Kings 25.31 : This schal not be in to siȝyng and in to doute of herte [L in scrupulum cordis] to thee..that thou hast sched out giltles blood.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2936 : Now have I declared thee all oute Of that thou were in drede and doute.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)1999 : Of the he giffes littill dowte.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)36/35 : I hafe grete dowte þat goddez forluke helpez hym.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2885 : Suche a sekenesse god him þo sende, þat of his lyff he was in gret douȝtde.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2618 : For þe dewt of þe dyn daunced stedis.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)299/11 : Have ye no dought of none erthely knyght.
- (1474) RParl.6.103b : And made unto the seid Thomas Gibbes, for doute of his deth, an obligation of x li.
- a1475(a1450) Tourn.Tott.(Hrl 5396)103 : Þay schal haue dout of me, Myn armes ar so clere.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)9/271 : They haue gret doute, þe trewth to telle Of cryst jhesu.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)120 : For doute of soden cases wich mey falle to hym.
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)17 : He was a bolde man and a stowte; All Crystendome of hym had dowte.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)74 : For doute of tresoun.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)57/224 : Of this flood I am in doubte.
b
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)2.11 : Serueþ our Lord in doute [L timore] and gladeþ to hym wyþ quakeing.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1023 : Thow shalt nat shryue thee..for no cause, but oonly for the doute of Iesu Crist and the heele of thy soule.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4958 : Þese chyldryn..Of fadres byddyng þey hadde no dout, But were shrewys.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)2/6 : I sal yu lere þe dute of god.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)19/14 : Ye sal serue god wyd ahe & here hym wyd dowte.
c
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)90/4 : Doubte it was to here of that bataille for the grete blood shedynge.
4.
A cause or reason for fear; something to be feared; danger, peril; ben (lien, hongen) in ~, to be in peril; haven ~ of, be in danger of (dying, etc.); putten in ~, put (oneself) in jeopardy.
Associated quotations
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)59b : Of þe lihte openliche [fondunges] Nis nawt se muche dute.
- c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)484 : Drede not þi wyf whon heo is wroþ..Whon heo weopeþ and makeþ deol, Of hire þenne is more doute.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1721 : Neuere tromped..Theodamus yet half so cleere At Thebes, whan the citee was in doute.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14205 : If he slepe oght, Dute o ded yeit has he noght [Frf: is hit noȝt]; If he mai slepe, hele es at hand.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)134/12 : If þat ilke remile peerse þe brayn panne, þer is a greet doute in þe caas.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2749 : How he myghte maken resistence..To be so strong that ther wer no doute.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4513 : For hym my lyf lyth all in doute, But if he come the rather oute.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.180v : And while the reawme hanged thus in doute this was the kynges encheson, that robbours and skemours shulde not fynde negh the see.
- (1426) Paston2.28 : Ther is nother perill ne doubte in the takyng doun of the instrument.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1613 : Jason..Ye han youreself yput in moche doute.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.56 : Yf thou se the puple sounde and fair, No doute is in thi watir ner thyn aier.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)248 : My liff lith al in dowte, That of my deth ther is noon avoidaunce.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)2942 : Þis man dos vs strong pyne..It is gret doute [vr. drede] he schal vs wynne.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)139 : And ay drede hym on dayes for doute þat might falle, Lest he put hym from priuelage.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)1920 : But thou helpe in this nede, We be here in grete doute.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)155/102 : Brynge me tydynge, if þer be ony dowte.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)70 : He knewe that castell hadde no doute of no man.
- a1525(?1473) Cov.Leet Bk.386 : That the seid Mese..beyng in doute to fall..be taken don be the possessours.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1500(?a1425) Boeth.Bk.Comfort (BodAuct F.3.5)234/230 : That hir [Wisdom's] strenghe may not be ouercome, betokenes hir plentyuowsnes in wit, that ferther and besier a man sekes in hir, he schal neuere overcome hir, for euere the ferther he sekes, the mo douȝtes he schal fynde, and the more he schal thenke that he hath nede to lere.
Note: Additional quot. postdating sense 1.(b).