Middle English Dictionary Entry
ē̆gāl adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | ē̆gāl adj. |
| Etymology | OF egal, igal, from L aequālis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Equal, equivalent;--often with to or with; ~ similitude, exact likeness, identity; (b) as noun: an equal, a fellow; (c) as adv.: equally; in the same degree or manner.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3834 : Thelamoun..in armys was on of þe manlyest þat was alive, and egal with þe best.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.m.7.18 : Deth..maketh egal and evene the heygheste to the loweste.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)120/14 : Þo sterres beren the firmament in ij egall parties, so þat it hath als mochel abouen as it hath benethen.
- (1425) RParl.4.277a : Ye Kyng of ye Scottys is bounden alwey to delivere in entrechaunge oon of egal suffisante for oon swiche as he woll desire to be delivered.
- (1427) Proc.Privy C.3.263 : Persones þe whech were reported egal to v hostages for whome þei were offred.
- ?a1430 ?Hoccl.Poems PS Compl.Virg.(Hnt HM 111)168 : The weighte of him & thee nat is egal.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)380/182 : Yiue him..with Charlemayn forto been egal.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1884 : An egal change..is in soothe no charge.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)335 : To oure lorde god þat sytte in heuenes hye Schal þey desyre for to ben egal?
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)56/11 : Eueriche demynge him selfe egall to oþer.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)37/5 : That wolle be other more or lesse, oþer egalle.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)3.1266 (v.1:p.51) : No reson may conclude Twix godhede and the toure egal similitude.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)402/3 : Yeldyng..xl shillings at iiij pryncipall and vsuall termes of the yere by egall porcions.
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.401 : The charge and apparaunce of the seid persones may be egalle.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)110 : Thai both bith egall in estate and in poiar.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.193 : Somme men haue egalle strenȝhtes in either honde.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.3 : [Trajan]..schewenge hym egalle [L æqualem; Trev.: felowe] to alle men.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)5612 : The part Egal to the hoole, With-outen any difference.
- a1500 Rule Serve Ld.(Add 37969)14/6 : One or moo þat be egall in esstate wyth þe lorde.
b
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)386 : Ye wer of lyff Egal of hooly Seyntes.
c
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.660 : Swifte Fame, which that false thynges Egal reporteth lik the thynges trewe.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1104 : Who so were in eny thing displesid or a-grevid, Must by a like thing egall be remevid.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)260/855 : With vmbyl hert submyt egal As eche of ȝow were otherys brother.
2.
Proportionate; sufficient, adequate, fit, fitting;-- often with inf.
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4536 : He was to armys so egal and so mete.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1053 : Þe peyne of Yxyoun in helle..Were nat egal nor equipolent To venge mordre, nor sufficient.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1226 : He was not..Egal in noumbre nor in multitude, As for þat tyme, a werre to be-gynne.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.137 : I to han, right as yow list, comfort Under yowre yerde egal to myn offence.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.1123 : Thou sholdist seen so egal a punshyng Vpon thi moste froward mortal fo, To warne alle othre.
3.
Impartial, just, fair.
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.200 : I haue ben eliche egal To oon and alle.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.54 : Ne..by iust diuisioun, Nor be egal distribusioun.
- a1456(a1426) Lydg.Mum.Hertford (Trin-C R.3.20)228 : He considereþe..As egal iuge, enclyning to noo syde.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.4505 : To a prynce it is confusioun Yiff atween parties he be nat founde egall.
- (1440) Wars France in RS 22.2593 : A man of astate..nought covetous ne partialle but egalle, rightewiselie to observe and kepe justice.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)38.467 : That bataille were Of grete Offens, and Ek Egal it Myhte not be..For thou art bothe fresch and lyht, and I am A man wery Of fyht.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)824 : The egall justyse of God.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1475(c1450) ?Scrope Mirror World (Bod 283) 9159 : Maketh hee al with rewle the whiche maketh the walle egal and pleyne.
Note: Ed.: "egal: 'even' (French egal)." Cf. egalli adv. 1.(b) 'evenly or smoothly (joined)'.
Note: New sense.