Middle English Dictionary Entry
elenge adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | elenge adj. Also eling(e, alenge, alange. |
| Etymology | OE ǣ-lenge tedious, wearisome, irksome. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of living beings: wretched, miserable, unhappy, sad; (b) of things, states, events: wretched, desolate, tedious, dull; loathsome, saddening, sad.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)641 : Elinge ich ʒeode here al one, confort nad-ich non.
- c1300 SLeg.Marg.(Hrl 2277)151 : Þis maide lai in prisoun strong, al eling alone.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.461 : Þere schulde no man..go alenge [vr. elynge] and sory[L tristem] from þe answere of a prince.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.341 : Þis Lanfrank leet nevere a man goo from hym helynge [vrr. elenge, elyng] and sory [L tristem].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1412 : Daun Iohn Shal fastynge al this day elenge [vr. alenge] gon.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)264b/a : [A lamb] is elenge and sory [L dolet] & dredeþ ful sore whanne he is allone.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.2 : Heuychered I ʒede and elynge [vr. elenge] in herte.
- c1450 Trental St.Greg.(1) (Clg A.2)55 : All ragged and rente, elenge and evell.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4199 : In time of winter alange it is. Þe foules lesen her blis.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.1199 : Pouerte..al thogh it seme alenge [vrr. alinge, elenge].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)42b/b : By þe vertu ymaginatif þinges þat ben elenge oþer glad [L trista vel leta]..ben somdel I brouʒt to þe dome of resoun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)67b/b : Sekenesses & elde ben elenge & sorweful [L tristis].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)253b/a : Þe vynes elynge and sike [L tristes et egre].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.190 : Þere þe catte is a kitoun þe courte is ful elyng..For may no renke þere rest haue for ratones.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.94 : Elyng [vr. elenge] is þe halle..Þere þe lorde ne þe lady liketh nouʒte to sytte.
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)374 : Elynges it were if thow were goo.
- a1450(c1400-25) Legat Serm.PD (Wor F.10)14/158 : Þis is a sori biheste & alenge promis.
- c1450(c1400) ?Clanvowe Cuckoo & N.(Frf 16)115 : Every wight escheweth the to here, Thy [cuckoo's] songes be so elynge.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1008 : Hir labour to hym is þe alengere [vr. elengere].
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3356 : They often hadde gret cause hem to venge, But hir spiritis benigne and pesible Thoghten þat craft vnlusty and alenge, And forbaar it.
- c1450 ABCArist.(Lamb 853)260 : E To elenge, ne to excellent, ne to eernesful neiþer.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)237 : The gentil [bee] is smal, rutilaunt, glad-chered, That other horribil, elenge and sloggy.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)967 : Why do yee thus? Þis is an elyng fare.
2.
Lonely, solitary.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.Magd.(2) (LdMisc 108)552 : A preost..þat wilned swiþe muche For-to leden elinge lif þe betere fram sunne him wite.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)8/213 : Ʒe libbez an a lenge lif, ʒe scholde take a gentil wif.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)3075 : An elenge [Vsp: anli] lijf þare þai ledd, In wildernes þan war þai stedd.
3.
Strange, unusual.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)66a/b : It waxiþ pale, wan, & bloo, and takeþ many diuers elenge colours.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)9 : A-lange, or straunge: Extraneus, exoticus.