Middle English Dictionary Entry
elōquence n.
Entry Info
| Forms | elōquence n. |
| Etymology | OF eloquence, L ēloquentia. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. eloquencie.
1.
(a) The art or practice of speaking or writing with fluency, stylistic distinction, appropriateness, and persuasive power; literary diction or style; literary art, poetry; (b) pl. effective oratorical devices.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2651 : Rethorike, Hou that men schal the wordes pike After the forme of eloquence.
- (c1412) Hoccl.RPEnvoy (Roy 17.D.6)5443 : O litell booke..thou all naked art of eloquence.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.365 : Many riche flour Of eloquence to make it sownde bet He in the story hath ymped in and set.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3688 : I me excuse..nat al of necligence, But for defaut only of eloquence.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4243 : Til þat he [Chaucer] cam, & þoruȝ his poetrie, Gan oure tonge firste to magnifie, And adourne it with his elloquence.
- ?a1425 Whi is þis world (Trin-C B.15.39)19 : Where is tullius in eloquence so swete?
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1962 : Mi maister Chaucer, flour of eloquence.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)65/14 : Þe firste þat euer enluminede owre langage with flowres of Rethorike and of elloquence..Chaucere.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.207 : Calliope Þat is goddesse and chief of eloquence.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)243 : Rethoryk hadde eke in hire presence Tulyus, called 'Mirrour off Eloquence'.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)1472 : Evandrus, A facunde man and full of eloquence, Callid therfor son to Mercurius.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)20191 : Homer, Whylom merour off elloquence.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1631 : Ther mai a man the Scole liere Of Rethoriqes eloquences..Wherof a man schal justifie Hise wordes in disputeisoun, And knette upon conclusioun His Argument in such a forme, Which mai the pleine trouthe enforme.
2.
Persuasion, persuasiveness, fine words, sophistry; --often with qualifying adj. or phrase.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) Prol.1 Cor.(Dc 369(2))4.p.338 : Thei weren ouerturned in many maneris of false apostelis; summe of wordy eloquence of philosophie [etc].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.440 : So with his croked eloquence He spekth al that he wot withinne.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.678 : So feelyngly thou spekest..ther is noon that is heere Of eloquence that shal be thy peere.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1698 : Wyse Vlixes, ful of elloquence, Gan his tale prudently deuyse.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)1401 : If I hadde cunnyng and eloquens My conceytes craftely to dilate.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)27/29 : To be a sophister & lern eloquens.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)355/17 : Any that peruertyth the pepil wyth gay eloquens alon.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.2681 : Som lye alsoo for countirfeted curtesie, Vse gay langage and feire eloquence.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)71 : Wise men, the whiche by deceyuable eloquence & takyng of money deceyueth.
3.
Speech, talk, way of speaking; loquacity.
Associated quotations
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.410 : She was..so discreet and fair of eloquence.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.1203 : The arwes of thy crabbed eloquence Shal perce his brest.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)925 : And which a goodly, softe speche Had that swete, my lyves leche!..Of eloquence was never founde So swete a sownynge facounde.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13001 : Than spek I nat but Ribaudye, Outrage and gret vyllenye; I haue noon other Elloquence.
- a1500 When nettuls (BodPoet e.1)269 : Whan swyn be conyng in al poyntes of musyke..And pyys be mad poetes for ther eloque[n]s.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)7537 : Your wicked thought..That meveth your foole eloquence, That jangleth ever in audyence.