Middle English Dictionary Entry
empīre n.
Entry Info
| Forms | empīre n. Also en-, am-, im-, empere, imparre. |
| Etymology | OF empire, empere; L imperium. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. emperie.
1a.
The status, rank or authority of an emperor; imperial rule or power, esp. that of the Roman emperors and those of the Holy Roman Empire; political rule, dominion, subjection.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.721 : He [Cesar] Noght al only of thorient Bot al the Marche of thoccident Governeth under his empire.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2793 : To his Empire and to his lawes..alle in thilke dawes Were obeissant.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1332 : For alle his empire so hiȝe in erþe is he graven.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4050 : Aftir þe destruccion..Of þe empyre of Rome.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)359 : I þat hathell may see euer with myne egh[e]n þat ocupies thin heritage, þe empyere of Rome.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)75.242 (v.2:p.65) : Titus .., heryng that his fadir was enhauncid to thempyre, fel in a sodeyn ioye.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)76.66 (v.2: p.69) : A grete multitude rebellyng ageyns thempire assemblid at the .. flode .. clepid Danubius, purposyng to passen ovir and to subiugaten, or to putten vndir her empire, al the regions from thens into the east.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)103 : This Pope [Stephanus]..translate the empire fro the Grekis onto the Frensch tong onto the Grete Charlis.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)112 : Here was ende of that empire that longid to the posterity of Charles [the Great].
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)118 : Fro this day forward the empire hath be among the Almanes.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)108 : In the ix ȝere of his empire.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)28/33 : When Maximus þe tyraunt went owte of Brytayne yn to Fraunce for to occupyen þe empere.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.80ra : Arphaxat kynge of the Medes subdued vnto his empire [L (Vulg.Judith 1.1): imperio suo] manye peoples.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)47/32 : Alle naciouns putte hem vndir his empir and comandementz.
1b.
Fig. Supreme power; absolute rule or control;--esp. of divine power.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)454 : My Lady of quom Jesu con spryng, haldez þe empyre ouer vus ful hyȝe.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)1 Tim.6.16 : To whom be worschype & blysse & empyre efer wiþ-outen ende. Amen.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)11.548 : O Trine and Oon, louyng, honour, empire, Withouten ende.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)105 : Byfore that I be sacred and receyved the honoure of the empere.
2.
The territory subject to an emperor's rule; an empire, esp. the Roman Empire; west empire, the Western Roman Empire.
Associated quotations
- a1350 SMChron.(RwlPoet 145)87 : All thys were of hys ampyre.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2709 : Of thilke Empire He was coroned Lord and Sire.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4073 : Men sese þat þe empire, þat was swa myghty, Es now destruyed a grete party.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)3140 : Alle the kynges of Grece empire.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)128/15 : Þis emperour persued Cristen men..all þat ware within his empyre.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3068 : Belyn had fol gret desyr To haue truwage of his enpir.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5247 : Þe seignurye of al þenpyre.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)249/200 : Sir Pilate þat lyfis in þis Empire.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3712 : Many a ryche empyre.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)53/11 : For þe encresse and þe awmentacion of þe comyn profite of þe Empire of Rome.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)11/142 : He gate hir maystrys thurgh-ovte the partes Of alle gret grece, hir faderys empyre.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)381 : Siluestre..forsoke þe pouert of þe gospelle and by-cam a lorde vpon þe west empire of þe worlde.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)224 : A morn þe emperour yn ire Sente aboute yn hys empyre After many a ryche syre.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)253 : Þe Emperoure, oure lord, is dede, & his body is broute to the Empeyr, to a certeyn castel.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)65/18 : I commannd peasse, To all the people of thys empyre.
3.
The kingdom of heaven.
Associated quotations
- c1390 Swete Ihesu crist (Vrn)43 : So þat my soule mowe wende In to þat blisful Empyre Þer þat þou regnest, lord.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)372/474 : Lord, as thou rese from deth and regnyst in thyn empere.
- a1500(?a1430) ?Hoccl.7 Joys Virg.(Cmb Kk.1.6)30 : What yow [Mary] lyste in þylke glade Empyre To asche or haue, reseyuyd is in gree Off ȝoure swete sone.
4.
Realm, dominion.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)85 : He [the virtuous man] heþ anoþre empire..uor he is emperour of him-zelue, þet is of his bodye.