Middle English Dictionary Entry
enemitē n.
Entry Info
| Forms | enemitē n. Also enmite. |
| Etymology | OF enemi(s)tié. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of personal agents: (a) a hostile feeling or attitude, rivalry, malice; also, a hostile act; (b) the action of an enemy, an attack; (c) an enemy;--also coll., hostile people, enemies.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Mac.7.26 : Nichanor..that was hauntynge enmytees [L erat inimicitias exercens] aȝeinus Yrael.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2374 : Ne trust nat to hem to whiche thow hast had som tyme werre or enmytee.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)4078 : Ne wald þai neuer apon him [Joseph] se Fra þat day bot wid enmite.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)5534 : Þe londes folke..Greet enemyte [Vsp: nith; Göt: enuy] to hem þei bere.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.349 : Þe sevenþe synne..is enemyte of contrarious partis, whan o part lettiþ þe lust þat is coveitid of anoþer, and þus rengnen enemytes boþe bitwene men and wymmen.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.226 : It was conceled & closed in secre, Vnder the lok of pryve Enmyte.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4093 : They on Grekys enviously gan shoute, And, of despit and gret enmyte, Bad hem foolys gon hom to her contre.
- a1500(?c1414) ?Brampton PPs.(1) (Sln 1853)p.17 : Frenschyp feyned is enemyte.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Consulo (Hrl 2255)93 : Twen Germanye and Affryk was gret enmyte.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.34 : In paleys haue I hate and enmyte.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)113/26 : Any pore prisonere that was yprisoned for ani necessite of wronge, of enmyte, or be any deseite, she wolde goo releue hem.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)26/24 : Beestis perceyuen..natural frendschipis and natural enemytees and oþire lijk.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)41b : Enmyte: adversitas, emulacio, jnimicicia, hostialis [Monson: hostilitas].
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2292 : What had we wonne þanne..But enmyte, þouȝt, & sorow, & wo, Slauȝter of oure men, deth & confusioun!
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.4597 : She dide hir besi cure Enmytes & mischeuys to procure..With sorwe and trouble for to shorte his daies.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)46/5 : Withoute grace no man may be preseruyd..fro myschauncis..bi fier, bi watir, bi enemyte of men or of spirits.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)9/2 : Þe Byshope wel wyrchipphully vndyrfonge Macmurgh, and myche Pite hadd of his Enemyte and of his mych Lostys, And of þe mych shame that hym was done.
c
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)2681 : I haue erdyd with your enmite [Darius].
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)200 : For his dedes and singularitee, He was commended among thenemytee, Within the lande and out.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)91 : Where the water myght not the enemytee Kepe..from his trewe Britayn lande.
2.
Of non-personal agents: (a) hostility, threat, or danger (to man's spirit from the forces of evil); (b) an internal conflict, a rivalry (between spiritual forces); (c) adverse influence (of a deity); (d) astrol. unfavorable or baleful influence (of a planet).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.99 : It is grete enemyte to werriours forto norsche sleuþe and leccherie.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)36b/a : Somme [melancholy men] drediþ enemyte of som woo.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.3.15 : Enemyte [WB(2): enemytees] I shal put bitwix thee and the woman, and thi seed and the seed of hire.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)92 : But more harme is of gostly ennemyte.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1724 : The synnys seuene, the kyngis thre, to Mankynde haue enmyte.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Eph.2.16 : That he make twey peplis in him silf into a newe man,..sleynge the enemytees in him silf.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Eph.3.14 : For he is oure pees..vndoande þe enemytese in his flesch.
c
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)198 : This blisful lyff from day to day they leede, Tyl that fortune to them had enmyte.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)236 : Hit semeth he [?Jove] hath to lovers enmyte.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)109b/a : Þis aspecte is euel for hit is in þe signe of wraþþe and enuye & enemite & imperfectioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)109a/b : Þe hous of enmyte, of sorwe, & of traueile.
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)2.4.86a : A fortunate ascendent clepen they when..that no wicked planete haue noon aspecte of enemyte vpon the ascendent.