Middle English Dictionary Entry
amenū̆sen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | amenū̆sen v. Also ameinissen, amenisen, amenishen, amenusi, amineuse, aminsen, amintishen, aminishe, aminushen, amonuse, admenisen, admenusen, adminishen, emenishe, eminucion, enmenusen, menuse, minesh, minusen. |
| Etymology | OF amenuisier; forms in -ish- are secondary. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To reduce (sth.) in size, amount, value, etc.; reduce (income, cost, taxes, etc.); deplete (funds, etc.); impair (privileges, welfare, happiness, faith, etc.);; -- also without obj.
Associated quotations
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.32b : Þanne bihouez þe lord..amenusen his park.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.359 : The dede of this venial synne..amenuseth the loue that men sholde han to god.
- c1410(1399) Will Folkyngham in Yks.Wr.2 (UC 97)449 : Nouȝt amenysynge gretely here lyflode ne here poure stat.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)105 : Mo fyngris on myn hond than foure and the thombe amenusith my worching more than it acresith.
- (1415) Rec.Norwich 1108 : Þei shul not on her owen heed ne auctorite..encressen ne ameinissen [taxes] aȝeyns her charge aforseid.
- -?-(1415) Will in Som.RS 16402 : Reservyng always to me volle power to chaunge this testament, or to make hit more or to amenusy hit.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.4.14 : Þan is þe feiþ amyntyscht and byheste is do awey.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.78 : Whan I say the fortunes and the richesses of the peple of the provinces ben harmed or amenused..by comune tributes or cariages.
- (1431) Indent.Furness in Chet.n.s.78 (PRO DL 25/399)789 : If ther be any mater..that nedes to be addit or amynnset after the trew entent of the conclusion betwyx the sayde partyes.
- (1437) Proc.Privy C.5.70 : For to see how þat þe charges may be boren, and yif it myȝt be to be admenised.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.3580 : Yit t'amenuse his felicite, A drem he hadde.
- (1443) Proc.Privy C.5.311 : Þe said privileges..to stande in þeire strengthe..with oute þat þei be broken or admenused.
- (1449) RParl.5.149a : The Communalte of this lande not enriched..the Merchants gretly amennysshed bothe in nombre and goodes.
- (1450) RParl.5.179b : The revenuez of the Demesnes and Possessions of youre Corone..have be soo amenused and anientised, that youre Commens [etc.].
- (1450) RParl.206a : Obligacions,..by the which the seid Monasterie is so enpovryssed, and the possessions thereof so amenused and decresed.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.81 : This oo thyng is þat may þi welþe apaire..and menuse it most.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)289/9 : Ho that encreseth..his temporell goodes, he shal amyneuse [Scrope DSP: minusithe] the spirituell goodes.
- (1472-5) RParl.6.154b : The profitte therof growyng to the Kyng is so amenisshed and empeired, that [etc.].
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)23613 : The kyng..maketh their goodes to discresse..amenusyng their substance.
- (1475) RParl.6.143b : That divine service and other dedes of charite shuld not be admynysshed in dyvers Priouries.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)119 : Nor shalle not emynucyon the pryvelegys and the benyfytys.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)212/37 : He sholde be Pryue and trew, and nothynge he sholde amenuse, make lasse, ne aneche, of the messagis or nedis whych he Is sende for.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)232/26 : The Perfeccion of his kynde Is makyd lasse and amenuset.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)136/3 : He meruelously diuidith His graces aftur the diuersite of persones, of places, and of tymes, and .. chaungeith, encreseth and amynushith [CQ(1): dyscreecith], maketh, vnmaketh in His werkes aftur His resonable wille.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)2629 : Sir Dary..Seys hys meynȝe so amenyst [Ashm: so mynesch].
- c1480(?c1470) Fortescue Art.Warw.(Add 48031)349 : So as the king by reason of liberalite and rewardis amenisshe nor lasse so his lyvelode, as be necessite he be compelled to lyve upon his Comunes and upon the Chirche.
2.
To grow less, decrease, diminish; grow weaker.
Associated quotations
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[1.21] 83b : Ȝif a planete be cold, thanne amenuseth his coldnesse by cause of the hoot signe.
- (1423) RParl.4.249a : Alle Merchaundise of the Land..muste litul and amenuse of verray necessite, to grete losse and harme.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)78/8 : For many men may take gude ensample of hym, & his gudnesse be na thynge enmenuste þareby.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)113/27 : Now Alexander dyes, and Macedoyne sall waxe ay lesse & lesse and emenische day bi day.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)9129 : Her temporal possessyoun..yche daye yt began to amenuse.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.253 : If the beawte begynne to amminysshe and fade.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)657 : Theire force be-gan to amenuse.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1475(c1450) Shirley SSecr.(Add 5467)229/15 : [H]ere begynneth..The Secrete of Secretes..translated..out of Frensh into oure moders tonge by..Johan Shirley..which recommendeth and submittetth to the noblesse and the supportacion of youre excellent discression to correct, adde, and amonuse there as youre fauourable gentylesse best liketh.
Note: New spelling