Middle English Dictionary Entry
equitē n.
Entry Info
| Forms | equitē n. |
| Etymology | OF equité. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Impartiality or fairness in dealing with others; justice; (b) what is just, fair, or right.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)147/515 : Þet hys hys [God's] priuete Of hys domes in equyte.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Heb.1.8 : A ȝerd of equyte the ȝerd of thi rewme.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)10b/b : He sittiþ as equite & riȝtwisnes [L sedet vt equitas].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)13b/b : He sheweþ drede of riȝtwisnes & equite [L iustitie et equitatis].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1214 : Riȝt and resoun & good equite Require vengaunce on hym þat doþ þe wrong.
- (c1422) Hoccl.JWife (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)177/2 : Yiftes or meede blynden the Iuges yen..so þat equitee or euenehede mighte nat entre.
- ?c1430(?1383) Wycl.Curse (Corp-C 296)285 : Ho[ly] Chirche, þat wole noþing but treuþe and equyte.
- (a1449) Lydg.PPs.102 (Trin-C R.3.20(1))77 : Mercy preferring to-forne his equyte.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)398 : Weyen every thing by equytee.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)576/15 : They decreid..havyng god and equyte byfore ther sightis.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.15 : The swerde of vengeaunce and of equyte.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)6680 : That all they accorded bee, And for euere-more betwene theim treus and equite.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2816 : His liberte To do justice and equite.
- a1400 Prov.Wisd.(Bod 9)27 : Loue pees and charite, Do ech man equytee!
- c1400 *PPl.C (Trin-C R.3.14)20.26 f.57a : May no kinge mercy graunte til boþe men Accorde þat euery partie haue equyte.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.305 : He dede equite to alle euene forth his powere.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.1026 : I shold do than euery man equyte and right.
2.
Righteousness in following moral or divine law, rectitude; also, moderation or temperance.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mal.2.6 : In equitee he walkide with me.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Deut.9.5 : Not for thi riȝtfulnessis and equyte [WB(1): euennesse] of thin herte thou schalt entre that thou welde the lond of hem.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.253 : Thilke man that thow wenest to ben ryght just and ryght kepynge of equite.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.47/23 : This man, byȝonde equyte Ȝeuen to voluptuous lyif.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.PPeace (Hrl 2255)139 : Caym slouh Abel for his gret equite.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)152/17,22 : A riȝt faire vertue þat men clepen equite, euennesse. Euennesse is propreliche þat men maken bi juggement riȝtful & trewe..for equite is non oþer þing but onynge, euenhed.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)273/5 : Equyte is an euynhede. Þis vertu euynhed acordyth to resoun wyth wyll.
3.
Law General principles of justice, specif. those administered in Chancery, as distinguished from common and statute law; also, justice based on such principles.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.181 : Agayns the lawe, agayn al equitee.
- (1413) Hoccl.Hen.V Acces.(Hnt HM 111)20 : Gouerneth hem [subjects] in lawe and equitee.
- (1419) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xvi : [The king writes to the Chancellor directing that] ye doo calle before yow bothe parties..and thair causes herd, that ye doo unto hem both right and equite.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)183 : No man may bi þi comoun lawe and bi comoun equyte deserve to an oþer man þe valew and fruyt of his good werk which he dooþ.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2866 : Of the lawis her such is the equyte, That who pursu[ith] othir, & his pleynt be wrong, He shall make a-mendis.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)434 : A king sholde enfourme his sone..to speke ornatly with equite [L composite].
Note: Postdates sense 2.
Note: Gloss: with ~, in a temperate manner, temperately.--notes per MLL