Middle English Dictionary Entry
ēse n.
Entry Info
Forms | ēse n. Also aise, eise, ase, yese. |
Etymology | OF aise, eise. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
Physical comfort, comfortable circumstances, comfortable living; leisure; that which is conducive to physical comfort, health, prosperity, rest, or leisure; at (with) ese, in comfort, comfortably, leisurely; idel ese, leisure.
Associated quotations
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)35b : For hwa haueð mare eise to don hire cweaðschipes þen þe false ancre?
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)1230 : Ȝong man þat is miȝti In his ȝouþe schal..in eld liue in mirþe & ayse.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)239 : Noþing he fint þat him is ays, Bot euer he liueþ in gret malais.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)51/12 : Þet heaued me akþ, ich ne ssel by an eyse.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2515 : And eten at here ese, for þei were forhungred.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.3962 : It is a greet disese Wher as men han been in greet welthe and ese To heeren of hir sodeyn fal.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4119 : They hym bisoght Of herberwe and of ese, as for hir peny.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1814 : Hou that a kniht schal armes suie, And for the while his ese eschuie.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.217 : She knew wel labour, but noon ydel ese.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)285b/a : To hem þat lyueþ delicatliche and in ese and reste.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)22773 : Siluer and gold and esse [vrr. ese, es, ais] of lijf.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)1.55 : Grete lobies..made hem-selue Eremytes, hure eise [B: ese] to haue.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.143 : To sitten at euen by þe hote coles..oþer lygge at hus ese.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.152 : To lyue In ydelnesse and in ese and by oþers trauayle.
- a1400 Cato(3) (Frf 14)199,203 : Quen þou art in gode ese þen þink on mis-ese; and lagher þou ga, quen þou art atte disese, hope ofter better ese and conforte þe squa.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.101 : And we þer-while may in ese and reste Our woundis cure.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6276 : Þei had at leiser & good eise Fro Troye seiled vn-to Tenedoun.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)189/35 : Hit appartenyth not to a good knyght to lowe ayse ne delytes of body.
- a1450(c1409) Man haue hit (Dgb 102)33 : Who ressayueþ benefys for richesse and ese..Rathere þan serue god to plese.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)7/29 : For þe eese and þe chering of a begger.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3576 : At Kaerusyk..þey made most dwellynge, ffor þer was gret ese of mikel þyng.
- c1400 Interpol.Rolle Cant.(1) (Bod 288)37 : Ese and welþe drawiþ men oftsiþe to synne.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)42a : Eyse:..edia..ocium.
- a1486 Arms Chivalry (Mrg M 775)43 : How a Man schal be armyd at his ese when he schal fighte on foote.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)148/33 : Ȝe schull haue good herber and good ese.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)336 : Ther is no best which..Doth so gret profite..As doth the Sheep vn-to the ese of man.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)214/337 : Of a chamber he you prays, To ete and drynk ther-in with easse.
1b.
bodili ese, ~ of bodi, worldes (worldli) ~, physical or material comfort, mundane pleasures.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)48/1 : Þe zofte bed, cloþes likerouses, and alle manyere eyse of bodye.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13305 : Al þai for-sok þis werlds hess [vr. werldis ese].
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7282 : That papelard that..wole to worldly ese go.
- a1425 Rolle FLiving (Arun 507)420 : God..makis þaim..to lathe with ouer-mikil bodili aise.
- a1450(?c1405) Lerne bodyly (Dgb 102)16 : Do as þou þouȝt neuere to dye..Lyue þou in ese bodyly.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Possessioners (Corp-C 296)126 : To be lordis & riche & lyue in bodyli ayse.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Possessioners (Corp-C 296)122 : Feyned religious possessioners comen to þes ordris for sikernesse of worldly welfare.. & eise of body.
1c.
in ese, in (good) health.
Associated quotations
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)9/10 : Att o psalme sitteþ & att anoþer stondeþ, ȝif ȝe ben in eise þerto forto done it.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)33/21 : Þa þat ere noht in ese..þabbes sal loke þaire sekenes.
2.
Tranquility or peace of mind; freedom from anxiety, concern, or disturbance; hertes ~; rest(e and ~.
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)40/418 : Þe selie godes spuses, þe i þe swote eise..luuieð þe soðe luue.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.434 : Ther nas discord, rancour, ne heuynesse In al that land that she ne koude apese And wisly brynge hem alle in reste and ese.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7353 : Better is litel to habbe in ayse þan mychel aghȝtte in malayse.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.153 : For yf heuene be on þys erthe oþer eny eyse for saule, Hit is in cloistre oþer in scole.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)2 Tim.4.2 : Preche þou þe word, & stonde bysylyche boþe in hese & in anuy.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.82 : Who best can suffre most schal haue his ese.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.213 : Ese of herte and tranquillite.
- (c1420) Mazers in Archaeol.50149 : Hoe, so lusty þe god to plese, let hys neyȝbore lyue in ese.
- a1450(1411) Many man (Dgb 102)154 : Ȝe may not wynne, wiþ ȝoure delys, Here and in heuene boþe, ȝoure ese.
- (?1438) Let.Ferrers in WANHSM 18 (Lngl 3)12 : To his plesaunce and to yowre hertes most ese.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6180 : Richest off thynges is Glad Pouerte..And hir fraunchise stant in so gret ese That [etc.].
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)154 : Thy ioly lif wil turne the to no ese.
- (1443) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.3.179 : It is not..to oure hertis ease.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)45.718 : In gret Ese scholde he Neuere be Tyl he knewe [etc.].
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)208 : No lover hath his ese.
- c1450 C.d'Orl.O thou Fortune (Frf 16)19 : Þou wost myn hert ys not in ese, But euer in trouble wyth-out sykernesse.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)44/33 : Take here ensaumple that for youre persones ese..ye make not diuerse peple lese her masse and deuocion.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.748 : Thankyng hym of his chiere and comforte Whiche was to hym then a spirituall hertis ease.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)144.18 : Godis wayes..ere all rightwis, whethire he send ese or anguys.
- a1500(c1440) Let.Curteys in RS 96.3 (Add 7096)242 : To þe ase and reste of us and of all Christen princis.
- a1525(?1435) Cov.Leet Bk.181 : For his own eese he will..sey to hym [etc.].
3.
Pleasure, enjoyment, delight; desire; gratification (of the flesh); concr., that which gives pleasure or affords sensual gratification; at their ese, at their pleasure, as they wish.
Associated quotations
- a1250 HMaid.(Tit D.18)5/19 : Fleschliche þohtes, þat..maken þe to þenchen hwuch delit were þrin, hwuch eise.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)31a : Ȝef ha naueð nawt oðer mete oðer drunch efter hire eise.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)78a : Galnesse kumeð of ȝiuernesse & of flesches eise.
- ?a1300 Sayings St.Bern.(Dgb 86)50 : Þi fles..seyþ..I wile hauen eise wil I may.
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)1298 : Horn ledde hyre hom wit heyse.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)204/36 : Þe lostes and þe eyses of þe herte þet berneþ and aliȝteþ þet uer of lecherie.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1089 : Ydelnesse..is the Norrice In mannes kinde of every vice, Which secheth eases manyfold.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4359 : Ful many a lond hath so be lore..Of hem that so here eses soghten.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1643 : Yet is ther..so greet ese and lust in mariage.
- (1421) Indent.Catterick in Archaeol.J.757 : And make yair lymkilns of yair own cost, atte yair own most ease.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3525 : Is it youre ese Hym for to angre or disese?
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)89/20 : After the mirthes and eses.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)7496 : We wolden, if it were youre ease, A shorte sermon unto you sayne.
4.
Profit, benefit, the good; for (in) ese; to the ese, for the convenience, use, or good (of someone).
Associated quotations
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)168 : He of frensche þis fayre tale ferst dede translate, In ese of englysch men, in englysch speche.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5381 : Iacob..Wit his suns and al þair aght Went til a sted god for þair es.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1938 : In sich folye is litel ese.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)384 : For youre ese, in fortheryng of youre nede..I wol me speede.
- (1442) Visit.Alnwick3.230 : We enioyne yow, prioresse..that nyghtly ye hafe competent lyght in the dormytory to the ease of your susters in rysyng to mattyns.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)202/26 : It were a greet eese to him..forto..make his foorme of preising and of preiyng.
- (1447-8) Shillingford88 : Suche lok and keye as they woll is sette yn every dore to theire pleisaunce, disporte, and yese.
- (1448) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1357 : A condute goodly deuised to the ease and profit of the saide College.
- (1450) Lin.DDoc.41/5 : All my spittes & Rakkes..I wol that thei be leffte in the parsonage to my tenauntz ease perpetuell.
- (c1453) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35320 : We of grete charite mevyd, wyllyng the ease of all parties..made as dew serch and inquisicion as we cewed.
5.
(a) Means, opportunity, or ability (to do something); facilities (for doing something); (b) bi (with) ese, without difficulty, easily.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)22/230 : Men seið þet eise makeð þeof.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)78b : Ȝef þer were eise to fulle þe dede.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1481 : Pay it agayn whan it lyth in youre ese.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.3122 : Thilke blod, which scholde have ese To regne among the moiste veines, Is drye.
- a1425(c1300) NHom.(1) Dom.infra Nativ.(Cmb Gg.5.31)p.74 : For to make thair offerand thar Efter that thair esse war.
- a1525(?1435) Cov.Leet Bk.183 : The seyd wurthymen..han ordened..that the Jurneymen of Cardwiredrawers & gurdelmen..wurche in ther own howses, and they haue eese ther-to, and not in ther mayster howses.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3628 : Sche preith him that he wolde..To grounde knele and thonke anon The goddes, and so forth be ese The flees of gold he scholde sese.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)14.54 : The marchaunt with hus marchaundise may nat go so swithe As þe messager may, ne with so mochel ese.
6.
(a) Relief from physical pain or suffering, mitigation of discomfort or annoyance; (b) release from a burden or obligation, remission (of a debt); (c) relief by evacuation; hous of ese, a privy.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.726 : Swich an ese therwith they hire wroughte, Right as a man is esed for to feele, For ache of hed, to clawen hym on his heele!
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2965 : I knew not elles to my bihove That myght me ease or comfort gete.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)143 : Ese, or cowmfort: Levamen, consolamen.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)387 : An oyneme[n]t ful roiall..It remedieth & dooth [men] ese ful blyve.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2254 : He gat him ese Of vein honour and worldes good.
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.858 : Thomas Haseley..and Robert Manfield..made grete instance and prayers eftsones for ease of the sayd John Lyllyng..He besoght ye Maire and ye gude men of ease of his paymentz.
c
- (1411) Doc.Finchale in Sur.Soc.6p.clv : Item j cathedra de eese pro infirmis juxta latrinam.
- (1445) Visit.Alnwick2.116 : We enioyne yow, abbesse,..that ther come no seculer persones in the house of ease that is ordeyned for your susters wythe yn the cloystere.
7.
Law Easement, i.e. the privilege or right to use a neighbor's land or improvements for certain purposes.
Associated quotations
- (1436) Deed Norris in LCRS 93105 : [By the assent of the parties, Will Irlond shall have the curtulage because it lies in his] eise [and Will. laghok shall have as much ld. (=land) in his] eise [in the east end..by way of exchange].
8.
(a) at (on) ese, at ease, at peace, at rest, undisturbed; in comfort, well off, well-to-do, comfortable; satisfied, delighted; physically fit; conveniently. (b) ivel (il) at ese, uneasy, disturbed, upset; in pain, painful; (c) don (sheuen) ese, to give comfort or help; show favor, extend hospitality; to benefit; to give pleasure; (d) don, lacchen, taken ese, take a rest, rest; (e) maken, setten at ese, make (someone, oneself) comfortable, treat hospitably.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)94/1 : Child þet nou wepþ nou lheȝþ, and nou is wel an eyse and nou is euele aneyse.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.21 : Þat lond is wel at ese, As long as men lyueþ in pese.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)18 : Syngynge he rod as mon at ese.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)127 : I wene þou liest more ateise þen my lord in his paleyse.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3052 : His Pride can noght ben at ese.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.1352 : Sche was the worse at aise.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1804 : He was noght al at es in hert [Trin-C: in ese of hert].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.812 : To sette his hert[e] bet at ese.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)218 : Wonder-wele war we at esse.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.750 : I am myn owene womman, wel at ese..as after myn estat.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1279 : What man..was evere thus at ese As I, on which the faireste..That evere I say, deyneth hire herte reste?
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5698 : Ther may no marchaunt lyve at ese.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1975 : Þe gestes kechin salbe set Allone..So þat þai be seruyd at ese.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)159/2748 : Ȝyt am I not wel at ese; now wolde I haue castel wallys.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)1099 : As for ony thinge that is wythoute, Englande were than at ease wythouten doute.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)3291 : Þen leued þe Ebrews all at ese.
- c1460 Cursor (LdMisc 416)10446 : I the se wepyng alle-weis When þou shuldist be best at ease [Trin-C: at eys].
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)105/22 : Þou seeȝ me goon on foote hungry and wery, And þou art on horsse, hool and wel at ese.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.516 : What aileþ þe? Þou art iuel at aise.
- c1330 Pennyw.Wit(1) (Auch)192 : Icham iuel at ese ywis.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)16119 : Mi wijf es sumquat iuel at ess [Trin-C: ille at ese].
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)54/125 : For the bak that akyth & is syke and euel at ease.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)799 : Foll ill att ease.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)1624 : To the erthe he felle downe Euyll at ese.
c
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.768 : Of a myrthe I am right now bythoght To doon yow ese.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4931 : A beste is glad of a good dede, And loveth thilke creature..Which doth him ese.
- (c1409) in Lyte Cat.Mus.PRO38 : Ye sholl do us bothe gret ese ther inne, wherefor we woll thonk yow.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1060 : To haue schewed þe comfort and þe ese..Vn-to straungeris.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2359 : Noon but I may do ȝow help or ese.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1225 : But as his suster, hym to plese She wolde ay fayn to doon his herte an ese.
- (1426) Doc.in Sur.Soc.857 : To doo ease and favour to þe sayd John Lyllyng.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)47/3 : Ȝy[f ȝe] wyl don almes..ȝe schal hyly plesyn God & don þe sowle gret esse.
d
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1606 : A ffox him may ffynde a stey and a turtle a nest al-so, Whar-ynne hi sitte mowe & walwy & hare ese do [vr. reste þerto].
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.969 : No neer Atthenes wolde he go ne ryde Ne take his ese fully half a day.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.2159 : Whan þe sonne was I-go to reste, þei toke her ese al þat ilke nyȝt.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1433 : His officeres lede The straunge knyghtes..to chambres of estat, Eche by hym-silf forto take his ese.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3861 : He gert tild vp his tentis..Þoȝt þare a longe quile to lie & lachen his esee.
e
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)14/270 : Þai maked at ese þe messagers Wiȝ god semblant and glade chers.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1465 : Sone were þe messagers made mildli at ese.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)533 : His host made hem wel ateys wiþ goode metes.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)124 : Uch mon wyth his mach made hym at ese.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4021 : Ȝe schal in haste be sette better at ese.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.152 : They shal haue payne and potage and make hem-self at ese.