Middle English Dictionary Entry
ēsī̆ adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | ēsī̆ adj. Also aisi, eisi, ȝeesi. |
| Etymology | OF aaisié, aisé, ppl. of aaisier. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. ese adj.
1.
Offering comfort(s, comfortable; pleasant, enjoyable, satisfying; esi lif; esi bed; esi fod.
Associated quotations
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)330/156 : I wot not eysiere lyf than is religioun.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)135 : No thing in this lijf and most in this tyme is esiere and lightere and more acceptable to men than the office of a bisshop othir of prest or of dekene.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1264 : For wedlok is so esy and so clene That in this world it is a paradys.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)16/10 : If þat he be woundid in þe heed..he reste & dwelle in stillenes & haue an esy bed & a soft.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)7.123 : His lyflode is ful esy.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4745 : Love, it is..A plesaunt gayl, and esy prisoun.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5606 : Though he [the poor man] have lytel worldis good, Mete, and drynke, and esy food.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Priesthood (Corp-C 296)166 : Þei ben more maad prestis for worldly honour & aisy lif & welfare of body þan for deuocion.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)4835 : Þat schull ȝe not gete wt heyssy leuynge, Ny wt no lust, ny lykynge of ȝowre fleysshe.
- (1459) Paston (Gairdner)3.148 : A competent and an esy dwellynge place.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)204/21 : The herberowe was right godely and esy.
2.
(a) Suitable, convenient (location); fair, fertile (land); (b) suitable or convenient (time).
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)529 : Brut wende vorþ in to engelond..Vor to seche an eysi place vor to rere an heued toun.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7130 : Faire medes,..Gode londe, aysee cuntre.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)247/10 : A riche contrey that was feire and esy.
b
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)925 : Whan ye see tyme most esiest, Than speke to him of my request.
3.
Of persons and their behavior: (a) lenient, kind, gentle; peaceable, calm; restrained; (b) impassive; tractable; (c) of an utterance: gentle, not loud.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.167 : Men of þe souþ beeþ esier and more mylde [L quietior et mitior; Higd.(2): meke and quiete]; and men of þe north be more vnstable, more cruel, and more vnesy.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.277 : Men of Scitia barbarica, þat were ȝit no warriours, but stille men and esy [L innocentem].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.161 : Constancius þe emperour..reconsiled Liberius, for hym semed þat he was esyer [vr. aysyer] to þe Arrians.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.223 : He was an esy man to yeue penaunce.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)273/95 : Þat he may lerne esy to be To hem þat ben fondet for þe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)73b/a : Wiþoute a lord..compenye of men myȝte [not] be pesible, nothir esy, nothir quyete [L pacifica et quieta].
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)84/2 : Seruauntis be ȝe, suget in al drede to ȝoure temperal lordis & not oonli to good & to esy lordis.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1133 : Hym was loth for to do vengance, Wher-as he myȝt in esy wyse trete For to reforme þinges smale & grete.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1921 : Now were they esy, now were they wod.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.5.85 : So that thilke passiouns that ben waxen hard..mowe waxen esy and softe.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)32/26 : Hir husbond..was euyr a good man & an esy man to hir.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)143 : Esy, or softe yn' sterynge: Lentus.
- (1448) Shillingford52/23 : Gode men and eysy.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)1008 : She hadde..esy, atempre governaunce.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2477 : My comyng was esye; Bot for ȝe fangid me noȝt faire, fired is ȝour schippis.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)289b/b : A ȝong cow..is..ouersette wiþ a strong ȝokke to make hire esy and tame.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.1090 : And, as an esy pacyent..thus he dryeth forth his aventure.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.192v : This Odo ganne segge that the regne of Engelond bilonged to Robert Curthose whiche was more esy of will than William .. and he seide William hadde be to nesshe and delicatliche inorrysshed, and seide hit was to drede the wildnesse of his will.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1540 : And pes sustiened up alofte With esy wordes and with softe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1363 : Not swiche sorwfull sikes..But esy sykes, swiche as ben to like, That shewed his affeccioun withinne.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)382 : Nature..In esy voys began to speke.
4.
Of the elements: (a) calm, undisturbed; esi ski, slow-moving cloud; (b) esi fir, slow or moderate fire.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)133a/b : Þe ouer partye of þe eyr is..esy & softe, ffor mevynge of stormys of wynde and of wedir may not reche þerto.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)322b/a : Þe see is esy and mylde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5506 : How þat oure lorde on an esy skye Ascende schulde & holde furþe his weye Toward Egypt.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)143 : Esy, or soft, as wedyr: Tranquillus.
- ?a1450 Arderne LW (Em 69)113 : That the wynde be sowth & esy & that the mone be not..in Aries.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)15 : Fro þe deeþ of adam into þe tyme of noe neuer reynede..but euermore was esy wedir.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.768 : The esy fyr and smerte also Which that was maad.
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)37 : Boile it with esy fyr.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)278/895 : Set it in a charcole fire þt is easye and let it seth softly.
5.
Of motion: gentle, slow; esi pas, slow or leisurely gait or pace; esi of gate, of graceful gait or bearing.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)69a/b : Norischis vse to rocke childen [sic]..wiþ esi & temperat meuynge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)284a/a : Take heede of þe horse colt for goynge and paas, harde or softe, esy oþer vnesy.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6014 : To Achilles he went an esy pace.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)223 : An esy paas rydyng, The Kyng is entred into this Citee.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)284 : I saugh comyng of ladyes nyntene, In real habit, a ful esy paas.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.620 : Go þou an easy paas and not to farre at oonys.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)42a : Esy of gate: gracilis.
6.
Of a load or burden: easy to bear, not onerous; of a penalty or sentence: moderate, not oppressive.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.11.30 : My ȝoc is swete or softe, and my charge liȝt or eisy.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2690 : In as muche as hym thynketh his synnes moore heuy and greuous, in so muche semeth his peyne the lighter and the esier vn to hym.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.3046 : Ye moste yeue moore esy sentences and iugementz.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)43/925 : Engoyne ȝe not to ȝeesy penans, ne to strayt alegat.
- (1435) RParl.4.489b : For an esy fyn to be made with his bele uncle..for ye offense of brekyng of ye prison of ye seide Castell.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)90/30 : Þus God doþe Grace yn esy demyng.
7.
Of action: not difficult, requiring little effort or labor, easy; presenting few difficulties or obstacles.
Associated quotations
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1268 : He þouȝte þat wymmen to ouercome esy & Mylde were.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.443 : It was esiere [L tolerabilius] to bygrone þe emper [of] a man alone þan to be under newe lordes.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.2159 : It is riht esi to comaunde.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)41b/a : Mene meuinge [of the eye]..tokeneþ esy apprehencioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)75a/b : In olde men abstinence of mete is eth & esy and in children and ȝong men hard & vnesy.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)284a/b : [Elephants] lerneþ wel and beþ esy to teche.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)3529 : Hauke is esy..To recleyme þat haþ lost his pray.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)72/4 : An esyere wey..to gadre riches.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.67.20 : The God of oure heelthis schal make an eesie wei to vs.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1402 : Þe way of dede semes large and eesy.
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)2/22 : Þe gospel & fredom of cristis ordre..is most perfit & most esi to wynne heuene by.
- ?c1430 Wycl.PN(1) (Corp-C 296)202 : Þis pater noster þat is best & most hesy of alle.
- (1439) Proc.Privy C.5.394 : Þe which wold not be light ne easy to doo.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)268 : It is esier forto ymagyne [etc.].
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)45.770 : And Slowh the Ieaw[n]t In Esy Manere.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)15/7 : Þo maters schulen be to hem liȝt and eesi to be vndirstonde.
8.
(a) Moderate in quality or quantity; esi win, weak wine; (b) indifferent, inferior; of esi birth, not of noble birth.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.441 : He was but esy of dispence, He kepte that he wan in pestilence.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)188a : Popill is an herbe colde & drye wiþ an esy repercussioun [*Ch.(1): temperatly repercussive].
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)19/3 : He wold not drynke..bod in esy quantitie.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)290/23 : He wolde drynk bod esy wyne.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)108/16 : Drynke it at ewyn last and at morwe furst, an esy drawght.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)5774 : Of vitayle thei haue but easy store.
- -?-(1425) Doc.in Entick Hist.Lond.(1766)4.354 : That the overcloathing..be dark and brown of colour..and of easy prised.
b
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)176 : Brytayne is of easy reputasyone.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)185/13 : Thei of Greece bene but of easy deedis and of litil valure.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)78 : Thoughe he were descendid but of esie birthe.
9.
Misc.: (a) Suitable, fit; (b) nominal, titular (not actual); (c) ben esi, be able, have the means; (d) esi metes, soft diet; (e) esi medicine, household remedy.
Associated quotations
a
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1116 : There nas..Ne stede, for the justing wel to gon, Ne large palfrey, esy for the nones,..That Dido ne hath it Eneas ysent.
b
- (1458-9) *Plea & Mem.R.Lond.GildhA 83.m.2 : Thy title is but easy & not lawfull.
c
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)47 : And brohte þat child mit hire in to þe temple and offredde loc for him alse hie aisie was..gif hie was poure, two duue briddes.
d
- c1450 Royal SSecr.(Roy 18.A.7)23/24 : Whan the stomak is cold and febille, than is bettir esy metis and drynkis tille that he be stronger and in more hete.
e
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)38a/b : Wiþ esy medecynes [*Ch.(1): homely þinges; L aliquibus domesticis].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)42b/b : Esye altratyf and colynge medicynes [L alterantia frigida domestica; *Ch.(1): homely colde alteratiuez].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)42b/a : Wiþ some esy [*Ch.(1): homely] repercussyues.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 53/2 : Contynue hit forth with esi fire vntil alle þe maters þat bien in þis pot so be risen and sublymed vp into the coppe of þy pot.
- a1500 Cmb.Ee.1.13 Dye Recipes (Cmb Ee.1.13) 108/10 : Dri it with esi fyre.
Note: Need dates., sense 4.(b).
- a1500 Sln.122 Artist.Recipes (Sln 122) 85/1 : If thy asure..be smalle and fyne of grayne put þerto esi gummyd water.
Note: Additional quot., sense 8.(a).