Middle English Dictionary Entry
ēternitẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ēternitẹ̄ n. |
| Etymology | OF eternité. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of God and the life after death: eternal existence, the quality or attribute of being eternal.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.6.15 : Eternite thanne is parfit possessioun and altogidre of lif interminable.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)330 : The present eternite of his [God's] sighte renneth alwey with the diverse qualite of our dedes.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Gloriosa (Trin-C R.3.20)190 : Þe parfyte beemys..Of God provyded by his eternytee, Þis wreched worlde to gladen and to light.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.211 : God is [read: in] his eternyte So knoweth all þat evire schal betide.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)400/1868 : For to receyue the to that eternyte Where thou shal Ioye be-forn the trynyte.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)31/66 : O souereyn lord reygnyng in eternyte.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)358/84 : Sche shal comyn to myn eternyte.
2.
Eternity as opposed to (contrasted with) time. (a) Infinite continuance; continuance without end (also without beginning or end); (b) eternity considered as a succession of ages; -- pl.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)17b/b : An angel is maad in þe orisoun [L orizonte] of tyme and eternite euerlastinge.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.7.109 : Yif thow wolt maken comparysoun to the endles spaces of eternyte, what thyng hastow by which thow mayst rejoisen the of long lastynge of thi name?
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.157 : Swich comparysoun as is..of thing that ys engendrid to thing that is, and of tyme to eternite.
b
- (?c1422) Hoccl.ASM (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)213 : Seintes shuln shyne as sterres in perpetuel eternitees.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Corp-O 4)4.64 : Thoo that techen many men to rightwisnes as sterres into perpetuel eternytees.
3.
Of temporal things: long duration; bi eternite, for all time, in perpetuity.
Associated quotations
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.3211 : That his statutis be eternyte Sholde nat be broke.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.476 : Thus maketh they, of their fertilitie In helpyng nature, a feir eternytie.