Middle English Dictionary Entry
exaumplē̆re n.
Entry Info
| Forms | exaumplē̆re n. Also -aire, -ar, exempl-, exemplier, exampler. |
| Etymology | OF examplaire, LL exemplārium; also cp. exaumpl(i)en v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. ensaumplere, essamplaire, exaumplarie, saumpler(e.
1.
A specific instance illustrating a general truth.
Associated quotations
- c1450 Page SRouen (Glb E.8)420/34 : There men myght se an exampleyre how foode makithe the pepull feyre.
2.
Phil. The divine exemplar in the Platonic sense; the prototype of the universe, existing in the mind of God and copied in the material phenomena of the universe.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)335a/b : [Music] crieþ nameliche & warneþ vs of þe vnite of þe exemplar of god in contrary worchinges.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.172 : Enserchyng þan þe depe intelligence, Þe hye exsaumpler of þe eternyte.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.171 : Aftir þe hye and souereigne exsaumplere Alle þinges þou producest wonderly.
3.
(a) A copy or transcript of a book; an original or exemplar from which other copies are made; (b) an image or replica of a person or thing.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) Prols.Job (Dc 369(1))671 : Aftir the making of the Seuenti, now the euangelie of Crist shynende..in sixe exaumpleris ben had anent the chirches.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)99a/a : Þe lettur is intricate And perauenture yuel founden in exemplerez of grecus.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)195/21 : [Alexander] made to translate alle the bookes of astronomye and of phylosophye, and sente the translacions in-to Grece, and made to brenne alle the exampleres.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)43a : Exemplar: exemplar, exemplarium.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 370)4 Kings 16.10 : Whanne he hadde seen the auter of Damasc, kyng Achaz sente to Vrias, the prest, the exsaumpler of it, and the licnesse.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.81 : Þi sones..be In manere printes and as exsaumpleres Bothe of theire eldere fadir and of the.
- c1450 When the son (Frf 16)136 : Ther was als a myrrour of wonder engyne..In whom ye myght truly byhold and loke In thexemplayre of deuyn boke How your frendys fare yn euery contre.
4.
(a) A model of conduct (good or bad); a model of virtue; (b) a precedent.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)752 : Hir sad demening, of wil not variable,..And examplaire to al þat wil be stable.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.79 : Ye [Petrarch] haue been..in writyng bookis..Cheeff exaumplaire to my gret auauntage.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.2383 : [Kings] sholde be..As exaumplaires of equite and riht.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)384/419 : An exaumplaire and a merour cler In this story ye shal now seen.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)89/21 : Jesus..oure techer, oure exaumpler.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)7439 : An exempler..of vertuhs alle.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Horns (LdMisc 683)67 : Modyr of Ihesu..Trewe examplire [sic] of virgynyte.
- ?a1475(a1449) Lydg.Death's Warning (Dc 322)42 : Oure lorde Ihesu, Trewe exampeler of grace and vertew.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)99 : The Almyghty Kynge, exempler of alle marcy and grace.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)126/13 : I woll yeve the no mo ensaumples of the Newe Testament, for He that [is] exemplier [vr. exampler] of all ensaumples yave the inough in Himself .. -- one ensaumple for all.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)19 : A remembraunce of Edwardes sonnes fyue, Your exampler, to geue you a corage.
b
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.5 : In this tyme presente..thexemplares [Trev.: ensample] of acciones spectable scholde not be patent.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)6821 : The bloody dropys..Shewyn..Ther martyrdam,..to yiven vn-to the Verrayly an exaumplayre..To suffre deth for crystys sake.