Middle English Dictionary Entry
amǒur n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | amǒur n.(1) |
| Etymology | OF amo(u)r. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. paramour.
1.
(a) Love between the sexes, affection; pl. love affairs, love-making; (b) spiritual love, charity; castel of ~, name of a shrine; (c) amity, friendship.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)9/142 : Gentil emperour, I þe loue wiȝ fin amour.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4564 : Alisaunder..wolde hym wiþ grete honoure Habbe affonge in his amoure.
- c1400 ?Nassyngton SV (Cmb Ll.1.8)37 : I wil make no veyn spekyng Of dedes of armes ne of amours.
- [ 1487(1375) Barbour Bruce (StJ-C G.23)8.498 : Than mycht he weill ask ane lady Hir amouris and hir drowry. ]
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)218/14 : The Pascionys of the bodyes..Dronknesse..amours..frenesy.
b
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)182 : [The jewel of chastity] is idon in heouene golde, and is ful of fyn amur.
- a1350 Mayden moder (Hrl 2253)16 : Mayde..meoke ant mylde, be wiþ me pur la sue amour.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)17/23 : And in the castell of amoure lyth the body of seynt Hyllarie.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)4229 : For she rotyd was in crystys amour Inward in hir hert.
c
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4662 : To seruen him & make amour Our fader & him bitven.
- c1330 Floris (Auch)952 : Þo spak Clarice to Blauncheflour Wordes ful of fin amour.
- (1474) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)11.826 : That..Amour, Peax, and Tranquillite perpetuale suld grow and daili increse.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)384 : These briddes singen..and than reioyse the corages of these yonge lusty bachelers..and the swete song..remembred their armours which thei were wont to haue the presence, and some dide sighe full ofte.
Note: New spelling