Middle English Dictionary Entry
exequīes n.
Entry Info
| Forms | exequīes n. Also exequise. Forms: exequīes, exequīse are used both as pl. and as sg., whence the occas. pl. exequises; sg. exequi is not attested in ME. |
| Etymology | OF exequies; cp. L exsequiās (acc. pl.). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Funeral, funeral rites or service; burial; don (halwen) ~, hold funeral rites; (b) a memorial service for the dead.
Associated quotations
a
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.74 : Torches, ffor to brenne þe principal day at messe, and at exequises of euery brothir and sistir þat dies, and her messe is in doynge, and to þe body be boren to þe biryinge.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)2 Kings 3.31 : Beth gird with sackis, and weileth before the exequies [WB(2): heersis, ether dirige; L ante exequias] of Abner.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)413/971 : To noman he [the wolf] shewed no fersnesse, Tyme of thexequyes.
- (1438) EEWills109/9 : For to doo my seruice & exquies.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2109 : Heeld his exequies..in the hiest tour, With brennyng fir, fumys and encence.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)56/8 : To come to myn exequise.
- (1447) RParl.5.129b : The costes of his Exequies, and alle othur almusdedus done for his soule.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Guy (LdMisc 683)546 : At his exequyes..cam gret multytude.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)4341 : When he was dede, and his exequies do.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)1343 : He gaderid the bonys vp to ley In sepulture with woofull exequys.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)33/4 : Many noble men and religious women cam to hir exequies.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)78/23 : Þe ded body kept up-on þe ground four dayes with exequiis and missis after þe good customes of þe cherch.
- a1475(1450) Death Suffolk (Vsp B.16)232 : Who shalle execute his exequies with a solempnite?..Monkes, chanons, prestes.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)54a/b : They halowed thexequyes by grete wayllyng vij dayes long.
b
- (1415) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)45 : Y will þat myn exequies and divine cervice for my soule be don atte the chirch of Bedford.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.895 : Of custom for a remembraunce, A rite þei holde and an observaunce At his exequies..A dayes space.
- (1427) Will Durham in Sur.Soc.274 : I will yat yer ben at myn exequises & atte messes..xxiiij torches.
- (1438) Proc.Privy C.5.88 : To write to all cathedrell chirches in England & Wales for to doo exequies in alle haste for þempereur.
- (1444) EEWills131/2 : Y wille and charge that myn exequies be not outragely done in expenses of vanites of Candilstikkes.
- (1454) EEWills132/18 : Myne exequyes and obite day to be kept solempny ther duryng the terme of vij yere.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)223/5 : [King John] of Frauns felle seek and deyed at London,..whos exequies Kyng Edward ded holde worchipfully in dyvers places.