Middle English Dictionary Entry
expēdient adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | expēdient adj. |
| Etymology | L expedient-em ppl., OF expedient. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Suitable for a certain purpose or desired result; fitting, fit, or proper (to do); agreeable or acceptible (to someone).
Associated quotations
- (1418) Proc.Privy C.2.358 : Suche personnes as you þenketh expedient.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)32a/b : Sinoz of cuningz & of wilde briddes & flesh of hennez & motoun ar expedient.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)38b/a : A collirye..forto emplastre wiþ þise & with ȝolkez of eiren is þan expedient ynow.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.36/3 : Tyl all thyng was fynyschid..that was expedient to so grete a feste.
- (1430-1) RParl.4.371b : To offre for ye Kyngges partie menis yat shal be thought to hem covenable and expedient to conclude and accorde ye Pees.
- (1432) Paston2.35 : Eny persone..suspect of mysgovernance, and not behoveful nor expedient to be aboute the King.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)115/25 : Many repreuows wordys & vngoodly, þe whiche is mor expedient to be concelyd þan expressyd.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)31/839 : Sumtyme to sporte, and sumtyme to pray; Yt ys expedyent.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.153 : I hald it noght full myche expedient Of comyn poepull to be comendable Þat han no resoun in theire iugement.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)245/411 : Onto us all it is most expedyent þat o man ffor þe pepyl xuld deye, þan all þe pepyl xuld perysch.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)9/25 : Charite is to be had to all men, but familiarite is not expedient [L non expedit].
2.
Conducive to a (good) purpose or result, expedient; advantageous or advisable (to do); good or of advantage (to someone, for a purpose).
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4710 : As fittynge is and expedient, We trete of pes.
- (?c1422) Hoccl.ASM (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)407 : More than was neede or expedient..Entendid y.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)174/33 : Sche wiste not whether it were expedient that hir brother [Lazarus] schulde be reised, or whether it were Jesu wille.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)162/19 : It was expedient to be do.
- (1439) RParl.5.28b : That it be noght expedient this Ordinaunce to endure any longer.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)139 : Whanne þou schal se it to be expedient, þou wolt punysche synnys by temporal punyschingis in þis world.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)324 : Forto endewe hise legis in diuerse statis..aftir þat þe lawe of kynde and of feiþ wole to be moost expedient into þe eendis and ententis.
- (1443) Let.Christ Ch.in RS 85.3183 : Expedient for the success of the aforesaid matters.
- (1444) RParl.5.74a : It semed to hym ryght necessarie, expediente and behovefull for the suerte of this Roialme.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)3993 : It was ful expedyent For þe comoun profyth of þat cyte.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)17/5 : It had bene mor expedient vnto þe, þis day for to hafe etyn flessh.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)227/8 : It wold not be expedient vnto hym þat he had mor gude.
- (1466) Will York in Sur.Soc.30286 : Most expedient for the wele..of my saule.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)106/3 : As is expedient to my worschip.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)350/45 : Hee is alþerewisiste, and þerfore hee wote beste what is expedient and profitable to euery manne.
- a1500(a1422) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)20 : All matiers that me semed necessarie or expedient to signiffie unto youre highnesse.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)82/22 : Ȝif hit seme good & expedient to þe Mynistre.
- c1525 Rule & T.St.Francis(2) (Fst D.4)71 : Yf yt seme..the foreseid mynistre not to be sufficyent and able for that office and expedient to that seruyce.