Middle English Dictionary Entry
expert ppl., adj. (and n.)
Entry Info
| Forms | expert ppl., adj. (and n.) |
| Etymology | L expert-us ppl., OF expert, es-. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. experten.
1.
Having (personal) experience (in or of something); experienced, wise through experience.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2353 : Youre freendes that ben of age, swiche as han seighen and ben expert in manye thynges.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.174 : Tribulacioun in mariage Of which I am expert in al myn age.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.420 : Fortune..Ay vnstable with hir eyen blynde, As ȝe expert in ȝoure silfe now fynde.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2952 : But age experte no thyng vndertaketh But he to-forn..Make a due examynacioun.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3630 : Al his lordes and the olde Quene..Of old expert and alway founde stable.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1367 : Tho that ben expert in love.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4291 : She was expert in his servise. She knew ech wrench and every gise Of love.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)42/16 : Þe ankres was expert in swech thyngys & good cownsel cowd ȝeuyn.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)243/20 : Experte, wyse, and discrete bothe in Godis wysdom and in the prudence of man.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Christina Mirab.(Dc 114)133/28 : Cristyn..þe þridde tyme was experte of dethe and þe thridde tyme dyed.
- a1500(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(1))16426 : I am fful wel expert, and ha fful experyence off thy benygne goodnesse.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)12/7 : Þan miȝt we..somewhat be expert of heuenly contemplacion.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)3/29 : Fraunce .. is boonde.., and we dryvin into exile ..; and so we be experte in our myschevis and euery day we lye in sorowis and sighinges, in pouerte chasid owt.
2.
Well informed or excelling (in philosophy, medicine, etc.), learned; well trained or skilled (in arms, venery, etc.), skillful.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.8.9 : A kniȝtly man, and in thingus of bateil most expert.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.27 : Aristotle..Wys and expert in the sciences.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)33/4 : Galion and Auicen, & I þat am expert here seiynge, we seie þat [etc.].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3799 : In actis marcial Ful wel experte.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)364 : Such as weren famous physiciens And wel expert Astronomyens.
- (1433) RParl.4.449b : Brocours aliens yat been nowe so prive and expert of Merchandises.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.801 : Noble Pryncis..Off olde expert [vr. expertis], nat blent with couetise.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)349 : Ȝit if he be leernyd and be expert in knowing þat [etc.].
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)9 : An expert philisoffre.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)264 : To founden som man that wer expert arriht..To haue restoored the sike to weelfare.
- ?a1450 Arderne LW (Em 69)125 : He submytted him to the curys of expertte leches.
- c1450 Metham Physiog.(Gar 141)119/29 : A wyse man and an experte man in that cunnyng [physiognomy].
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)8 : A mane of grete wit and eloquence..and expert in the lawe.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)138 : As euery man experte þer in [in archery] knowith ryght well.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.355 : Men of Irlonde be experte specially in ij kyndes of musike.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.355 : Experte [L praecipuus] in the arte of huntynge, and specially in geometry.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)63 : Yong men not roted ne expert in the law, ne in policie [of] governaunce.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)89 : A lapadary þat was expert in þe vertue of Stonys.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)13/142 : In norture have I taught al myne; and in curtesye made hem expert.
3.
Of things: (a) evident, clear, obvious; (b) clearly demonstrated, excelling, supreme (courage, generosity).
Associated quotations
a
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2201 : On hillis hih it is an inpossible A man tabide withoute wynd or reyn; A thyng expert & verray visible.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.IVMass (Trin-C R.3.21)482 : Poetys seyen howe loue hath no law, Thyng well expert in these ladyes thre.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)82/26 : Soche verray & experte informacioun.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1053 : Largesse expert, manhood, and gentillesse Þat þei han founden in his worthinesse.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.4280 : Such trust, such [af]fiaunce He gaff to hem bi his expert prowesse.
4.
Chiefly med. Of a remedy or treatment: approved, tried, effective, appropriate (to a malady); of a phenomenon: confirmed.
Associated quotations
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.108r : Also if it [pervenca, periwinkle] be put to þe mowþ of a beste þat men calleþ a buble (some callyn it a bugle), anon it schal tobrestyn on two, and þis is expert of folk þat buþ now here þis days.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)42a/b : Desiccatiuez appropriate & experte by maistrez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)43a/b : Neþerlez þe first maners [of cure] beþ more experte [L magis experti].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)121a/b : Anoþer [medicine] expert to acorose & fauose.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)149a/a : Noble Serapion endited an expert and hie medicyne to breke þe stone.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)127a/b : Auicen & Heben Mesue approueþ sich a collirie expert to terez [L expertum ad lachrymas] & derkenez of eien.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)68/11 : A Rial þing expert, þat wonderfully..amendeþ þe errour..of..digestion.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)277 : Pelotes expert for evacuatyues.
- ?a1450 Arderne LW (Em 69)119 : The medicine schalbe the more expertere in werkynge.