Middle English Dictionary Entry
fāce n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fāce n. Also fas, faz. |
| Etymology | OF face; L faciēs, ML facia. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The face of man in its general physical aspects; (b) the face of an animal; (c) the face (of Fortune); the (double) face (of Janus, Law).
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1183 : His face was brod and long al-so; his fore-heued large i-novȝ.
- ?c1335 Þe grace of god (Hrl 913)117 : He was ibobid and i-smitte And hi spette in is face.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)152b/a : Men þat loken on welles seeþ þerinne a face of hemself.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)43a/a : In comparisoun to oþir membres of þe face þe forehed haþ lytil of fleische & of fatnes.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)11b/a : The particles of þe face bene the front, þe browez, þe eien, þe noseþrillez, þe erez, þe templez, the chekez, þe mouþ & þe chawelez wt her teþ.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)482 : Al the blood owt of hyr faas For sodeyn feer was styrt awey.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)501 : With othir Crafftys which that be secre, Calculacioun and Geomancye..lokyng of ffacys and piromancye.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1808 : Doun scho sal fall in þe flore Opon hir face.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1230 : Marcia that loste her skyn, Bothe in face, body, and chyn.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Ezek.1.6 : And four facis to oon [beast] and four pennys to oon.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2602 : Of fowhles ther is on, Which hath a face of blod and bon.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)276b/b : Þay [goats] turneþ þe face norþward whanne he schal gendre.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)278a/a : Nobilite of houndes..is y knowe by lengþe of face and of þe snowte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.623 : Buglis, bolys, and many grete grifoun..Þat cruelly by sygnes of her facys Vp-on her foon made fel manacys.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.m.5.16 : Hir faces enclyned hevyeth hir dulle wittes. Only the lynage of man heveth heyest his heie heved.
- ?a1450(?c1370) ?Chaucer W.Unc.(Robinson)12 : A wedercok..turneth his face With every wind.
c
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3956 : Fortune..wol..couere hire brighte face with a clowde.
- c1390 Mi word (Vrn)22 : Ȝif fortune wolde be so my fo From me to turne hire freoly faas.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.130 : Lawe hath take hire double face.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1207 : Janus with his double face..loketh upon bothe sides.
2.
Phrases: (a) biholden (loken, pouren) in (on) the face, seen the face, etc.; (b) turnen the face toward, fro(m; (c) kepen in face, meten in the face, putten (setten) the face ayenes, to confront hostilely; (d) in (the) face, to one's face, openly; (e) face to (with) face.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)31/55 : Heo biheold þat heued inwardliche in þe face.
- c1300 11 Pains(2) (LdMisc 108)38 : A domes day..we moten þine face i seo.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)904,906 : Hu murie hit were, to haue þe siht Off godes face, þat is so briht!
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2460 : Vp þey sterte euerechon & be-held him on þe fas.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3327 : He began to loke tho Upon this Maiden in the face.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.295 : But thow poure alwey vpon my face.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)179a/a : No man may biholde him ryȝt in þe face but he dye anoone.
- c1400(1375) Canticum Creat.(Trin-O 57)378 : [Eue] wax ashamed,..Þat she dorste neuere after þat tym Loken Adam in þe face.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1337 : Or ellis se ich nevere Joves face!
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19785 : Til-ward þat like he turnd his face.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.424 : Toward Iason he torne gan his face.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)48/167 : Turne fro me ȝour face a-way.
c
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)604 : Þenne þe folk of þe Roche hem in face kepten.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2538 : Ȝe of knyȝthod..take on honde..like a man to mete hem in þe face.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Lev.26.17 : I shal putte [WB(2): sette] my face aȝens ȝow.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.2968 : With Zizara to meetyn in the face.
d
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3094 : Whan she cometh hoom, she raumpeth in my face And crieth 'false coward'.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)86 : Alle feithful men of oure rewme owen to agenstonde hym stidefastli and in the face.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1589 : Philoteas with his wardis tweyne, Euene in þe face, manly hem with-stood.
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)1314 : Some dure Darie manace, That durre him nought seon in face.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)192 : Þei dispisen god in his face.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)36/31 : Synne offendyth god in his face.
e
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)88 : We him ssolle yzy face to face clyerlyche.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)244 : Hi ssolle y-zi face wyþ face.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)119/72 : Þai er broght before God and sese hym face til face and egh til egh.
- c1452 Capgr.Aug.Orders (Add 36704)145/12 : Iacob sey our Lord God fas to fas.
3.
Of persons: (a) facial appearance or expression; bearing; beren god face; (b) facial or outward appearance as contrasted to some other reality; two faces in a hod, double-facedness, duplicity; (c) traits of personality, character; (d) a person as having certain traits, a personage or person.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)1138 : So gretliche sche awondred was, Þat hir chaunged blod & fas.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2634 : On þe fairest on face.
- c1390 Bi a wey (Vrn)27 : Ȝif þi catel beginne to pase..Tak good cumfort & bere good face.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.920 : Neither by hire wordes ne hir face..Ne shewed she that hir was doon offence.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10192 : Ȝyt preyde he God..Þat he myȝt knowe hem [sinners] by face.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4263 : Ioseph was farli fair in face [vr. of face].
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)34 : The pardowner, beerdlees al his Chyn, GlasyEyed and face of Cherubyn.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.68 : He..with a chaunged face hem bad a boone.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Cor.5.12 : Hem that glorien in the face and not in the herte.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.541 : Suspecious was the diffame of this man, Suspect his face, suspect his word also.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.218 : Galle in his breste and sugre in his face.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7332 : Fals-Semblant..hadde of tresoun al his face, Ryght blak withynne and whit withoute.
- c1460 Awake lordes (Dub 432)341 : Two fases in a hode is neuer to tryst.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)145 : The Kyng of Frauns in face schewid himself a lomb, and in work a leon.
- (1482) Let.Cely (PRO S.C.1 53/125)p.158 (170/36) : He ys noo stydffast man, nor he owyth yow noo goodd wyll thowȝth he make a ffayer fface, ffor I hawe spoken to hym ffor yowre warrantys xx tymys and he gyffyth me at euery tyme a contrary answer.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Cor.1.11 : Of the persoones of manye faces.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)2 Cor.1.11 : Personys of manye facys, þat is of dyuerse vertues and dyuerse agys.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.4.26 : Ne take thou to face [WB(2): a face] aȝen thi face [L ne accipias faciem adversus faciem tuam].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2227 : O nyce proude cherl, I shrewe his face.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Job 42.8 : Joob my seruaunt schal preie for ȝou; Y schal resseuye his face [WB(1): his face I shal take; L faciem eius suscipiam].
- c1450(?a1400) Quatref.Love (Add 31042)114 : Gabriel, þat faire face, Haylsede Marie full of grace.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)44/21 : Suete sone, fayre fare þi fface.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)37/64 : I xal me kepe from all trespace þat xulde offende goddys face.
4.
The face as front; the forward part or front (of something): (a) folwen the face, to move directly ahead; (b) befor the face of, in advance of, ahead of, before; (c) with ful face, in a position directly facing (something), directly opposite.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)978 : Loth and þo luly-whit, his lefly two deȝter, Ay folȝed here face, bifore her boþe yȝen.
b
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)9 : I send..my messager Bifor thi face thi word to ber.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22757 : Be-for þe face o þat kaiser Angels sal his baner bere.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)17.46 : I sall lesse thaim as dust bifore the face of wynd.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)136b/b : Alwey he [the rainbow] haþ respecte to þe sonne wiþ ful face, and þe sonne is euene a fore þe bowe.
5.
(a) The faculty of vision; (b) range of vision; sight, presence; before the face of, in the sight or presence of, in front of; (c) the state or condition of being present; maken a face, shewen the face, to make, or put in, an appearance.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)73b/a : Oure lord is riȝtful..& his face seeþ equite.
b
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)8.39 : I ne schal sende ȝor soules..bi-foren þe Face of my Fader.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Abp.& N.(Phys-E)86 : I salle be flemid awaye Fra goddes faz, til pin of helle.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)10460 : Bot i him saw bifore mi face [vr. to-fore my fas].
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)50.12 : Ne forwerþe me fra face of þe.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.134 : Þise on knees gan falle bifore þe kyngis face.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4202 : Theban non aforn his face abood.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)845 : Þai had grace And loue before þe bischope face.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)167/150 : My savyour dere, Whiche þou hast ordeyned be-forn þe face Of Al mankynde..opynly to Appere.
c
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)79.4 : Conuerte vs, and shewe þi face, and we shul ben sauf.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.10.27 : The ȝoc shal waxen al roten fro the face of oile [L a facie olei].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Cor.10.1 : I Poul..the which sothely in the face [L in facie] am meek among ȝou, forsoth I absent triste in ȝou.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.122 : I purpose not he shall come there,..but if he can do more thanne loke foorth and make a fase and countenauns.
- c1475 Þe tyme approcheþe (Hrl 2251)309 : The matiers to fulfille forth must procede, Suffre augmentacioun to shewe hir face By addiciouns.
6.
The surface (of the earth, the sea), the areal extent (of a city).
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.14.21 : Thei shul not..fulfille the face of the roundnesse of the cite [L faciem orbis civitatum].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.19.8 : The fissheres..spredende out the net vpon the face of watris.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4892 : Þe face of þe erth sal brin with-out, And þe shappe of þe world sal for-done be.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.5.66 : The face of the see whan it es cleer.
7.
(a) External or outward appearance; superficial look or aspect (of something); (b) after the ~, in appearance, superficially; at (the) prime face, at first appearance, at first sight; also, at the beginning, at first; (c) shape, phase (of the moon); (d) likeness, image.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.92 : Nyle ȝe juge after þe face, but juge ȝe just jugement.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)39/1 : Demeþ nouȝt by þe face, but riȝtful doom ȝe deme.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.765 : But right as when the sonne shyneth brighte In March, that chaungeth ofte tyme his face.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.5.41,42 : The face of this place ne moeveth me noght so mochel as thyn owene face.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)317 : And right as Aleyn, in the Pleynt of Kynde, Devyseth Nature of aray and face [etc.].
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.848 : A comedie hath in his gynnyng, At prime face, a maner compleynyng, And afterward endeth in gladnes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5811 : Þus he answered at þe prime face.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.919 : This accident..was..so like a sooth, at prime face.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)3366 : The fyn of hir swetnesse Conclude thai with bitternesse..Thogh she be soote att prime face.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)75.12 (v.2:p.59) : Seynt Iames .. our lordis brothir he was callid, for aftir the face, as it is seid, he was moste like hym, in so moche that many were often deceived in knouleche of her persones.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)115a/a : Þe mone chaungiþ figure & schap, for he schewiþ toward þerþe diuers face of his liȝt.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2504 : Tymes foure the mone hath hid hire face.
d
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)213 : God..made man aftir his owen face.
- c1390(a1325) Ipotis (Vrn)518 : God made mon..And schop him aftur his oune face.
8.
Astrol. One of the three parts of ten degrees into which each sign of the zodiac was divided.
Associated quotations
- (c1386) Almanac 1386 [OD col.]3 : The faces of planetys ar knowen..on þis wyse: euerilk a syne es devyded in 30 grece. þan dyvyde 30 in 3 partis equale, & þer sal be in ilk parte 10 grece þat ar called one face.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.50 : Phebus..was ny his exaltacioun In Martes face and in his mansioun.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.4.69 : They seyn that every signe is departid in thre evene parties by 10 degrees, and thilke porcioun they clepe a face.
- a1500(1426) Lydg.Hen.VI TP (Hrl 7333)293 : His duellyng place Ameddis the heuen in the thrid face.
9.
Alch. ?Elemental nature or character.
Associated quotations
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)32a : For faces of elementes be knite with a knotte of godes hand..Connexion of faces of elementall kynde.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.94vb (3.8) : 'Pinguedo in vrina'..is a maner of fathede, a maner of grecihede abouen on the face of the vryn, resoluede of membres in the body and swymmand out forth wiþ þe vryn.
Note: ?New sense, or ?modify gloss of sense 6. Editor's gloss: 'of urine: the surface'.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. face.