Middle English Dictionary Entry
abǒundaunce n.
Entry Info
| Forms | abǒundaunce n. Also abond-, abund-, hab-. |
| Etymology | L abundantia, OF abonda(u)nce. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A great number of things, a great quantity; plenty, a sufficiency; also, an excess; -- often with in or of; (b) ~ of water, an overflow, a flood.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 370)2 Par.32.4 : Lest there commen kingis of Assiries and fynde aboundaunce of watirs.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 12.15 : The lyf of a man is not in the haboundanse of tho thingis whiche he weldith.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.826 : Thurgh the grete habundaunce of his mete, the humours in his body ben destempred.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)61a/a : To moche flowinge & schedinge of menstrual humours..comeþ of grete habundauns þat kynde may not holde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2717 : With habundaunce of gold & of tresour.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.27.28 : God ȝyue to thee..aboundaunce [WB(1): plente] of whete, and of wyn, and of oile.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.4.15 : Thow hast yit manye habundances of thynges.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)58/30 : Anathemasis is made for aboundance of blode.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)24/23 : Sche knelyd..and preyd..wyth gret habundawns of teerys.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)68/34 : Thare was so grete habundance of nedders.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)317 : Thei schulden of..her habundaunce in godis sende sum almes.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.72 : As many habundaunces of richesse..as þe see haþ smale grauel stones.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)12993 : My wynes..I take ther-off so gret plente, Swych haboundaunce and swych foysoun, That I lese wyt and resoun.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.113 : The Mownte..callede Oliuete for habundaunce of oliues.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)19 : He shulde haue habundance of all maner richesse & iewels.
b
- (1423) Pet.Sutton in Fenland NQ 7307 : This londe is charged with the grete habondance of water that has falne in the said partes.
- (1423) Pet.Sutton in Fenland NQ 7308 : At evry creteyn and haboundance of water the said toune of Sutton is suroundyd.
2.
A full measure (of joy, love, beauty, virtue, etc.); greatness, intensity; -- often with of; ~ of herte, the fullness of the heart.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)261 : Abundance and plente of alle guode, blisse, and ioye.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.627 : After the habundance of the herte speketh the mouth ful ofte.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1042 : Habundaunce of love and besy cure.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)41/3 : It may befalle þat a soule in þis deedly body, for abundaunce of grace..schal haue sodenly & parfitely lost and forȝetyn alle wetyng & felyng of his beyng.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)111/15 : Habundaunce of goostly worchyng.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)2/10 : Þe byrnyng in my saule byrst vp..for vncuthnes of slik helefull habundance oft-tymes haue I gropyd my breste.
- c1440(?a1396) ?Hilton Angels' Song (Thrn)17/2 : A saule es made gastely..by abowndance of charite þat es in þe substance of the saule.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)274 : And if we wyl speken of cheryte, I-wys she had ryht greth habundaunnce.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4015 : To þat abundaunse of bewte ho was best norisshed.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)246/33 : Þe abundance of vertues þat scho smellyth.
- a1500 Counsels Isidor (Hrl 1706)371 : Þe mouþ spekyþ of þe habundaunce of þe herte.
3.
(a) Plenty, prosperity, wealth; the yield of land; (b) fullness, satiety; (c) bountifulness, generosity.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Cor.8.14 : In the present tyme ȝoure haboundaunce fulfille the myseste of hem.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.778 : Thanne is it honeste and leueful that of habundaunce of this contree, that men helpe another contree that is moore nedy.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1723 : Possessioners that mowen lyue..in wele and habundaunce.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.203 : Poure folk..of hir labour toke hir sustenance After that the erthe yaf hem habundance.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4411 : Þoruȝ-out þe lond þere was swiche aboundance..Þat no wiȝt had among hem no nede.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7182 : Into an Ile ful of habondaunce, Callid Messa.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Hos.13.6 : Bi her lesewis thei weren fillid, and hadden abundaunce [L saturati sunt].
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)16/174 : To abeyde abstinens and foresake abundans.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.2214 : Nouther in richesse nor worldli habundaunce.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)2.203 : Thanne shuld ye haue bothe rest and abundaunce.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1156 : And spare wel whil ther is aboundaunce.
- a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)2.S.296 : Þe emproure off Rome..a man of grete abundance.
b
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4725 : Love..is..charite full of envie; And hunger full of habundaunce.
c
- ?c1425(c1390) Chaucer Fort.(Benson-Robinson)29 : Graunt mercy of thyn haboundaunce That thou hast lent or this.
4.
The state of being abundant, plentifulness; in (unto, til, to, with) ~, in abundance, plentifully, liberally.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mal.3.10 : Y shal..sheede out to ȝou blessyng vnto [WB(2): til to] aboundaunce.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3980 : In any þing þat may do ȝou plesaunce, Ȝe schal it haue with al habundaunce.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5689 : All these ar riche in abundaunce.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)101/16 : Men geten gret plente of Manna, in gretter habundance þan in ony other contree.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)284 : Onclennesse whech is I-founde..in ony habundaunce.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)23 : Gold and gemmis be there in habundauns.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)5507 : Ther was so gret plente of grace To al the world, in habondaunce.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (?1468) Doc.in Bentley Excerpta Hist.230 : The olde Duchez toke hur very moderly..and ladde hur throw the abundaunce of the people..to hur chambour.
Note: the ~ of the people Sense not covered in entry
Note: 'crowd' or 'crowded part, midst' (of persons)