Middle English Dictionary Entry
abǒundaunt adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | abǒundaunt adj. Also abund-, hab(o)und-. |
| Etymology | L abundant-em & OF abonda(u)nt. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Present or existing in great number or quantity, many, much, abounding; also, overabundant, excessive; of shot: thick, fast; of waters: overflowing; (b) of fruitfulness, gifts, grace, mercy: great, amply sufficient; also, generously giving or given, bountiful, liberal; (c) of faith, sorrow, etc.: great, intense.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4115 : Whan humours ben to habundant in a wight.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.913 : The humours ben to ranke and habundaunt in the body.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.405 : The thinges that men wenen ben outrageous or haboundaunt [L abundare creduntur] in erthis.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)28b/a : Verray herisipila is made of colre naturale habundant.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)66 : Man in whom aboue oþere creaturis in þis world ben moost haboundaunt maners of trouþis, is trewe in foure maners.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)358 : Emperour Constantyn endewid not the Pope Siluester..with eny greet habundaunt immouable possessiouns, but oonli with possessiouns competentli and mesurabily.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)55/18 : Þe rage of haboundant flode.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)1315 : Ther was of golde so gret plente..Hyt was so haboundant at al.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)89 : Þe cristen men wer gretely a ferd for þe sarsines, most for her schotte þat was so habundant.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.367 : The water was so habundante that hit pereschede þe woman with here childe.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)95/11 : It is not charging, but leesing, promissis so habundaunt.
b
- (1415) Hoccl.Oldcastle (Hnt HM 111)267 : This knyght, of thyn habundant grace enspyre!
- (1436) RParl.4.498b : She hath neither Londe nor Gode..withoute youre seid rightwesness and habundant grace in this partie shewed.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)359 : The habundaunt and riche endewing of the pope.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.28b : Please it your Highnesse, of your moost abundant grace.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)358/85 : Myn habundaunt mercy on here I extende.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)377 : And the most habundaunt frutefulness.
c
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)2 Cor.2.7 : Lest by hap he..be swolowyd of þe deuyl þurgh a more abundaunt [L abundanciore] sorewe.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.2.21 : They fey of my sentence schal ben the more ferme and haboundant [L abundantior].
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)153/21 : He wept wondirly..& myth not mesuryn hys wepyng ne hys sobbyng, it was so habundawnt.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)148/24 : So mykelle wiþ abundaunt spirite hir sensualite was absorpt.
2.
Possessing in great number or quantity; -- with in or of: (a) well supplied (with sth.), rich, wealthy; (b) full (of bliss, blood, womanhood, etc.); wise (in some branch of knowledge); copious and facile of speech; ~ in clernesse, very bright; ~ in his owen wit, sufficient in his own wit, capable of judging for himself.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.601 : Patroclus..was also..Habundaunt of gold and of riches.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.2.32 : Habundaunt of rychesses.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)151/10 : Why..haddestow not..mo Sowdyoures..forto defende þe & thi contree, þat art so habundant of tresore.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)59 : No man of þe iije cumpany may seie treuli þat habundauntist men of þe..ije cumpany ben not richist men.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)19/20 : Thus Cyte is habundaunt & plentevous of alle-maner vitayle.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.287 : Brabancia is..a copious londe, and habundant in marchaundise.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)42/13 : Every wight, in such erthly wele habundant, is holde noble.
b
- (1436) Paston (EETS)3.5 (931/6) : Edmond hath no trewe-growndid title to þe seid maner, ne credible evidence to entitle hym þerto, for if hadde swich title or evidence he is so gret a visager and so abundaunt of langage he wold prese to blowe it thorgh all þe courtes þe Kyng hath.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)7472 : Was neuer..creature More haboundant [vr. habundaunt] in woman-hede.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)6b : Þei ben more habundaunt ful of blood and þerfore þey ben more hardy and bolde to fiȝte.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)374/37 : Euery man is habundaunte in his owne witte.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1695 : Priam..All abundaunt in blisse, blent with his folke.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3347 : Noght abundonet in blis ne blithe in your hert.
- c1450 3 KCol.(2) (Add 31042)16 : The sterne..To þam apperide, habowndante in clerenesse.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)59 : Ech man..is mych habundaunt in natural philosofie..habundaunt in cyuyl lawe..habundaunt in kunnyng of marchaundisyng.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)100/25 : Habundant yn wayes of wyt.
3.
(a) Of a region: yielding (some product or commodity), fruitful, productive; -- often with in or of; (b) of persons: generous, liberal.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.59 : A lusty playne, habundant of vitaille.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6361 : Þe se, Ful habundaunt of fysches.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)119/15 : Ȝit is þat contree habundant [Eg: plentifous ynogh] of flesch, of fissch, of cornes, of gold & syluer.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)14/15 : The glebe of þis Ile is passynge plenteouosse & habundant.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.107 : That londe..habundaunt in hony and mylke.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.367 : That welle so habundaunte in water.
b
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)306 : Ful grete forȝeuers of dettis to her tenauntis, ȝhe and gretter and habundanter forȝeuers than othere.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)209/287 : God of mercy is so habundawnt þat, what man haske it, he xal it haue.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)22 : Owur lady, þat ys euer habundante To þe synfull creature þat wyll repent hys neclygence.