Middle English Dictionary Entry
fals adj. as n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fals adj. as n. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who deceives, bears false witness, tells lies; (b) one who is of the wrong faith, an infidel, a heathen.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)201 : And bringge tweye false [Peterh: fals wytnes] wid him.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)76 : Paradys, huer no cherl ne ssel come in, ne uals, ne þyef, ne proud.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)3.134 : Heo ȝeueþ þe Iayler Gold..To vn-Fetere þe False..Heo takeþ þe trewe bi þe top.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7392 : With ten It [Reason] hath be sen in trew querele Ayein an hundred false dele, And had the betre of goddes grace.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4412 : Ioseph..þat suikeful fals, þat fole lichour.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6581 : I wil mi seluen knau þe fals And ilkman sal knau þam als.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.733 : Þis fals also, þat þis tale han feyned, To kyng Naulus han traitourly compleined.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4414 : False..And traitours that arn envyous.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12355 : Eneas..Wold haue dungyn hym to deth & deiret þe fals.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1168 : Þat wakned his wrath..Þat he fylsened þe faythful in þe falce lawe To forfare þe falce in þe faythe trwe.
- c1450(?a1400) Siege Milan (Add 31042)1573 : The false [the Saracens] in þe felde thus gun þay felle.