Middle English Dictionary Entry
ancille n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ancille n. Also ancele. |
| Etymology | L ancilla & OF ancele. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A female servant, a maid; -- often with ref. to the Virgin Mary.
Associated quotations
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)25637 : Þu said til him..'Al his wil it sal be wroght in his ancele' [rime: lele].
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer ABC (Benson-Robinson)109 : Thee whom God ches to mooder for humblesse! From his ancille [vrr. ancelle, ancile] he made the maistresse Of hevene and erthe.
- c1475 A philosophre (Hrl 372)p.37 : Wold God..that I myhte..Do trewe servyce, as ancille ever in sihte Unto hir lord.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)160/22 : Peter..denyede his lorde..at the voice of an ancylle, scilicet, a damesel þat was seruant in the place.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.120 : Seruants and ancilles of godde shuld resceve the spirit haly.