Middle English Dictionary Entry
fē̆lauship(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fē̆lauship(e n. Also -shep(pe, -shup, -shap, fela-, felo-, fel(l)i-, fele-, felashep, felship, felaugchip. |
| Etymology | From fē̆laue . |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The condition of being in company with another or others; casual or temporary companionship; social intercourse, company; beren ~, keep company, to accompany; don (holden, maken) ~, keep company; fallen in ~, enter into social relationship or company; amonges ~, in company; boute ~, without company, alone.
Associated quotations
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)43a : For þi fleh sein iuhan þe feolahschipe of fule men.
- a1250 Orison Lord (Lamb 487)185 : Ich nabbe no mong, ne felawscipe, ne priuete wiþ þe world.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)777 : & feiþli, boute felachipe fond wold he walke.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.26 : A compaignye Of sondry folk by auenture yfalle In felaweshipe.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2379 : Make no felaweshipe with thyne olde enemys.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.326 : Thei have don him felaschipe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)259a/a : Some bestes loueþ felaschipe and goþ in companye.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23059 : Alle þe hali men..in þair setteles for to sett, For felauscip vr lauerd to bere.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2151 : I nolde go wyth þe Ne bere þe felaȝschyp þurȝ þis fryth on fote fyrre.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4400 : Ne nan sal bye with þam ne selle, Ne felaghshepe hald with þam.
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick251 : Ne that ye suffre none of your susters to be in felowshipe wythe seculers.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)5032 : He toke with hym an oþer chyld for feleschepe.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)269/19 : Maydens to..bere me felachup vnto þi place.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)8/25 : For euel felauchip þat he was falle in.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)54/88 : Be whare of othis..Amonges ffelacheppe whan þou dost sytt.
2.
(a) Close or intimate companionship; comradeship, friendship; beren ~, god ~; (b) the relationship of spouses or mates; (c) sexual intercourse.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)41/31 : Ðes hali-gastes wunienge..ðas ȝewer ȝede gastes felauscipe.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)5/30 : Þes ȝunge mon eleusius..hefde iunne feolahschipe to affrican.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)992 : Ȝif ani..stode In conseile wit seint thomas, oþur felauȝschipe him bere.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Prov.18.24 : A man amyable to felashipe mor a frend shal be than a brother.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2749 : If thy fortune chaunge that thow wexe poore, farewel freendshipe and felaweshipe.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2862 : For all felechepys olde & newe, lesse me of my peynys stronge!
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4936 : For rememberaunce of old good felashipp.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1032/16 : Sir Percivale..prayde hym of felyship that was betwene them, wherefore he asked such thynges.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)34/363 : Wheder I lose or I wyn..thi felowship set I not at a pyn.
b
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)3.114 : Heo is fayn of þi felawschupe, for to beo þi make.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)151a/a : The turtur..ȝif he lesiþ his make..gooþ alone and haþ mynde of þe feleschipe þat is lost.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1872 : Ȝyf þer be twey..yn wedlak..And þe toon do aȝens spousayle, wherefore felaushepe may fayle.
c
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)84 : Hou scholde I gon with childe with-oute felauschupe of mon?
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)271 : Þe fende loked How þe deȝter of þe douþe wern..fallen in felaȝschyp wyth hem on folken wyse.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)222/4 : I charge þe..kepe þi body klene at þe lest fro womanys feleschep tyl þu take a wyfe.
- (1458) Will York in Sur.Soc.30229 : That thei..kepe them selfe soole, unwedded, and in clennesse of thair bodyez from feliship of man.
3.
The mutual relationship, or characteristic behavior, of boon companions; conviviality, revelry; god ~.
Associated quotations
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13417 : Þair fest þai heild wit gret gladscip, For suete it was, þair felauscipe.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Priesthood (Corp-C 296)174 : Prestis..colouren..dronkenesse bi good felaweschipe.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)232/14 : Dissolucion in felyschipe is trowede myrth.
- (1472) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8525 : Item That William..is a ryotter on nyghtes..that he drawes to his felyship Thomas Folyfote [etc.].
4.
The spirit that binds companions or friends together; charitable feeling for one's fellows; charity, amity, comraderie.
Associated quotations
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1159 : Quen felauscipe ne broiþerhede Mought te drau fra felon dede?
- c1400 Wycl.DSins (Bod 647)135 : Ire is ful contrarious to felouschip and charite.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)652 : Fraunchyse & felaȝschyp for-be al þyng.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.206 : Troilus..best felawshipe kan To swich as hym thynketh able for to thryve.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.403 : Calle it gentilesse, Compassioun, And felawship, and trist.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)61/23 : The goode cher and fellyschipp of Ponthus.
- (1462) Paston (Gairdner)4.36 : Hertely thankyng you..of the felyshipp that my cosyn, your sonne, shewid unto me att Norwiche.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)177/261 : Feynt felachep in me is fownde; I kan no curtesy.
5.
(a) A band of associates or companions; a company of pilgrims; (b) a band of followers, adherents, or disciples; a retinue; (c) a band of fighting men; an armed band or escort; an army, troop; (d) a crew of workmen; (e) the crew (of a vessel).
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)197/109 : A felawe-schipe þare cam go Of þe faireste children.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)165 : I haue felauschupe..wel aboute fifti, Boþe wymmen and men.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)74/9 : Sche went forth wyth hir felawschep to þe Mownt Qwarentyne.
- 1451-1500 Tundale (Wagner)185 : Þis is thy felowshipe..Þat þou chese to þe in thy lyfe!
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3539 : The sorwe of Noe with his felaweshipe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15365 : Vr lauerd..said..'in þis felauscip [Frf: felawshepe; Göt: felaschip; Trin-C: felowshipe] es he.'
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)2.207 : Falsenesse and his felawschip.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.37/11 : Ther come rennynge to hym many of the same gylefull felschipe accusynge the ynnocent.
- c1450 Siege Troy(1) (ArmsAr 22)415 : Sir antemour & hys falchipp Hyȝed ham anon to shipp.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)142.194 (v.2:p.410) : Whan she [viz., Bernard's sister] cam with a gret feleshepe [L comitatu] and in proud aray, he abhorryd hyre as the deuyls net spred abrod to takyn with soulys.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.407 : Iason returnede with his felowschippe towarde his cuntre.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)224 : That fals Duke Harry of Somersett and Percy, with hyr feleschyppe assocyat unto them.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)28 : He sente after alle the wisest men of his londe..Thise tweyne chosen to hem of hir other felischep [etc.].
c
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Judg.4.10 : Barach..stiede vp with ten thousand of fyȝtynge men, hauynge Delbora in his felawship.
- (1434) Proc.Privy C.4.227 : To ordeyne me..such a felship..for suerte of my persone.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)71a : Also loke he knowe his cheuenteynes..and who is of houshold and who of felauschipe.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.171 : Your councel avised me to gete a felischip to kepe my place at Heylesdon.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)27/16 : Kynge Ban and Bors with hir felyship of ten thousand men.
- (1470) Stonor1.116 : A fellasship on horssebak, in defensible arraye.
d
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2212 : Fra est he broght a felauscap vnto þe feld of sennar.
- (1463-4) Acc.Howard in RC 57160 : My mastyre payd..to Kevereston ffor costys off hys ffeleshyppe.
- (a1472) Acc.Bodmin in Camd.n.s.142 : Item of Thomas Barbor and feliship for olde tymber.
e
- (1466) Acc.Howard in RC 57169 : The feleshepe of the kervel.
6.
An organized society of persons united by office, occupation, or common rules of living: (a) a collegiate body; a knightly order; (b) a craft fraternity; a guild; (c) a monastic community; a religious brotherhood or sisterhood.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)27/23 : He fond A felauȝschipe of quoynte Men.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)15b : Collegium: a feloushep.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)318 : Sum oþer felawschip schal chese þe maister or prouost of þis college.
- (1450) RParl.5.176a : The Felship of the Garter.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)46 : For what cause the knightys of the order and felouship of saint George was ordeigned.
b
- (1450) RParl.5.208a : The Maire, Constables, and Fellisshippe of Merchants of the Staple of Calais.
- (1455) Doc.in Nicholl Ironmongers25 : Wardeyns of the ffelaship of Iremongers.
- (1472) Grant Arms in Antiq.49289 : The Hole Crafte and felawship of masons.
- a1525(?1435) Cov.Leet Bk.185 : That the maiour call the substance of the Crafte of Carpynters and sett hem to-geþer as one felawshipe.
- -?-(1435) Doc.in Power Craft Surg.308 : Men of the seid craft chosen bi the assent of al the felowschip.
c
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)60 : Þe felaushepe of Symprynghame.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)23/7 : Þabbes & al þe cuuent sal pray for hir..Yef sho may noht be hale of þat maner, sho sal be done oute of þair felahscap.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)0a/b : My lordes leches of Mountpelers [etc.]..which haþ taken me to felawship in seruise of bisshopes of Rome.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.40/17 : He was admyttid in-to the feleshippe of brethrene.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)277/2 : Þer was a brother..And þan he turnyd agayn vnto his felashup.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)131.219 (v.2:p.345) : A serteyn prest, seyinge .. blyssyd Dominic and hys brethyrn .., purposyd hym fully to drawyn to here felashepe and to ben assocyat onto hem.
- a1500 3rd Fran.Rule (Seton)54/36 : The bretherne & susters..yf eny of theme be incorrigible..the visitour..shall putt hym oute of the feliship.
7.
(a) One of the heavenly companies of angels, saints, saved souls, etc.; also, the whole heavenly community; (b) communion or companionship with the heavenly community; (c) the Christian communion; (d) spiritual communion or relationship.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Lucy (LdMisc 108)40 : Seinte Agace..to hire fram heuene a-liȝte, With gret felauȝ-schipe of Aungles.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)249/312 : Alle þe felaweschipes of heuene wel glade þere-with were.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10401 : Þir hundreth scepe..Bitakens felascip i-wiss Of halus hei in heuen bliss.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)23097 : Þan sal þir felauschipis tua Lede lastand lijf for euer and a.
- c1450 Yk.BPrayer(2) (Yk-M 16.M.4)71/10 : A speciall prayer..to all þe feir falychyp þat is in heuen.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)103/32 : Mankynd..was departid fro the fellaschip of the ix ordres of aungels.
b
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.Euphr.(Vrn)115 : Graunt hire felauschipe & part also In heuene, whon heo schal heonnes go.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26562 : In hali kyrk mine hope es mast, To felascepe of halus win.
- c1400 Wycl.Blasph.(Bod 647)422 : Þei..were translate to felowschippe and dwellynge wiþ gods.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)658 : To gedder then thei dwell In feleschep full fayre.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)33.11 : The dred of oure lord..will brynge ȝow til the felaghschip of aungels.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Gal.2.9 : James, and Cephas..and John..ȝauen to me and Barnabas the riȝt hondis of felowschip.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23353 : Iesu crist..Wit his felauscip sa fre Sal wend in-til his fader cite.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5032 : Þe mast parfite men sal Criste first kepe And alle cum with hym in his felawshepe.
- a1425 Christ.Belief (LoC 4)19/716 : Þe tother onehede is of haly felaugchypp, of þe whilk .. commes þat who so is lyme of þe body of haly kirk, he haues parte of al þe gode deddis þat er done in haly kirk.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)38/3 : Þei iustly..putten vs oute of cristen, or saued mennys comuning, or felawschip.
d
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)1 John 1.3 : That and ȝe haue felaushippe with us, and oure felauschip be with the fadir and his sone Jhesu Crist.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Phil.2.1 : If ony solace of charite, if ony felowschip of spirit.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)357 : Who euer suffriþ tribulacioun and temptacioun in þis world, bering felowschip to crist in his suffring and passioun.
8.
(a) Relationship or kinship (between things); (b) a set (of virtues); (c) an accompanying condition.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Cor.6.14 : Sothli what partynge or comunynge of riȝtwysnesse with wickidnesse? or what felowschip of liȝt to derknessis?
b
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)78/184 : Ȝour A-bydynge xal be with ȝour maydenys ffyve..meditacion, Contryssyon, compassyon, And clennes, And..fruyssyon..Here is an holy ffelacheppe I fele.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)99a/b : Drye schabbe..haþ felawschipe of passinge bytynge & icchinge.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.6/24 : Drede of God and the Apostle optenyd the victorye, to whom grace was felowschippe.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)249/17 : Symon..and is felishippe vsury shuld be dryven oute of þe churche.
Note: New sense
Note: Sense 5.(b) "a band of followers, adherents, or disciples" comes closest to the meaning here (see quot. c1400(c1378)PPl.B 2.207: "Falsenesse and his felawschip". In the Roy. Serm. quot., however, "felishippe" seems to refer to an individual, i.e., usury personified. Add gloss to reflect this: "a follower, an adherent, a disciple" or even "an associate, a companion, confederate".--per MLL
Note: Note that this quot. is used in usuri(e n. in sense 1.(c), "the vice of usury personified".--per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(1438) GLeg.Apost.Peter (GiL83) (Eg 876) 429/232 : Who is that wolde not wepe whanne the comaundement of the sentence was geue ayeinst hem, that Seint Peter shulde be crucified and Paule byheded? Thou shulde se thanne the felawshippe [F tourbes] of Iwes and of paynimes [that] smeten hem and spitte in her visagez.
Note: Editor: "felawshippe: tombes P2, tourbes P1; MED does not give the sense required here of a (hostile) crowd."
Note: ?New sense.