Middle English Dictionary Entry
fī̆f-tẹ̄ne card. num.
Entry Info
| Forms | fī̆f-tẹ̄ne card. num. Also vif-, five-, fijf-, fef-, fif-teen, -teyn. |
| Etymology | OE fīf-tēne, -tȳne. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Fifteen; -- (a) with a common noun; (b) before hundred, thousand, etc.; (c) without a noun.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)147/27 : Þu scalt ȝiet libben fiftene ȝear.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)4/19 : Fiftene milen.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)241 : Hit adde þe elde of viftene ȝer.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.61 : At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27737 : Þir ar þe springes o wreth fythtene.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)14/31 : Fiftene gude townnes.
- (1467) Acc.Howard in RC 57414 : Fyfftene yerdes of cremesen damaske.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)p.103 : Fyuetene Vertuez off a good Conseiller.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)26694 : Fiften [Otho: fiftene] þusend aðelere monnen.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4458 : Fiftene þousand..Of worþi knytes.
c
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)415,417 : For fiftene ger hadde adam, ðan caim of eue cam, And oðer fiftene..Quane eue bar right-wise abel.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.888 : He slowe fiftene Of hem.
2.
The abstract number fifteen.
Associated quotations
- ?a1400 Numer.Algorism (Hal)30 : Fyftene is componyd of fyve that is a digyt and of ten that is an articule.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)48a : Fyvetene: quindecim, quindecimus, quindecies, quindenus.
3.
Used for the ordinal.
Associated quotations
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)5/8 : Þe fiftene chapitre.
- (1443) Will York in Sur.Soc.30130 : The fiftene day of Septembre.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)77/140 : The fiftene [step toward eternal bliss] is gracyous.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)354/6 : In the fiftene yer sche childyd.
4.
A tax of one-fifteenth levied on property by parliament as a temporary aid to the King; cp. fiftenthe penny.
Associated quotations
- (1424-5) Doc.Lynn in Nrf.Archaeol.6226 : Ȝe shal swere þat ȝe shal..leie þe fiftene of oure lord þe king.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.50/6 : Quinsyme or fiftene..i-grauntid or to bee grauntid to þe Kyng.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)171 : In that Parlyment was grauntyde ij fyftenys to brynge thys yonge kynge in to Fraunce.
5.
Phrases: (a) the fiftene degres, the fifteen steps of the Virgin toward eternal bliss; (b) the fiftene psalmes, the fifteen Psalms (120-134, Vulg. 119-133) recited as a part of the gradual or in private worship; (c) the fiftene signes (takens), the fifteen signs of the day of doom [attributed to Jerome]; (d) the fiftene daies, the fifteen days in which the signs of doomsday were to appear.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)74/79 : Þou xalt be þe dowtere of god Eternall If þe fyftene grees þou may Ascende.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)6b : Fiftene psalmes seggeð o þis wise.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)9/30 : Whan þe preestes done parisch messe & þe fiftene psalmes.
- c1425(c1400) Primer (Cmb Dd.11.82)p.44 : Here Biginnen þe fiftene salmes.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)74/83 : Every man þat thynk his lyff to Amende, þe fiftene psalmys..say.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22430 : Sorful signes þaa fiftene [Göt: full fijf-tene].
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4739 : Yhit spekes..Saynt Ierome Of fiften takens..Þe whilk sal falle in XV days.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4816 : Þus tels Ierom þer takens fiftene.
d
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)p.1283 : Of fiftene dayes is to say Shul com bifore domes day.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)214 : Dreri days fiueten..sal cum for wit domes day.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4747 : For certayn approves noght he Þat þa fiften days of takens sal be.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4758 : Þe first day of þas fiften days.