Middle English Dictionary Entry
fīn adj.
Entry Info
Forms | fīn adj. |
Etymology | OF fin, ML fīnus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of supreme or select quality, choice; excellent, superior; suitable in character or quality; often contextually: rich, valuable, precious, costly.
Associated quotations
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)217/4609 : A faire chapel of marbel fin.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1888 : Tvo flaketes ful of ful fine wynes.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.194 : His sleues ypurfiled..With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Th.(Manly-Rickert)B.2071 : His spere was of fyn cipres.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5738 : Bachus, þe myȝti god of wyn, Whos licour is moste precious and fyn.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)742 : In fyne gold cloþes.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)161 : Fyne Wyne: Falernum.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)6 : To preve venegur, weþer hit be fyne.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.39 : This reuerent Throne was made of alle there ffynest trezore.
2.
Used broadly to express admiration, approval, satisfaction, or pleasure: (a) of things: admirable, pleasing, beautiful; (b) of persons: excellent, superb, consummate in virtue; honorable; also used ironically: perfect, consummate; (c) pleasant, agreeable; (d) good, wholesome, beneficial (life or works); maken fin, make (a guest) comfortable.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1335(a1300) Cokaygne (Hrl 913)45 : Þer beþ riuers gret and fine.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Th.(Manly-Rickert)B.2104 : By hym baiteth his destrer Of herbes fyne and goode.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)1377 : Cidre, cipres & palme fine, To mony þei shul be medicine.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2652 : Þat cite was riȝth fyne, riche, And wel y walled.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4699 : Þe gold dewe-dropis of rethorik so fyne.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1385 : Elmes grete and stronge..Fyn ew, popler, and lyndes faire.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)161 : Fyne, or ryght goode: Egregius, excellens.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)8741 : He wolde make a werk fyn [Petyt: of fyne].
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)176/235 : I xal hem teche pleys fyn.
- a1500 Bevis (Chet 8009)p.185 : Now begynneth the romauns ffyne.
b
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.257 : A baron bold & fyn.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5616 : A stronge kniȝth hardy & fyne.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1204 : A God, a Lorde, a Frende ful fyin.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)919 : Þat fyne fader of nurture.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.114 : Ihesu, A faunt fyn.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)12034 : Moddred he highte, a traitur fyn.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)29.50 : We han foure Goddis, bothe goode & fyne.
c
- c1450 ?Rolle Luf es lyf (Lamb 853)97 : Loue is liȝt & a birþun fyne.
d
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)885 : Sum [works] þat þe bodi thynk gude & fine.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2507 : Slyke lyfe..is gude and fyne And mare profite þan now is myne.
- a1500 Bevis (Chet 8009)52/863 : They..made them well at ease and ffyne With rich metes and nobull wyne.
3.
(a) Free of impurities or blemishes; pure, clean, refined; of metals: containing no dross or alloy, pure; contextually: of high quality, choice; (b) of gold and silver, with reference to the quantity of pure metal in an alloy: showing a high proportion of pure metal; as a noun: purity, fineness; (c) of poison: pure, undiluted; (d) pure, genuine.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2370 : Ðre hundred plates of siluer fin.
- ?1316 SMChron.(Roy 12.C.12)628 : The scaubert wes gold pur ant fin.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2554 : The thridde Ston..is cleped Minerall, Which the metalls of every Mine Attempreth til that thei ben fyne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2685 : Som colour is with fir made fyn.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.97 : A pollex heueded of fyn stele.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)113 : For salt so fyne.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3701 : Gurds & Goblets of gold althire-finest.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)357 : An haketon of fyn styl.
b
- (1469) Indent.Edw.IV in Archaeol.15167 : xxiii carattis, iii greynes of fyne.
- (1473-4) Acc.St.Edm.Sarum14 : Juells of sylver of the fyne.
- a1500 PFulham (Jas 43)242 : Money of fyne asaye.
c
- c1440(?a1400) St.John (Thrn)226 : Als faste als þay felyd it [the poison], downe dede gun þay falle..þe fylthe was so fyne.
d
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)33/33 : The fyn bawme is more heuy twyes þan is the bawme þat is sophisticat and countrefeted.
4.
Of precious stones: without blemish or fault; of superior quality, choice.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1548 : He..Let make of gold and Stones fine A precious ymage riche.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3569 : Rounde perlys fyne, Þat so clerly ageyn þe sonne shyne.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)130/32 : He bereth also aboute his nekke a Rubye oryent noble & fyn.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1351 : Ful of the fynest stones faire.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4853 : Þe kyng..fiches in a fyne glas.
- a1500 BodAdd.A.106 Lapid.(BodAdd A.106)41 : Ye fyn emeraud & gentil is ryght gren.
5.
Of color: pure, bright, radiant, beautiful.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.15 : Schellefische þat me dyeþ wiþ reed fyn; þe redenesse þerof is wonder fyn [L pulcherrimus] and stable.
- c1410 Chaucer CT.Mil.(Hrl 7334)A.3321 : A kirtel of a fyn wachet.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2643 : Newly depeynt with colours freshe & fyne.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3368 : A granate..goules althire fynest.
- (a1475) Recipe Painting(2) in Archaeol.J.1 (Sln 73)155 : Lapus lazuly that be a fyne blew colour..grinde it and drie it evermore to the colour be as fyn as thou wilt have it.
6.
In a moral sense: pure, true, genuine, perfect; faithful; constant, unwavering; fin love, ~herte, ~hope.
Associated quotations
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)182 : He is i-don in heouene golde and is ful of fyn amur.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)480 : Fortiger, for loue fin, Hir tok to fere & to wiue.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)1400 : Neuer ffader for no childe Of fyn loue nas so freo ne mylde.
- a1400(?c1300) LFMass Bk.(Roy 17.B.17)52/561 : Þat I..haue ay ioy with hert fyne.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10003 : Wit luue sa fine [Göt: clene].
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)20.83 : Noþer Faith ne fyn hope.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)20.175 : Fyn loue and byleyue, Þat alle kynne crystene clanseþ of synne.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)197/19 : Moyses..Prayet god wyth fyne herte.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)1330 : To asay yf þer luf war fyne Vnto þer fader all way.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)132 : His feith..so pure and so fyne fro al falsheede.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)616 : I knowe youre hertes fin and trewe.
7.
Pure, sheer, utter; by, with, of fin fors, by main force; of (sheer) necessity, necessarily.
Associated quotations
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)58 : Þat ich & þi moder..Moten for fine nede comen to þine fet.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)389/419 : Þe kyng and Carick for fyn wo out of þe place wenden.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1217 : Þei wiþ fyn force for-barred his strokes.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.35 : Kymak..for fyne awe.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1239 : Me be-houez of fyne force Your seruaunt be.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1636 : Thenne of fyne fors hit foloweth..That a certayne substance shuld be ordeynid To susteyne þis souurayn.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2110 : He must to þe Steward of fyne force ageyn.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)42/7 : Be fyne force, oftyn he was lyke to have smytten the herte.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)156 : By fyn strengthe thei haue horsed the kynge.
8.
Of an agreement or promise: fully ratified, final, binding. [Cp. fin n. (2), sense 5.]
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1636 : Þis gomen is your awen, Bi fyn for-warde & faste.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8375 : [A truce] was festenit with faithe & with fyn othes.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)1137 : For to dystroye that false weddyng The matrymony was not fyne.
9.
(a) Of persons and their actions: accomplished, expert, skilled; subtle, clever; for fin, subtly, ingeniously (used ironically); (b) of human features: delicate, exquisite, lovely.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)12.159 : For hadde neuere frek fyn wit þe faith to dispute.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.477 : Thow hast here made an argument, for fyn, How that it sholde a lasse peyne be Criseyde to forgon.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)544 : For she taught al the craft of fyn lovynge, And namely of wyfhod.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)400 : Þere was no filisofers so fyn found in þat lond, Might approche to þat precious apoint of her wit.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7716 : A coynt mon of shappe, ffelist in fight and a fyn archer.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)7870 : Bathe a philisophir and dyuyne, In all doyng discrete and fyne.
- a1500 Orfeo (Hrl 3810:Ritson)265 : They comyn aboute hym there To her harpyng that was fyne.
b
- a1350 Ichot a burde in boure (Hrl 2253)24 : So feyr heo is ant fyn.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)170 : Hyr fayre face, Her fygure fyn.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)794 : Of alle feturez ful fyn and fautlez boþe..for aungels hit wern.
10.
(a) Expertly fashioned, well or skillfully made; excellent; (b) of cloth and finery: delicately wrought, finely textured; exquisite.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2220 : A cite nobul, enclosed comeliche aboute wiþ fyn castel-werk.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3796 : Ful fyn it [a ring] is and ther to wel ygraue.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Petyt 511)180 : Mayster Wace..rymed it in Frankis fyne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.78 : Some wele haue of maille riȝt fyn An haberioun.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1005 : Arionis harpe fyn.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)66 : Wyne canels..of box, fetice & fyne.
b
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.453 : Hir couerchiefs ful fyne were of ground.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4971 : Wiþ golde & siluer & skarlet pere fyne.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1742 : Frokkes of fyn cloþ.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)106 : As fyldor fyn her b[o]nkes brent.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)562 : Of fyn orfrays hadde she eke A chapelet.
- (1444) Will York in Sur.Soc.30100 : Lectum..cum crules in fine grene tartarin.
- (1472) Acc.St.Edm.Sarum7 : Cloth of fine dyaper.
11.
Thin (sheet); thin-edged, sharp (weapon); finely ground (flour), of superior quality; thin (broth).
Associated quotations
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)57 : Boile it tendre in fyne broth oþer in water.
- (1425) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.187 : iij pekkes of Flour fyn.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)11/13 : Vpon the body lay a fyn plate of gold.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5824 : He stert vp And frusshit at Philmene with a fyn launse.