Middle English Dictionary Entry
fornicārī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | fornicārī adj. |
| Etymology | ML fornicārius. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Lecherous, unchaste; ~ womman, a prostitute; ~ prest, a priest who keeps a concubine; (b) as noun: fornicator, lecherous person; prostitute.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.41.25 : Shame ȝee..fro biholdyng of a fornycarie [WB(2): letcherouse] womman.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.17.16 : Thes shulen haate the fornicarie womman [vr. hoore; L fornicariam] and shulen make hir desolat.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.469 : It was igraunted to kyng Henry þat he schulde doo riȝt of preostes fornicaries [Higd.(2): prestes havynge concubynes; L sacerdotibus fornicariis].
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Corp-O 4)p.69 : Osee often nemneth..the fornycary wijf.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.57.3 : Neȝheth hider, sonus..of auouteresse and of a fornycarie [WB(2): an hoore; L fornicariæ].
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)13 : Withdrawe tithis and offeringis vsid now fro prelatis..that ben opinli fornicaries, either lechouris.
- a1425 WBible(1) (CC 145)Heb.13.4 : Fornicaries sothli and avouteres [L fornicatores enim et adulteros].