Middle English Dictionary Entry
fǒulnes(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fǒulnes(se n. |
| Etymology | OE fūlnes. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Dirt, filth; pus or corruption in the body; impurity in a metal; (b) ugliness, deformity; (c) of words: crudity, coarseness; (d) vice [here, sodomy].
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)33/24 : Þa æddra and þa lime beoþ ȝefullede myd mucellere fulnesse.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)132.131/3 : Þas muþes & þara gomena fulnesse & forrotednysse.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)105/31 : We mowe be fyned as gold and y-made clene of alle foulenesses.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)150a/b : Þe pecok..seeþ þe foulnesse of his feet and is as þey he were aschamed.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.41.21 : With the same leenesse and foulnes [L squalore] thei dwelten.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Cor.11.5 : It perteynes as mykyl to foulnesse as if sche were ballyd.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)110b/b : Rotunditez of þe eien & of erez dilatacioun..ffoulenez of þe lippez.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)241 : Considre thin owne foulnesse, howe that þou nakid entredist into the worlde, & with what kynne cloþ þou ert Icladde in þin endyng.
c
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Corp-O 4)p.73 : I wole not that thou be offendid in holi scripturis thurȝ symplenes, and thurȝ foulnes of wordis, the whiche, or thurȝ the vice of the vndoers or of verrey purpose, ben so spokun that the liȝtloker thei myȝten enfourme a churlishe cumpany.
d
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)78/17 : And ȝif a man with a man, or womman with womman, do trespas ones in siche fowlenes, let the trespasoure haue penaunce of v yere.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 ?Scrope Ribot First Monks (Lamb 192)13/11-12 : What thyng makyth man so meche to comyn down fro the worthynesse, from the ymage and lyknesse of God into myserye and fowlnesse [L turpitudinem], as synne, wych ys transgressyon of the comaundementys of God?
Note: ?New sense, or modify gloss of sense (d).
Note: Cf. DMLBS turpitudo, sense 3: 'moral offensiveness, shamefulness.' Mental/spiritual foulness as opposed to physical foulness.