Middle English Dictionary Entry
fraude n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fraude n. |
| Etymology | OF fraude (from L fraud-em). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The quality of deceitfulness, dishonesty, treachery; (b) a dishonest purpose, fraudulent intention; (c) ?a dishonest or deceitful person, a fraud; ?a dishonest act.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)651 : [I]udas full of fraude and gyle, Was with þe Iewes all þat while.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2387 : The conseillyng of wikked folk is alwey ful of fraude.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1071 : Mi Sone, hierof thou miht avise How fraude stant in many wise Amonges hem that guile thenke; Ther is no Scrivein..Which half the fraude wryte can.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5213 : For vnder-neþe he was with fraude frauȝt, Þis sleiȝti wolfe, til he his pray haþ kauȝt.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.191 : Of whiche lettres the fraude hadd ben schewed apertely.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)2511 : His fraude is mor þan his strength.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Look TM (Hrl 2255)175 : Fle doubilnesse, fraude, and collusioun.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)p.121 : Feyth with frawde is corrupt.
b
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)104/195 : And he þat takeþ him vppon To holy Religioun for to gon And comeþ for ffraude to þat plas, vnderstonden he is Judas.
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)31/14 : Clerkes..þat lede her lif..to gyle & fraude of oure Lord.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3918 : Scho kayres to Karelyone and kawghte hir a vaile..all for falsede and frawde and fere of hir louerde.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Cock (Hrl 2255)33 : Vndir fals pees ther may be covert ffraude.
c
- c1390 Disp.Virg.& Cross (Vrn)100 : Þou berest my brid..Among þeose fooles fraudes.
2.
(a) A dishonest act; don or maken ~; a trick or stratagem [quot.: a1398]; a lie, a falsehood; feinen ~, to invent a falsehood; ~ and falshede (lesing); (b) a series of deceitful acts; a dishonest course of action, a dishonest way of life, etc.; ~ doing, ~ and gile, ~ and trecheri.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (c1290) Britton 1 (Lamb 403)14 : Et si defendoms a touz Corouners..ne rasture, ne chaunge, ne nule manere de fraude, ne face en ses roules. ]
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mark 10.19 : Thou hast knowen the comaundementis, do thou non auoutrie..do no fraude.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.269 : For fraude and gile þat he hadde idoo to þat goddes Cybele.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.7 : It is a fraude for to ȝelde nouȝt what is detty, whanne it may be ȝolde.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)285a/b : Þe elephant..is nought warre of þe fraude and leneþ to þe tre and brekeþ it.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)56/25 : It is lawful to bygile hem wiþ fraude & lesyngis.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)694 : Thy fals fraude shal anon be qwyt.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)1 Cor.6.8 : Ȝe doen wrong and doen fraude, and that to britheren.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.130 : To gon into exil for hir trecheries and frawdes withouten nombre.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.5.58 : The felonyes and fraudes of thyn accusours.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.4436 : Fraude quit with fraude is guerdoun couenable.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)324/131 : If ȝe feyne slike frawdis, I sall felle ȝou.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.253 : When they falle to fraudes and diuision.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)1820 : Thou haste made a sory frawde.
- c1500 The shype ax (Ashm 61)259 : Thus with fraudes and falsyd Is many trew man deseyvid.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.11.21 : He shal cum priuely, and shal weelde the rewme in fraude doynge.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.780 : That oother marchandise that men haunten with fraude and trecherie..is cursed and dampnable.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4693 : He thurgh fraude and tricherie The Princes hefdes..Hath smiten of.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1367 : Al his werkyng nas but fraude and deceit.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)242b/a : [Pepper] is y feyned newe by fraude and gyle of marchaundise.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2032 : Who is expert and hir [Fortune's] fraudes lereth, Schal with hir sugre finde galle meynt.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)539 : A spirit ful vnclene, Be fraude only and fals collusioun, Answere gaf to euery questioun.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)134/16 : Þare es nowþer with þam fraude ne gyle.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.139 : Here good is falsly hem byreued Be fors of fraud.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)216 : With fraude of the courtesanes..thei were illuded.
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)23 : And so prively he begiled here and with fraude ouercome here.
3.
Law Criminal deception; false representation; intentional failure to live up to the terms of an agreement or contract; withouten ~, withouten ~ or cavillacioun, withouten ~ or gile (engin, mal engin), etc.
Associated quotations
- [ (c1237) P.de Bending in Archaeol.Cant.6313 : Ad maiorem presentis scripti firmitatem optinendam, fidei sacramento interposito, sine omni fraude promitto. ]
- (1345-6) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)120/5 : It is leful to eny of the Fraternite, With owte fravde or mal engyn, to hold hym as apprentice for the terme that he is be hynde.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2136 : This shaltow swere on thy professioun With outen fraude or cauelacioun.
- (1404) *Anc.Deed (PRO)D.1163 : To ye qwilk payment..without fraude or gile, I John Steward Knyght beforsaide oblige me.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.204 : Without fraude, necligence, or slowthe, Thei dide her labour and her besynesse.
- (1427) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.71 : With oute fraude or malengyne.
- (1439) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.516 : Yf ye seid Robert..paye to my seid wyf this annuytee..withoute fraude & distourbance during here lyf.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Consulo (Hrl 2255)108 : Hand and armys..For fraude or favour, to folwe rihtwisnesse.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)948 : To the I gyfe, Withouten fraude or engyne, Vppon thy day to make offerynge.
- (1457) Lin.DDoc.97/37 : Withoute fraude, gyle, or deceyte, I shal make knawlige to the ordinary Bisshop of the diocyse.
- (1458) Will York in Sur.Soc.30227 : To have and to holde..with oute any alienacon or fraude to be done to þis my present wille.
- (1463) Deed Yks.in YASRS 6386 : Edmond..will paye ye dettes of ye seid Sir William without frawed or vnresonable delay.
- -?-(1435) Doc.in Power Craft Surg.316 : Also in this forseid ordinaunce & composicioun is specified, withoute ony fraude, the maner of the boondis.