Middle English Dictionary Entry
frenesīe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | frenesīe n. Also frensy, fran(e)sie. |
| Etymology | OF frenesie & L phrenēsis; var. fransīe by assoc. with fan(ta)sīe. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Insanity, delirium, madness, mental derangement, irrationality [attrib. to an excess of certain 'humors' in the brain, etc.]; also, a fit of madness, a frenzy; fallen in (a) ~; (b) madness (in dogs, camels), rabies; (c) a madman, a lunatic.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.848 : He was put doun, as he which stod In frenesie, and was so wod, That fro his wif..Hise oghne children he to plihte, And eet hem.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2209 : His sike heed is ful of vanytee; I holde hym in a manere frenesye.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)81a/a : But ȝif þe posteme is in þe substaunce of þe brayne, þanne is þe worste frenesye..þese ben þe signes of frenesye: discoloured vrine duringe þe feuere, wiþ woodnes & contynual wakinge, meuynge & castinge aboute þe iȝen, raginge..now he singeþ, now he lauȝheth, now he wepiþ & bitiþ gladliche & rendiþ his wardeyne & his leche.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)132b/b : Ȝif þe smoke is malencolik oþir to scharp..hit passiþ vp to þe brayne and..wakneþ franesie and woodnesse.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)23.85 : Kynde..sente forþ..brennyng Aguwes, Frenesyes and foule vueles.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)85 : In thi frensy thou fonnest more and more.
- (c1422) Hoccl.JWife (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)165/715 : The Shipman had also the franesie.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)119b/b : Wiþ grete fiȝtyng of þe vertue animale & naturale þai ren or falle in to maniam .i. frenesy [*Ch.(2): maddenesse] And bi sewyng in to deþe.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)71a/b : Þai rauen and haue þe crampe and wodenesse or frenesye.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.2079 : His sone-in-lawe thoruh fals malencolie Fill sodenli into a frenesie.
- c1440(?a1396) ?Hilton Angels' Song (Thrn)18/30 : Þat es no thynge ells bot a fantasie caused of trubblyng of þe brayne; as a man þat es in a frensye, hym thynkes þat he herys or sese þat na noþer man duse, and all es bot vanyte and fantasie of þe heued.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3826 : He fell in a fransye for fersenesse of herte.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)346 : Allas, that man shuld fallen in ffrenesye For love of woman, that litil may avayle.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)359 : Presumpcioun, a benedicite! Why vexest þou folk with þi franesie?
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)96/5 : For men þat hawyn þe fransie and mown noȝt slepyn.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)254 : This ȝere the Kyng of Frauns fel in a frenesi.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)17/16 : Medicyn for passiouns of frenesie, foly, ymagynaciouns and noyous vexaciouns of deuelis.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)708 : Hec ypomanes: the fransey.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)709 : Limphaticus: hafande the fransey.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)101a/b : Ȝif he bitiþ þanne anoþir [hound]..hit comeþ to þe heed & brediþ frenesye.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)275b/b : Cameles þat haueþ þe podagre and þe frenesie.
c
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)51a : A ffransy: frenesis, freniticus.
- a1500(a1450) *St.Robt.Knares.(Eg 3143)981 : Wytles and wod won in þair wytt, Lunatykes and frenesyse Thrugh hys myght ware mayd Full wyse.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. frenzy.