Middle English Dictionary Entry
antiquitẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | antiquitẹ̄ n. |
| Etymology | OF; cp. L antiquitāt-em. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Ancient times, the past; antiquity (usu. with ref. to Israel, Greece, or Rome); time of ~; in ~; bokes of ~, ancient books, books of the Ancients; of old (eld) ~, from olden days, since time immemorial.
Associated quotations
- c1375(?c1280) SLeg.Advent,etc.(Eg 1993)729 : Þus it was bi fore þorw þe prophetes iwrite as in antiquite.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.80 : To rede in bokys of antiquite To fynde only, vertu for to swe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5737 : Þei ȝaf tribut to þe emperour, As it is remembrid of antyquyte.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)424/604 : As it is remembryd in historye And registred be old antiquyte.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)141 : It is used in the forseid toun..of elde antiquyte, that no lond tenaunt [etc.].
- c1456(a1449) Lydg.Epistle Sibille (Ashm 59)106 : Many doghtren of olde antiquytee Gadred golde, goode, and gret tresore.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)26 : As it is wryten in Romaunce And founden in bokes of Antiquyte.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)466 : Oblyvyous antiquyte Hir odyr dedys, saue thies that wryten be, Hath worn awey without memoryall.
- c1480(1422) Lydg.SD (Add 48031)49 : When tholde noble famovs Citie of Rome was..flowring in his glory, liche as it is remembered in bookis of olde antiquyte.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)8799 : Thynges off antyquyte, Storyes that auctorysed be, And thynges digne off Remembraunce.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)23646 : She hath forsake the vnyte of fraternal antiquyte..to haue hir goodes in comune.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)181/25 : Þe groundis of þis answere..han be holde fro tyme of greet antiquite hidirto moche solemply.
2.
The age (of a church); of old ~, having existed for a long time, ancient; ~ of time, long time; (b) agedness, oldness.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1316 : By an old for-sake ȝeate of þe olde antiquytee Sche made þys barouns passye.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)8303 : Of þe saynt lyfe he sperde, And of his myracles to be lerde, And of þe kirke antiquite, And how begane þe bischope se.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)174/7 : The antiquite [Helm: longe passinge] of tyme makithe dedes to be for-geten and for-dothe waies.
- a1500(c1437) Brut-1436 (Lamb 6)584/2 : Englisshmen..comen of more gentill blode of olde antiquite.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)457 : Thus haue I dewly..Executyd the offyce of olde antiquyte, To me by yow grauntyd.
b
- (1445-6) Proc.Privy C.6.326 : Which bokes and rolles beth..in parcell caduke for antiquite, that unnethes..may be red and understandyn.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.19 : We awe not to condempne commentatores and wryters of storyes spekenge diuersely, for the antiquite [L antiquitas] þer of causethe erroure.