Middle English Dictionary Entry
fulnes(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fulnes(se n. Also volnes(se. |
| Etymology | From adj. ful. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The state of being filled, fulness; (b) abundance, plenty; (c) height or perfection (of wisdom).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)105b/b : Wiþoute heuen is..noþir voydnes noþir fullnes [L plenitudo].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)25a/b : Dewe administracioun of..aer..inanicioun .i. voidenez, & replecion .i. fulnesse.
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)105 : Wordes that bytokenyth emtynesse or fullenesse..wyll constrew wyth genityf case.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Prov.3.10 : Thi bernes shul ben fulfild with fulnesse [WB(2): abundaunce; L saturitate].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.34.1 : The lond and his fulnesse [L plenitudo].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)52b/a : Tokenes of hernia varicosa..ben replecioun .i. fulnesse of veynes lumprede togedre.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)182 : Fulnesse of sownde: Sonoritas. Fulnesse or plente: Habundancia copia.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)15/37 : Þouȝ y write so mych fulnesse of maters in þis present book.
c
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.1.20 : The fulnesse [L plenitudo] of wisdom is for to drede God.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)18.2 : Fulnes of wisdom and gastly sauour.
2.
(a) The state of being sated or satisfied; satiety, repletion, surfeit; satisfaction; eten (one's) fulnes, eat (one's) fill; (b) med. repletion of 'humors', plethora.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)105.15 : He..sent fulnes [L saturitatem] into her soules.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Eccl.5.11 : Fulnesse [saturitas]..of the riche man suffrith hym not to slepen.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Col.2.23 : To the fulnesse [WB(2): fulfillyng; L saturitatem] of the fleisch.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)281a/b : Whan he [the crocodile] is ful, he..bloweþ for fulnesse [L repletione].
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.16.49 : Fulnes of breed, or glotonye.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)41 : Þe longe vse of hem [goodis of þe fleisch] wold turne þe vser of hem into fastidie, werynes, and fulnes, and looþsumnes.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)77/25 : Loke that sche ete noȝt then here fulnes, but it be ones in syche day.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)158b/b : What euery sikenez be made of fulnez or replecioun, euacuacioun heleþ þam.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)136a/b : Somme [sebel] whose cause is replecioun .i. fulnesse of þe hede.
3.
(a) Wholeness, entirety; integrity; (b) theol. totality, completeness; ?perfection.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.23.1 : The erthe and the fulnesse [WB(1): plente; L plenitudo] therof is the Lordis.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mat.9.16 : No man putteth a clout of buystous clothe in to an elde clothing; for it doith awey the fulnesse [L plenitudinem] of the cloth.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Eph.1.10 : In dispensacyon of fulnesse of tymes to enstore alle þingys in crist.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)95.11 : Stird be the see and the fulnes [L plenitudo] of it.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)496 : That i myght brynge my life til perfitnes and fulnes of dayes.
b
- c1350 Ayenb.App.(Arun 57)266 : Þe ilke bryȝnesse and þe ilke uolnesse [of the Trinity].
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)49.13 : Þe world and þe fulnes [L plenitudo] of it is myn.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)283 : Of on fulnesse [vr. volnes; F substance] heo [Father and Son] weoren out-riht.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)20 : In him [Christ] was fulnes of godhede bodily.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.322 : He þat for [vr. of] þe lyf interminable The fulnesse comprehendeþ verrely.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)148a : Whanne þe fulnesse of tyme cam.
Note: Per MJW: ~ of time Need phr. - sense not covered though prob. belongs in 3. either under (b) with added gloss or as a new subsense
- c1400 Interpol.Rolle Cant.(1) (Bod 288)24 : In þe laste eelde þat now is, þat is clepid myddis of ȝeeris, for it is in fulnes of tyme and of grace in which Crist is maad knowen to alle þat wolen come to him.
Note: Per MJW: Need phr. ~ of grace (time)
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. fullness.