Middle English Dictionary Entry
gaines(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | gaines(se n. Also gaienesse. |
| Etymology | From gai adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Frivolity, merriment, pleasure; love of show or luxury; (b) brightness, showiness, beauty of appearance; also, elegance of literary style.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.81 : Þe wrecches..in gaynesse [C: gayenesse] and in glotonye for-glotten her goode hem-selue.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)36a/b : Lacinia [?misread: laciuia; i.e. lascivia]: gaynes.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)97/4 : Oftyms also odyr noys happyns þat gaynes & swetnes of lufars sturbyls.
- a1450 St.Etheldr.(Fst B.3)493 : Ryall colers of golde þou wereduste þy nek abouȝt -- For gaynes & pryde, forsothe, hit was.
b
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)246 : Alle suche gay and costiose araies..worschipen not þee, god..in her owne substauncis bi her gaynes and costiosenes.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)255 : Men weren woned forto speke and write her wordis not oonli in treuthe, but also ther with to gidere for to speke and write tho wordis in sum gaynes and bewte..and into this eende and purpos, thei vsiden certein colouris of rethorik.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)547 : Alle men bi her natural freelnes ben redi and prompte into gaynes of aray..for vein glorie.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)16b : For þer nys neyþer Gaynes of garnementis [L uestium nitor], gold ne siluer ne schining of precious perreys þat makiþ oure enemyes sugettis ne obedient vnto vs, but onliche drede of dowtynesse of dedes of armes.