Middle English Dictionary Entry
ǧenerāciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ǧenerāciǒun n. Also generaccioun, ieneracioun, gneracioun. |
| Etymology | OF generacïon |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
(a) The act or process of procreation; procreating or being procreated; reproduction; also, sexual intercourse; bastard ~, crossbreeding; fleshli ~, physical begetting; dede (werk) of ~, intercourse, mating; (b) the capacity for procreation; (c) membres (organes) of ~, the genitals.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)68a/a : Aboute þe getynge & generacioun of a childe, it nediþ to haue couenable mater and spedeful place.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)275a/b : Þe camele doþ nought þe werk of generacioun wiþ his owne moder.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)277b/b : In tyme of generacioun and concepcioun..þe bicche..delyuereþ hire of vnclene matiere and þanne waxeþ sike.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)292a/a : In al þe ȝeer wolues doon nouȝt þe dede of generacioun but xii dayes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)295b/a : He [the panther] is a leccherous beste and gendreþ wiþ þe leonesse, and of suche bastard generacioun comeþ leopardus.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)299b/b : Boles vsen þe werk of generacioun after oon ȝere.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.39rb (2.3) : Some men ar so colde and dry in complexioun þat þay may neuermore gendren, for þe sede of swyche folk is noȝt able to generaccioun.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Cor.7.29 : Not with fleschly generacyoun, but with spyritualle regeneracyoun, þe puple of god is to be gaderyd.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4858 : For bycause al is corrumpable, And faile shulde successioun, Ne were ther generacioun, Oure sectis stren for to save.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.11.192 : The wil of a wyght distourbeth..that that nature desireth and requireth alwey, that is to seyn, the werk of generacioun, by which generacioun only duelleth and is susteyned the longe durablete of mortel thinges.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)113b/b : Of þe generacioun i. of þe gendrynge or getynge.
- c1440(?c1350) Mirror St.Edm.(4) (Thrn)29/27 : The elleuend artecle es Matrimone, þat defendis dedly syn in werke of generacyon by-twyx man and woman.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.194 : Þe lust of verray kyndely couetise, Be whiche all oneliche nature haþ ordeigned Þat dedly kynde to kepe..Þe whiche is fleschly generacioun.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)3.638 : What, wene ye, sir, þat I were so blynde That I cowde not vndirstonde of generacyon The preuy weyes?
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)10/34 : Wedlocke made lawfully excludez dedly synne in generacion be-twene man and woman.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Lamb 633)191/29 : Non of tham ys Sufficiant to bring forth fruyt alon of Ieneracioun.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)41 : By the fadir, that is cause of oure generacion, is vndirstond mekenesse or humilite.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.66.9 : 'If I, that ieneracioun to othere men ȝyue [L qui alios parere facio], bareyn shal be?' seith the Lord.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)176/6 : Woundis þat ben in þe ballokis, þei roten hem anoon..his generacioun is lore.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)12a/a : If þai [testiclez] be kut, generacioun is lost.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.116 : Telle me also to what conclusioun Were membres maad of generacioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)110b/b : Þe membres of generacioun.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)134/29 : Þei han membres of generacioun of man & womman, & þei vsen bothe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)18b/b : Þe testiclez..bene þe principale organez of mannes generacion.
1b.
(a) The Incarnation of Christ; (b) the begetting of God the Son by God the Father.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.1.18 : The generacioun [L generatio] of Crist was þus: Whane Marie, his modir, [etc.].
b
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)827 : Hys generacyoun quo recen con, Þat dyȝed for vus in Jerusalem?
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)14/20 : Evyn treuly as þe begynnynge of þe godhede be no reson nor no witt may be fun..so þe generacioun of þe sone with þe euerlastynge of þe godhede vnchaungyngly bydis.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)455/7 : Criste..Off þe fadyr al only generate, Whos generacyone noo worde ascrye Ne tellen cane.
2.
(a) The process of producing or being produced; formation, development, making, origin; (b) med. the producing or causing of disease, a sore, etc.; (c) surg. the regeneration of lost tissue.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.2.4 : Þez ben þe generaciouns of heuen & erþe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)137a/b : Dewe gadreþ itsilf in droppis. And as he wolde vpward to his generacioun..hongiþ it silf in þe ouermest partyes of leues and of gras.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)137b/b : Somtyme is so greet generacioun of hete by gaderinge of bemes..þat þe vapour is as it were I-brent.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)200b/b : Some [precious stones] ben cast vp out of þe grete see, and þe place of here generacioun is vnknowe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)211b/a : Aristotel seiþ þat eueriche herbe and tree nedeþ foure þinges certeyn: seede parfyte..and couenable grounde to þe generacioun of þe plaunte.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)304b/a : It nedeþ to generacioun of white colour.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)305b/b : Þe nombre þerof and suffisaunce may be take..by combynacyoun of white and blak in here generaciouns of colours.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)323a/a : Þe lasse þey [hens] beþ, þe mo eyren þay leggeþ; for þe mete of hem passeþ in to matiere of generacioun of eiren.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)15/9 : A surgian must knowe generacioun of humouris, if he wolde knowe þe science & þe helynge of apostymes.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)20/14 : I wole telle þe generacioun of embrioun.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)168a/b : Som [medicines] haþ generacioun of putrifying accident i. bifallyng.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)30b/b : Thoghe flewme folowe blood in þe generacioun of humours.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Semblable (Ashm 59)44 : Þalknamystre treteþe..Of sulphur, mercury, of alomys, of sallis, And of þeire sundry generacyouns.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)2/24 : Eir corrumpiþ a þing a-noon, as it schewiþ weel by generacioun of flies & areins.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)23a/b : Comon generacion to al flegmons is made of more inflowyng of blode..þan þe particle nedeþ.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)40a/b : Þinges þat fallen in þe eyȝe ycchen in the generacioun of obtalmya.
- c1450 Cato(2) (Sid 63)550 : Drinke with mesure and ete also..For sekenes of soule and bodi Cometh of generacion of gloteni.
c
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)49/15 : Þouȝ þat ypocras & Galion tellen þat it is nessessarie, after quantite of þe boon þat is lost, an holowȝ cicatrise to be alwey, neþeles wiþ þis poudre þe generacioun of þese poris [L pori generatio] may be mendid.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)178a/b : Lingua canis is an herbe ca. & hu. in primo with generacioun [*Ch.(2): regeneracioun; L regeneratione].
3.
(a) That which is produced, fruit, crop; (b) offspring, children; descendents, progeny; (c) descendents in a certain stage in the line of descent, people of a certain period, a generation; fro ~ in (into) ~; (d) coll. shoots, branches [see railinge ger., sense 1.(c)].
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.6.20 : As he that erith and that sowith..abide thou the goode fruytis therof..thou schalt ete soone of the generaciouns [WB(1): getingus] therof.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 22.18 : Generacioun of this vyne [L generatione vitis; Douay: 'fruit of the vine'].
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.6.9 : Thes ben the generaciouns [L generationes] of Noe..he gat thre sones, Sem, Cham, and Japheth.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)91/2 : This Machomete..was of the generacioun [Eg: kynde] of ysmael.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)146/1 : Cham was..the most myghty & of him camen mo generaciouns þat of the oþere.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)919 : God told to hym..how his generacion ouer all the werld suld grathly go.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)3314 : A semly man, þat Cenys hyȝt, of Iudas generacion, he proferd hym..to fyȝt.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)460 : Of lust & lykynge commyth generacion.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.80rb : Alle hys cognacion and alle hys generacion abode in good lyf and in holy conuersacion in such wyse as they were acceptable as wel to God as to men and to alle dwellyng on the erthe.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)197/12 : Ysaac had a wyfe barayne ycallid Rebecca; he Prayed god that he wolde yeue hym generacion, And She concewid Iacob.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)13/1 : He dredde that he and his generacion schulde lese the kyngdom therof.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.11.8 : Thou, Lord, shalt..kepen vs fro this ieneracioun and in to withoute ende.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.76.9 : Or in to the ende his mercy he shal kutte awey, fro ieneracioun in to ieneracioun?
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.231 : Caym his synne was i-punsched seuen-fold, þat is in þe seuenþe generacioun.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.237 : Þis ȝere endeþ the firste age of þe world, from Adam to Noe his flood, vnder ten generaciouns.
- c1390 I wolde witen (Vrn)26 : Kunredes come, & kunredes gon, As Ioyneþ generacions.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)330a/b : Two and twenty generaciouns were fro adam to Iacob.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9262 : Qua-so will se fra adam þe ald Hu mani knes to crist es tald, He sal find, wit-vten mistruns, Sexti hale generacions.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.20.5 : I forsothe am the Lord thi God..visitynge the wickidnes of fadris in sones into the thridde and the ferthe generacioun [vr. gneracioun].
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.345 : He muste ben eterne that shal swiche thyngis doo That yeue encrece to ilke generacyon.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)129 : Charles, discended off Carolus Magnus, sonne to the said Pepyne by ix or by x generacions.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.80ra : Thobye receyuyd alle therytage of the hows of Raguel and sawe the sones of hys sones vnto the fyfthe generacion, and whan he had complesshyd lxxxxiv yere [L (Vulg.Tob.14.16): annis conpletis] he deyde in the drede of God.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)89.1 : Lord, fleynge made ert thou til vs fra generacioun in generacioun.
d
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.79.12 : It streiȝte forth hise siouns til to the see, and the generacioun [L propagines (Iuxta Hebr.: germina)] ther of til to the flood.
4.
(a) A family, stock, strain, ancestral line; lineage, pedigree; (b) a kind or group of people or beings, species, sect, sex; (c) a breed of dogs; (d) fig. mankind.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.1.1 : The boke of generacioun of Jhesu Crist.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2227 : Of generacion To make declaracion Ther mai no gentilesce be.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.43.7 : The man axide vs bi ordre oure generacioun [WB(1): progenye; L progeniem], if the fadir lyuede, if we hadden a brother.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)146/6 : The fendes of helle camen many tymes & leyen with the wommen of his generacioun [Eg: kynreden].
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)432 : Holy enok..was þe vije persoon descending in generacioun fro adam.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)52.1158 : Here Mown ȝe sen..the Generacioun, bothe hol and pleyn, And how that Gaweyn Of þe lyne Cam.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)61/119 : Of þis nobyll and wurthy generacion the xije kyng am I.
- a1500(?a1450) St.Dor.(1) (Hrl 5272)27 : Sche comme of the Romayne generacione.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.13.6 : For the Lord is in a riȝtwis ieneracioun.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)16.222 : Man & his make & moillere her children..is nouȝt but gendre of o generacioun bifor Ihesu cryst in heuene.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mark 8.12 : What sekith this generacioun [L generatio] a tokne? Treuli Y seie to ȝou, a tokene schal not be ȝouun to this generacioun.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.4722 : Bochas..Maketh in his book an exclamacioun Ageyns women..Seith how ther lyne, ther generacioun, Been off nature double off condicioun.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)23.6 : This is the generacioun of secand him, of secand the face of god of iacob.
c
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)66 : Þe houndes for þe hauke commen out of Spayn, and þei drawen aftire þe nature of þe generacion of which þei commen.
d
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)11.8 : Thou lord..sall ȝeme vs in this warld..and kepe vs..ledand vs fra this generacioun, that is fra this warld, in till ioy withouten end.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.79.12 : It streiȝte forth hise siouns til to the see, and the generacioun ther of til to the flood.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 22.18 : Generacioun of this vyne.
Note: New sense 'shoot' and collective sense 'shoots, branches'; see railinge ger., sense 1.(c).