Middle English Dictionary Entry
ǧentrīs(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ǧentrīs(e n. Also gentrice, gentries, ientrise, jentris & genterise, gentiresse & genitrice, genitrise. |
| Etymology | OF genterise, var. of gentelise. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Nobility of birth or rank; (b) noble persons, gentry; also, a noble family; (c) of a hawk: nobleness, excellence.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 SLeg.11000 Virg.(Corp-C 145)136 : Þe prince..hure bihet..for hure noble gentrise habbe hure to wiue.
- a1325 SLeg.Juliana (Corp-C 145)52 : Adoun hi nome þe maide And bad hure..þench on hure heie cunne & on hure owe gentrise.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8945 : Ac me nolde hire profes noȝt..Vor cas þat miȝte come vor hire gentrise [vrr. genterise, genitrise, Ientryse].
- c1390 Talking LGod (Vrn)26/29 : Summe nobleye & hendelek and gentrise of kuynde.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.452 : Certes, goodes of body been heele of body, strengthe, delyuernesse, beautee, gentrice [vr. gentries], franchise.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27568 : O kind cums for craf, gentris, O bodi fairhede.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)4806 : He spared na man of gentryse.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)54a : Gentilnes or gentryce..Ingenuitas.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1159 : Danyel..devysed sumtyme..Hou þe gentryse of Juise and Jherusalem þe ryche Watz disstryed wyth distres and drawen to þe erþe.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)271/29 : Was nevir juge..of so jocounde generacion, Nor of so joifull genolgie to gentrys enioyned, As yhe..demar of dampnacion.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)113/2 : Na the wodd of har gentryse throgh non envy ne myght neuer be y-roted, for euer ham spryngyth new Spourgis.
c
- a1500 Who carpys (Trin-C O.9.38)p.27 : Who carpys of byrddys of grete jentrys, The sperhawke me semyth makys moste dysporte, And moste acordynge for all degreys.
2.
(a) Nobility of character or manners; generosity, kindness, graciousness, courtesy, etc.; don in (on) ~, to throw (oneself) on (someone's) mercy; (b) a noble occupation.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)45b : Lauerd..we wulleð folhi þe i þe muchele genterise of þi largesce.
- c1300 SLeg.Pilate (Hrl 2277)220 : Haue reuþe of me..for þin owe gentrice [Corp-C: gentrise]!
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6455 : Þe king hom vaire vnderueng..& gret deinte tolde of hom uor hor gentrise.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)19 : Here gentiresse and hire beaute Was moche renound in ich countre.
- c1330 Le Freine (Auch)268 : Wele he gan deuise Her semblaunt & her gentrise..& comced to loue hir anon riȝt.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.Euphr.(Vrn)392 : Of alle gentrise heo bar þe prys.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7880 : Often bymened his prowesse, His ȝingþe and his hardynesse, His gentrise and his curteisie.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.181 : Þus in genere of his genitrice [vrr. gentrice, gentries, gentrise], Ihesu cryst seyde.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.22 : Þis ihesus of his gentrice [vr. gentries; C: gentrise, genterise] wole iuste in piers armes..humana natura.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)497 : Bot I lett for my gentryse [vr. gentriese] To do swylke reueryse.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)747 : I do me in [vr. on] thi gentryse; Why will þou me spill?
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)131 : This Jason for his gentris was ioyfull till all, Well louit with þe lordes & the londe hole.
- (1472) Grant Arms in Antiq.49289 : To exercise and use gentill and commendable guydyng in such laudable maner and fourme as may best sounde unto gentrice.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)732 : Of cherles kynde was he noȝt, For hys gentryse.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)539 : Allas, that euer so grette gentryse Ys loste on hym for cowardenes.
b
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)46/68 : Þe moste gentrise in werld mai be, Es forto serue to Jhesu fre.