Middle English Dictionary Entry
gēsǒun adj. & n.
Entry Info
| Forms | gēsǒun adj. & n. Also geason & gesen, (early) gæsne. |
| Etymology | From OE gǣsne (akin to OHG geisinī n.), with change of suf. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Rare, scarce, lacking; not (nought) ~, not uncommon, frequent; (b) barren, empty, vain; ~ on, barren of (sth.), lacking in; ~ of, free from (bushes), cleared of; (c) as noun: scarcity; haven in ~, to be sparing of (sth.), avoid (too much speaking).
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.271 : My wafres þere were gesen, whan chichestre was Maire.
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.55r : Ther is of [Dauk] 2 manere: dauk cretyk, for it comeþ fro Crete, & þat is of mor vertu; & dauk asynyn, for assys wolnen wel to etyn it. Notforþan we vsyn dauk asynyn for dauk cretyk, for it is dere & gesyn among vs.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.65 : What lond is best for hit, & sedes geson [L gloss.: rara; rime: seson, peson].
- a1450(1414) Whanne alle a kyngdom (Dgb 102)77 : Who skorneþ hem þat telleþ hem wit Is rebell to god..To worschipe hym, þere wit is geson.
- a1450 Walton Boeth.(BodeMus 53)p.21 : And gesoun [Lin-C: Rede rose floures..in wynter skarse ben in sesoun].
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2357 : And salt is geson, Kest watre salt in vesselling that sprede; Salt wil the sonne it make in litil season.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)803 : When eggis & crayme be geson.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.180 : Wher as [read: is] temperaunce, constauns is in season; Wher is constans, trouble is geason.
- c1475-c1500 Looke well (Skeat)9 : In women..Trust nat to moche; hir trouthe is but geson..Hir stedfastnes endureth but a seson.
- a1500(?c1414) ?Brampton PPs.(1) (Sln 1853)p.31 : All day we se in trust is tresoun..False othys ben now noȝt gesoun.
- a1500 O þou fortune (Cmb Ff.1.6)68 : In thys land þys mateyr ys not gesoun.
- a1500 Wast bryngyth (Cmb Ff.2.38)p.178 : In wordys men weren neuer so wyce..In werke þey weren neuer so nyce, Ne of moo good liueres gesone.
- a1500 Wold god þt men (BodPoet e.1)p.9 : Wyll ys tak for reson; Trew love is full geson.
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1116 : Þis gear wæs swa gæsne on mæstene, swa þat on eallon þison lande..ne gehyrde me of nanan segcean.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)8.5 : Now make the feeldis wilde of busshis geson [rime: seson, reson].
- c1450 How mankinde dooþ (Lamb 853)206 : Drunkelew folk ben goostli blinde; For faute of witt her lijf is gesoun [rime: sesoun]; In ydil ooþis wasten þei her wynde.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.1640 : If she [wife] can be a felow..Reseyue hir..Thow might seeke ferre, and the world is geeson.
- a1500(1456) Whan lordschype (Dub 516)p.268 : To soche a remedye y holde hyt geson.
c
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)943 : Grete wisdam is, litil to speke..To mech language hauith in geason..Bestowyng your vttrance to goode entent.