Middle English Dictionary Entry
gīde n.
Entry Info
| Forms | gīde n. Also guide & (late) gidde. |
| Etymology | OF guide |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who guides or leads; a pilot or a helmsman; a guiding star; also fig.; (b) a guide in moral, spiritual, or intellectual matters; a teacher; a writer whose work one translates or imitates.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)7.1 : Þis weore a wikked wei bote hose hedde a gyde þat mihte folwen us vche a fote forte þat we come þere.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4020 : Iohn knew the wey; hym neded no gyde [vrr. gidis, guyde].
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52114/29 : Cuidam gyde ducenti dominum viam de Barton vsque Bullyngbrok.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1328 : He his guide upon the weie..Hath axed who was Senatour, That he his name myhte kenne.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)296a/a : Tame swyne knowen her owne hous and home and lerne to come þerto wiþ outen guyde and lodesman [L sine duce].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.428 : Hem of holycherche þe heigh weye shulde teche, And be gyde, and go bifore as a good baneoure.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.659 : Guying her cours by the lode sterre, Wher þei seille by costys neȝe or ferre..Philotetes was her alder guyde.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)609 : But, for he failed of a Guyde, Out of his way he wente fer be-side.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)969 : Forth they gon..His fere and he, withouten any gyde.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)16/32 : Sampson, þat knewe þe cuntre wele, was þaire gyde.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.Ballade ROL (Sln 1212)23 : Sterne of the see, to shipmen lyght and gyde.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11957 : The grekes, by þere gydes of the great traytouris, Entrid into ylion egerly fast.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.46 : Esperus..is þe sunes gide, Arisyng vp ful pale by þe morne.
- (1463) Acc.Howard in RC 57154 : The same day my mastyre payd ffor a gyde to gyde..my lordys drapere to Longe Stretton.
- (1464) RParl.5.567a : The seid people..have come into this Londe..and bought up, by the handes of their Gardes, Hostes, and Guydes, the grete and chief stuffe of Englissh Hornes unwrought of Tanners and Bochers.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)8/265 : Þe holy gost xal be his gyde in to desert.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)18476 : Off ȝouthe that my guyde was I wolde, as tho, no lenger byde, But in-tawode..I entryd.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)150 : Thei rode all nyght, and Merlin was Guyde.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)85/18 : As they were in the watyr, the liddyr gides [Dub: gyddes], that hym Sholde lede, slayne hym and al his men.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.164 : To alle hir werkes vertu is hir gyde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.182 : And trouþe of metre I sette also a-syde, For of þat arte I hadde as þo no guyde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2819 : Allas! resoun was no þing þi guyde!
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7609 : I muste also make digressioun, Of myn auctor þe steppis for to sewe..sith he is my guyde.
- a1450 Pore of spirit (Dgb 102)120 : To helle þey ben here awen gyde.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.IVMass (Trin-C R.3.21)424 : Make goode rekenyng..That grace to godward may be your souerayn gyde.
- a1500 Ihesu þt was borne (Adv)76 : And lett no falsdam be owre gyde.
2.
(a) A ruler, master; king, sovereign; shepherd; also fig.; (b) a commander of armies or troops; (c) a protector; helper.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.45 : His sone..That of the tryne Compas lord and gyde is, Whom erthe and see and heuene..Ay heryen.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.804 : I wol my self goodly with yow ryde, Right at myn owene cost, and be your gyde.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.145 : And namely bot the pouer Of hem that ben the worldes guides With good consail..Be kept upriht.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.391 : Lo, thus tobroke is Cristes folde, Wherof the flock withoute guide Devoured is on every side.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)145b/b : Þese briddes haueþ guydes & leders [L duces] as cranes haueþ, for þey dredeþ þe goshauk.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2368 : Þe Ile..stant here besyde, Of whiche Mars is gouernour & guyde.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)181 : I entred am..And admitted a tale for to telle By hym þat haþ pouer to compelle -- I mene our hoste, gouernour and guyde.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)136 : Thorgh me men gon..Unto the mortal strokes of the spere Of which Disdayn and Daunger is the gyde.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)75 : Herry þe ȝonger was lord and alsoo gyde Ouyr all þe empyr.
- (1450) God be oure (Magd-O Charter Misc.306)1 : God be oure gyde, and then schull we spede.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)94 : Be ye my gide and lady sovereyne.
- 1532(?a1405) Lydg.FCourt.(Thynne)62 : As Nature, empresse and gyde Of euery thyng lyst to prouyde.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.949 : First of alle cam worþi Cyncybar..And þe knyȝtes of whiche he was guyde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4369 : Now haue ȝe leder noon nor gyde.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.1199 : The Romeyns sente..Titus Flaminius, of ther werris guide.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4053 : Agamynon the gret was gide of hom all.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.840 : Worþi Hector..hooly was vp-on euery side Þassuraunce, gouernour, and guyde Of me and myn.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)163/19 : I go to pray god to be my gyde, to comfort me aftyr my wo.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)524 : Now god be his gide for his grete pite, for yef thei may hym take, he may not ascape..with-outen deth!
- a1500 Play Sacr.(Dub 652)256 : Syr, Almyghty God mott be yower gyde!
3.
In cpds.: gides-man, a guide; ~ rop, a rope used in steadying or lowering a sail, a guy.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)105 : Þay..Gederen to þe gyderopes -- þe grete cloþ falles.
- a1500 Becket (RwlPoet 225)98 : Alway be nyȝt sche gan gon..Þan knew sche non othir won; But god was hir gidisman.