Middle English Dictionary Entry
giltī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | giltī adj. |
| Etymology | OE gyltig |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. gilt n.(1).
1.
(a) Guilty, culpable, blameworthy; ~ for, ~ in, ~ of, guilty of (an offense, sin, crime); maken ~, to pronounce (sb.) guilty; --also, as noun: a guilty person, the guilty, sinners; (b) deserving (to be punished); ~ of, ~ to, deserving of (a punishment, death, etc.); (c) responsible for an offense; ~ of, answerable or accountable for (the destruction or profaning of sth.); (d) ?cognizant of, or privy to, an offense.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)239 : Þan seied ham god þe gelty mannen, 'ȝe seneȝeden.'
- a1250 Lofsong Lefdi (Nero A.14)205 : Ich icnowe me gulti and creie þe, leafdi, merci.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)2087 : Non oþur gulti nis of þat ȝe witez me.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)70/22 : Of oþre zennes þet he ne is naȝt gelti, he ssel herye god.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)531 : I giue me holly in his grace as gilty for þat ilk.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.451 : With a wood sentence Ye make vs gilty.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.221 : Marcus Cato pletede aȝenst hym, and preved hym gulty.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.429 : Though my self be gilty in that synne, Yet kan I maken oother folk to twynne.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)291a/a : Whanne he knoweþ þat sche is gulty, he punyscheþ hire anoon.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)8112 : Þai salle al cristen folk raunsoun, and til alle gilty gif pardoun.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)12.81 : Þe iewes knewe hemseluen Gultier..Þan þe womman.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)175 : Quen þe gulty is gon what may gome trawe?
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)2954 : Until þai have gyven þair verdite, And outher þar-of made hym qwyte..or made hym gilty.
- a1450 Myne awen dere sone (Vsp D.13)614 : Any men to reprehende Of any vyce or any synne Þat þiselfe is gilty in.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)195/77 : A! lorde, we loue þe..That grauntes thy grace to þe gilty.
- (1450) Paston2.147 : He was arreyned yn the sheppe..upon the appechementes and fonde gylty.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2574 : I am noȝt gilty of þis gile.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)789 : What maner þynge þou art gulty of, Telle me boldely.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)55a : Gylty: criminosus, culpabilis, jncrepabilis, reprehensibilis, reus, vituperabilis.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)1519 : Yet wist he wele..That he was no thing gilty in that case.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.5.22 : He that shal say 'Fool'..shal be gylti [L reus] of the fijr of helle.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.26.66 : He is gilty of deth.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)82b/b : Eueryche man..schal knowe þat I am gulty [L reum] to dye.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)7.4 : I falle Gilti [L merito] vnnait fra mi faes.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mat.5.22 : Ech man that is wrooth to his brothir schal be gilti to doom.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)42 : Þey [heathen gods]..wyth sotel sleyghtes maken hem gylty to þe peynes of helle.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)98/5,19 : Who-so hate his broþer in herte, he schal be gylty to þe doom!..þanne schalt þou be gylti to haue þe excecucyoun of þe sentence ȝeuyn aȝens þe, þat is þe fyre of helle.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)2.713 : Ye ben..gylty for to deye.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.47/24 : Lete hym know hym-selfe gilty to be to goddis Juggement of his wikudnesse i-do.
c
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)25/25 : Heo is gulti of þe bestes deaðe biuoren vre louerd.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.11.27 : Who euere schal ete the breed or drynke the cuppe of the Lord vnworthily, he schal be gilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)139 : He that bitakith cure of soulis to a man vnmyghti..is gilti of the soulis..as he that takith gouernaunce of a ship in greet tempest to a man vnmyghti..is gilti of al the ship.
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)10 : Þei ben..gylti of dampnacioun of alle þe soulis þat perischen for þe defaute of kunnynge and kepynge of goddis comaundementis.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)199 : Na man is gylty of þat ill Þat is done agaynes his will.
d
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)17a/a : Conscius: gulti.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)194 : Gylty:..conscius.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)55a : Gylty: Conscius.
2.
(a) Acçused of an offense; (b) law defendant in a suit; --also as noun.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.112 : Who þat was gilty [F chalange] þorgh þe foresters sawe, Mercied was fulle hi.
b
- c1460 Oseney Reg.89/5,6 : In þe cawse..bitwene..thabbot and covent of Oseney, actors..and Robert Synat..and Moolde the lefte of Raph ffrensh..executors of þe testament of þe same Raph dede, gylty [L reos]..whenne hit was i-schewed þe seyde gilty at þe same day and place lawfully and peremptoryly to haue be i-callid, [etc.].
- c1460 Oseney Reg.201/25 : In the libell..i-mouyd bituene thabbot and couent of Oseney, actorrs, of þe oone partie, and þe saide Sir Symonde, gilty, of þe oþer.
3.
Miserable, wretched (?as a result of someone's guilt).
Associated quotations
- c1440(?c1350) Mirror St.Edm.(4) (Thrn)33/21 : In state of thralle tuke He oure flesche to suffre þe gylteste pouerte and schame and noyes and paynnes, þat neuer dyd ill ne na maner of syn.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1400 Life Soul (LdMisc 210)52/12 : Who þat sayth to his broþer 'fy,' is gylty to counseyl.
Note: ?sense