Middle English Dictionary Entry
gladnes(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | gladnes(se n. Also gladnesshe. |
| Etymology | OE glædnes |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. glad adj.
1.
(a) Joy, bliss; cheerfulness, gladness; mirth, merrymaking; rejoicing; (b) ben in ~, to rejoice, be joyful or glad; maken ~, rejoice; also, rejoice in (sb.); (c) a source of joy, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)16/15 : Ða ðe dauid þet ihyrde, ða wearð he mucel iblissod, & he mid mucele blisse & glædnesse ham wende.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)137/8 : Hie [fasting] beȝiet ðe senfulle forȝifnesse, ðe swinkfulle reste, ðe sari gladnesse.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)34a : Al þe hurd were forȝeten for þe gleadnesse [Nero: glednesse].
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)169 : And nu ich þe biseche..Þey þu bringe þene Munuch to þire glednesse.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)12329 : Þo was gladnisse isiȝe to londe.
- c1300 SLeg.Patr.(LdMisc 108)499 : Ech Compaygnie..bi oþur stod, With murie song and Melodie, and gladnesse in heore mod.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4071 : Amonges hem was gret gladnesse.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)238/30 : And þe more þet he is of grat stat..þe more heþ he þe gratter glednesse huanne he him may gyly.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)50.13 : Ȝelde to me gladnes of þyn helþe.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))3 Esd.4.63 : Thei ioȝeden ful out with musikis and gladnessys [L lætitia] seuene daȝes.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2841 : Egeus..knew this worldes transmutacioun..Ioye after wo, and wo after gladnesse.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1051 : To fastynge apertenen..Largenesse to poure folk, gladnesse of herte espirituel, [etc.].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2784 : Whanne I mai hire hand beclippe, With such gladnesse I daunce and skippe, Me thenkth I touche noght the flor.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1287 : He was so glad that I kan nat expresse..his myrthe and his gladnesse.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)42b/b : Þe forhede schewiþ..disposicioun of þe þouȝt be gladnesse or elengenesse.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)48b/b : Ich wolde bende here hertes from wraþþe to myldenesse, fro sorwe to gladnes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10051 : Gastli gladnes was hir emid, Þat al ilheuines for-did.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1293 : And May was com, þe monyth of gladnes.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)848 : Dame Gladnesse..syngith so wel with glad courage.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1101 : Ful was the feste..of song and of gladnesse.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)197 : Gladnesse: Jocunditas, hillaritas, leticia.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)53/14 : Triumphus..is as mochell to seyne in pleyne englisch, as a treble gladnesse, or ellis a singulere excellens of Ioye in þre maner of wise.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)204 : By whom the aungels haue theyr gladnes.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)75 : Let vs besy to amend oure lyf..that we may come to euerlastyng gladnes.
b
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10923 : Þe erles doȝter of prouince & ir moder..Brouȝte hire hider in to þis lond & was her in gladnesse.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)27/26 : Þanne him comþ a zorȝe to þe herte, þet he ne may by ine reste, ne maky glednesse ne uayr semblant.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11031 : Hir child in wamb..mad gladnes an glu.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.615 : Be thow in gladnesse, And lat me sterve, unknowne, of my destresse.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1726 : He was in swich gladnesse That in his herte he demed..That ther nys lovere in this world at ese So wel as he.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)191/14 : Þei maken ioye and gladnesse at hire dyenge..because þat..þanne þei gon to paradys.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)141/13 : Irysh-men..made hym grete gladnys [Dub: gladnesshe] as har lorde.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4220 : Þaa bestes..has me refte mi derling dere, Mi ioi, mi gladnes o mi chere; Ioseph, þou was mi ioi allan.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1515 : And if to yow it were a gret gladnesse To torne ayeyn soone after that ye go.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6969 : Mi fader whilom..Was..To the and me..Our worldli gladnesse, our consolacioun.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)93/8 : Þou art my gladnes, & wiþouten þe my borde is voide.
2.
Delight, pleasure; ~ of, delight in (sb. or sth.); ben founden in ~, to be pleased; haven ~, take pleasure in (doing sth.).
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3038 : He hadde riht a gret gladnesse Of that he bothe syh and herde.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1070 : This chanoun..euere moore delit hath and gladnesse, Swiche feendly thoghtes in his herte impresse.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3729 : He had hadde..gladnes Of his knyȝthood & his hyȝe prowes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.184 : I haue in party gret gladnes Of þi manhod.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.7.18 : The gladnesse of wyf and children were an honest thyng.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.11.242 : I have greet gladnesse of the.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)174 : So þat..he be not found in gladnes þat he þo synnys dide.
3.
Brightness.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)123a/a : Vnto þu see helþe of þe place bi resolucioun & gladnez [*Ch.(2): gladenesse or fairenesse; L hilaritatem] of þe skyn.