Middle English Dictionary Entry
glẹ̄ n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | glẹ̄ n.(1) Also gleo, gleu, glu, glew(e, gleaw, gleow & gli(e, cliwe. |
| Etymology | OE glīw, glīg, glēo(w, glīo(w, glīu. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Entertainment, sport; (b) sporting jest, mockery; haven ~, to make sport; maken ~ of, maken ~ on, to make sport of (sb. or sth.); that was no ~, that was nothing to jest about; (c) scheming, intrigue; don a ~, to perpetrate a scheme.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)69/18 : Gleues and skentinges, and hundes and hauekes, and alle ðo þing ðe ȝeu hier gladien mai.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)57a : Summe iuglurs beoð þe ne cunnen seruin of nan oþer gleo bute makien cheres, wrenche þe muð mis, schulen wið ehnen.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)109/793 : Þer was alle kunnes gleo, Þat miȝte at eni briddale beo.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2332 : Þo mouthe men se eueril gleu.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)524 : It is amaner of glewe To teche hem þat no can Swiche þing.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1190 : In his schip was þat day Al maner of gle..In lond þat miȝt be.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)54 : Qua þat luue can paramurs..Þam likes now nan oþer gle.
b
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)96/477 : Þis oþere loȝen and hadde gleo, And goþ aȝen and leteþ beo.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3291 : Þai..Wiþ four launces smiten Arthour Al at ones, þat was no glewe.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)3648 : Er þou scorndest me; Of mi wounde þou madest þi gle.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)280/16 : In þe kynges lond was a custom..Bi fore his enemys schulde men stande Aȝein his deþ, him gleo makande.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)463 : Hym thoȝt it was gode gle.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)1164 : Now thou on knyghtis makeste thy glewe, to lye vppon hem for envye.
c
- a1300 Þeo soþe luue (Jes-O 29)7 : Yeue vs þat we moten fleo euer sunegynge, And þene feond and al his gleo and al his twyelinge.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12933 : Ihon..fasted fourti dais..Þe warlau wili has him soght, Faand he wald him if he moght, For it was sene he noght him kneu, Quen he be-gan do suilk a gleu [vr. glew].
2a.
(a) Mirth, rejoicing; amusement, merriment; joy, bliss; pleasure, delight; maken ~, to rejoice; holden to ~, be pleased or delighted (to do sth.); (b) game(n and ~, ~ and game; (c) ne gladieth me no ~, I am without pleasure; ne gamede hem no ~, hem gladede no ~, nothing gave them pleasure; than gained him no ~, then he had no pleasure; etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)16/13 : Glede me, godd, wið þi gleo.
- a1250 Mon may longe (Mdst A.13)40 : In wo sal þi wele enden, in wop þi gle.
- a1275 Louerd asse þu ard (Trin-C B.14.39)40 : Þo lucifer hit herde, he þuste him no gleo.
- ?a1300 Maximian (Dgb 86)136 : Gladdore gome with gle Ne miȝte neuere be.
- c1300 Assump.Virg.(1) (Cmb Gg.4.27)111/10 : Alle moten hi iblessed beo, Þat vnderstonde wel þis gleo.
- ?c1335 Swet ihc hend (Hrl 913)p.82 : Þou ne art bot a brotil tre Of schorte seuen fote..Þe ax is at þe rote; Þe fent vnfre halt al to gle Þis tre adun to rote.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)24/267 : His harp, where-on was al his gle, Ne hidde in an holwe tre.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)99/42 : Ac hwo seȝ euer eny Þat hedde of senne glye?
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3588 : Quen þat sua bicums ald..Es na gli [vr. glee] mai mak him glad.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11031 : Hir child..mad gladnes an glu [Göt: ioie and gleu; Trin-C: murþes newe].
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1123 : Þen glory and gle watz nwe abroched.
- a1425 This blessyd boke (LdMisc 286)60 : Hafe mercy on vs..To clywe and kunnyng & clennes to buske vs to the blysse ful brigth.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)60 : To brynge þe dere to þe grounde Was his maste glewe.
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle Luf es lyf (Cmb Dd.5.64)44 : Þe lyfe þat lufe myght fynd, or ever in hert it knew, Fra kare it tornes þat kyend, and lendes in myrth and glew.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)34/163 : Withowten glee I ga, This sorowe wille me sla.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.278 : Ȝit forbede I no burne to be blithe sum while; But alle þinge hath tyme for to tempre glees.
b
- a1200(?c1175) PMor.(Trin-C B.14.52)292 : Nis hit bute gamen & glie [vr. gleo] of þat man mai here drie.
- a1300 Moder milde flur (Corp-O 59)21 : Þer [in hell] nis nouþer gome ne gleo, auȝ þer is pine wiþ-ute fin.
- a1350 Lutel wot hit (Hrl 2253)26 : Mury hit ys in..hyre bour wiþ gomenes ant wiþ gleowes.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)2406 : Þai þat him seiȝen oft Of him hadde gamen and glewe.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Th.(Manly-Rickert)B.2030 : His murye men comanded he To make hym bothe game and glee.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3370 : Rebecca and ysaac er samen Mette wit mikel gle [vrr. ioy, ioye] and gammen.
- a1425 Siege Troy(1) (LinI 150)1247 : Muche heo kouþe of gleo and game.
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)1276 : Alle gamon and gle is leid adoun.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1048 : In gle & game I growe glad.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)474 : Moch loue was hem betwene, And also game and gle.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)39/529 : My childer dere..with gle and with gam, Com go we all sam.
- a1500 Now god þat syttyst (Cmb Ff.1.6)p.239 : Amange the comunys ther ys no game nor gle.
c
- a1350 Maximian (Hrl 2253)184 : Of no þing þat y se ne gladieþ me no gle; myn herte brekeþ atuo!
- a1350(?c1280) SLeg.Prol.CV (Ashm 43)60 : Here mone was deol to ihure; ne gamede hem no gle [Eg: hem gladede no gleo].
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.18 : Sone with þe Danes gamned þam no glewe.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)12/57 : When sir Philip of France herd tell Þat king Edward in feld walld dwell, Þan gayned him no gle.
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)147 : Ne gladdes þam no glee.
- a1500(?c1400) Triam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)462 : Moche myrthe was þem amonge, But ther gamyd hur no glewe.
2b.
A source of joy.
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)6/23 : Iesu Crist, godes sune, beo þu eauer mi gleo & mi gledunge.
- a1300(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Jes-O 29)75/47 : Vre dryhten crist..is one gleaw [vr. gleu] ouer alle glednesse.
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)140 : His Sihte is al ioye and gleo.
3.
(a) Musical entertainment or performance, music; esp. instrumental music; song (of birds); also, noise [quot.: a1300]; maken ~, to perform minstrelsy, play music, harping ~, harp ~, music on the harp; (b) an instrument of music; pleien an other ~, to play another instrument, sing another tune, act differently.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7006 : Gleomen him weoren deore; he cuðen [read: cuðe] al þeos songes, & þat gleo of ilcche londe.
- a1300 Hwi ne serue (Jes-O 29)28 : Þer [in hell] is gronynge and grure and gryslich gle.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1852 : Of bellene and of tabours, so gret was þe soun Of eche manere gleo and of song..Þat man ne miȝte i-heore non oþur þing bote þe noise þat was so gret.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)459 : Iobal is broðer song and glew, Wit of musike, wel he knew.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5515 : He harpede so wel..Hii ȝeue him siluer uor is gle.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)824 : Alle freliche foules..songe..to glade wiþ uch gome þat here gle herde.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4734 : Þys tolde y for þe glemennes sake, To loke whan þey here gle shulde make.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7251 : Sampson..was sle on harpingleu [vrr. harping glew, harp glew].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7433 : Quil wit gleu, and quil wit sang..þus he serued saul lang.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)prol.34 : Somme merþis to make as mynstralis conne, And gete gold wiþ here gle giltles, I trowe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1036 : Though the beste harpour..Wolde..Touche ay o streng..It sholde maken every wight to dulle, To here his glee.
- ?a1425 Susan.(Hnt HM 114)84 : On grapis þe goldfynches gladyn in her glees.
- ?a1425 Susan.(Hnt HM 114)354 : All þe goomes in her game gladid in her glees.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)200 : Glu, or mynstralcye: Musica, armonia.
- c1500 Corneus (Ashm 61)249 : He..namyd it after hys awne name, In herpyng or othere gle.
- a1500 Orfeo (Hrl 3810)24/255 : He takeþ his harpe & makeþ hym gle, & lyþe al nyȝt vnder a tre.
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)145 : Ha iherde..ludinge of þe men, gleowinge of euch gleo [L multimodum genus organorum].
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1224 : His gles weren so sellike þat wonder þouȝt hem þare. His harp, his croude was rike.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.179 : He hadde and used instrumentis of musik, pipes and strenges, and oþere manere of glee [vr. gleo].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23454 : In þis lijf has man gret liking..O serekin gleues [vrr. glues, glees] to here þe sunes.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)191 : Orgnes, chymbes, vche manere glee [vr. gleo], Was dryuen aȝein þat leuedy free.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)16595 : Then myȝt men here a mechel dyn Off Trompes, pipes, & other glues.
- a1450 SLeg.Suppl.Bod.(Bod 779)350/130 : Ic him wol teche to pleye an oþer gle!
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1209 : Smale harpers with her glees Sate under hem in dyvers sees.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1252 : There saugh I sitte in other sees, Pleyinge upon sondry glees..Moo than sterres ben in hevene.
4.
Shining brightness; brilliance, splendor; fairness.
Associated quotations
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)4.82 : What I [Lucifer] am worthely wroghte with wyrschip, i-wys! For in a glorious gle my gleteryng it glemes.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)159/4 : In makyng þe gay in aray, & fayr heer, & glew in face, more þan kynde of þi-self askyth.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)3/84 : I [Lucifer] am so fare and bright, of me commys all this light, this gam and all this gle.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)146/343 : It semes..a bright star for to bee..from it we may not flee but aye glow on the glee, till it downe glide.
5.
(a) Combs: ~ bem, a musical instrument, ?a harp; ~ craft, the art or craft of music; ~ drem, the playing or sound of music; ~ man, q.v.; ~ woman, a female entertainer, ?actress; ~ wright, ?a professional entertainer, gleeman; (b) ?in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.204].
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1823 : Brutus & his duȝeðe makeden halinesse..mid mete & mid drinchen & mid murie gleo-dreme [Otho: gle-dremes].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7012 : Al þis mon-cun þat of him iherden tellen seiden þat he wes god of alle gleocræften.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)62 : Mid ham is muruhðe moniuold..Gleo-beames & gome inouh.
- (1319) Pat.R.Edw.II475 : Matthew le Glewryt.
- (1320) Pat.R.Edw.II480 : Glewrith.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)32b/b : Histrix: a glewomon.