Middle English Dictionary Entry
glisen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | glisen v. Also glisien, glisten, clisen. |
| Etymology | OE glisian. For st- forms, cp. glisnen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To glisten, glitter, flash; shine brightly; (b) fig. of words: to have rhetorical brilliance but no real substance.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)21725 : Sceldes þer cliseden [Otho: glissenede].
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1653 : Al þet terin is glistinde ant gleaminde, as hit were seoluer oðer gold smeate.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)20/22 : Þet unselhðe glistinde as þah he al ouerguld were.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)26/23 : Þe kingene king art echeliche icrunet..mel-seotel softest & guldene ȝerde..and glistinde ȝimstan.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)28/31 : Se þer lihtinde com in-to þe cwalm-hus a leom from heouene; & semde as þah ha sehe i þe glistende glem þe deorewurðe rode reache to þe heouene.
- a1300 Hwi ne serue (Jes-O 29)21 : For gold, ne for seoluer, ne for glysyinde wede.
- c1330 Horn Child (Auch)173 : Eueriche strete & eueri sty Glised þer þai riden by Of her brinis briȝt.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2972 : A womman to tylle with foly syght..To haue glysyng yȝen and gay, A weddyd wyfe y þe forbede.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)7740 : So brend his eyen and dredful glysed.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)180 : Olympias..With long, loveliche tresses Glisiande as gold-wire.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)534 : Þe gaye god of Egipt, glisiande bright, So sailed in þe sea.
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)836 : Ich aweorp wið alle þe glistinde wordes þet beoð in ower bokes (þe beoð wiðuten godleic ant empti wiðinnen).