Middle English Dictionary Entry
glōser n.
Entry Info
| Forms | glōser n. Also glosour. |
| Etymology | OF glosëor |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who provides glosses, commentary, or interpretation for a text; glossator; (b) sycophant, flatterer; ~ charme, the spellbinding of a sycophant; (c) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 Wycl.Dominion (Dub 244)284 : Many falce gloseris maken goddis lawe derk and letten seculere men to susteyne it and kepen it.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)117b/a : Mel anacardi, as þe glosers [*Ch.(1) & L: glosatores] of Rogeryne sayne.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)199 : Glosare of textys: Glosator.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.313 : Strabus the grete gloser [Trev.: expositour; L glossator] in divinite was disciple to hym.
b
- c1390 Frenschipe faileþ (Vrn)3 : Feiþful frendes fewe we fynde, But glosers þat vche mon gladeþ Wiþ feire bi-hest and wordes as wylde.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.216 : And fals prophetes fele, flatereres & glosers Shullen come.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)52/7 : For þis ende flatiryng gloosars moost raþest haunten widowis housis.
- a1425 Gloss.Bibbesw.(AS 182)301 : Eschuez flatour [glossed:] glosour [vr. losenjour].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)2b/a : Adulator: a gloser.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)199 : Glosar, and flaterere: Adulator.
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)61/335 : Venient..in deceptione illusores..þer schal come..glosers & deseyuers oþ [?read: of] þe peple.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3088 : A gloser also kepith his silence Often..Lest þat his answere myght done offence Vn-to his lorde..He holt his pees.
- a1450(1419) Loke how Flaundres (Dgb 102)51 : Truste al in gloser charmes..May brynge a lord..Emyddis grete harmes.
- ?a1450(?c1400) Wycl.LFCatech.(Lamb 408)55/856 : Gloseris..hydyn þe trewthe.
- ?a1450 Whane that phebus beemes (Cleo C.4)15 : Harke thys grevous gloser of dyssymelacyoun! Trust not the on-trusty; hys promys ys not sure!
- a1475 Fulfyllyd ys (Hrl 5396)9 : Now gloserys fulle gayly þey go.
- a1500 Wast bryngyth (Cmb Ff.2.38)p.178 : Bere good mouþe ys gloserys pris.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)42/11 : Tho louteden blasours; tho curreyden glosours; tho welcomeden flatterers.
c
- (1279) Hundred R.Tower 2541 : Rogerus Glosere.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)512/14 : William fitz Iohn Dyere graunted, lete, and delyuered, to Robert Gloser..that lond.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1425 Interpol.Rolle Ps.(1) (Trin-C B.5.25) 40/72 : Mensleeres wiþ honde or tunge, or wiþ yuel wille in herte, or false men as gloseres and lyeres God shale disherite and make hem partles of heuene.
- a1425 Interpol.Rolle Ps.(1) (Trin-C B.5.25) 178/235 : Þanne may proude bosteres, enuyous curseres, yreful banneres, false swereres, bacbiteres and false gloseres be sore adred..for þei shulen renne hedlynges into helle wiþouten aȝencomyng.
Note: Editor: "gloseres: a characteristic Wycliffite word. MED provides the basic meaning 'one who provides glosses, commentary, or interpretation for a text', but it is clear that in Wycliffite texts the term is rarely if ever neutral; MED admits for glose n. the sense (2a) 'specious or sophistical interpretation, deceitful commentary', and in these texts glosers are providers of such, as RV2's fuller gloss here makes clear."
Note: Glossary: "gloseres n. pl. 'those who provide sophistical interpretation'."
Note: New sense.