Middle English Dictionary Entry
gnōst n.
Entry Info
| Forms | gnōst n. Also gnast, gnaist, knast. |
| Etymology | Cp. OE fȳrgnāst. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A spark, a live coal, small flame; also fig.; (b) a dead spark, an ash; (c) a faint light, a glimmer; (d) the snuff of a candle; (e) the pupil of the eye.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)81 : Hwanne..þe oðer [brand] is aquenched al buten a gnast, þene þet haued þene ene gnast upen him me mei blauwen and he wule aquikien.
- a1350 Of Rybaudȝ (Hrl 2253)5 : Þe gedelynges were gedered, of gonnylde gnoste [rime: boste].
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)129/158 : As possebil foresoþ hit is With a tere of þyn ye To quenche al þe synns þou hast do mys..As al þe water is in þe se To qwenche a gnost of fuyre.
- a1450 Lydg.TB (Dgb 232)1.787 : Gnast [Aug: And a quarel, first of lytel hate, Encauseth flawme of contek and debate].
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.159 : Ovre wyt on-to his wyt is but a knast [vr. gnast; rime: cast, last].
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)3.70 : I am a-gast To speke ther-of, knowynge it passeth þe gnast Of myn connynge.
- c1450 Falm.Squire (Cmb Ff.2.38)p.103 : Smoke and fyre there can owt welle, And many gnostys glowyng on glede.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.5.24 : As deuoureth the tunge of fyr stobil, and the hete of flaumme brenneth out, so the roote of hem as a gnast [WB(2): deed sparcle; L favilla] shal be.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.29.5 : And shal be..the multitude of men wynewende thee..as a gnast [vr. geade bronde; WB(2): deed sparcle; L favilla] thurgh passende.
c
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)38b/a : Lucubrum: a gnast or a glemerynge.
d
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)277 : Knast, or gnaste of a kandel: Emunctura.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)592/31 : Lichinus: gnast of candele.
- ?c1460 Medulla (Add 33534)278 : Lichinum: gnaiste or knast of a candell.
e
- (?a1390) Daniel *Herbal (Add 27329) f.220vb : Platicoriasis or plantigoras: larging of þe gnast [cp. Alphita: dilatatio pupille] in þe eye.