Middle English Dictionary Entry
gọ̄dlēs adj. & n.
Entry Info
| Forms | gọ̄dlēs adj. & n. Also (?) gutlease. |
| Etymology | OE gōdlēas |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Worthless, useless; (b) poor, poverty-stricken; of a wood: barren; (c) as noun: a poor person; (d) ~ bene, extra work done for the lord of the manor [cp. bẹ̄ne n. (2)].
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)26/424 : Þe este & al þe eise is, þer as þe oþre beoð, godlese & ignahene.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)844 : Ich aweorp wið alle þe glistinde wordes þet beoð in ower bokes..þet þuncheð se greate, ant beoð godlese þah.
- a1475 Leve lystynes (Brog 2.1)30 : Sychon se I neuer ere, Stondyng opon schare; ȝett the schrewe is hodles, And of all thynge goodles!
b
- a1200(?c1175) PMor.(Trin-C B.14.52)348 : Hie muȝen lihtliche cumen..[þ]urh one godelease [vrr. godliese, gutlease] wude to one bare felde.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)28/444 : Hwet ȝef ha beoð þe wone, þet tu..schalt grenin godles in wið westi wahes?
- c1440 Chaucer CT.Sh.(Add 35286)B.1480 : Goodles [Heng: But goldlees for to been, it is no game].
c
- ?a1300(c1250) Prov.Hend.(Dgb 86)st.26 : 'Gredi is þe, goedles [vr. godeleez],' Quad Hending.
d
- -?- Doc.in Vinogradoff Villainage282 : Arare 18 acras ad frumentum de godlesebene.