Middle English Dictionary Entry
gramercī n. & interj.
Entry Info
| Forms | gramercī n. & interj. Also gramercie, -mersi, -marci & graimerci, gremerci & gromerci, gromessie, gromesti, goromerci & gra(u)nt merci, -marci, -marsie, grand merci. |
| Etymology | OF grant merci |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An expression of gratitude: thanks, many thanks; (b) thanks for (sth.); ~ for, ~ of; (c) ~ God, thanks to God, etc.; (d) for ~, for a thank-you, for a song, gratis.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)222 : Felice answerd..'Bieus amis, molt gramerci.'
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)10/167 : Graunt merci [vr. I thanke you], sire, a þousend sithe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.3366 : This Emperour, which al this herde, 'Grant merci, lordes,' he ansuerde.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)765 : 'I graunt,' quod þe grete God; 'graunt mercy,' þat oþer.
- (1415) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)9.293 : Jesu Mercy and Gremercy Ladie Marie help.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1545 : 'For grete luf I it ȝow take,'..Sir Ywayne said: 'Dame, gramercy.'
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)41/12 : Thys good man..seyd, 'Ihesu, mercy & gremercy.'
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)54.118 : Now, goode lord Iesw, Gromessye.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)6285 : The Soudon seid, 'gray mercy, I wil you resceyve hertlie.'
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)274/107 : 'In thy hande, holde nowe, and haue here.' 'Gramarcy, my lady so dere.'
- ?a1450(?1350-75) Pass.Christi in Norris Anc.Corn.Drama (Bod 791)3133 : Grant mercy, syre iustis.
- c1475(a1400) Amadace (Tay 9)p.48 : Then sayd the king..'Gromersy, gentulle knyȝte!'
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1218 : 'Grand mercy, gardiner,' cothe I, 'and God þe foryelde.'
- a1450 Quan I haue (Sln 2593)p.260 : 'Gramersy, myn owyn purs.'
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)29/12 : Than he toke the horse by the reygne..and seyde: 'Have this horse, myne olde frende'..'Gramercy,' seyde Ulphuns.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)1291 : Graunt marcy, [m]y lord þe kyng!
- a1500 In euery plas (StJ-C S.54)p.260 : Therfor gladly may I syng, 'Gremercy my own purse.'
- ?a1500 Lychefelde Comp.G.(Lamb 306)166 : For alle the goodenesse I have the sente, The lyst nat onys to saye gramercye.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)1768 : Graunt merci, sire, Eouwer guode wille!
- c1390 As I wandrede (Vrn)17 : Graunt Merci, god, of al þi ȝifte.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4160 : 'Madame,' quod he, 'graunt mercy of youre loore.'
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1392 : 'Hit is god,' quoþ þe god-mon, 'grant mercy þerfore.'
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)253/29 : Gra-mercy, Lord, for alle þo synnys þat þu hast kept me fro whech I haue not do.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)130 : For making and writing of whiche..bokis; to the hiȝe aloon God..a thousind sithis gramerci.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)170/281 : Graunte mercy, Sirs, of youre gode will.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)2.198 : 'Gromercy, lordes,' she seyde, 'of your good wil!'
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)107/290 : Gramercy of ȝour Aunswere on hyght, Gramercy of ȝour grett humylyte.
- a1500(?a1425) Chester Pl.Antichr.(Pen 399)245 : Graunt marsye, lorde, youre gifte to day.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)98/20 : Well, dame, gramercy your askyng, ffor good I wote ye spyr.
- c1500 Blessid god (Hnt HM 501)52 : Lord, goromercy of all þat þu hast sent.
c
- (1426) Paston2.28 : I submitte me..to your good discrecion; and evere gremercy God, and ye.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)1972 : Welkecome, dere spouse, & god gramercy! I was a wedowe, now I am non.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)52.757 : But, Gromesty God and that good Man, Al hel and fers he Made me than.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)358/105 : Mercy and gromercy god, now may I be seyand.
d
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)5890 : Þer men miȝtten haue frely Four c steden for gramerci, þat ȝede..To þe fitlokes in þe blod.