Middle English Dictionary Entry
graunt adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | graunt adj. Also gra(u)nd, grond & (in cpds.) gra(u)n-. |
| Etymology | OF grant, grand adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Large, big; peti and ~, great and small, all; ~ lede, large metal vessel; (b) great, extreme, important; [see also gramerci]; (c) the (le, la) ~, the great, the famous.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester7 : Un Lyne Cable, Graunt iij d., and peter, ij d.
- (1420) *Invent.in Lincoln Chapt.Acc.Bk.A.2.30 [OD col.]lf.72 : j grantelede, ij s. viij d.
- (1448) Shillingford149 : Item in piscibus de conger iij s. iiij d..Item in j pecia de graunt conger ix d.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)186 : [He] be-took the devel at the remnaunt, That him belefte, petyt & graunt.
- (1452) Feast Neville(1) (Tit B.11)88 : Graunt fflaupaut [read: fflanpant] departid.
b
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)93/27 : Þe lady seyd on-to hir, 'Margerya in pouerte?' Sche..seyd a-ȝeyn, 'ȝa, grawnt pouerte, Madam.'
- (1449) RParl.5.167b : He holdith of you..the Manoir of Lityll Weldon..by Graunte Sergeaunte, that is to witte, to be Maister of your Bukhoundes.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1403 : Thurgh vnhappe of þat hynde, þat þou a hore mase, Myche greuaunce shall groo & a gronnd hate.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1431 : So lurkes with lordes of a light wrathe, Þat growes into gronnd harme, greuys full sore.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1189 : The graunt Tribune..With discipline of armys holde hem vndir Seuerously.
c
- (1426) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.190/1560 : John Assh, atte Cristophore ny seynt Martyns þe graund.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1737 : Þe prouynce & principalte of Persye la graunt [Dub: le graunt].
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)26 : Another Emperowre reygned at Rome, Syr Otes þe grawnt hyght þat gome.
2.
In kinship terms: ~ fader, grandfather; ~ faderles, having no grandfather; ~ moder, grandmother, parent's mother (or stepmother); ~ moderles; ~ uncle, great-uncle. [See also graundame, grauntsire.]
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2321 : Pirrus..Whos olde fader hiȝte Pelleus, His granmoder called Thetides.
- (1424-5) EEWills57/3 : Þan shall he be left faderles and moderles, grauntfaderles and grauntmoderles.
- (1430) Proc.Privy C.4.38 : Item þat in benefices..whan þei voiden, suche as..have served his fadre or grandfadre be preferred.
- (1437) Proc.Privy C.5.56 : We..have appointed þe funerelles of oure graundmodre Quene Johane.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.4535 : Ther cam Amynta, of Macedoyne kyng..To Alisaundre graunfader in his liff.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)46.373 : Aftyr his Graunt-fadyr to fore, Nasciens was he Clepyd thore.
- a1450 WBible(2) Prol.Ecclus (Cmb Dd.1.27)123 : My graundfadir [WB(1): elde-fader; L avus] Jhesus, bisiloker to diligence of redyng of the lawe, and prophetis.
- (a1466) Paston (Gairdner)4.22 : My grauntfadyr Mundeford recoweryd the said maner of Estlexham be assyze.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.55 : Constantinus..was deceyvede of Paulus, like as his grawntefader [Trev.Higd.: grauntsire; L avus] was of Sergius.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)19 : And he [Henry VI] also..was crouned king of Fraunce..be the gret mighte and power..of his graunt oncle, Henry cardinalle of Englande.
3.
(a) In place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.208]; (b) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- (1373) in Ekwall Dict.EPN193 : Grandpont.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)488/8 : Ther tenement in the parissh of seynt myghell the sowth, Vpon graunte pownte.
b
- (1125-30) Anc.Chart.in Pipe R.Soc.1026 : Wlfwinus Grant.
- (1154-63) Mun.Merton in OHS 8614 : Ricardus Grand'.
- (1223) Pat.R.Hen.III392 : Thomas le Graunt.
- (1251) Close R.Hen.III538 : Radulfum Granvassal de tenemento.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1059 : Johanne Graunpund.