Middle English Dictionary Entry
hēle n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | hēle n.(1) Also hel, helle, ȝel(e, heal(e, eale, hæl(e, hælo, hælu, hile. Pl. (rare) hēles. |
| Etymology | OE hǣlu & hǣl. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. heil n.
1.
(a) Sound physical condition, health, mental health; also, wholesome things; god ~, good health; in ~, healthy, in good health; brouken ~, to enjoy good health; welden ~, be in good health; (b) healing, cure, recovery; restoration from a metamorphosis; also, a healer; taken ~, to receive cure; gostli ~, recovery from diabolical possession; soule ~, ~ of soule, forgiveness of sin; (c) remedy, medicine.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.MQuad.(Hrl 6258B)2/4 : Idpartus..Octauiano þan casere hys frunde hælo bodede þis wordum.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)134/12 : Þu wult habben hæle þines lichames.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)12253 : Lifess modiȝnesse iss all Off eorþliȝ þingess seollþe..Off hæle, off faȝȝerrnesse.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)30551 : Þa iwarð þe king..isæcled ful swiðe, and hafde þat uuel hate binumen hin [read: him] wes þa hele.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)186/13 : Þe an..drinkeð bitter sabraz forte acourin heale.
- c1300 SLeg.Lucy (LdMisc 108)17 : Go we..to þe holie seint Agace, And þare þou schalt to hele come.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3164 : He..sede þe kinges meine þat he wolde him to hele bringe.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1231 : Ȝif he in hele ware, He wer a miri man.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1377 : Wel weldes he nouȝt his hele, for wonded was he sore.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.399 : God..Made þat lond so freele [read: feele] To be celer of al heele [Higd.(2): alle hollesomme thynges; L cunctorum salutarium].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.153 : God..hath..yeuen hem wit, strengthe of body, heele, beautee, prosperitee.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11317 : Symeon..had made mani hali bon þat he moght in þis liues hel þe comforth se of israel.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.7 : Reson ich mette In an hote heruest wenne ich hadde myn hele.
- (1421) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.2.190 : Desiryng..to here glad..tydyngges of the hele and good speed of your graciouse persone.
- a1425 Christ.Belief (LoC 4)11/399 : Fro þe rofe of þe heued vnto þe hele was þare no heale in him, ne haele dale, þat it ne was broken and brissed wid pyne.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.6.94-5 : I thanke the auctour and the makere of hele [L sospitatis], that nature hath nat al forleten the. I have gret noryssynge of thyn hele [L salutis], and that is, the sothe sentence of governance of the werld.
- (1438) Will Norwich in Nrf.Archaeol.4329 : I Richard Edy..in my ryghte mynde..and my body beyng in hele, wt outyn any maner of sekenes, I have maad my testament.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)99/25 : Here I liff well & clenlie..here I hafe my heall.
- (1462) Paston (Gairdner)4.61 : Your servauntys ar, at the wrytyng of this lettyr, in good hell, blesyd be God.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1000/35 : Sure mow ye be that..shall ye fayle whyle that I have hele.
- (1475) Stonor1.157 : Plese yow to wytt at the makyng off thys letter I was in god hell.
- a1500 Galawnt pride (RwlPoet 34)13 : Galaunt, yf þou wylt haue thy hele, Wrap thy bryst with clothys fele.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)86/33 : The sustres beinge in gode hele..kepin hem alle dayes fram etinge of flesche.
- ?a1500(a1475) Wright's CW (Lamb 306)165 : I thought..For to bryng yt all to-gydder, As I mott broke my heele.
b
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)103/67.4 : Heo byð ȝehaled, na þat an þat þat ȝeswel ȝeset, ac eac sara sina toȝunge to hæle ȝelædeð.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)14/1 : Ȝif hit þin milde willa beo, þu ðam cnihte his hælo asend.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)24/12 : He bæd his sune hælu..þe læȝ ða æt forðsiðe on Capharnan buriȝ.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5378 : Mikell follc wass þær wiþþ himm..to takenn hæle att himm Off iwhillc unntrummnesse.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)52/21 : & tuhen alle to hire bodi þe untrume weren, & hefden hare heale.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)189/1 : Godd & his desciples speken of sawle lechecreft, ypocras & Galien of licomes heale.
- c1300 SLeg.MPChr.(LdMisc 108)221 : [The child] was boþe def and doumb, and ne miȝte none hele iwinne.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)597 : Ful wel can ich..help ȝow hasteli at al ȝoure hele to gete.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1023 : Thow shalt nat shryue thee for veyne glorie..but oonly for the doute of Iesu Crist and the heele of thy soule.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2944 : If that he mihte..finde grace His brother hele to pourchase, So that he mihte be reformed Of that he hadde be transformed.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8058 : A riche man..seke had ben ful mani dai; Wit-vten hope o hele he lai.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)9/4 : Speke to þe sijk man, and in almaner sijknes bihote him heele [L salutem], þouȝ þou be of him dispeirid.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.100 : Some tyme he gaf good & graunted hele [Bod: hile] bothe.
- a1425 WBible(1) (Magd-C F.4.6)1 Cor.12.9 : Heeles [Corp-O: to another, grace of heelthis, in o spirit].
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)69/28 : Naaman of Syrie bathed him..he was mesell, & þere anon he toke his hele.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)54b/a : He schal considere of þe fyndynge of helpes for þat wounde þat may take hele [*Ch.(1): helþe; L sanitatem].
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1183 : This religious preest seide, 'þou fende, a-wake! Voyde now þis body!' þoo seid he gospellis feele Ouyr þis mayden to hir goostly hele.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)3831 : What seeknes ony man feel, By þis martyris merytys he shal han heel.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2346 : Bleynde men hadden þere hurre seyȝt, & crokette & maymotte fatton þere hurre hele.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)46 : Now blessid be God of mendement, of hele & eke of cure.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1030/36 : I woll that ye..anoynte the Maymed Kynge..and he shall have hys heale.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.44.28a : For þis name Ihesu is not ellis for to sey vp on Englyshe but Helere or Hele.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)57b/b : Ne sette þou neuere no certeyn day of þe syke mannys hele, for þat lijþ not in þi power.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)3655 : I-sette I am In suche A place my sowle hele I wyll A-byde.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)728 : Ye schall not dye for my pleasaunce, Nor for your hele I cane no suerty make.
c
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)83 : Oli haueð huppen him lihtnesse and softnesse and hele.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)30593 : Æt her of sone, þine hele [Otho: eale] heo scal iwurðen.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)605 : I ȝiue me al in þi grace to gete me sum hele.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4140 : I shal my self to herbes techen yow That shul ben for youre heele and for youre prow.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.278 : That scholde be the worldes hele Is now, men sein, the pestilence.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)15/27 : Þat es hele of þa þat ere in sekenes, þat es at say in sinne.
2.
(a) A state of happiness or prosperity; (b) fortune, good luck, profit, advantage; soule ~, ~ of soule, spiritual profit; (c) preservation, protection, help, safety; also, a preserver; (d) comfort, consolation, good will, love; also, a comforter; (e) in phrases: (to) ivel ~, to lither ~, with ill luck, in an evil hour, calamitously, evilly; to goder thin ~, to your advantage; to wrother here ~, unfortunately for them; goder ~, ille ~, wrother ~, q.v.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)200 : Nere namon elles ded ne sec ne nan unsele, ac mihten libben eure ma a blisse and a hele.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.3102 : For now is Palamon in alle wele, Lyuynge in blisse in richesse and in hele.
- c1390 Whon Men beoþ (Vrn)7 : Þei weene heor honour & heore hele Schal euer laste & neuer diffade.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.2174 : So that myn herte were in hele Of love which is in mi briest.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)920 : No foschip oure Fader hatz þe schewed, Bot hiȝly hevened þi hele fro hem þat arn combred.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)21.220 : For sholde neuere right riche man þat lyueþ in reste and hele [B: ese] Ywyte what wo is.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1912 : Þin honour, þi worschip & þin hele Was lost in haste.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)60/140 : I wolde be glade for hym to dye, For all oure heele hyngis in his hande.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)296 : Heel and honour To trouthe of womanhede, and to this flour.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)844 : Frynd þou shall fully haue fauer to wend, And ouer goddes þe graunt grace of þi hele.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)62a : Hele: fecunda prosperitas.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)27002 : Wa wes Brutten þere buten Arðure; heore hele wes to lutel þere at heȝere neode.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)14/21 : Sorhe & licomes sar is sawulene heale.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)38/19 : Lokið leoue sustren þet..ower eare ne drinke neauer bute sawle heale.
- ?a1300 Loue is sofft (Dgb 86)5 : Loue is hap, wo hit haueþ; loue is god hele.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)2 : Herkneþ alle to my speche, And hele of soule i may ou teche.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.2835 : A man mai finde..Ful gret desese in mariage, Whan..mariage is mad for lucre, Or for the lust or for the hele.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.6 : Our werc be worschipe To God..and cresten folk til sauel hel.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)17.54 : Heles of his Kinge mikeland.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2630 : Gife I happe to my hele that hende for to serue, I be holpen in haste.
- (1458) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.4 : It is meritorious hele and profit to every true christen mannes soule to sey..the trouth in every true matier.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)232/6 : Yf I have happe [to] my hele to serve my lyege lorde I shall be well holpyn in haste.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)47 : His blod was ȝeuen out for þe ȝele of our soule.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)324 : The fyrste happe other hele was þat þat þe chylde hadde Whenne þat þe chylde [read: blonk] þat hym bare blente hadde his fere.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14029 : For hit wes heom al hele þat Hængest wes þere.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.49.18 : & þi ȝeuer of hele I schall abyde lord [L Salutare tuum expectabo, Domine].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1821 : O ye, my lyves hele, Sey what you list in my querele.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5098 : Bes noght rad bot mas godd chere For your hele drightin sent me here.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)21.1 : Ful fer fra mi hele ere þa Wordes of mi giltes ma.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.468 : I am Kynge with croune..I am ȝowre aller hed, I am ȝowre aller hele.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)335 : Bot I dewoutly awowe..Soberly to do þe sacrafyse, when I schal saue worþe, & offer þe for my hele a ful hol gyfte.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)36/31 : Vs byhouez to trete of oure hele, & of oure poplez.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8688 : Þai had no hope of þere heale ne þere hede children.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)3.722 : The whiche shulde suche an odour shede, That all the worlde shall comforte fynde and hele [etc.].
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)62a : Hele: Columitas.
d
- a1350 Ichot a burde in boure (Hrl 2253)74 : Loue..bed me hente þat hord of myne huerte hele.
- a1400(c1340) Rolle Psalter (Hat 12)5/16 : Þis shinand boke es..hele of a seke hert, huny til a bitter saule.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)17624 : Leue frende woldestou þe seme To com wiþ vs to speke & mele, Pees to make wiþ vs & hele.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)713 : Burnez her barnez vnto hym brayde. For happe and hele þat fro hym ȝede.
- (c1422) Hoccl.JWife (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)22 : My deere wyf, myn hertes ioie and hele.
- a1425(c1340) Rolle Psalter (LdMisc 286)p.523 : Hur gladnes and hir ioy was in mynd of god, in luf and lykyng of whom all hur heel sho sett.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1487 : My leman swete, My life, my hele and al my hert.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1415-6 : And to youre trouthe ay I me recomande With hele swich that, but ye yeven me The same hele, I shal non hele have.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)128 : Thorgh me men gon into that blysful place Of hertes hele and dedly woundes cure.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)217 : Owre lorde apperide to þeme in liknes of a pylgryme, & ȝede spekyng with theme wordes of hele.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)177 : My lady..Alle my hope and my hele, myn herte es thyn ownn.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)4.179 : For this name is so hevenly and dyvyne, That hertez seke it dothe with hele habounde.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)126/12 : Fort he come to Cork, to gaddre hele [L solatium] to hys frendes, & vnhele to hys fomen.
e
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)33 : Hwet seið þe dusie? 'to ufele hele wes ic iboren ȝif ic ne mot habben on þisse weorlde ȝeuenesse.'
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)490 : To wroþer heore hele [Otho: To wroþer-hele] habbeð heo such werc idon.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3597 : Loca þat þu wel do, and ȝef þu heo þus dalest to godere þire hæle.
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)273/255 : Nas nou þis a luþer bern, and to luþer hele ibore
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)6583 : Ful euelhele brake ȝe þe day þat I fasted.
3.
(a) Salvation; eche ~; soule ~; bred of ~, the Eucharist; (b) Savior, Christ; also, the Virgin Mary; (c) spiritual health, spiritual strength.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)88/1 : Wilnung is þam men iȝefæn to wilniȝenne þa þing þe him fremiæð..to æce hæle.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)102/2 : He hit..for monnæ hæle þrowode.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)2/2 : Ðeo rode..þe ure drihten for alles moncynnes hælo on ðrowode.
- c1225 Nic.Creed (Jun 121)5 : For us monnen and for ure hæle [L salutem] niþer astæih of heouene.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)33 : Ðos word sede þe angel..naht for englen unhele þe habbeð eche hele.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)69/12 : Wa ȝeu..þat ȝie godd forȝeten and ȝeure saule hæle.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)57/613 : Þu art hope of heale; þu art rihtwises weole.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)221/10 : Ower beoden..nawt ane to ower ahnes, ah to alle folkes heale.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)96 : Vor o ðe is al ilong mi lif & eke min heale.
- a1300 Hit bilimpeð (Corp-O 59)26 : Þou vs sende þat of hele & of lif, ihesu crist þe hende.
- (a1333) Herebert Cryst (Add 46919)9 : Wrouhte of oure hele, nou haue in þyne munde þat of o mayde wemles þou toke oure kunde.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)759 : Þis is þe Castel..Of Hope, Of Hele, Of Sikernesse.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1984 : Wit lele werks lok ȝee dele, Als ȝee wil luue your aun hele.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10106 : Þe warlau..folus me..To do me fal in filthes fele Graithli again mi saul hele.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)6.19 : I haue..souȝt goode seintes for my soule hele.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.10.1 : Þe preyere vn to god is don for þem in to hele [L salutem].
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)42/35 : All dedis þat men dose, in þe end heel [L salutem] to gett, þa help not if in goddis charite..þa be not done.
- a1450(c1409) Man haue hit (Dgb 102)69 : Helpe not þe soule to hele, But crye in pyne wey-laway.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)53/28 : Ner besyde ther oure lord Iesu Crist was crucifyed is wretyn of old tyme these wordys, 'Here oure lord God wroughte helle in myddis the world'.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer ABC (Benson-Robinson)80 : Myn hele into thin hand al I resygne.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)914 : To vysyt seint petir kirke..At rome, for heele of hir saule.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)1 : Neiþer entent to begile..ani man or womman in ani vnprofitable to perpetual ȝel of soule.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)47 : His blod was ȝeuen out for þe ȝele of our soule.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)62a : Hele: Salutare, saluacio.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)139.8 : Lord, lord, vertu of my hele [L salutis]..thou gifis vertu, that is, perseueraunce, til my hele.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)4/32 : Lord, schewe vnto vs thy mercy and yeve vs thyn hele.
b
- c1200 Wor.Serm.in EGSt.7 (Wor Q.29)135 : He scal beo iuane and heale [L salus].
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)19390 : Ankennedd Sune Jesu Crist Mannkinne sellþe & hæle.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)6 : Þu ert..Mi lif & mi to-hope, min heale mid iwisse.
- a1275 On hire is al (Trin-C B.14.39)31 : Heo is hele and lif ond licte and helpit al moncunene.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11341 : For nu min ei has sen þin hel.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)170/15 : Abide we oure hele, and þat schal asemy oure bodyes after his owen.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.179 : For owre ioye and owre hele, Ihesu cryst of heuene..pursueth vs euere.
- a1425 Shrewsbury Frag.(Shrw 6)4/39 : Crist is rysen..Oure hope, oure help, oure hele is he.
- ?c1475 *Trev.Nicod.(Sal 39)140b : Myn yȝen habbuþ ich seye þin hele and saluacoun.
- a1500 Quene of hevyn (LdMisc 213)4 : Of þe he tok hys burth þat is heele, lyf & lyght.
c
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.Quadr.(Bod 343)42/11 : Ðeo andetnes is mildheortnysse weorc; heo is hæl ðæs untrumen, & heo is læcedom ure mæȝnæ mid reowsunge.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)96 : O ðe is al ilong mi lif & eke min heale.
- c1400 Interpol.Rolle Cant.(1) (Bod 288)28 : Þou schewidist þee..to þe helþe of trewe Cristen men dwellinge in hele.
4.
?In place names and surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1190) in Ekwall Dict.EPN236 : Helewelle.
- (1275) Hundred R.Tower 173 : Will. Heleman.
- (1275) Hundred R.Tower 1157 : Willm. Helman.