Middle English Dictionary Entry
Hercū̆lēs n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Hercū̆lēs n. Also erkules, ercules, hærcules, arcules. |
| Etymology | L, from Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Hercules: (a) with reference to the Pillars of Hercules; ~ boundes, markes of ~, ~ his pileres; (b) with reference to his strength, twelve labors, or his godship over the arms; strength of ~; (c) ~ lioun, the zodiacal sign Leo.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1314-18 : Þa comen heo to þan bunnen þa Hercules makede..þat weoren postles longe of marmon stane stronge; þat taken makede Hærcules þat lond þe þer abuten wes..al hit stond an his hond.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.299 : Þere Hercules his pileres [Higd.(2): the pillers of Hercules; L Herculis columnæ] stondeþ by sides þe hille mont Atlas [L montem Atlanticum].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5584 : He sette þere ymages of moundes Þat men clepeþ Ercules boundes.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)1440 : Þey comem com to [read: comen to þe] markes of Erkules..A piler of bras þer þey fonde, Þat he dide sette for honour Þat he was þider conquerrour.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1943 : Nat was foryeten..the folie of kyng Salomon, Ne yet the grete strength of Ercules.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)83/18 : Hercules ȝe trowe be godd of þe armes, Bi-cause he did twelfe passande dedes of armes.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)669 : For Hercules þe endelese, þat evere is in paine, Divisede here on his day a dosain of wondrus..A god holde ȝe him helplich of grace, Þat haþ ȝoure armus to ȝeme & may ȝou ȝive strenke.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)1057 : Thogh I had had..al the strengthe of Ercules.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4500 : And Arcules has aythire arme in his awen warde For þe xij wondirfull werkis he wroȝt with his handis.
c
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.32 : Byfel that, whan that Phebus shynyng is Upon the brest of Hercules lyoun, That Ector with ful many a bold baroun, Caste on a day with Grekes for to fighte.