Middle English Dictionary Entry
ī̆dō̆latrī(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ī̆dō̆latrī(e n. Also idolatrẹ̄. |
| Etymology | OF & ML; cp. CL īdōlolatrīa, from Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The worship of man-made statues, paintings, or other objects; idolatry; also, the personification of idolatry; don ~, to practice idolatry; (b) an idolatrous religion or cult [sometimes difficult to distinguish from (a)]; (c) fig. disobedience to God; (d) idols collectively; ?also, an idol.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)695 : Manie man, is frend for munen, Made liknesse after ðe wunen..Ydolatrie ðus was boren.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)4143 : Ydolatrie, ðat was hem lef, ofte vt-wrogte hem sorges dref.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 17.16 : Whanne Poul abood hem at Athenys, his spirit was mouyd in him, seynge the citee ȝouun to ydolatrie [L idolatriæ].
- c1400(1389) Wycl.25 Art.(Dc 273)462 : Alle men worschipynge in ony manere þoo ymagis or any payntyngus synnen ande done ydolatry.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1587 : And thus the fend fro dai to dai The worschipe of ydolatrie Drowh forth upon the fantasie Of hem that weren thanne blinde.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4497 : He the myhti god forsok..whanne he tok Hise wyves and his concubines Of hem that weren Sarazines, For whiche he dede ydolatrie.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1173 : He used abominaciones of idolatrye, And lette lyȝt bi þe lawe þat he watz lege tylle.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)1.96 : Ydolatrie ȝe soffren in sondrye places menye.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4047 : Lo, here, the mede of ydolatrie, Of Rytys old and fals mawmetrye.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)21/13 : He gert also make ane ymage in mynde of his fader, and comaundid all his subgetes to wirschippe þat ymage..and on þis maner began ydolatry first.
- c1435 Lydg.St.George (Bod 686)161 : O god, þer is fye on þi ydolatrye.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.[OD col.] (LdMisc 559)fol.7b : He trowed all in Idolatrye And in fals ymagerye.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)351 : Hyr fadyr & modyr in ydolatry Were born & fostryd.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)149 : As for drede of ydolatrie..doom of resoun hath not forto weerne and reproue ymagis to be had and vsid.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)21 : The Grekis sey that on Cicrops began this ydolatrie with graving ymages in olyve tre.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)20875 : 'Ydolatrye I am,' quod she, 'And off ffolkes..Thys my custom..ffor to brynge hem in seruage.'
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.21 : Machometus..was norischede in his infancy by his uncle, servynge ydolatry [L idolorum cultui deservivit] with the peple of Araby.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)20875 : Dame Idolatrye [vr. Ydolatre].
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5557 : And of þis feyned fals ydolatrie [Baal worship], Gan al þe worlde worschip mawmetrie.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.7034 : What may now helpe her frauded fantasie Of al her olde false ydolatrie?
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4459 : For iolite of Iupitir, ȝe ioyen vp templis With Imagis of ȝoure ydolatry all within payntid, Symolacris vp sett of Seropis & othir.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.566 : But if þou woldest leue this cursed ydolatrie..Thanne wolde we honoure the wyth dew seruyse.
c
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)7 : Þei chargen more þe brekynge of a folie a-vow of synful men þan þe brekynge of goddis hestis; but wheþere is more ydolatrie?
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)38 : Who so wil not obey..he synniþ in þe synne of ydolatrie, as Samuel witnessiþ..synne of wichcraft is to not obey, and þe felowny of ydolatrie to not wel assent.
d
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)67.33 : A gaderyng to-gidres of stable folk..blameþ þe sacrifice of ydolatries.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.748 : And ther fore seith Seint Paul, ad Ephesios quinto, that an auaricious man is the thraldom [vr. thral] of ydolatrie [L idolorum servitus].
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)145/7 : They seyn that angellis spekyn to hem thour here ymagis and ydolatrie and werkyth manye wondris.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4261 : All ydolatris in oure Ile ere vttirly devoidid.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)61/102 : Off jesse, kyng Achas is my name, þat falsly wurchepyd ydolatrye.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)217/18 : The apostles were founden and i-brouȝte to the ydolatrye.