Middle English Dictionary Entry
īdō̆l(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | īdō̆l(e n. Also idoile, idolle & idel. Pl. īdō̆les, etc. & (errors) idolsis, idolfis. |
| Etymology | L īdō̆lum & OF id(e)le; ult. Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A man-made object representing a deity, an image of a god; (b) fig. someone who is false or untrustworthy.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1871 : Godes ðat rachel hadde stolen..And oðre ydeles brogt fro sichem..Diep he is dalf under an ooc.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3197 : It wurð erðe-dine, and fellen ðo fele chirches and ideles mide.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.269 : The aungel of god hath me the trouthe ytaught, Which thow shalt seen if that thow wolt reneye The ydoles.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.285 : Alle ydoles nys but a thyng in veyn.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.8.4 : Of metis that ben offrid to ydols, we witen, for an ydol is no thing in the world, and that ther is no God but oon.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)93/28 : Idoles and maumetes he forsok þo And worschiped hem nomore aftur þat tym.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1955 : And that is as a sacrifice, Which..Is openly..Unto thidoles yove.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11766 : Þe lauerd sal Cum til egypti, þair idels [Trin-C: ydoles; Frf: mawmettes] all Sal fall dun als þai war noght.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11796 : Was noght a temple or-quar in tun, þat þar ne fel sum idel dun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5515 : Peynymys write..Þat aldirfirst was Promotheus Þat fond ydolis.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5541 : A wickid spirit..In þis ydole entrid to abyde.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Judg.3.19 : He turnede aȝen fro Galgalis, where idolis weren.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Wisd.14.8 : The idol [WB(1): maumet; L idolum] which is maad bi hond is cursid..that idol, whanne it was freel, was nemyd God.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)109/19,20,23 : Summe worschipen symulacres & summe ydoles [F ydoles]; But betwene symulacres & ydoles is a gret difference, For symulacres ben ymages made after lykness of men or of wommen or of the sonne or of the mone or of ony best or of ony kyndely thing, & ydoles is an ymage made of lewed will of man þat man may not fynden among kyndely thinges, As an ymage þat hath iiij hedes.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)786 : For olde payens, that idoles [vrr. Idols, ydolles, ydoyles] heryed, Useden tho in feldes to ben beryed.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.1810 : Theodosie and Gracian of assent..haue also doun rent The grete idoles.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)7 : Booth he and his wyf lyued aftur þe ryte of paynemys and worschepid ydolys.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)754 : For ȝour ydil idolus don ȝou ille wirche.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)89/27 : He saw his fadur sacrefie vnto þe ydolsis & fals goddis.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)368/15,17 : Þe ymage of Romulus and all oþer ydolfis [read: ydolsis] in Rome fell down & brak, And Saynt Ierom tellis also how þer come a tokyn in Egipte, for all þer idolfis fellis when our Ladye bare hur chylde.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.41 : Machomete made an ydole of auricalke or alkmuyne in the brynke of the see of Speyne.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)12859 : I may resemble wel to Bel..The ydole that devourede al.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)105.19 : And thai made a kalfe in oreb, and thai loutid ydol [L sculptile]..the ydol thai made, & loutid it as thaire god.
b
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)626 : Fals Fortune hath pleyd a game..An ydole of fals portrayture Ys she, for she wol sone wrien.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)240 : John Wiclef..the ydol of heresie..was smet with a horibil paralsie thorw oute his body.
2.
(a) Med. An image formed upon the retina; (b) a false retinal image, an illusion.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)127b/b : If it be vpward & dounward, al þingez þay make to appere double, And cause of þis is cancellacioun of þe ydolez in þe onyng or in þe crosse.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)132b/a : Signez forsoþ of catharactez not confermed ar conturbacioun of þe pupille & minoracioun of þe siȝt & apprehencioun of ydolez & fantasiez made in þe aier.