Middle English Dictionary Entry
ignoraunce n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ignoraunce n. Also ignorans, ignorence. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Lack of wisdom or knowledge, ignorance; (b) an act due to lack of wisdom or knowledge; (c) ?error, delusion.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)143/1 : Bihald..Iþi sawle..sunne & ignorance, þet is, unwisdom & unweotenesse.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.4.2 : Whanne alyfe synneþ by ignoraunce [L ignorantiam].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.15.34 : Summe han ignoraunce of God.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3180 : Though I by ordre telle nat thise thynges..Haue me excused of myn ignoraunce.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.710 : And how that Ignoraunce be moder of alle harm, certes Necligence is the norice.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.2314 : Thou knewe alle othre mennes chance And of thiself hast ignorance.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4480 : Upon his [Solomon's] ignorance The wyde world merveileth yit, That he..himself withdrawe He hath fro god in such a wise.
- ?c1400(c1340) *Rolle Psalter (Sid 89)145.6 : Þe blynde in ignoraunce he makes seand in wisdome.
- (?1406) Hoccl.MR (Hnt HM 111)21 : I..of myn ignorance, Vn to seeknesse am knyt.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.61 : Now be myn help..Whyche am beset with cloudis dym and dirk Of ygnoraunce.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3491 : In metring þouȝ þer be ignoraunce, Ȝet in þe story ȝe may fynde plesaunce.
- (1422) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.2383 : Pretend none ignoraunce under the payne foresaide.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6718 : If a man..of no craft hath science, And nought desireth ignorence, Thanne may he go a-begging..Til he som maner craft kan lerne.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.2.192 : But what thing is more feble and more caytif than is the blyndnesse of ignorance?
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)128b/a : Þat falleþ ofte times be ignoraunce of þe surgene be cause þat he knoweþ not when þat quiture is engenderde.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)115 : Zif they of the enquest be favour or be ignoraunce taxen the damages to litel.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.St.Austin (Hrl 2255)110 : Of his mercy to clarefye the liht, Chace away our cloudy ignoraunce.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)4/11 : Not to kunne es ignorance, not wylle to kunne es pryde.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)84/18 : If he be clene fro ignoraunce of riȝt doom.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)310/1130 : Þe jewys of myn ignorans dede me rave.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)652 : For pety capteyns many mo..Ignoraunce, Diffydence, with Ipocrysy.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)86a/b : Ouer þat a fistle þat is in a noble membre..is suspecte and of yuel curacioun And þe occupying in it, as seiþ Albucasis, is labor & ignorance.
- c1425(c1400) Primer (Cmb Dd.11.82)p.62 : Lord, remmembre þou not þe trespassis of my ȝougþe, and myn ignorauncis [L ignorantias]!
c
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)22112 : Noris him salle enchaireours of ignorance [Vsp: nigramanci] & of iogelours.