Middle English Dictionary Entry
impetuǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | impetuǒus adj. Also impetuious & (?error) impetous. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Rushing, violent; of fire: burning rapidly; (b) hot-tempered; fierce.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)63b/a : And be þai swed with comon suture or of skynnerez when þe flux is impetuous i. hasty [*Ch.(2): when þer is strong bledynge; L quando fluxus est impetuosus].
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)149 : Þe uirgine was sperd in a hous with oþir maidenes and brent with impetuous fyr.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)279 : There blew sodeynly so mech wynd, and so impetuous, with a gret reyn, that the Kyngis tent was felled.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)104.68 (v.2:p.136) : The flode .. was impetous of cours and wondir swyfte in rennyng.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)36a/a : Colerik men beþ generalliche wraþeful..vnstable, inpetuous [Tol: impetuious].
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.17/3 : This Chirche with three doweryes, as yt were with an vnpenytrable scochyn wardid and defendyd aȝenst ympetuous hostylyte.
- ?a1450 Arderne LW (Em 69)124 : Ane infeccione that is called Erpes, that lyth in lengthe as it were ane impetuous serpent.