Middle English Dictionary Entry
inceste n.
Entry Info
| Forms | inceste n. |
| Etymology | OF inceste & L incestum & incestus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Sexual relationship with one of one's kin to the fourth or fifth degree, whether one's own kin or the kin of one's spouse or paramour; also, relations with somebody with whom one has a spiritual relationship; don (usen) ~, to commit incest; (b) as adj.: incestuous.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)106/21 : Incest, þet is, bituhe sibbe, fleschliche oðer gasteliche.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)68/1929 : Ȝef þou myd word if [read: of] þet hys novþe Aryȝt bi-treuþest one -- Oþer þaȝ þet [þou] bi-treuþy hy nauȝt -- And hast flesches mone..Alle here sybbe affinite To þe for þan schel drawe..And ȝef þou weddest eny of ham, In inceste scholle ȝe lybbe An erþe.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)113/397 : Hys incest wyþ kenne Þe lecherye so.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.963 : Thow shalt considere..wheither it [sin] be doon in fornicacioun or in auowtrie or noon, incest or noon.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)7368 : Þe þrydde synne ys þe werst, Þe clerk calleþ hyt yncest, whan men take kyn yn felawrede, And wyþ hem doþ flesshely dede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27942 : Incest, þat es, for to lij Bi þat þi sibman has line bi, Or if þat has don þat sin Wit ani of þin aun kin.
- a1425 Rolle FLiving (Arun 507)413 : Inceste..is bitwene sibbe fleshli or gasteli.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)353/18 : A knyght..he vsid robborie, avowtrie, inceste, & to be mane-sworn.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)162/15 : Whan a man hath medlyd wyth a womman, or a womman wyth a man, neyther may be weddyd to oþeres kyn, in-to þe fyfte degre, ne medle wyth hem; for ȝif þei don, it is incest.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)228/19 : Incest is as if oon of hem that ben wedded be fleschly cosyn of that other.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.355 : Thay avoide not inceste, but breþer wedde the wyfes of theire brether.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)67a : To do inceste: incestare.
- a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)2.B.2633 : The iijd spyce [of lechery] clarkes þei call Incest, Wher ys flesshly knolege betwene kyn and kyn.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)649 : As for pety capteyns many mo the[r] wase..Fornycacion, Incest, and Auoutry.
b
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)67a : Inceste:..incestuosus.