Middle English Dictionary Entry
incontinence n.
Entry Info
| Forms | incontinence n. Also incontinens, incontenaunce. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Inability to restrain sexual desire, sexual immorality; (b) inability to keep to a religious rule.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.7.5 : Turne ȝe aȝen in to the same thing, lest Sathanas tempte ȝou for ȝoure incontynence [L incontinentiam].
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)107/18 : The gode dyamand leseth his vertue..for Incontynence of him þat bereth it.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.47/24 : This man, byȝonde equyte ȝeuen to voluptuous lyif and his incontinence was euer redy to slyde to the worse.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)179/30-1 : Þei..soiowryd in diuers placys wher no suspicyon xulde ben had of her incontinens.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.4066 : Ther gynnyng greuh off such incontinence As clerkis call incestus in sentence.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)7040 : Þar was a preste..Of incontinence was to blame, A nyght be his woman he Lay.
- a1500(a1449) Lydg.Pestil.(Lnsd 699)13 : Keep welle thi-silf from incontynence [vr. incontenaunce], In stiwes, bathis no soiour that thou make.
b
- c1450(?c1425) St.Christina Mirab.(Dc 114)127/28 : By hir incontinens she didde ful grete sclaunder to the abbeye.