Middle English Dictionary Entry
inconvēnient n.
Entry Info
| Forms | inconvēnient n. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A disaster, misfortune; also, a harmful condition, unhappiness, disorder; (b) a legally or morally improper act, offense, fault; (c) an inconsistency, contradiction, fallacy.
Associated quotations
a
- c1410 3 Arrows Doomsday (UC 97)447 : Lord, i biseche þee þat in þe dreedful day of doom..þat i be not convict for euere and be ateynt in a schameful inconuenyent of euerlastynge reproeue.
- (1425) RParl.4.271a : Yif I shulde be putte out of possession for a cleyme made ayens me, hit were a grete ynconvenient.
- (?1430) Paston2.32 : Be lenger delaye of here profession [admission as monks], many inconvenientez arne lyke to falle.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)45 : Thes grete Inconvenientes ben hevy thinges to the Rewme.
- c1450 Royal SSecr.(Roy 18.A.7)22/15 : If a man ete and drynke out of tyme or ouyr moche it makith him..to falle into dyuerse seeknes and many othir inconvenientis.
- (1469) Paston (Gairdner)5.51 : Yif ther be inconvenient or myshief, murdre, or manslauter, [etc.].
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)469 : Withowte he applyede hym to sadder governayle, somme inconvenientes wolde folowe..bothe to hym and to the realme.
- a1500(a1463) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)65 : Greet attemptats..yor servants..have late made..been likely to turne to greet inconvenients and manslaughter.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)415 : They wold nat with her [Discord] dele in auenture Lest she theym brought to som inconuenyent.
b
- (1440) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)244 : It is opyn to every man..that nother in the Kyng, my lord and Faders, ne in noon oþer of oure noble progenitours days..soo many inconvenientes of right evel ensample have been..attempted ayens God & his churche.
- (1450) RParl.5.189b : Diverse grete inconvenientes and injuries have be shewed and doon..by diverse of oure Officers..in arestyng and misentretyng ayenst the lawes of God and libertees of the Church.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)279 : Many othir inconvenientis ded thei that tyme.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)61/20 : Ther was that tyme vsid amonge myche inconuenientez, vnhoneste, and vices.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)61/28 : Þerfore is now ordeynede fastyng ayens commessacions and dronkenesse and siche other inconuenientees, the whiche vices fastyng putteþ a-bak.
- a1500 Parton.(1) (Add 35288)4594 : Þe heþen truly Arne for-sowrne..None of hem alle may voyde ne gon Frome þys fowle Inconvenyente.
c
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.3.193 : Ther folweth anothir inconvenient..and that is this: that, so as the ordre of thingis is iled and cometh of the purveaunce of God..thanne folweth it that oure vices ben referrid to the makere of alle good.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)253 : Herbi may be leid a side an inconuenient which ellis wolde rise bi þis þat worschiping and sacramenting ben seid and putt to be ij dyuerse pointis of þi lawe and service.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)81 : Thouȝ..resoun be failing at sum while, ȝit God wole haue a man ther yn excusid..whanne man bi his wil is not cause of thilk failing, noon inconuenient is thouȝ God ordeyned the seid resoun, and also his seid doom to be reulers of Holi Writ.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)135 : And ellis but ech article myȝte bi this kynde of examynacioun be examined, ellis alle the bifore inconvenientis wolden nedis folowe.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)79 : Þis inconuenient mai not be voydid wt mani moo oþer.