Middle English Dictionary Entry
incrē̆dī̆ble adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | incrē̆dī̆ble adj. Also encredibil. |
| Etymology | L incrēdibilis & OF incredible. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Unbelievable, incredible; (b) untrustworthy; (c) beyond belief, supreme, great; (d) unbelieving, incredulous.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3933 : It was incredible..To sene þe wommen Grekis so enchase.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)66a/b : I haue seen..neruez & thenontez kut..And hem so restored with suture & oþer helpez þat afterward it was incredible hem to haue be kutted.
- c1425 Bible SNT(1) (Cmb Dd.12.39)Deeds 26.8 : Whatte es demed incredibil anentes ȝowe, if God raise þo deed?
- (?a1430) Hoccl.Ad BV (Hnt HM 744)17 : It is incredible To any wight of catholyk creaunce Thee nat to reewe on our synful greuaunce.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1992 : When the shoute & shaftys fille his ere, Then voyce yfere is so fel & horribil That for to fere, it is not incredibil.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.17 : Thow schalle fynde mony thynges incredible and not lyke, and neuerthelesse thei be trewe.
- c1475(1459) Pros.Yorkists in EHR 26 (Roy 17.D.15)521 : It is incredible to any resonable man that an inveterate consuetude might be chaunged withoute the destruccion of þe subjecte.
b
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6095 : Thyng seyn at eye is nat incredible.
- (1452) Paston2.272 : Please it yowre gode grace..to beseche the Kyng..that his Hignesse wull not take hem..to be of such rewle and disposicion up un enformacion of such a mysse rewled and encredibill man as the seid Roger.
c
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.145 : To Jerusalem..come than of Saba the Qwene And saide for merveils ravist, his incredible glorie sene, 'More is thi glorie than fame of thi prosperitee.'
d
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Tit.1.16 : Þei ben abhomynable and incredyble [L incredibiles] and to alle good werk reprofyd of god.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?1482 Rev.Monk Eynsham543 : Y desired him that Y might reherse my confessyon and to take dyscyplynys of hym, for at euery stroke that he gaue me..they were turnid to me an inestymable and incredibulle swetenes of ioyfull conforte.
Note: Glossary: "incredibulle adj. 'incrdible, supreme'."
Note: New form.
Note: Additional quote, sense (c).