Middle English Dictionary Entry
indulǧence n.
Entry Info
| Forms | indulǧence n. Also indulgens. Pl. indulǧences, indulǧens(es. |
| Etymology | OF & L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Mercy, leniency; also, an act of leniency; (b) permission, concession; after (up) ~, as a concession.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.63.9 : In his loue and in his indulgence [WB(2): forgyuenesse; L indulgentia], he aȝeen boȝte them and bar hem.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2964 : He is wel worthy to haue pardoun..that excuseth nat his synne but knowelecheth and repenteth hym, axinge indulgence.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)306 : The archbischop..condempned him [Oldcastle] for a heretik..And than went he to the Kyng..praying the Kyng to graunt him lif XL dayes, that he mite do penauns; But this indulgens turned onto gret mischef.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.7.6 : I seye this thing vp indulgence [WB(2): as ȝyuyng leeue; L secundum indulgentiam] or forȝyuenesse [vr. counseyle], not vp comaundement.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.84 : For to been a wyf he yaf me leue Of indulgence, so is it no repreue To wedde me if that my make dye.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Cor.7.2 : Ylke womman hafe sche hyr husband..þis seys þe apostyl aftyr Indulgence not after byddyng.
2.
(a) A pardon or forgiveness of sins granted by God to penitent believers; (b) remission of punishment for sin obtained by payment of money, performance of a pilgrimage, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)7.56 : Whan þai drawen on to deye and Indulgences [C: indulgence] wolde haue, Her pardoun is ful petit at her partyng hennes.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.319 : Piers þe plowman..hath powere ouer hem alle, And indulgence may do but if dette lette it.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.3/21 : This man, therfore, by the grace of God of his synnes sumtyme penytent a-purposyng..that he myghte obteyne parfite and plenere pardoun and indulgence of his synnes.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.1292 : Goddis..To my trespace graunteth an indulgence.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1368 : Resurreccioun, where al indulgens Of alle trespases..Schal be schewyd.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Prayer Ursula (Hrl 2255)18 : Graunt vs, Iesu, of merciful pite, Geyn our trespas gracious indulgence.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Christina Mirab.(Dc 114)130/38 : Þe Erille..rehercyd to hir..alle his synnes..not for indulgens, þe whiche sche hadde no powere to gyf.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)52 : In the tenthe [was set]..the indulgence of sinne bi cristenynge and penaunce.
- a1456 Affter þe stormy tyme (Trin-C R.3.20)140 : He..Of his mercy wol gif þee indulgence Of alle þy giltes.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)6663 : In the Tenthe, men myhte se..off synnes Indulgence By baptesme & by penytence.
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.12 : All oure syne..He remytteth sone and grantteth indulgens.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)101/6 : In that weke Cristen peple turmenteþ hem-self more then they do in an-other weke for indulgence and remission of synnes to be hadde.
b
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)8.156 : Þat Dowel Indulgence [B,C: indulgences] passede, Bienals and Trienals and Busschopes lettres.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)57 : Cristene men ben not holden for to bileue, that the indulgencis of the pope ben trewe on eche side.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)59 : What shulde moue the puple to bie with so greet cost suche indulgencis, which thing Crist counseilide neuere?
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)8.177 : Þeiȝ þou..haue indulgence [vr. indulgences] doublefold, but dowel þe helpe, I ne wolde ȝiue for þi patent on pye hele.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)345 : Of þis comen many heresies, as of assoilingis and indulgencis and cursingis, wiþ feyned pardons.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)5096 : Tyl I acomplysyd My pylgramage hade..to seynt Iamys..Þere to purchase thorgh penytence Of myn oolde synnys newe indulgence.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)195/14 : Mercy purchaseþ forȝeuenesse of synnes, wher-of mercye haþ þe lettres of forȝeuenesses and þe indulgences.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)254 : Pope Bonifas mad a declaracion upon the plenar remission that is graunted men be certeyn indulgens, that this remission is not verily had..til his last ende at his deth.
- (1473-4) Acc.St.Edm.Sarum15 : In the proclamation of the Popis Indulgence, v d.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)8 : Þei schal haue as mikil or more indulgencis for þe pr.nr. as oft as þei sey it.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)9 : If it be askid weþer þe pope selle indulgencs and merits of seynts, or þat men of þe kirke selle þer orisouns, preyours, or gostly suffragis.
- a1500(c1380) Wycl.Papa (Ryl Eng 86)464 : Ȝif reumes holde þis reule, þanne þey may be dischargid of blasfemyes of indulgensis & of oþere false feynyngis.
- c1500 Stations Jerus.(Ashm 61)95 : We were deliuerde of all oure synne And reseyued indulgens 'a pena & culpa'.