Middle English Dictionary Entry
iniquitẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | iniquitẹ̄ n. Also jniquite. |
| Etymology | OF iniquité |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Evil, wickedness; (b) king (lord, prince) of ~, Satan, the Devil; (c) a wicked action.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.453 : O..holy croys..That wesshe the world fro the olde iniquitee!
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)373 : Gretly desirynge his prosperyte..Nor that no childe by ffalse iniquyte [marg.: ffilius iniquitatis] Parturble neuere his ffelicite.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)3582 : They sent..Cruel mynistrys of iniquite Aftyr crystys seruauntys for to enquere.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)667 : I nolde absteene for no good Of myn outrageous iniquitee.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)123 : Flaterye j am cleped..douhter to falsetee, norice to iniquitee.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2406 : I wold have ensensid ȝewe al the iniquite Of these fals marchandis.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)76/124 : The Elefnte is accusatyff confessyon of iniquite..Fro depnes lord I haue cryed to the.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.11 : The iiiithe is the fire of iniquite [Trev.: wikkednesse; L impietatis], when the superior dredethe not to oppresse his inferior.
- a1500(1426) Lydg.Hen.VI TP (Hrl 7333)89 : Euermore of inyquite, By false tresoun and cursed cruelte, Compassed.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)479/33 : Contemplatyff owr myndes can not be, We ben so wrappyd in owr iniquite.
b
- (1413) Hoccl.Hen.V Acces.(Hnt HM 111)26 : Be holy chirches Champioun..in chacyng away Therrour which sones of iniquitee Han sowe ageyn the feith.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)186 : Sathan..kyng and lord of iniquitee.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)21022 : WithInne, enclosyd ys Sathan..The prynce off al inyquyte.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.442 : God yeue that they mote descende in to helle al doun, for in hire houses been iniquitees and shrewednesses and nat god of heuene.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5797 : Þou and I..Þoruȝ-oute þe world of þis iniquite Shal be excused.
- (a1449) Lydg.PPs.102 (Trin-C R.3.20(1))17 : He þee bought..Which is alwey to þine Iniquytees So pacyent ay, and mooste suffrable.
2.
(a) Hostility, malevolence; (b) a hostile action, malevolent act; (c) a misfortune, calamity.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)6122 : Sarrazins of priis, Þat wiþ gret iniquite Brouȝt hem oȝain to þe cite.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.940 : Olde Creon..Fulfild of ire and of iniquitee..for despit..To do the dede bodyes vileynye.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4405 : A colfox ful of sly iniquitee..The same nyght thurgh out the hegges brast.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2638 : Hij sheteþ aȝeins hym þe gate -- Þe kyng it hete of þat cite, So ful he was of iniquite.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3232 : Gadelynges, ful of iniquite, Setten fyre aboute þat cite.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)887 : Fortune, of her iniquyte, Hadde envie of his prosperite.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)2.914 : If..any nowe be..That hath doute..Or ellis of malice or Inyquyte For to accuse the virgynyte Of Marye.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14995 : Envye..for hyr-sylff may nat fulfylle Al hyr malys..Ther-for, off gret Inyquyte, ffirst to scole she sette me.
b
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)132 : Neptanabus sore is anoyed For Philippe haþ his londe destroyed And he..þinkeþ ȝelde his iniquite.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2118 : Why nyl ȝe do ȝour besynes Þis hiȝe dispit knyȝtly to redresse..Recure to fynde of her iniquite?
c
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.285 : Sumtyme..a theeff, whan he is hangid..Atwitith Fortune his iniquite.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)23930 : With so gret jre he Cam to that plase..For there he thowhte avenged to be Somwhat On hem Of his jniqwite.
- a1500 Dayly in Englond (BodPoet e.1)p.273 : Was not Adam, Hercules, and mythy Sampson..by a womans cauylacion Browt to iniquyte and to mych woo?