Middle English Dictionary Entry
abstract ppl.
Entry Info
| Forms | abstract ppl. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Withdrawn from the earth, raised above the earth; (b) withdrawn from worldly interests, lost in spiritual ecstasies; (c) difficult to understand, abstruse; (d) of writings: extracted from a longer work; -- with of, out of; (e) gram. of nouns: abstract (as opposed to concrete).
Associated quotations
a
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)304 : Ye nobyl deyfyid sygnys! abstracte From erthly mancionnis to the asuryd fyrmamente.
b
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)141/22 : He felid in þos dayes hir spirite as departid fro þe body..in this manere she was abstracte froo sensibil thinges and raveshyd abouen hirselfe in an excesse.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)172/23 : She was..so dronken and abstracte fro sensibil þinges þat vmwhile, whenne we ronge to noon..she, as wakenynge, askyd wheþer hit were ȝit prime.
c
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)313/7 : Why is alle þis so hidde and abstracte, þat vnneþes is hit perceyued of any man?
d
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)33/29 : Þes lytylle & shorte treteys, drawyn & abstract out of anoþur mannys longe & laboryous werke.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.21 : The names of the auctores been rehersede here, of whom thys present cronicle is abstracte.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.205 : The etike of Cato, of whom that litelle boke vsede to be redde to childer in scoles is abstracte.
e
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)9a/b : A noun essencial is substantif oþir adiectiue. Of substantiue he is abstractum oþir concretum oþir mene. Austyn seith þat a noun abstract tokeneþ onlich þe godhede, as nounes essencia, bonytas, deitas.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)9b/a : Nounes abstractis.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)her.leaf b i/b : Ther be ix dyuisionis of cotarmures..The v perfite be theys: Termynall, Collaterall, Abstrakte, Fixall, and Bastard.
Note: New sense: her.,--per MJW