Middle English Dictionary Entry
ars-metrīk(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ars-metrīk(e n. Also arsmetike, -ique, ars mutike, arismetrike, arithmetrik, asmatrik. |
| Etymology | AL ars-metrica, -metica & OF ar(i)smetique (from L arithmētica, ult. Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The 'art' or 'science' of measuring and calculating, being one of the four disciplines comprised in the quadrivium (along with geometry, astronomy, and music); (b) a treatise on this 'science'.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(Hrl 2277)222-4 : Seint Edmund..arsmetrike radde..& his figours drouȝ aldai & his numbre caste. Arsmetrike is a lore þat of figours al is & of drauȝtes as me draweþ in poudre & in numbre iwis.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)792 : Egipte clerkes woren him wið, And [Abraham] hem lerede..Astronomige and arsmetike.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)6/52 : Þe seuen ars..grammarie, Musike, and astronomie, Geometrie, and ars mutike [7S(2): Ars Metrike, vr. als Metryke], Rettorike, and ek fisike.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1898 : Ther was no crafty man That geometrie or ars metrik kan..That Theseus ne yaf him mete and wages, The theatre for to maken and deuyse.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.289 : Abraham..tauȝte þe Egipcians ars metrick [vr. arithmetryk] and astrologie.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.65 : Plato departede his doynge in foure: in arsmetrik, gemetrie, musyk, and astronomie.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.149,153 : Mathematique Devided is in sondri wise..Arsmetique..Musique..Geometrie..Astronomie. Of Arsmetique..a man mai liere What Algorisme in nombre amonteth.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)325b/a : In þe bigynnynge of ars metrik it is y seid þat it is neuere y knowe what is a triangle wiþoute þe nombre of þre..no þing is y knowe by science mathematica wiþoute nombre.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)328a/a : Þe lore of arsmetrica passeþ all oþre to helpe to knowe alle þinges of kynde of þe whiche philosophie moot trete; for wiþoute nombre is not a lettre y ioyned to a lettre, nouþer sillable to sillable in riȝt ordre, nouþer subiectum y knowe fro þe predicatum, nouþer þe conclusioun in silogismes is distingued for þe premisses, nouþer þe firste mene and laste, nouþer of þe þridde and ferþe.
- c1410 Trev.Higd.(Add 24194)5.97 : Arithmetik [StJ-C: Anatolius, bisshop of Alisaundre..made a book of ars metrik].
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)251 : Arsmetryk, be castyng off nombrarye, Chees Pyktogeras ffor hire partye.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)334 : Leernyd men in..þese iiij sciencis, geometrie, ariþmetik, musik and astronomye.
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)1545 : Arismetryk nor musyk my Dulnesse doo not Clere.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)11/32 : [St. Augustine knew]..arsmetrik, or any of þe vij sciens whech he myth haue, at leyser..with-outen maystir or..techer.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)225/9 : Foure sciences..geometrye, musyke, arsmetyque, and astrologye.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)178/17 : Of calculacion and negremauncye, Also of Augrym and of asmatryk.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.97 : x bookes of arismetrike [Trev.: ars metrik, vr. arithmetik].
- c1475(?a1449) ?Lydg.Pag.Knowl.(Trin-C R.3.21)119 : Gramer techeþ congruite & wrytyng..Ars metryk craft of proporcionyng.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1933 : Arsmetryke..was of gret renoun; And all her craft by numeracioun Was for to set eche thyng in hys ordure; Wythout hyr byn the syx Artes vnsure.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1956 : Arsmetryk, wherfore we shuld be glade..When oure, weke, moneth or yere there ys vnsure, Theyr currycles, theyr tymes, and theyre space By thys lady to trew knowlage we trace.
b
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)33/1 : Boys seying in the begynnyng of his Arsemetrike: Alle thynges that bene fro the first begynnyng of thynges have procedede and come forthe, And by resoun of nombre ben formede.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2222 : In ars metrik shal ther no man fynde..That euery man sholde han ylyke his part As of a soun or sauour of a fart.
Note: New sense: ?With pun on ars n.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Changed ETYM ('ML ars metrica') to 'AL ars-metrica, -metica' per slip--JL