Middle English Dictionary Entry
jāperī(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | jāperī(e n. Also japri. |
| Etymology | From jāpe n. & -e)rīe suf. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Joking; bawdiness; irony; (b) triviality; also an absurdity; (c) as adj.: jesting, trivial; (d) error for jaspre.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.651 : Iaperes that ben the deueles apes..maken folk to laughen at hire iaperie as folk doon at the gawdes of an ape.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1656 : Iustinus which that hated his folye, Answerde anon right in his iaperye.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)10131 : Þis book is of no iaperie [Vsp: ribodi; Göt: triphilrie] But of god & oure ladie.
b
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)70/502 : Hit is waxen swete to me..To leue þe swetnesses of japerye [L nugarum].
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)138 : Which seiyng is not but a feyned trifle..and therfore this seiyng is to be cast aside as a iaperi.
c
- a1500 O ye lovers (Corp-O 61)85 : Neuer the rather for a Iapry worde ffloghe I from the lure to be recleymed.
d
- c1450 Chaucer TC (Hrl 2280)2.1229 : And doun she sette hire by hym on a stone Of Iapery.