Middle English Dictionary Entry
jolī̆nes(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | jolī̆nes(se n. Also jolifnesse. |
| Etymology | From jolī adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Happiness, gladness, joy; (b) cheerful behavior, gaiety; (c) revelry, merrymaking; (d) ?as mistransl.: youth.
Associated quotations
a
- c1410 Chaucer CT.Kn.(Hrl 7334)A.1250 : Wel ought I sterue in wanhope and distresse; Far wel my lyf and al my Iolynesse [vr. gladnesse].
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2302 : Today he pleyneth for hevynesse; To-morowe he pleyeth for jolynesse.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)475 : He was copiouse of langage in his disporte for the iolynesse [F ioliuete] that was in hym and the myrthe.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.926 : Somme seyden wommen louen best richesse, Somme seyde honour, somme seyde iolynesse [vr. Iolifnesse], Somme riche array, somme seyden lust abedde.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)18 : Venus..excedyd all women in excellent beaute and jolynesse, and was ryght amerous and not stedefast in o loue.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.289 : I seye namoore but, in this iolynesse [vr. Iolines], I lete hem til men to the soper dresse.
d
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)180 : I hatte jolyfnesse [F Jeunece], the lyghte, the tumbistere, the rennere, the fonne, the lepere that sette nouht alle daungeres at a glooue.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)183 : Sirena is wordliche solas..a perile to which jolyfnesse [F Jeunece] ledde me.