Middle English Dictionary Entry
jūbilẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | jūbilẹ̄ n. Also jeubile. |
| Etymology | OF jubilee & L jūbilaeus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
In the practice of Old Testament Jewry, a year of celebration marking the end of a fifty year period; ~ yer, yer of ~.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.25.10 : Þou shalt halwe þe fiftyþe ȝeer, & clepe hit forȝifnes to alle þe dwellers of þy loond; he ys forsoþe þe Iubylee [L ipse est enim jubileus].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.25.28 : Þe biggere shal haue þat he bouȝte vnto þe Iubylee ȝeer [WB(2): the ȝeer of iubilee; L annum iubileum].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.27.21 : Whenne þe day of þe Iubilee comeþ, hit shal be halwed to þe lord.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Josh.6.4 : Þe seueþe forsoþe day þe prestys sholyn take seuene trompis whos vse is in þe Iubyle.
- c1390 Psalt.Mariae(1) (Vrn)758 : He [Jesus] hit is þat lyuereþ vs In þe ȝeer of Iubilee [L anno iubilei].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)334a/a : Þe hebreus were y-hote to blowe trompes..to crie & warne þe comynge of þe Iubile, þe ȝere of grace.
- c1450(?a1400) SLChrist (Add 38666)4174 : Al-way the fyfty ȝere has ben ȝer of iubile, that al men bounden in daunger weren releschet and maad fre; Also who-ser in dette wer for-ȝiuen thenne was he, or taken as for prisoner deliueret wel in vch degre.
- c1450(?a1400) SLChrist (Add 38666)4194 : When Abraham..hade..deliueret..Loth and al hys company, By-cause of that deliueraunce Iubile toke a bygynyng.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.339 : That yere was the yere of iubile, after Eusebius in his cronicle, and hit was the firste lti. yere amonge other yeres..alle the yeres of the iubile acomptede by lti. yere.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.333 : From this xv yere of Tiberius un to the firste yere of Adam, in calculacion backewarde, be iij ml. yere after Eusebius, whiche make lx yere of Iubilee [L Jubileos], and so after hym the xvj yere of Tiberius was the begynnenge of lxj Iubile.
2.
(a) In the practice of the Christian Church, a year specially designated by the Pope for the remission of sins; yer ~, yer of ~; (b) a period of freedom from certain monastic practices.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)8.285 : Bonefacius the viijthe..grawntede grete indulgences in vthe yere of his governayle whiche was þe yere iubile to men visitynge the apostles Peter and Paule.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)431 : This yere [1375] was the yere jubile, in whom moche peple wente to Rome for remission of theire synnes.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)491 : Pope Urban the vjte, considerynge this tyme the age of men to decrease, ordeynede this yere to be the yere of iubile, willynge that hit scholde contynue in every xxxti yere folowynge.
b
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.3 TDWorld (Corp-C 296)181 : Lordis þei resceyuen to here housynge..& maken iubilees þat we reden not of, of kyngis ne emperouris, to be þanne excused of risynge at mydnyȝt & oþere deuocions.
3.
A celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of an event.
Associated quotations
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1862 : So dide oure sexteyn and oure fermerer That han been trewe freres fifty yeer; They may now..Maken hir iubilee and walke allone.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)222 : In this same ȝere..the Kyng was fifti wynteres old; Therfor the Kyng mad this ȝere his jubile, losed prisoneris, forgaf alle forfetis.
4.
A feast of rejoicing; -- used fig.
Associated quotations
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)104/3105 : But here y make my Iewbile or y day, To doon louers for my sowle to pray, And yet y wott my speche hit wol not fare.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)151/4485 : And thenne fare wele when þat ye list echon, Forwhi my Iewbile then is to yow doon, And so my newe fortune wol folow soon.