Middle English Dictionary Entry
lai n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | lai n.(2) Also lei. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A short narrative poem of love, adventure, etc., to be sung and accompanied on instruments, especially the harp; ~ of Britoun, a Breton lay; also, a tale; (b) a song, lyric; (c) the song of a bird.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)50/599 : Harpours..made her-of a lay [vr. ley] of gode likeing..swete is þe note.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1602 : What halt hit muche her-of to telle to drecchen ous of our lay [rime: play]?
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.710,712 : Thise..Britons in hir dayes Of diuerse auentures maden layes..Whiche layes with hir instrumentz they songe Or elles redden hem for hir plesaunce.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2840 : Tofore þe kyng com on harpoure And made a lay of gret sauoure.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)6 : When folk ere festid & fed..sum has langing of lufe lays to herken.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)618/10 : I woll make a lay for hym and..make an harpere to syng hit.
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)1220 : Yn Rome thys geste cronyculyd ywys; A lay of Bretayne callyd hyt ys.
- a1500(?c1400) Gowther (Adv 19.3.1)28 : A lai of Breyten long y soȝght And owt þerof a tale have broȝht.
- a1500 Orfeo (Hrl 3810)2/3 : The layes that ben of harpyng..ben of wele & sum of wo..of bourdys..of rybaudy..of trechery..of happes þat fallen by whyle.
b
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)167 : God..unne me..alle mine ureondmen þe bet beo nu to-dai Þet ich habbe i-sungen þe ðesne englissce lai.
- c1300 SLeg.Dunstan (Hrl 2277)170 : Harpe he louede suyþe wel..A day..he sat in solaz and a lay þeron drouȝ.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.1670 : Sche harpeth many a lay And lich an Angel sang withal.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1881 : In a lettre wroot he al his sorwe In manere of a compleynt or a lay.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Th.(Manly-Rickert)B.1959 : The thrustelcok made eek his lay [rime: nay, spray].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1046 : Every brid upon his lay [rime: Maii] Among the griene leves singeth.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5202 : Mery tyme it is in Maij! Þe foules syngeþ her lay.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)9.57 : Vndir a lynde..lenide I me a stounde To lerne þe laies þat louely briddis maden.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1198 : Þe larke with a blissed lay [rime: day] Gan to salue the lusty rowes rede Of Phebus char.
- a1425 By a forest (Bod 596)27 : I..askesd [read: asked]..why sche song in her lay, 'Parce michi domine'.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3760 : Merye is in þe tyme off May, Whenne foules synge in here lay.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14383 : The Cookkoow..vp-on o lay halt so long.
- a1500(?a1410) Lydg.CB (Lnsd 699)346 : The cookkow syngen can but o lay [rime: May].