Middle English Dictionary Entry
lantern(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lantern(e n. Also launtern(e, la(u)ntren, lantron, lantarne & la(u)nter & lā̆tern(e. |
| Etymology | OF lanterne & L lanterna, lāterna. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A lantern; a lamp; lemen (shinen) as lanternes, to shine like lanterns; holden the ~, act as guide, lead the way; loken lik a ~, be hollow-cheeked; light of (the) ~, lantern light (as a guide or as a sign of human habitation); (b) in proverbial expressions and sayings; (c) ~ horn, a pane of horn for a lantern; (d) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- a1300(c1250) Floris (Vit D.3)235 : Ne þarf me aniht..berne Nouþer torche ne lanterne.
- (1312-3) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.9910 : In reparacione..Lanterne ad hostium domus commune, 10 d.
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)453 : In lanternes þei brothen lytht, For hit was in þe nitht.
- a1350 Ichot a burde in boure (Hrl 2253)24 : Hire lure lumes liht ase a launterne anyht.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)195/4 : Alsuo ase þe lanterne þet me berþ be-uore þe manne him let bet..þanne þe ilke þet me berþ behynde þe regge.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.157 : Ne voice ne no mynstralcye ne shal neuermore ben herd in hire, ne liȝth of lanterne shal neuermore be seen in it.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)131.18 : Þer shal y bringe forþe þe power of Dauid; and y made rady þe laterne [Rolle: lantern] to mi preste anoint.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Jer.25.10 : And Y shal leese fro them vois of ioȝe, and vois of gladnesse, vois of the womman spouse..vois of the querne, and liȝt of the launterne [L lumen lucernæ].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 12.35 : Lanternes brennynge in ȝoure hondis.
- c1390 Chart.Abbey HG (Vrn)358 : Muche folk comen..wiþ liȝt lanternes.
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.5287/26 : Pro xiiij lanternis..apud Dansk pro naui.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.817 : Sche hath do set up lyht In a lanterne on hih alofte Upon a Tour..In hope that..He scholde se the liht brenninge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)197a/b : In a temple of venus is..a candelstik on þe whiche was a lanterne [Tol: lantarne] so brennyng þat it may nought be y-queynt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)292b/a : His [the wolf] yhen schyneþ by nyȝt as lanternes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)331a/b : Lanterna [L Laterna] haþ þat name for light is yclosed þer Inne, and is y-made of glas, or of horne, ouþer of som other clere þing, and light is y-closed þer Inne for þat þe wynde schulde nouȝt blowe out þe light; and he..is ofte y-bore aboute wiþ light þer Inne..þe candele of þe lanterne hatte licinius.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15731 : His disciplis wer ful radd quen þai sagh þat sight, A lantern [Frf: launternes], staf, and suerd, and sper, and mani brandes bright.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)7.162 : Hungir..buffetide þe bretoner aboute þe chekis Þat he lokide lik a lanterne [vrr. lantarne, launtren] al his lif aftir.
- (1418) Let.Bk.in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)97/13 : Eche honest persone, dwellyng in eny hye strete or lane of þis Citee, hang out of her hous eche night duryng þis solempne feste a lanterne with a candell þer-in, to brenne as long as hit may endure.
- (c1421) Will York in Sur.Soc.4564 : Pro j bowet, alias lantern, de arg.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)38b/a : Lucerna: a lantarne.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)75/13 : Thei ben as lanternes brennynge and sette vpon a candilsticke, þat þei schulden deeme þe way of sooþfastnes.
- (1447) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 11117 : Ite. ij grete lanternes.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)104b : Anoþer sleithe is to lete adoun of the walles wiþ ropes men wiþ lanternes I-light, and wiþ grete balles of herdes I-dipped in oyle & I-strowed wel wiþ Brymston, &..fyre þese balles & þrowe hem into þe gyn.
- a1450(c1409) Man haue hit (Dgb 102)62 : Ȝoure rule is groundid in charyte, As liȝt of lanterne to lede þe way.
- ?a1450(?1350-75) Pass.Christi in Norris Anc.Corn.Drama (Bod 791)609 : Ha gueytyeugh bos tus parys, gans battys..y weth lanters gans golow.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5398 : A grete grysely god..Þat liȝt lemand eȝen as lanterns he had.
- a1456-a1500 ?Lydg.7 Counsels (Förster)19 : Payse matiers, or þou deme or discern; Lat right in causes holde þe lantern [vr. lantarne].
- (1465) Acc.All Sts.Tilney30 : Item, a new lanter.
- (1466) Acc.Howard in RC 57211 : For an ashe of ij yerdes longe, for to make a lanterne and a stok for an ymage of our lady, iij d.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.48.33a : What womman is þat whilk haþ lost a dragme þat sche ne wile liȝten a lanterne and kesten here hous vpso doun and seken it til sche finde it?
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.405 : That religion encreasede so moche in that tyme that the monkes of the ordre Cisterciense were as a lawnterne to alle oþer monkes.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.419 : Commaundynge lawnters [Trev.: candel liȝt; L lucernarum] to be usede in his cowrte in nyȝhtes.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)70b : Lanterne: crucibulum, lucerna, laterna.
- a1500 PFulham (Jas 43)261 : He ys begylyd that standyth at ye sterne, ffor the lode man above..Lakyth brayn, and also the lanterne ys owt.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)69 : In a temple of venus is made a candelstik one þe which was a lantren so brenynge þat it miȝt not be quenched with tempest ne with rayne.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.5.15 : Nether men tendyn a lanterne [L lucernam], and putten it vndir a busshel, but on a candilstike, that it ȝeue liȝt to alle that ben in the hous.
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)318/15 : Men takeþ not of a lanterne þe liht And put vndur a strik vnriht Bote on a Candelstikke.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1036 : A citee may nat ben hyd that is set on a montayne, ne men lighte nat a lanterne and put it vnder a busshel, but men sette it on a candelstikke to lighten the men in the hous.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.334 : He is to greet a nygard that wil werne A man to lighte a candel at his lanterne, He shal han neuer the lasse light, pardee.
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)84a : Lanterne. No man liȝtneþ a lanterne & puttiþ &c., mt. fifþe cap.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)396/1091 : Who can..hide A cleer lanterne whan that it is lyht, On a chaundelabre whan it doth abide?
- a1450 Pore of spirit (Dgb 102)153 : To lanterne ȝe ben likned..Nouȝt vnder worldly buschel hyd, But on a candel-styke.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)93/2 : He is not wone to lyte a lanterne and hide it vndyr a buschell, but to sette it vp in heith on a chaundeler.
c
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1146 : Was noȝt for besauntes to bye þat men bite myȝt..Wymmen falwed faste..Som lene on to loke, as laterne-hornes.
d
- (1207) Fine R.King John456 : Ricardus Lanter.
- (1374) Leet R.Norwich in Seld.Soc.566 : Andreas Lanternemaker.
- (1374) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms238 : Joh. Lanternemaker.
- (1374) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms238 : Hug. Lanternemaker.
2.
One of the oil lamps belonging to the menorah, or seven-branched lampstand, in the temple in Jerusalem; ?also, a seven-branched lampstand or candelabrum holding such lamps; also fig.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.24.2 : Comaunde to þe sonys of Irael þat þei bryngyn to þee oile of olyuys most pure..to þe laternys [WB(1): lanternes; L lucernas] to been tende contynuelly.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Num.4.9 : Þei sholyn take þe Iacyngtyne mantel wiþ þe which þei shal couere þe candilstyk wiþ þe lanternys & þer toongys & snytterys &..þe vesselys of oyle þe which been necessarie to þe lanternys to be made redy.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 370)2 Par.4.20 : Salomon maad..candilstikis with their lanternes, that thei ȝeuen liȝt before Goddis answeryng place.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.115 : Antiochus took Ierusalem..and takeþ away þe holy vessel, þe mete borde, and þe stene wiþ þe lanternes [Higd.(2): pottes, with lawnternes; L urnam cum lucernis].
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.25.37 : Thow shalt make a candelstik betun..of moost cleene gold..Six ȝerdes shulen goon out of the sides, thre of that o side, and thre of that other..And thow shalt make seuen lanternes, and thow shalt put hem vpon the candelstik, that thei liȝten eche aȝens other.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.27.20 : Comaunde to the sones of Yrael, that thei bryngen to thee oyle of olyue trees..that the lanterne brenne euer more in the tabernacle.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.35.14 : The candelstik to susteyne the liȝtes, the vessels of it, and lanternes and oyle to the norishyng of fyres.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Num.8.2,3 : Whanne thow settist the seuen lanterns [WB(2): launternes], the candelstyke be arered in the sowth part..And Aaron dyde, and putte yn lanterns vpon the candelstyk.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.1532 : Of the temple a preest..Too statli lanternis, that wer ful briht & sheene..presented.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.42 : Marie..to the goldin candelabre was sho lykned..Whilk in the Temple of Jerusalem shone..This ladie is verray Candelabre and Cristis bright lanterne.
3.
The lantern tower of a church [last quot. may belong to sense 1.].
Associated quotations
- ?c1400 Hist.Durham in Sur.Soc.9 (Yk-M 16.I.12)144 : Hic etiam magnam partem campanilis, vulgo lantern, Minsterii Eboracensis construxit.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)163/28 : Sithyn sche went ageyne in-to þe Cherch, & þan sche beheld how þe sparkys comyn in-to þe qwer thorw þe lantern of þe Cherch.
- (1483-85) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.32152 : Item, paid for the mendying of the chirche lantron, iiij d.
4.
Various fig. uses: (a) the word of God; Christ; also, the lamb as the source of light in the new Jerusalem; John the Baptist; ~ of light, the Virgin Mary; (b) something or someone regarded as a source of light, inspiration, or guidance; a guiding light, shining example; spiritual or moral teacher, intellectual leader, source of literary inspiration; also examplariness; ~ of light, a shining light; also, an illustration; awful example; lanternes of derknes, models of sinfulness, guides to evil; (c) the heart, soul, body, eyes; (d) a house empty of someone loved.
Associated quotations
a
- a1275 Serm.St.Nich.(Trin-C B.14.39)63/11 : Godes word..launterne..is to monnes fote..lucerna pedibus meiis verbum tuum.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)118.105 : Þy worde is lanterne [L Lucerna] to mi fete & liȝt to my bisties.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 5.35 : John. was a lanterne brennynge and schynynge.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.21.23 : The citee hath no nede of sunne nether moone..the cleerte of God shal liȝten it, and the lomb is the lantern of it.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12910 : Godd..þe [John the Baptist] chess als his lanter [Frf: launterne; Göt: lantern] Be-for his face þe light to bere.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1047 : Of sunne ne mone had þay no nede; Þe self God watz her lombe-lyȝt, Þe Lombe her lantyrne, wythouten drede.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)4/16 : Whanne þe lanterne [God's word] liȝtneþ into þe hert, it purgeþ & clensiþ from corrupcioun.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)5 : [Our lo]fly lady, þat lanterne is of lyth.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)218/534 : Hayll, lampe of liff..Hayll, lykand lanterne luffely lemes..kyng & sire!
- c1400 Interpol.Rolle Cant.(1) (Bod 288)57 : Joon Baptist was lantirne bifore þe sunne.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)107/292 : Gramercy, my lady ffre..Gramercy, ȝe lanterne off lyght.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)166/125 : All heyl, lanterne of lyght, All heyl, þou modyr of mekenes!
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)118.105 : Lantern til my fete thi worde..Thi worde is lantern til the fete of my thoght.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)183/23 : Saynt Ion was a lavntyrne brennyng and lytyng.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)104/12 : Crist, oure kyng and verrey lanterne, was betrayed and for the tyme was extinct and quenched.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.171 : God sente..two lanternes [Higd.(2): lawnternes; L lucernas] of þe world..Lanfranc and Anselme.
- c1400 Wycl.CGosp.John (Yk-M 14.D.2:Hudson)74/6 : Þe comyn glose on þe same text [Joel 3.3] seiþ þat curatis and prelatis office stondiþ in þese þre: .. in word of liif, in lanterne or ensaumple of hooli lyuyng, and in swetnesse of innere charite..
- (1415) Hoccl.Oldcastle (Hnt HM 111)384 : As yee [heretics] doon þat holden the feendes syde, Whiche arn of dirknesse the lanternes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3326 : But now þe lanter [vr. lanterne] and þe clere liȝt Is wastid oute of Frigius Darete..Guyde haue I noon.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)35a/a : Galiene..was lanterne off ffisiciens & of Surgenes.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)187/14 : And þerfore I sent þese lanternes aforeseid for to illumyne hem þat weren blynde by vndirstondyng.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)12/71 : Do þi message mekely to pryst and to frere, Þai are þe lanternys of lyf þe leud men to lyȝt.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)926 : Glorye and honour, Virgil Mantoan, Be to thy name!..I shal..Folwe thy lanterne, as thow gost byforn.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)383/374 : Of alle goode thewes he was liht and lanterne.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5198 : These foolis..May yiue exaumple to folkis that be wise, And been to hem a lanterne off doctryne..for it is tauht. That wise men been..war be foolis.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.76 : Wolkome maister..Ye han been lanterne, liht, and direccioun.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)454 : The liht of his memorye..He hath forsake..His lives lanterne, staff of his crokyd age.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)4764 : Who-so..list to be wys..And þe light folwe wole of hir lanterne.
- a1450 Spaldyng Katereyn þe curteys (BodR 22)539 : Katereyn..Of lyth þou art lanterne to leche hem be-low.
- (c1450) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35294 : Oure..Universith, whych ys þe moder, lanterne, and welle of þe clergy.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1749 : Prelatz..preched þe peuple and prouyd hit þaymself..[w]ere lanternes to lewed men to lyve þaym after.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)158/4 : An holy man..lanter, doctour, & goostly fader of alle þe byschoperiche.
c
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)17.31 : Þou alyȝtest myn lanterne; ha þou, Lord my God, alyȝt my derknesse.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)17.31 : For þou lightes mi lantern bright; Mi god, mi mirkenes lighte.
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)84a : Lanterne of þi body is þin yȝe, mt. sixte cap.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)91 : The bodi is a cloude and a lanterne bi smoked, thoruh the whiche how it euere be the brightnesse with inne men seen.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)17.31 : Tu illuminas lucernam meam, domine..thou lightnys my lantern, lord..That is, lord, thou kyndils my hert with the fire of luf.
- ?a1500 Forms Notice (Yk-M 16.M.4)p.xvii : We curse..all thos that this illys hase done..bot if thay turne and make satisfaccion, be thare lantern slokyn fro ye blys that euer schall last.
d
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.543 : O paleys empty and disconsolat, O thow lanterne of which queynt is the light, O paleys, whilom day, that now art nyght!
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)22 : For this honorable household and lantern of Englond, it is agreed…for all way to be stablished for the yerely charges in the Thesaurer of houshold his ministration to be taken of the most surest grounds of payment in the land.
Note: ?NS