Middle English Dictionary Entry
lēd(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | lēd(e n.(1) Also ledde. |
| Etymology | From lēden v.(1); sense perh. influenced by OE lād. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Law, ecclesiastical system, order; (b) direction, guidance, control; taken to ~, to take charge of (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1955 : All þat will hald lely þair lede, Blod at ete i þam for-bede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10683 : It was boden in þair ledd Wit mariage þe folk to sprede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19861 : Quen petre þais vnbestes sagh, O þaim þan thoght him mikel agh, Forboden beistes war in lede.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)22118 : Mi warldes wele was her fairhede; Mi help, my lof, my lif, my lede.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)24703 : Þe lede þai helde als wise and yiape, Þai had of eleuther þe pape.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.in EStudies 22 (Göt Hist 740)p.49 : Thridde alexandre, þe pape, in dede Confermede þar [the Templars'] ordre and þar lede.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1570 : Þai left þe lede of þar lau, Þat es o settnes and o kind.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12029 : Þan tok ioseph iesus to ledde, Maria and þai ham-ward yede.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10653 : Moche dole..þo doghty men hade Syn hom lacked the lede of the lorde Ector.
2.
(a) Customs, ways; also, behavior; (b) manner, fashion, method.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)21391 : To slik state certes of dignite Was britaine broght þase daise to se..Amanges britons anens þar lede Alle oþer kyngdoms it oueryiode.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)24939 : In felde þai come anens þar lede, Aiþer redie of oþer haf dede.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)26818 : Þan in englande floriste saint bede, So honurable man and saint of lede.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.in EStudies 22 (Göt Hist 740)p.50 : In lede full mekylle fra vs þai dragh; Þai pas þe ledes of our kyn, Þat settes so far þe ce wiʒ in.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.in EStudies 22 (Göt Hist 740)p.51 : Of gode thewes and of faire lede, Noriste at rome fra his childehede, Of romains lerde thewes and mours..He folghede nan traces of his br[o]þer, ffor qwi his ledes becom all oþer, Þe right laughtes he withstode, ffer fra his broþer ledes he yiode.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.Lear (Göt Hist 740)196 : Aganipe, þe kyng of France, Herd of þe fame and þe fairhed Of Cordoile tlles [?read: telle], and of hyr led.
b
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20766 : Na noble man..worthi held him to be louede..Bot if he cuth anens his mightes Ber him in lede of arthures knightes.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)22224 : On arthur egrer þan he was are He ran in lede of A wilde bare.