Middle English Dictionary Entry
leiser n.
Entry Info
| Forms | leiser n. Also leisẹ̄r, leisier, leisur(e, leisoure, laiser(e, laisur(e, laser(e, leaser. |
| Etymology | OF leisir, laisir, vars. of loisir. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An opportune time, opportunity, chance, occasion; with ~, as occasion arises; (b) possibility, ability; at ~, unhindered; (c) reason, cause.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3293 : She wolde been at his comaundement Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2799 : If so is that I mai hente Somtime among a good leisir, So as I dar of mi desir I telle a part.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7035 : If thei no leisir fynden elles, Thei wol noght wonden for the belles, Ne thogh thei sen the Prest at masse.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)29370 : Dorward or porter, þat chastis wrang wit þair mister þat clerk wit laiser smites oght For hati or ded þai forwit wroght, Bot he ne hurt him oure sare, His biscop mai asoille him þare.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)7239 : Hir tyme she toke a leiser þere, And whil he slepte kut his here.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.229 : Whan þou sees leysere, þat he ne perceyue þi witte..with þe knyfe him to smite.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1997 : Euere among on hym sche cast hir eye, Whan þat sche fonde a leyser oportune.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.2571 : Grekis..To ther entent a leiseer did espie, Took hym at myscheef &..smet of his hed.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)396 : Þilk tymes in whiche oportunytees or goode leisers toward worching of eendal vertues..comeþ not, we ouȝte..assigne to illumynacioun.
- (1448) Shillingford69 : The evidencis..at suche leysur tyme and place competent as hit woll like yor gode lordshippes to comaunde..shall be redy to be shewed.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Ballade Virtues (Trin-C R.3.20)47 : Disdayne and daunger be voyde oute of þat place, For ellys þou mayst haue leysier noon, ner space, Truwly to hir to done my message.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)55/32 : The serpent auised her tyme, whanne Eue was from her husbonde alone..that she might haue beter leyser..to saye..deseiuable langage.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)644/8 : He kyssed hir and ded to her plesaunce as hit pleased them bothe at tymes and leysers.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.56 : Wade not so depe into the water But þat þou may com out at thyn owne plesire, And not tabide thyn enemys leisoure.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)344 : Kyng Boors hadde enchaced [hem] full harde, and hem kepte so straite, that thei hadde no leyser hem to returne.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.977 : I ne haue as now no leyser moore to seye, Haue mercy swete, or ye wol do me deye.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1305 : For tabreþe hym at leyser, or tavente In open eyr.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)6475 : If he leue and come the to And dele with at his layser, Ther saues the nother kyng ne kayser.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1440 : He gan..for tafforcen hir virgynyte Because she hadde no leiser for to fle.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)291 : Wythoute Calise in ther buttere they cakked, Whan they flede home and when they leysere lakked To holde here sege.
- a1500 *Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)3/23 : She helde myn hedde and myn yghen all downward..that I had neythir leyser to here ne see.
c
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)462 : She nadde on but a streit old sak..No more was there..To clothe hir with..Gret leyser hadde she to quake.
2.
(a) Time free from other duties, available time; at (more) ~, free (freer) from other duties, unoccupied (less occupied); at his ~, when he can find time, at his convenience; of ~, having time available; (b) an allowance of time, respite; time for consideration; at ful (god, long) ~, bi (god) ~, with full deliberation; (c) time, a space of time; at (grete) ~, of ~, at length, taking plenty of time; at more ~, at greater length; (d) lack of hurry; at (god) ~, bi (of) ~, without haste, taking one's own time.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Iesu þat for vs (Auch)5 : To þo þat habben laiser to dwelle, Of holi writ ich wole ȝou telle.
- (1384) Procl.Brembre in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk H)32/19 : Brynge hem als blyue to fore the Mair, yef he is at leiser, or elles to Neugate in to tyme that the Mayr may attende ther-to.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1188 : Greet was the stryf and long..If that I hadde leyser for to seye.
- c1400(1389) Wycl.25 Art.(Dc 273)455 : Þei seyne..ne þat schrifft of mouþe is nedeful, ȝe, where plenty or leyser of a preste may be hadde.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)164 : I may not wel lenge now to-morwe meet me heere..whon vre leyser is more vre lustnynge is bettre.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.286 : Therfore wol I fonde To doon..as soone as it may be The labour..And thanne I may at leyser hir biholde.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)234 : Away she roode..And þouȝth she wolde hym yhere Whan she was of leysere.
- (1402) Let.Zouche in RES 8 (PRO E 101/512/10)262 : I prey ȝow þat ȝe wyl ordeyne a leyser þat frome & ȝe myȝt come hyder to gyder.
- (?1424) Stonor1.35 : I suppose þai be now at more laiser þen at London.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)137 : I..saw all þis..and mykill mare þan I hafe layser for to tell.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Spec.Antichr.(Corp-C 296)112 : Þer is no charite in prestis but ȝif þei techen hem goddis comaundementis ȝif þei han kunnynge & leiser þer-to.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.899 : Whan thou hast leiseer & a space large, Remembre his conquest.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)396 : Ouȝte no man..to forbere..þoruȝ eny long tyme þe office of preiyng, but þat he vse it..bi certeyn leisers þerto to be taken.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3119 : While oþer tentid in the temple tomly to playes..þai hade laisure at lust þere likyng to say.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)45/12 : Be not wery of ȝour prayer, for ȝe haue bettir leyser to pray þan summe oþir haue.
- (1454) RParl.5.241b : The Lordes..desired to have knoweleche..if..they shulde wayte..and to have aunswere at his leiser.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)73/18 : Oþire tymes and places which ech persoone may chese at his owne wil and at his owne leiser.
- a1500(1444) Let.Curteys in RS 96.3 (Add 7096)245 : We stande in righte good truste..of a paix..for the laisir and oportunite of appointyng of the which there is taken..a trews for a certain tyme.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)331 : Yef Adragain hadde I-hadde leyser, taken hadde be the vengeaunce withoute more taryinge.
- a1500 *Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)140/14 : Take thi leiser to reede Seneck and the tragedyes that benne in the booke of Iohn Bocasse.
- a1500 To ȝou hie (Hrl 3785)42 : Y may wryte no more a dele, for of no leyser sykerly.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2221 : That thilke iuge is wys that soone vnderstondeth a matere and iuggeth by leyser.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.238 : 'Thanne yif me leyser fader myn,' quod she, 'My deeth for to compleyne a litel space.'
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3663 : And þei þat felte her woundis sore greue Miȝt haue leiser hem silfe to recure.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2394 : He myȝt þer-of haue no grace Lenger tyme, platly, to endure, Þan for leyser of þe sepulture Of worþi knyȝtes.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.227 : 'Shat I nat witen what ye meene of this?' 'No, this thing axeth leyser,' tho quod he.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.232 : Fro the trouthe shal I nat remue But on the substance bi good leiser abide.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.2555 : Yeueth to my tale leiser tyme and space.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)40 : Thei made Mygdas iuge off that discorde, and..at long leyser he iuged that..þe flowte was bettyr..than þe..harpe.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)429 : He wole heere bi sufficient leiser and wiþ diligent consideracioun..þo argumentis whiche schulen be maad.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)6569 : Tyl more lengere space And lasere we myth han of talkyng.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)395 : But if the bothe parties schulden be herd at fulle leysers..vnsufferable myscheuys of hasty domes wolde ofte falle.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)127 : They dide bere brede and wyne..and all thyng that theym neded, as long as they had laser.
- c1450 Marion ABC (Arun 168)37 : I aske a daye, Laysur and respyte or þat y goo, So me to arme ayens my mortall foo.
- c1475 A philosophre (Hrl 372)p.28 : Take good leyser or thou have mariage.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)1.16.13b : He had space and sufficient leaser i noughe..for to have stabelisshed procuratoures.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)541 : At good leiser doth the mateer see, Which importith gret intelligence.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3500 : And thanne of leisir sche him tolde..Of his bataile and al the forme.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.2976 : Boþe two, in armys wonder stronge, By hem silf fauȝt at leiser longe.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)393 : Men bi laiser passen meny a myle.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)45/20 : No body shulde take so long leyser to arraie hem that thei lese her masse and Goddes seruice.
- c1460 Ipom.(3) (Lngl 257)347/48 : He shuld come agayn with in a short tyme and speke with hire at more layser.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)118/26 : That that was done thanne in a momente..to-fore the vnspecable magestee of God, schall be schewed vn-to the by order and by layser.
- a1500(c1370) Chaucer Comp.L.(Benson-Robinson)11 : Ther nedeth me no care for to borwe, For bothe I have good leyser and good leve.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)32 : I shall..telle the all the mater that longeth to thi werke..and thow shalt haue gode leyser.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)87/9 : Sethe it withe a lityl fyer, and at gret leyser, and stere it wel in the panne.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)190 : The tyncture of holy Alchymie..was..wrought with great coste, with long leysure and space.
d
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)60/1691 : Ȝyf hys make mone craueþ, Ine leyser oþer in haste.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.158 : This courteis king..bad that men him scholde lede Into a chambre..Til he of leisir hadde slepe.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2412 : She preied hym abyde Til he were strong..And at leysere hom ageyn resorte.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2430 : The kynge schonte for no schotte..Lenges all at laysere and lokes on the wallys.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)2107 : If scho þan wil langer dwel Scho sal bide in þe noues sel At gud laser to lig & rise.
- c1450 Royal SSecr.(Roy 18.A.7)25/9 : Whan thou etist be nought to hasty, but ete with leyser and good masticacioun.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)138/6 : Whan they had souped at her leyser, kyng Arthure was lad into a chambir.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)127 : He threwe the knyght to grounde..And..seide..'Sir knyght, now maist thow loigge here be-leyser, and kepe these weyes.'
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)370 : Merlin..comaunded her hoste to ride..and take theire logginges, and ese hem all by leiser.