Middle English Dictionary Entry
aspect n.
Entry Info
| Forms | aspect n. |
| Etymology | L aspectus |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Astrol. The relative position, described in angular distance, of one planet or sign to another at a certain time; such a position, or a series of such positions, held to be good or evil in influencing the affairs of man; (good or evil) influence; sextile, quartile, trine ~, the angular distances of 60, 90, & 120 degrees, resp.
Associated quotations
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1087 : Fortune hath yeuen vs this aduersitee; Som wikke aspect or disposicioun Of Saturne by som constellacioun Hath yeuen vs this.
- ?c1450(a1388) *Wallingford Exafrenon (Dgb 67)6a/b : Þu moste..knawe which is þe sextile aspecte with coniuncion..a planete is comforted by a good aspecte of an oþer planete, And his vertue is feblid be an euil aspecte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.904 : This planete..hath his aspect Upon the holi lond so cast That there is no pes stedefast.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)109b/a : Signes þat beþ I clepid domus biholdiþ eueriche oþir & haueþ aspecte eueriche to oþir..þere beþ þre principal aspectis, þat beþ I clepid sextiles & trinus & quartus..coniunctioun and apposicioun beþ nouȝt aspectis, but somtyme þey beþ I clepid aspectis be misvsinge of þat name aspecte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2694 : And on a day fortunat and good, With glad aspectus whan þe heuene stood [etc.].
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)383 : Consydred..eche aspecte..good and..also pervers.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.682 : Blisful Venus..Sat in hire seventhe hous of hevene tho..with aspectes payed, To helpe sely Troilus of his woo.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.716 : If ich hadde..Aspectes badde of Mars or of Saturne.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)155a/b : And þat þe mone be in a gode place & a gode signe, fre fro yuelez s. planetez or aspectez.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.4.42 : A fortunat ascendent clepen they whan..no wicked planete have noon aspect of enemyte upon the ascendent.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)2950 : Fortune your assendent with his lorde also, kepinge aspectes of shrewis them fro; and yf they muste let, or nedly infecte, cause to loke with a tryne aspecte.
2.
(a) The heavens as influencing climate or productivity of a land; (b) of Gods, Fortune: ~ of face, expression as influencing man's behavior or luck; (c) med.?effectiveness, appropriateness.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)175b/a : Boeme is..mooste holsome in þe Aspeccte [L facie celi] of euery blissed londe to bere corne and fruyt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)185a/a : In þis cuntrey [a part of Ireland] is..lykyng aspect, gode ayre & holsome.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)7/17 : Þis second Chapitre promittethe to discrieue þe sight of þis lande and vndur what aspecte of hevyne hyt lyethe..þis Ile lithe..vndur þe Northe plage of heuyne.
b
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.2763 : He whilom stood in grace Be glad aspectis off Fortunys face; For she hym reised..To dukis estat from a ful poore knyht.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)449 : I [Venus] shal, baspectes [vr. espectes] of my benygne face, Make him teschwe euere synne & vice.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)1236 : Saturne, & Ioue, & Mars..And eke Cupide..bi aspectes of hir fers lokes..shal fal þe vengeaunce.
c
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)93/23 : Oile of violet haþe aspecte to membrez þat bene dried by any infirmite.
3.
(a) A way of viewing things, view; (b) the faculty of perceiving and comprehending.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3009 : This world hath no prosperite: In thin aspect ben alle liche, The povere man and ek the riche.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)20b/b : Þe soule..haþ twey maner aspect, for he biholdeþ þe ouer þinges & so he is I clepid intellectus, and beholdiþ þe neþer þingis and so he is Iclepid racio.
4.
Appearance, looks.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)111a/b : Consider he [the doctor] his [the patient's] aspecte [*Ch.(2): loke].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)120b/b : Tinea is a scab of þe heued with..horrible aspecte or biholdyng [*Ch.(2): lokynge].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.64rb (2.8) : Þe hert hath his aspecte, i. is openonde þiderwarde. Þe hert..lith more on þe lifte half, but he openeþ him toward þe riȝt side.
Note: Additional quot. Editor's gloss: 'a looking in a given direction, a facing or fronting in a direction'. Re: 'hath his aspect, i. is openonde þiderwarde', Harvey and Tavormina note: 'In Daniel's anatomy, the heart "looks toward" or "opens toward" the liver, placed more on the left side of the body but radiating heat toward the right.' ?Perh. a fig. use of the astrological sense.