Middle English Dictionary Entry
lēsing(e ger.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | lēsing(e ger.(2) Also lesingue, lesinghe, lesin, lessing(e, lezing, lasinge, leasung(e, -ing(e, leazinge, læsunge, -ing(e, læssinge, læisinge, leosinge, lyesinge, lyeasinge, lyazinge. |
| Etymology | OE lēasung |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. lesen v.(2).
1.
(a) The telling of a lie or lies, the practice or sin of lying; (b) withouten (ani) ~, withouten lesinges, without lying, in truth, truly; -- often as a rime tag.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)24/15,32 : Þa wearð he mid swi licere hatheortnysse astured & cwæð þet heo deaþe scyldiȝe wæræn þet heo hine mid heoræ leasungæ on ðon ibroht hæfden..þa yrsode he wið heom & cwæð þet hit heoræ leasung were.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.VA (Lamb 487)103 : Auaricia..macað reaflac and unrihte domes, stale, and lesunge.
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)229 : Heo [Christ] onscunede elc unricht and alle leasunge.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)215 : On is leasing, oðer is mon-oð, þe þridde swikedom; and mid þis grune henteð þe werse alle þo þe..biggeð and sulleð.
- a1250 Ancr.(Tit D.18)69/7 : Þenne he wrenches te muð hwen he turnes god to uuel And, ȝif hit is sumdeal uuel, þurh mare leasinge wrenches hit to wurse.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)44/13 : Leasunge is se uuel þing þet seint austin seið þet forte schilde þi feader from deað ne schuldest tu nawt lihen.
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)114/389 : Þurch lesin [MS prob. reads: lesing] mon is loð.
- a1300 Hit bilimpeð (Corp-O 59)35 : Wicke is here ure fare..mid wicke speche & false sware & mid lesinge.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2578 : And quane he komen to ðe king, He wereden hem wið lesing.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)62/20 : Leazinge ualseþ þane man alse me ualseþ þe kinges sel oþer þe popes bulle.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.110 : Virgines..folowen þe Lombe þere þat he gooþ; And lesyng nys nouȝth founden in her mouþe.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)4.3 : Wherto loue ȝe ydelnes and secheþ lesyng [L mendacium]?
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)52/227 : The aughtand biddes us we sall bere No fals wittenes ogayne our euen-cristen; In whilk is forboden al maner of lesyng, Fals conspiracie, and forsweryng.
- (a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Bod 959)9.40 : I not who þe first autor þoru his lesing made oute seuenty sellis at alesaundre.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.28.15 : Wee han set lesyng oure hope, and with lesyng we ben couered.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.21.27 : Nethir ony thing defoulid shal entre in to it, and doynge abhomynacioun and lesyng.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.409 : Of suche lesinge as he compasseth, Is non so good that he ne..is bacbited, And thurgh his false tunge endited.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.7 : Satenas..wiht lesinge Gabbid adam.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)897 : Neuer lesyng ne tale vntrwe Ne towched her tonge.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)70/9 : Y trowe þat þei wolleþ chese & saye þat he seide wiþ-out siche leesyng & synne.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)108/19 : Lesyng and disceyt ben gete & had wiþ vntrouþe.
- c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)126 : Bere agayn no man fals witnes..And al lesyng eschue as wele as thou may.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)298 : Leesynge [Win: Lezyng] or lyynge: Mendacium.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2611 : Peynous ordinaunce Is stallid for hir falshede, for þis is hir fynaunce, To lese hir lyff for lesing.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)58/24 : What is harlotrie? What is lesynge? What is periurye?
- a1500 Gifte hys (StJ-C B.15)13 : Eld man in scornyng, wyse man in lesyng.
b
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)75 : Þu ert mire soule wiðute leasunge, Efter þine leoue sune, leouest alre þinge.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)585 : 'Is þat soþ?' sede he. Heo sede, 'ȝe, sire, withute lesing.'
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)2818 : Wiþ xv heþen kinges, & þritti emeraus, wiþ-outen lesinges..þe noble emperour Ernis Þai han..bisett.
- c1330 Harrow.H.(Auch)92 : Whoso biggeþ aniþing, It owe to ben his wiþouten lesing.
- c1330 Roland & V.(Auch)10 : Charls þe king Hadde al fraunce in his hond..Wiþouten ani lesing.
- a1400(?c1300) Amis (Eg 2862)42 : Boþ þey were getyn in oo nyȝt And on oo day born a-plyȝt, For soth with-out lesyng.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5672 : Swich is þis addres kyndlyng -- Preciouse stones, wiþouten lesyng.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)3057 : Ilkone of us withouten lesyng Might win ilk wike fourty shilling.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4508 : Swete-Lokyng..is lorn, without lesyng.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)1041 : Euery nyȝt, with-ouȝt lesynge..He chaysteyssede hure body with displynynge.
- a1475 Friar & B.(Brog 2.1)p.58 : What hast thou done to thys freyr? Tell me without lessyng.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)880 : Certys, wyth-owten lesynge, The teres out of hys yen gan wryng.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)550 : When he harde thys tythynge, He was gladde, wythowt lesynge.
- a1500 Eglam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)1035 : Yn hys clothys hangyng A chylde..was broght to londe Thorowe that grype, withowt lesynge.
2a.
(a) Falsehood, untruth; (b) a falsehood, a lie; (c) fader of lesinge(s, lesinges fader, the patron of falsehood or lies, the Devil [cp. John 8.44]; (d) no ~, no lie, the truth; hit (that) is no ~, it (that) is no lie.
Associated quotations
a
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1128 : He seide þat fulle feoht was sett betwenen ða Cristene & þa heðene; þa hi þider comon, ða ne was hit noht buton læsunge; þus earmlice wearð eall þat folc swengt.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3031 : Cordoille iherde þa lasinge [Otho: lesing] þe hire sustren seiden þon kinge.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8314 : Þat weord..bi mine liue ich hit halde; & þu hit nult ileuen beoten hit læssingge beo, ich hit wulle trousien.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)19078 : Þa sæiden þa cnihtes, soð þæh hit neoren, þat þe king wes ifloȝen..ah al hit wes lessinge þat heo seiden bi þan kinge.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)29013 : Karic heom ilefde, al heore leosinge.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)848 : Hit shal wrþe wel isene Þat þu hauest muchel iloȝe Wone þi lesing boþ unwroȝe.
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)474 : Þeyh he seyde þat he hit [King of the Jews] wes, hit is lesyng.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)2004 : Þe disciples ne leouede hit nouȝt, ak helde hit al lesynge.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)60/21 : Hy leueþ and dobbleþ and moreþ hit of hiren, al-huet þer is more of lyeasinge þanne of zoþ.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Prov.21.6 : Who gedereth tresores with the tunge of lesing, vein and herteles is.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Thes.2.10 : God schal sende to hem a worching of errour, that thei bileue to leesyng, or gabbyng, that alle be demyd, or dampned, the whiche bileueden not to treuthe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.11 : Þese fuyres schal destroye þe world: þe firste fuyre is þe fuyre of lesynge [L mendacii].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2268 : Thilke vice of Pride..torneth wisdom to wenynge And Sothfastnesse into lesynge Thurgh fol ymaginacion.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4274 : His [Antichrist's] ministres..sal say it [Holy Writ] es bot lesyng.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.3.126 : Science ne may nat ben medled with falsnesse..that is the cause why that science wanteth lesynge [L mendacio].
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)72/35 : I haue schewid þee boþe of þe sooþfastnes and of þe lesyng.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)12 : In þis book..ben..her special trouþis weel tried wiþoute eny dout of lesing or falseheede.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)33/29 : Ye saide ye loued us..the whiche was fals lesinge.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)57 : Þat þey slee sowl þat diȝe not, quiken sowl þat lyuen not, lying to my peple, trowing to lesing.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)54/7 : Treuthe & sothfastnesse..ys contrarie to lesynge.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)102/8 : We rædæþ þæt deofel ongan haliȝe bec to reccan, ah he þa sone þone forme cwide leah, swa him ealc lyȝe, & elc leasunge bilimpð.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)37 : Ne reccheð crist nane leasunge, ne him nis na neoð.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2982 : Leir þe king ilefde his doster læisinge.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15535 : Þat word com to þan kinge of þere læsinge, & he hit ilefde, þah hit læs weore.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)9/31 : Ic..te [the Devil] forsake and alle ðine leasinges.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)344 : Alle ower leasunges beoð unlefliche.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)460/109 : He nam ane trewe Man for a luyte lesingue And dude him binde swiþe faste.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.478 : It is nouȝt so, bi seyn Mahoun, It is a lesing, fere.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)3052 : Whi wil lesinges layt, Þarf him no ferþer go.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)10/17 : Þet is zenne of..ualshede oþer lyesinges huanne he þet me spekþ of ne is naȝt present.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)61/34 : Þe uerste is huanne me vint leazinges and þe kueades uor oþren to arere blame.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)63/9 : Þe lyazinges deriynde byeþ dyadlich zenne.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.201 : Þai þat apoysoun oþer þorouȝ wicked speche..is expouned bifore of..hem þat ben leue to heren lesynges & louen to heren hem.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)1 John 2.21 : Ech lesyng is not of treuthe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.227 : Pilgryms ful of lesynges [L peregrini mendosi] clepeþ þis arche and piler Seynt Petres nedle.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.591 : Hasard is verray moder of lesynges And of deceite and cursed forswerynges.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.608 : Now wol I speke of lesynges, which generally is fals signyfiaunce of word in entente to deceyuen his euene cristene.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)631 : A lesyng..ys..whan þou wost þat þou seyst mys.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)142/6 : Manye men liȝen of þe wounde of þe nose; þei seien þat oon bar his nose kutt of in his hond, þe which nose was afterward sett aȝen in his owne kynde; þe which is an open lesynge.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)2.89 : Al be lesinges þou lyuest, & leccherous werkis.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416:Everett)158/19 : No lesinge is of soþnesse.
- (?1406) Hoccl.MR (Hnt HM 111)223 : O thow fauele, of lesynges Auctour, Causist al day thy lord to fare amis.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4602 : Of Vlixes..riȝt deceyueable, To forge a lesyng also wonder able.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3880 : Wikkid-Tunge hath custome ay Yonge folkis to bewreye, And false lesynges on hem leye.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.179 : I trowe nat by the jugement of Socrates, that it were leveful to me to hide the sothe, ne assente to lesynges.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)292/31 : Now aboundith þe synne of lesynges.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Possessioners (Corp-C 296)125 : Þes proude possessioners ben rotid in lesyngis aȝenst crist & his trewþe.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)2628 : I schal no lesyng be-fore ȝoure persone peynt.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)696 : He beleved it non thyng, For, Sekyr, he held it for a lesing.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)33/16 : No lesingis wer founde in hir tonge.
- c1425 Wycl.Church (Dub 245)p.xxxii : Freris..spulen þe puple many weies bi ypocrisie & oþer lesyngis.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)206/67 : Oure folk ar so afrayd thrugh lesyns he losys oure lay.
- a1500 *Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)61/16 : Thi rumours and particular affeccions, thi lesingis, thy evill wordis and thi light bileve, have brought vnto the this bittir diuision.
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)59 : There is no mercy in riche men, for thei wille have the mersement and the chaffare of lesynges.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)687 : Ther were..Rowners, uagaboundes, forgers of lesynges.
c
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)9/26 : Ðe selue dieuel is icleped mid rihte fader of leasinge.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)44/17 : Diabolus mendax est & pater eius: þe deouel is leas & leasunge feader [Nero: leasunges feder].
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)62/27 : Þe dyeule..is lyeȝere and uader of leazinges.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416:Everett)91/21 : Here fadur of lesinges techiþ hem to lie.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)317/35 : If I seyde I were ouȝt of mysilf, I schulde lye on mysilf, and schulde be callid a lyer douȝtir of þe feend, which is fadir of lesynges.
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)27 : Here þei suen þe fadir of lesyngis, þat stirede þe heiȝe prestis & pharisees in cristis tyme.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Satan & P.(Corp-C 296)270 : Þe deuel is lesyngis fadir & disceyued mankynde bi lesynge.
d
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5204 : Quat tiþ[i]ng Es o ioseph, and na lesing?
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)15412 : In to ȝoure hondes I shal him take; holde hit no lesynge.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416:Everett)159/6 : His anoyntynge techiþ ȝou of alle þinges, and soþ it is, and þat is no lesinge.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11659 : Hit is lelly no lesyng, leue if ye will!
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)1020 : God..gaff to hem so gret ffraunchyse, Talyved euere, thys no lesyng, In elthe with-oute languysshyng.
- c1475 Lydg.KEng.(1) (Rwl C.48)63 : Edward the First..Lith att Westmenstre: this trouth & no Lesyng.
- a1500 In a mornyng of May (Cmb Ff.5.48)44 : Alle woo a woman began..Wyttenesse adam þe formast man; þat is no lesyng.
2b.
In verb phrases: (a) lien lesinge(s, to tell a lie or lies; lien a ~ on, tell a lie about (sb.); (b) maken lesinge(s, to invent or tell a lie or lies; maken lesinge(s up)on, tell a lie or lies about (sb.); (c) seien (speken, tellen) lesinge(s, to utter falsehood, tell a lie or lies.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)1556 : Þe clerkes do bring bifor me, Þat to þe..On me lowe swiche lesing [Dc: lesynghe].
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1007 : Þou lexst afoule lesing!
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)310/32 : Allas þat euere I lesyng lyȝed!
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)16067 : Mani lesing had þai loun again iesu þat dai.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.400 : For þi lesynge, lucifer, þat þow lowe til Eue, Thow shalt abye it bittre.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)7.209 : Furst ich lerned to lye a lesyng oþer tweye.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)150 : Manye lesingis y haue herd hem lie.
- a1450(?c1405) Mannys soule (Dgb 102)86 : Þerof god wole rekenyng craue..Þy leste þouȝt..and lesyng þou dede liȝe.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)75/31 : For wete ye wel that al be it wondyr to youre heryng, I am not set to lye yow lesyngis.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)101 : He ansuerde..'I shall yow lye no lesynge.'
- a1500 St.Brendan Conf.(Lamb 541)11/144 : I schulde lye no lesyng, neþer in priue ne in open.
b
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.479 : And if thow drede nat a sooth to here..thow hast maad a ful greet lesyng here.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2257 : The wise man maketh no lesyng whan he turneth his corage to the bettre.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1020 : If thow by cause of humylitee makest lesynges on thy self, thogh thow ne were nat in synne biforn, yet artow thanne in synne thurgh thy lesynges.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28120 : Titter wald i lesyng make Þan man my worde vn-treu to take.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)385 : His broþer made lesynges on him þer he stood.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1403 : Tydeus..Tolde pleynly, and made no lesyng, How that he was sone to the kyng Of Caledoyn.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)144/9 : Þai make na lesyngs [F ne mentent point], ne sweres nane athes for nathing.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)30 : Goddis forbode..that thei schulden make so greet a lesing aȝens treuthe.
- a1450(a1400) Athelston (Cai 175/96)83 : He þouȝte al for here sake False lesyngys on hem to make, To don hem brenne and sloo.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)11/2 : So is it vnsemeli eny such prechour..forto make leesyng vpon eny man aȝens trouþ in coueryng of his defaut.
- (1459) Paston3.196 : Walsham of Chauncery, that never made lesyng, told me that Bokkyng was with my Lord Chaunceler this terme.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)56/2 : What maner fastyng is that..whan þou etest noȝt but ȝit wolt curse, chide, and make lesyngis and so forthe?
- a1500 Mandev.(3) (Rwl D.99)468 : They wole make noo lesingis, ne they sweren noo grete othis, but symply seyn, it is, or it is noȝt.
c
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)82/28 : He [God]..eac þa fordeþ ðe leasunȝæ specæð mid unleaffulnesse.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3068 : Hire twa sustren..ba somed læsinge speken.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15850 : Alle þine witien beoð swiðe swikele, isæid læssinge [Otho: hii seggeþ lesinge] bi-foren þæ seolue.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)22970 : Me con bi þan læðe lasinge suggen, þeh he weore þe bezste mon þe æuere æt at borde.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)5.6 : Þou shalt lesin alle þat speken lesyng.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.19.18 : Þei fyndyn þe fals witnes to haue seide aȝeyns his broþer lesynge [L mendacium].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 8.44 : Whanne he [the Devil] spekith a lesinge [WB(2): spekith lesyng], he spekith of his owne thingis.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3526 : Þaspies on boþe sydes gooþ, Telleþ lesynges and telleþ sooþ Of Alisaunder.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416:Everett)80/23 : Þou schalt lese alle þat speken lesinges.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Satan & P.(Corp-C 296)270 : Dauid seiþ þat [god] schal dampne alle men þat speken lesyngis.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)43 : And if God schal tyne alle þoo þat speklesyng.
3.
A story unrelated to fact, a fiction; also, a story to laugh at, an idle tale.
Associated quotations
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)20 : Nv bigynneþ vre tale; nys hit no lesynge.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.399 : Sche warnede þe Grees..þat Troye schulde be destroyed, and þat Homerus schulde write lesynges [L mendacia] afterward.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.610 : Another lesynge comth of delit for to lye, in which delit they wol forge a long tale..where al the ground of the tale is fals.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.946 : A gret spekere in alle thinges He [Mercury] was also, and of lesinges An Auctour.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)4.18 : Resoun..called..tomme trewe-tonge-telle-me-no-tales-Ne-lesyng-to-lawȝeof.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.414 : I haue leuere here an harlotrie..Or lesynges to laughe at..Þan al þat euere Marke made.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)151 : Trofels sal I ȝow nane tell, Ne lesinges forto ger ȝow lagh.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6222 : Love..brak his tale in his spekyng, As though he had hym told lesyng.
- (1426) Paston2.28 : I have preyed my Maister Hammond to write yow tydyngges, and smale lesynges among.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)48.43 : Tho that weren dwellyng In synne..seiden it was fable..and that A lesyng Iosephes had Imad.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)307 : In non abbay wil þai dwell Bot wendes a-bout fro cel to cel And tels lesynges here & þair To gar men make þam mery fare.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10324 : Thow Omer..Lelly þi lesynges þou lappis full faire.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)72b : A lesyng:..figmentum.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)17/4 : He that coveyteþ to heere vanyteis and lesyngus with syche yvel wedes, his eeren ben vncircumcised.
- a1500 *Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)124/19 : Hough may it be thanne that any man may beleve that the aungell Gabriell shulde brynge to the [Mohammed] the lawe..That lesing was nedefull to the for to couir with thi shame.
4.
Misrepresentation of reality, falsification; a deception, whether in word or deed; an illusion, a delusion.
Associated quotations
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)102/29 : Ac þe deofel hæfde þeah, mid leasunge þurh his syncrefte, middaneardes murhþe & all weorldlice feȝernesse togædere æthiwod.
- ?a1300 Sirith (Dgb 86)282 : I shal make a lesing Of þin heie-renning.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)175/19 : Þus him ssel deme þe zeneȝere bo-uore god, naȝt uor to lessi his zennes, ac uor to mori and weȝe wyþoute lyeasinge [Vices & V.(2): wiþout making any lesynge; F sanz mentir].
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.201 : He makeþ lesynges in word & in dede.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.34.1,2 : Veyn hope and lesyng [WB(2): a leesyng; L mendacium] to the mys felende man..so and he that taketh heed to the seen lesingus [L visa mendacia].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)311a/a : Þey [painters] fondeþ to make fey and bryngeþ to lesynges, as he doþ þat peynteþ chymmera wiþ þre hedes.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.13.6 : Thei seen veyn thingis and deuynen leesynge.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)231/15 : Oftentymes þe feend schulde make þee se manye dyuersitees, and al for to bryngen þee into lesynges.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Satan & P.(Corp-C 296)268 : Here abitis ben ful of lesyngis & þei ben but feyned & peyntid men of religion.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Satan & P.(Corp-C 296)269 : Lesyngis stondiþ more in false dedis þan in wordis.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)154 : The Grek Synon..with his false forswerynge, And his chere and his lesynge, Made the hors broght into Troye.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.158 : Þe leesinge so likyde ladies and oþer Þat þey joied of þe jette.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)2 : Many men sayn that in sweveninges Ther nys but fables and lesynges [F mensonges].
5.
Cpds.: ~ berere (makere), a liar; ~ mongere, one who falsifies the truth or traffics in other falsification, a liar.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Tim.1.10 : The lawe is not put to a iust man, but to..lesyngmongeris [L mendacibus] and forsworn.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)110b/b : He makeþ a man liȝt & vnstable, wraþful and lesingmongere.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.20.27 : Betere is a theef than the customablenesse of a man, a leesyngmongere [WB(2): liere].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)44b/a : Nugiger & gerulus: a lesynge berare, a triflare, a gylour, or a burdyour.
- c1425 Treat.10 Com.(StJ-O 94)31 : Also agaynes þis commaundement doos..euyll conselurs & lesynmungers.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Satan & P.(Corp-C 296)268 : Þei ben but feyned & peyntid men of religion, & not only lesyngmongeris but pure lesyngis.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Satan & P.(Corp-C 296)270 : A þef is more worþi to be suffrid þan þe lastynge of a lesyngmongere.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.3163 : Lesyngmongers fond that tyme no socours.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.1186 : Forsueryng shamyd, durste entre in no toun, Nor lesyngmongers.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)298 : Lesynge berare: Mendifer.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)60/16 : Lesynge-mongere, þat is a fals man, as a man falseþ þe kynges seal or þe popes bulle.
- c1450 Metham Physiog.(Gar 141)143/6 : Tho personys be enuyus, lesyngmongerys, froward.
- c1450 WBible(2) (Bod 277)Prov.21.6 : Leesing makere [Roy: He that gaderith tresours bi the tunge of a leesing, is veyne and with outen herte.]
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)652 : Yf ye knowe a lesyngmonger and fals, Make hym not swere; he is of no credence.