Middle English Dictionary Entry
Leviathan n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Leviathan n. Also leviethan, liviatan, liviaton, eleviatham. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The biblical Leviathan, a sea monster, sea serpent; -- taken to signify the Devil; (b) the Devil, Satan, permanently transformed into a sea monster or sea serpent.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Job 3.8 : Curse thei to it, that cursen to the dai, that ben redi to rere Leuiethan [WB(2): Leuyathan; Bod 277: Leuyathan, that is a venym watir eddre].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Job 40.20 : Whether maist thou drawen out leuyethan [WB(2): leuyathan; Lamb 1033: that is, a whal, that signefieth the fend] with an hoc?
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.27.1 : In that dai viseten shal the Lord in his harde swerd..vp on leuyathan, an eddere, a leuour, and vp on leuyathan, a crookid wounde serpent; and he shal sle the whal, that is in the se.
- ?a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.Job (Cld E.2)40.20 : Leuyathan: that is, a whal, that signefieth the deuel.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)18b/a : Þe fend..hatte eleuiatham [L leuiathan]..as Gregor seiþ, he puttiþ harm to harm & peyne to peyne; alwey as þe trespas of hym & of his cresith, so þe peyne cresith also.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5865,5915 : Crist seiþ..how he sawe fro hevene Sathan discende..Þe vile serpent, he, Leuyathan..haueþ most his haunt Amongis watris in þe large see..þe same serpent, he, Levyathan..In cursid ydoles dovmbe defe, & blynde, Ful ofte spekis be spirites..Whiche ar but fendis.
- ?a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.Job (Cld E.2)3.8 : Leuyathan: that is, the deuel [Lamb 1033: the fend], as Alquyn seith.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)5185 : [Adam] lost had þis greth dygnyte..By þe enuye deceyuyuyd [read: deceyuyd] of hys enmy Clepyd serpent, behemot, or leuyathan.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4423,4438,4446 : 'I segh satan..slippe out of heuyn'..This fende..the first þat felle..lyuyaton is cald..God..Wroght hym to a worme..And loke of lyuyaton in the lyffe of saynt Brandon There þis warloghe..a water eddur is cald..Þis lyuyatan, leder of all thies laithe fyndes.