Middle English Dictionary Entry
lī̆berālitẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lī̆berālitẹ̄ n. Also liberalte. |
| Etymology | OF liberalité & L līberālitas. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Generosity, munificence; the virtue of liberality, conceived as a mean between prodigality and stinginess; (b) ?extravagant optimism.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.159 : Hardeknute..was seide þat he was of so much liberalte [Higd.(2): liberalite; L liberalitatis] þat he made þe kynges and messes [?read: kynges messes; L fercula regalia] be diȝt foure tymes in a day.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)18/641 : In mony þinges he was comendable, Furst in liberalite, For alle þinges þat hedde he To pore folk..he ȝaf.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7646 : Tak Avarice and tak also The vice of Prodegalite; Betwen hem Liberalite, Which is the vertu of Largesse, Stant and governeth his noblesse.
- (1429) Proc.Privy C.3.343 : Þe King of his liberalitee hat graunted unto þe said Cardinal by wey of reward a ml. marc.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)86 : Þou art a being infynite greet bi spiritual greetnes, infynyte goodnes and majeste..infynyte larges or liberalte.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)9948 : Yet to pore men swych affluence Of almesse shersyd [?read: she rehersyd], & swych lyberalte.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)815 : Nature hath set tweyne extremytees..That the streemys of liberallite Set in good mesour.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)4622 : Þere is no difference Twixt fool largesse and liberalitee, Sauf þe fool large..Of his dispenses is to dislauee.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.431 : The clerkis had euery deel Al þat þei spente, of there lyberalyte And of there bovntyffulnesse.
- c1450 Metham Physiog.(Gar 141)124/29 : Eyn the qwyche be clene..thei sygnyfye lyberalte and kendnes off hert.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11858,11867 : Lyberalyte..hath..Set ffer ffrom hym..The ffalse werm off coveytyse, Wych ys ycallyd Auaryse. The tother Kanker..Ys callyd Prodygalyte; And a-twen thys wermys tweyne Mydde place..Halt hym Lyberalyte.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)124 : At thair departynge thai most nedis haue grete giftes and rewardes, ffor þat be sitith þe kynges magnificence and liberalite.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.393 : Þe fader was ȝiffen to liberalite [Trev.: skilful largenesse and freness of ȝiftes; L Frugalitati], the son vn to lecchery.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)811 : Who next hym folowyd but Lyberalyte Syttyng on a dromedary?
b
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)1214 : Yef ye haue in your hert a volunte To your sonne or servaunt, er not foly; Ye must be in that liberalite To seke a thing a-ye[n]st nature truly.