Middle English Dictionary Entry
līche n.
Entry Info
| Forms | līche n. Also lich, lic, lik(e & leche, (early) læche. |
| Etymology | OE gelīca, gelīce n. Forms in -e- & -æ- may be due to confusion with lēches n.pl., sense (d). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. iliche n. & lik adj.
1.
(a) An equal, peer; was non his ~, he had no peer; to his (hire) ~, as his (her) peer; (b) somebody or something similar; one's fellow; other ~, something else similar, ~ kepeth ~, ~ wil drauen to ~; (c) a mate, spouse; to his ~, as his wife; (d) the same thing, identical events; something of the same nature; (e) a member of the same species; (f) with ~, ?as is fitting; ?likewise, also.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)167 : Non est similis in terra; Nis on eorðe non oðer his liche.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)88 : At one paleis..Þe lord of þer inne nas non his liche.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.44.7 : Who lic of me?
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2791 : As thanne of kinges to his liche Was non so myhty ne so riche.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3139 : Thogh men wolde alle Londes seche, Thei scholden noght have founde hir like [rime: sike].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7318 : So that he was of children riche, As therof was noman his liche.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)9524 : In all wisdam was he riche, And al-gat of his fader liche.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)71/2095 : Deth allas hath tane my lady bright And left this world without on to her leche [rime: speche].
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)61a/a : Þerfor if lich [*Ch.(2): like] kepeþ his lich as contrarie corrupteþ his contrarie, more hote after nature nedeþ more hote helpes, more colde colder.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)213 : Grypynge wythe þe hande, or oþer lyke [Win: lyk]: Constrictio.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)78 : For lich of lich is serchyd and enqueerid; To merthe longith to fynden out gladnesse.
- (1469) Paston (Gairdner)5.46 : Thei shall suffre hym to entre up on such appoyntment, or other like, takyn be the advyse of your councell.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)527/6,7 : Evermore a good knyght woll favoure another, and lyke woll draw to lyke.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)58a/b : Vngula..bigynneþ gynneþ bi þe nose and goiþ ouer þe yȝe til þat he haue keuerid al þe yȝe and knottis þat ben in þe yȝe and oþere lijk.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2277 : Worthi to his liche..Ther was no womman forto love.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)44 : Whan ffrith and felde wexen gaye And every wight desirith his like.
d
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)498 : A ȝere ȝernes ful ȝerne and ȝeldez neuer lyke; Þe forme to þe fynisment foldez ful selden.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)33b/b : It is necessarie þat þe mylk be whiȝt, for it is þe residue of þe norischinge of þe pappis, ffor norischinge is of þe lijk to þe norisschid.
e
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2588 : That homicide..Among the men ne scholde duelle, For..Men schal noght finde upon his liche A beste forto take his preie.
f
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8190 : Þatt oþerr follc all ȝede bun Swa summ itt birrþ, wiþþ like.
- a1250 Wooing Lord (Tit D.18)285 : Swete ihesu, þus tu faht for me aȝaines mine sawle fan; þu me derennedes wið like.
2.
(a) Appearance, form, shape; (b) an image, statue.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5827 : An oþerr der wass seȝhenn þær Inn an leuness like.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)141 : Þe halie gast com..in ane culfre liche.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2871 : He ȝealp þat he wolde fleon on fuȝeles læche [Otho: liche].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)30798 : Þa isæh heo..hire broðren, on wræcches monnes liche.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)59 : Þe deuel com on neddre liche to adam.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)20/21 : An unwiht of helle on ana drakes liche.
- a1250 Ancr.(Tit D.18)90/20 : He cumes forð..inwið þe masse biwrixlet tah on oðres liche [Nero: like; Corp-C: lite] vnder breades fourme, for in his ahne liche [Nero: heowe] ehne ne mihten nawt þe brihte sihte þolien.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)116/28 : Þe þet he [the Devil] com to i wummone liche i þe wildernesse.
- a1325 SLeg.Marg.(Corp-C 145)171 : In a monnes like Þe deuel to þis maide com.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)19/520-1 : Nammore maystrye nys hiȝt to hym To be ine bredes lyche Þane hym was ine þe liche of man.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.283 : Semiramis..desgised hir self in þe childes liche.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.437 : Anlaf..come into Ethelstan his tente in an harpour lich.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2315 : As he caste his lok Into the welle..He sih the like of his visage.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2995 : Upon himself tho gan he loke..In stede of man a bestes lyke He syh.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)304 : Lyke: Hoc instar.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1141 : Þer inne was an onlicnesse, a wifmonnes liche..Diana wes ihaten.