Middle English Dictionary Entry
lightnes(se n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | lightnes(se n.(1) |
| Etymology | From light adj.(1). Also cp. OE līhtnes. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Brightness of the sun, moon, or fire; light; also, lightning; (b) the condition in which there is light; (c) a bright light, a flash of light; (d) a source of light; a heavenly body, planet, star, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Adam & E.(1) (Auch & Ednb-U 218)528 : Alle þe liȝtnisse was aleyd, Sonne & mone lorn her liȝt.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)23684 : [Þ]e sunn sal haue, þe scriptur sais, Þe lightnes þan of seuen days.
- a1400 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Pep 2498)p.31 : Out of þe throne com liȝtnesse and þondrynge.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)343 : Þou sal here mani thonor-blast..And þare sal cum slik slete and rayne..Of lightnes sal þou se a lowe.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.2.10 : This man..saugh the lyghtnesse of the rede sonne.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)263 : Derk was that place, but afterward lightnesse I saw a lyte.
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)1322 : Flescly loue..is cleped..Blynd fir gurd wiþ derknesse, Þat haþ brennyng and no lyȝtnesse.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)91 : The sunne..maketh his lightnesse passe thoruh the cloud.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)195/5 : Apon the erth he send lightnes.
b
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)56 : God..The merknes namyd he to be nyȝt, And the lyghtnes to be day.
- a1500 Quest.MOxf.(Hrl 1304)284 : The first day he [God] made lightnes & light.
c
- c1330 Roland & V.(Auch)131 : Þan decended a liȝtnesse Doun riȝtes fram þe heuen blis In þat ich place.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)115a/a : Þe mone is liȝtnesse [L lumine] of hirself & fongiþ liȝt of þe welle of plente of þe sonne..& reboundiþ it toward þe erþe.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)135.7 : God ofe goddes..grete lightnesses [L luminaria] maked he: Þe sunne..Þe mone and sternes.
2.
(a) Splendor, radiance; (b) enlightenment, spiritual insight; (c) joy, happiness.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)288 : [In heaven] þere is souereyne fairnes, liȝtnes, strengþe, freodam.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)23/16 : Of all angels in brightnes, God gaf lucifer most lightnes.
b
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1559 : In ðat dred, his ðogt was led In to ligtnesse for to sen Quow god wulde it sulde ben.
- a1350 Ase y me rod (Hrl 2253)34 : O Cristesmasse day, when God wes bore on þoro lay ant brohte vs lyhtnesse.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13543 : To-quils i in þis werld be, It has na lightnes [Frf: lethenes; Trin-C: liȝt] bot o me.
c
- c1330 Adam & E.(1) (Auch & Ednb-U 218)550 : Haue, loke þis soule [Adam] wel, & put it in sorwe & þesternisse, Out of ioie & alle liȝtnisse.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)29.104 : This brawnch that Eve..Owt of paradys browht..Signefied ful Mochel gladnesse In tyme Comeng, And Ek lyhtnesse.
3.
?Comeliness; ?also, decoration, ornamentation.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)25b/b : Þe instrument of smellinge is noȝt in a best onliche for liȝtnesse and fairenes but also for to make perfit þe vertu of þe spirit þat hatte animalis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)325a/b : Ostriches eiren beþ y-honged in chirches for lightnesse, for þey beþ so grete and seldom yseye.
- a1450(1411) Many man (Dgb 102)109 : Þy lyȝtnes þou spendest in harlotrye; Þy strengþe, in wraþþe and tyrauntrye; Þy fayrenesse, in pryde and lecherye.