Middle English Dictionary Entry
limbō n.
Entry Info
| Forms | limbō n. |
| Etymology | From L limbō, abl.sg. of limbus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
That part of hell which bordered the pit of the eternally damned and which was the dwelling place of those who were delivered by Christ; the limbus patrum; ~ inferni, ~ patrum.
Associated quotations
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)16.84 : Þe deuel..gadred hem alle togideres..Adam & abraham and ysay þe prophete, Sampson and samuel and seynt Iohan þe baptiste..And made of holy men his horde in lymbo inferni.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)212 : Owre lord Ihesu..went downe to hell to owre holy ffadyrs þat ware in lymbo to tyme of his resureccione.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)378/102 : What! heris þou noȝt þis vggely noyse, Þes lurdans þat in lymbo dwelle?
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)292 : Quen þou herghedes helle-hole and hentes hom þeroute..out of Limbo, þou laftes ne [read: me] þer.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)296/96 : Thise lurdans that in lymbo dwell.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)300/213 : Lymbo is lorne, alas!
- a1500 GLitany (Dc 42)132 : By the descendynge of thi holy soule to limbo patrum, haue mercy on vs.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.7 : How crist entred hell To glad our haly fadres in Lymbo as clerkes tell.