Middle English Dictionary Entry
as(s)emblẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | as(s)emblẹ̄ n. Also assembl(e)y. |
| Etymology | OF assemblée |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. semble.
1.
(a) A getting together or gathering (of people or parties, on a particular occasion or by chance); maken ~; (b) a meeting (of a constituted body, or called by an official); (c) hunt. the assembly (of a hunting party after the chase).
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)1709 : So was þere a gret a semble Of folk of þat ilke cite.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)10745 : Þe day cam of þis asemble [Vsp: semblee].
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.51 : Vnder Southamptone was þer assemble Of Harald & Hardknoute, what suld bituex þam be.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4431 : Out of Cities and of Royal touns Cam alle the ladies..To this assemble.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)2/17 : Assemblee of þe pople withouten lordes þat may gouerne þam es as a flokk of schepe þat has na schepehird.
- c1450(?1436) Siege Calais (Rome 1306)14 : The Duc..Made grete assemble [vr. assembille]..Of al the power and Chiualrie of Burgene.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)10111 : They token day of assemble, that ost te gederis forto be Jn a feld.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)41/12 : The dwarfe..gave to all men knolege of the assembely [of knights at a tournament].
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.11.94a : Ther is now a fore oure Lord made an hughe assemble of muche multitude of seintes.
b
- (1389) Lond.Gild Ret.in Bk.Lond.E.(PRO C 47/var.)53/82 : No broþer schal be resceyued but on þe dayes of our assembles.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.36 : The breþeren and sisteren in here assemble..seyn a bede in worchepe of god.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)302/218 : Alle þe Bisschopus þat weore þare..sente to þe Bisschop of þat Cite And made hem come to þat asemble.
- a1422 Gild St.Geo.Nrw.(Rwl D.913)446 : The alderman and maistres schul assigne a day for asemble.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)10/21 : At his awtier þei holden here grete conseilles & here assembleez.
- (1455) Doc.in HMC Var.Col.4203 : To the Mayralte and Commonalte of the Cite of Newe Sarum, the Commone Counsayll and Assemble of the Mayre..by resonable sommonz ye shall come..All charges and taxes..to be sette on you by your peres by lawfull assemble, ye shall supporte.
c
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)84 : Þat he may take it to þe lord or to þe mayster of þe game at the metyng þat som men calle essemble.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)89 : To þe assemble þat in Engelonde is callid þe metyng or the gaderynge.
2.
A group of people gathered for a purpose, such as a deliberative body, a procession, an army; a mob; any crowd or company.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.403 : Naught, trowe I, the triumphe of Iulius..Was roialler ne moore curyus Than was thassemblee [vrr. the semble, the assemblyng] of this blisful oost.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9391 : [Belshazzar] shewed hyt to alle hys assemble.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3468 : Þe kyng þere telt his pauylouns..Ne seiȝ man neuere..Non so noble assemblee [vr. asemblaye].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.217 : Barones an burgeis and bonde-men, als I seiȝ in þis assemble.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)19 : Ful grete and gay was þe assemble Of lordes and ladies.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)505 : For to se Th'assemble..Of briddis..That songen.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.3.57 : Thilke day that thow seye thi two sones maked conseileris, and iladde togidre fro thyn hous under so greet assemble of senatours.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1578 : Salle he neuer sownde see his seynowres in Rome, Ne sitt in þe assemble in syghte wyth his feris.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)474 : Sum gude, sum ill..Als es in ilk a-semble sene.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)56/30 : Ther was ryght grete assembley that come at the Wytsontyd to the Welle of Mervelles.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)223/25 : Yf we conquer this assemble where as wommen bene inne, we shul nat be taken for worthy.
- c1480(1460) Let.Pr.Edw.to City (Add 48031)143 : Ye kepe right wele in your remembraunces under what false colourable receiptes and circumvencions that horrible .. traitor .. calling hym selfe duc .. hath blinded my lordis subgettes and .. often tymes provoked theim to commocions, sturinges and unlawfull assembles.
- c1480(1460) Let.Pr.Edw.to City (Add 48031)143 : The same fals traitour .. hathe now late sowen amongis you .. that we shulde entende to make assembles of grete numbre of straungeres that wolde purpose to dispoile and to robbe you.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.9.93b : The birdes..sittyng in assemble upon an hey tree.
3.
(a) Association or union of intimates; (b) sexual union, intercourse; (c) harmonious blending.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)760 : My makelez Lambe..Me ches to hys make, alþaȝ vnmete Sumtyme semed þat assemble.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)52 : There thei ii louers made ofte there assembles wiht full petous compleyntes.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.907 : The fourthe spece [of Auowtrie] is the assemblee of hem that ben of hire kynrede or of hem that ben of oon affynytee.
- a1500 Sidrak & B.in NQ n.s.20 (Trin-C O.5.6)374 : Atte ther assemble [Hrl: Of glade semblant þe childe schal be, as þei were both at þe semble.]
c
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.129 : [Felicity] is the estat in perfyt assemble Of all good gedered into one.
4.
A hostile encounter, a clash.
Associated quotations
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)1647 : At þassemble in þe fi[r]ste tyde Þe Troiens had þe bettere side.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.283 : At the Ferste Assemble Mochel peple lost this kyng Tholome.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)57 : Bothe were in batell while the batell last, And euþer sawte & assemely see with þere een.