Middle English Dictionary Entry
lī̆telnes(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lī̆telnes(se n. Also litlinesse. |
| Etymology | From lī̆tel adj. Also cp. OE lȳtelnes. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Smallness; of a nerve: thinness; of the eye: sunkenness; (b) scarcity; (c) lowness of rank or station; (d) smallness in degree, strength, or efficacy; feebleness, weakness; slightness, insignificance; ~ of gost (spirit), pusillanimity; (e) the quality of smallness, fewness, or weakness without reference to any specific thing.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)58a/a : Ȝif þe mylte is mene, more drawinge to litilnes [L paruitatem] þan to mochenes, it tokeneþ to good complexioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)271a/b : Hugenesse of witte rewardeþ him in litelnesse of body.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)29/16,17 : Þe neischenes is temperid & strenkþid, & þe litilnes is maad more..þe litilnes [L paucitatem] comeþ of þe nucha, for it is litil.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)127b/a marg. : 3a. Litelnez of þe eye.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)55a/b : Þat þe ligament by his quantite myȝte fulfille þe litelnesse of þe sinewes, for þe sinewe moste ben diuided þoruȝ euerye partie off þe arme.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)8b/a : Of gretenesse of þe pappis, of litelnesse of þe tete.
- ?a1450 Lanfranc (Add 12056)29/34 : Þe zenewe hadde tweyne oþere defautes, nesschenesse & litylnesse [Ashm: liȝtnesse; L paucitatem].
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)31a/b : The secunde, þat þe paucete, or þe litilnes, of þe senewe schulde be fulfillid þoruȝ þe quantite of þe ligament.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)134b/b : Of grosnez of humours & spiritez comeþ noctiluca..For subtilite forsoþ & paucite, i. litelnes, Alihahar, which is to see anyȝt & not on day.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)142b/b : Somtyme forsoþ þai haue ouerhabundaunce of milke, Somtyme litilnez [L paucitatem], of which treteþ phisicienz.
c
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)36/34 : Vs byhouez..namare despisse Alexander..For his littillnes waxes, and oure gretnes decressez.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)147/30 : Thei..þat disputen of þe gretnes & of þe litelnes of seintes.
d
- a1400 NVPsalter (Hrl 1770)54.8 : Litelnes [Vsp: I abade him þat sauf me made Fra littelhed of gast].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.54.9 : I abood hym that made me saaf fro the litilnesse, ether drede, of spirit [WB(1): to litil coraiouste of spirit; L a pusillanimitate spiritus].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)37b/a : Signez of cause of colre..multitude of terez with sharpnez & litelnez [L paucitate] of lippitude.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)52b/b : We shuld be proporcioned to litelnez of mercy & of pite.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)33/22 : I now, after þe litylnes of my capacite [L pro modulo capacitatis mee], þo thre..has takyn.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)343/26 : I fayle of myne owne infirmite and þe lytelnesse or vnworþinesse of myne werkes.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)2.29.100b : It is for litelnes & weiknes of here soule.
- a1500(a1400) Wycl.FHC (NC 95)348 : Crist often tymes reprouyde hys apostlis for litilnesse of her feiþ, whan þei fayleden to trist on hym.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)147/28 : Thei are muche more acceptable to god þat þenkiþ on þe gretnes of her synnes & of þe litelnes of her vertues.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)54/29 : The vertue of women..is so wel knowen by litelnesse of malice.
e
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)105 : Al so wordes that by tokenyth byddyng, hotyng or comaundyng, lyttlynesse or vnlittlynesse, euenesse or vneuenesse..constreu wyth datyf case.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)74b : Lytylnesse [Monson: a Litilnes]: decliuitas jngenij est, modicitas, paruitas, paucitas.