Middle English Dictionary Entry
lōde-sterre n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lōde-sterre n. Also ladester, lodsterre, lodsterne, ladsterne, lodes sterre. |
| Etymology | From lōde & sterre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The pole star; also fig.; biyonde the ~, out of one's mind; (b) a star used by sailors as a guide, guiding star; (c) a person or principle serving as a trustworthy guide; (d) an illustrious or much admired person, cynosure; (e) in surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2059 : Woful Calistopee..Was turned..til a bere, And after was she maad the lodesterre.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)751 : Schipe-men..Lukkes to þe lade-sterne when þe lyghte faillez.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.657 : To Colchos-ward þei helde þe weye..Guying her cours by the lode sterre.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)119/25 : Noman may see the sterre Transmontane..þat is vnmevable & þat is toward the north, þat wee clepen the lodesterre.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)612 : The lode ster when I may not se, It is so hid with cloudes.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.280 : A wrathfull man..He is beyonde hymsilf so farre, Ten myle beyonde the loode sterre!
- a1500(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(1))16666 : The loode sterre, which off his nature abydeth ffyx in hys spere.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)7420 : Þerfore þe shipmen alle Þe loode sterre þei hir calle.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.199 : Þat lond hiȝte somtyme Hesperia, of Hespera, þe sterre þat ladde þe Grees whan þey seilled þider, and was her loode sterre, Hespera, þat is Venus.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.301 : Spayne..heet somtyme Hesperia of Espera, þe eue sterre, þat ladde þe Grees þider and was her lode sterre.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)18.95 : Shupmen now..Han no by-leyue to þe lyft ne to þe lood-sterres [vr. lodesterre].
c
- c1390 Talking LGod (Vrn)10/20 : Nartou lodesterre to alle þo þat in þe see of þis worldes Anguissche seilen and faren?
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.232 : Who seth yow now, my righte lode-sterre?
- (?a1430) Hoccl.Ad SS (Hnt HM 744)57 : O lodesterre of shipbreche seur port.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)5.700 : To lyfe eterne be thou our lode sterre.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)66/1949 : So gret a ricches, Which is yowre verry lod-sterre here & stere.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)7124 : She ys the loode sterre..Tal pylgrymes in thys lyff here.
- a1500(a1449) Lydg.Haste (Cmb Kk.1.6)143 : Lette parfyte cherite be þy loode sterre.
- a1500 Ipotis (Ashm 750)26/591 : Lodesterre [vrr. ledere, good sterre] clepyd sche is, Þe righte way us to wys.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)257 : Youre plesaunt looke, my very lodesterre, was made heraud of þe same diffiaunce.
d
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8476 : It was he, þat..Of worþines was þe lode-sterre.
- c1435 Lydg.St.George (Bod 686)6 : He is..patron, Þis holy martir of knyghthode lode sterre, To englisshmen.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)124/24 : All kynges..may..comende Youre lawe and youre lordshippe as lodsterne on hight.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)488 : The sonne Of marchaundy, Richarde of Whitingdone, That loodes sterre and chefe chosen floure.
- c1475 Lydg.KEng.(1) (Rwl C.48)92 : The fifte Herry, ofknyhthode Lodesterre.
e
- (c1273) Hundred R.Tower 1207a : Jacobo Lodsterre.