Middle English Dictionary Entry
lō̆f n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | lō̆f n.(1) Also lofe, love & luve-, luf(fe, loufe-, leve-. |
| Etymology | OE lof; forms luve, luffe, lǒufe prob. by confusion with lọ̄ve n.(1); lẹ̄ve by consequent confusion with lẹ̄f adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Praise, an expression of praise; glory; ~ psalm, Psalm of praise; (b) price, value; (c) reputation, honor; ~ word, good reputation, fame; lothi ~, ?dreadful reputation.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.654 : Hi wolden an mynstre areren Criste to loue.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.Quadr.(Bod 343)48/14 : Her æfter fyliȝæð þeo mongung be þare ælmessæn lofe.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)136/21 : Ure Hælend mæȝ..þa sawlæ aræren..him sylfe to lofe.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1141 : Forr þe follc wass offredd bucc Drihhtin to lofe & wurrþe.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)10009 : All forr þe lufe off eorþliȝ loff.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)7 : Drihten, þu dest þe lof of milc drinkende childre muðe.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)91 : [O]sanna filio dauid..Silof dauiðes bern.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8376 : Scullen alle mine Bruttes..lof makien vre lauerde Appollin.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)16930 : Bellen leten ringen; godes lof singen.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)49/28 : Æfter þam, ælce dæȝ þæne lofsealme, þæt is, 'Laudate dominum de celis'.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)4048 : Þis was Ioseph..his loue and wired ful fer con sprede.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)21.3 : Þou sothlik in haligh wel Erdest, loofe [vr. heryhinge; L laus Israel] of Irael.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)77.5 : Looffes [vr. loffes; L laudes] of lauerd and his mightes telland.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)105.12 : Þai..looued his lofe [L laudaverunt laudem eius] nighte and dai.
- a1450(a1401) Chastising GC (Bod 505)191/21 : If a mans intencion be set to þe loue and for þe loue and worship of god, þan is his purpos..acceptable.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)664 : I augirly prayse Þi wirschip, þi worthines..How suld I, lede, for þi lofe bot lufe þe in hert.
- a1500 LFMass Bk.(Cai 84/166)182 : Ioy and luf be to the.
b
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)213 : Þe sullere lat sumdel of his lofe, and swereð þat he hit nele lasse selle.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)18190 : He bad gold..ælche farinde gume wha swa mihte finde Merlin..þer to he læide muchel lof.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)448 : Such a lefsel of lof neuer lede hade.
c
- c1390 NHom.Martin AM (Vrn)114-5 : Seint Makari herde sey þat þei wolde com; he fleyh a wey, ffor he dredde to leose Mekenes wiþ loue word [Cmb: louely worde] and derworþnes; ffor loue word [Cmb: loufe word] and worldes blis Makeþ Mon leose Mekenes i wis.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2545 : Mikel it was þat luffeword [Frf: worshipe] þan Þat abram gat o mani man.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4048 : Þis was ioseph..Þat has loueword þat spedli spred.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14330 : Son þou suld a selcut se Quar-of suld rise a gret luue-word [Göt: leue-word].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17472 : O man þai wan scencip and scam, And o þair luueword [Ld: trowthe; Göt: leute] tint þe nam.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19121 : Hu es þis..þat yee dar Suilkin loueword [Trin-C: So preciouse wordis] of him sai, Þat we did deme þis endir dai?
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28382 : To spend Þe gode..þat godd me send, To gleumen cald and to ioglere In tent þei suld me luueworde bere.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)49/7 : Þou bihelde þi creature in þisilf, and to hym þou ȝaf a loue and a synguleer plesaunce.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)61 : He [a wild boar] hase a laythelych luffe Quen he castus vppe his stuffe.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)136/17 : Evyll workys may noght be y-hyde..lese he moste his lof, his roialme shall fall.