Middle English Dictionary Entry
acceptāble adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | acceptāble adj. Also (error, by confusion with excepten v., etc.) exceptable. |
| Etymology | OF & L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of things, actions, ideas, etc.: agreeable, pleasing -- often with to, tofore, unto; ~ in the sight of, pleasing in the sight of, agreeable to (sb.); (b) appropriate, suitable; time ~.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Hag.1.8 : Bielde ȝe an hous, and it shal be acceptable [L acceptabilis] to me.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1913 : Oure prayeres..Be to the hye god moore acceptable.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)1 Tim.5.4 : Lerne he furst to gouerne hure owene houshold..for þis is acceptabel [L acceptum] to-fore God.
- (1418) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)9.629 : So that they make him P[r]ofres acceptables.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)788 : And to-for god is neiþer feire ne good, Nor acceptable, blood to touche blood.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Lev.4.7 : Encense moost acceptable [L gratissimi] to the Lord.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.60.7 : Thei schulen be offrid on myn acceptable [L placabili; WB(1): plesable] auter.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.36/17 : She was repayrid of heryng and of the acceptable light of seyng.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)238 : Thou woldest that I schulde lowe my self vnto the deth of the crosse..and that is plesynge and acceptable to me.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)73/20 : It has a acceptabyll melody.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)186/25 : Þi terys & þi preyerys arn ful swet & acceptabil vn-to me.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)9749 : But þat þe acceptabyllere þe sacryfyse Of hyr preyers to god myht alwey be.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)118 : His prayeres were acceptable in þe sith of god.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)105 : This donacion schuld be acceptable to His Majeste.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)89.43 (v.2:p.108) : This mannys holynesse was so grete and so exceptable in the syght of God that oo tyme .. [etc.]
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)12/25 : That her prayer myghte be the more acceptable unto God.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)52/18 : God is not worshippid bi sacrifices..bot aloonly for theire acceptable willes.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)359/112 : Youre hie lore is most acceptable in the trynite syth.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.80rb : Alle hys cognacion and alle hys generacion abode in good lyf and in holy conuersacion in such wyse as they were acceptable as wel to God as to men and to alle dwellyng on the erthe.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)427 : Degre takun in scole makiþ goddis word more acceptable.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Cor.6.2 : Lo! now a tyme acceptable [L acceptabile], lo! now a day of heelthe.
- (1395) Wycl.12 Concl.(Th 17)304 : At þis time most acceptable for manie causis.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)33a/b : Idonius: sesonable, acceptable, or able.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.18/15 : Nowe come the tyme acceptable, the yere of benygnyte, In the whiche Rayer hadde sette the fowndementys of his holy temple.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)10b/a : Kynde makeþ alle þe lymmes of þe body acceptable [L idoneos; *Ch.(1): couenable] to þe maneres..of þe soule.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)7200 : The tyme ys good and couenable..and acceptable.
2.
(a) Of persons: pleasing, agreeable; -- often with to (b) worthy, fit (to do sth.); ~ to, deserving of (sth.), worthy of.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Tit.2.14 : He schulde aȝen bye vs..made clene, a peple acceptable to him silf.
- (c1390) Gower CA 1st Concl.(Bod 902)8.3035* : He mot be graciows Toward his god and acceptable.
- a1400 Alle-mighty god in trinitie (Roy 17.B.17)588 : Grace..makus þe to hym acceptabul.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)383/345 : He wex..Most acceptable in euery mannys siht, For of his presence glad was euery wiht.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)386 : Summe men..mowe not be acceptable to þe peple.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Gloriosa (Trin-C R.3.20)117 : Sarra..off herte was so stable, Þat neuer man was to hir acceptable.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)65 : She ys full hyȝe and acceptable in the blessed syght and presence of hire spouse, oure lord iesu crist.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)12 : Amonges was ther a squyer that was right acceptable to the Kyng.
b
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)18/30 : To proue hise seruauntis bi þe furneise of penaunce acceptable.
- (1429) Will Braybroke in Ess.AST 5297 : That I bee acceptable to thy mercy whenne my sowle shall departe
- c1450 3 KCol.(2) (Add 31042)535 : The person þat were fonden acceptable Þay scholde obey.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)592 : That she myght therto be ryght acceptable.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)1.17.14a : He is non acceptabill persone þat may to this court allegge him.
3.
Likely to be cured, suitable for a surgical operation.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)132b/b : It is demed þat catharacta of which þe pupille is not dilated bi frotyng..ne bi closyng of þe toþer eie is not acceptable, for it is wiþ opilacioun of nerue optici.