Middle English Dictionary Entry
lō̆s n.(1)
Entry Info
Forms | lō̆s n.(1) Also lose, losse & (early) leose(n. |
Etymology | OE los & ON; cp. OI los. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. loste n.
1.
(a) The act or condition of being dispossessed of property or possessions; failure to keep something; (b) loss of a bodily part or faculty; also, loss of life; (c) loss of a lover or friend; loss by death; also, loss of men in fighting; ~ of deth, loss by death of someone; (d) failure to retain possession of an attribute, worldly station, love; (e) forfeiture of God's love.
Associated quotations
a
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.50 : Ȝefe any brothir or sistir of þs Company be in any mischefe, þorow losse of þe se, or any other myshappes..þe company shal ben gadered to-gedir and helpyn hym.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2188 : Vs oghte as wel in the deth of oure children as in the losse [vr. lesing] of oure goodes temporels haue pacience.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)69b/b : Children..wepiþ more for þe losse of an appil þanne fore þe losse of þeire heritage.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.387 : I..morned more For losse [C: lost] of gode..þan for my lykames giltes.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.311 : If [poverty] chaffareth, he chargeth no losse [C: los].
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3447 : Ȝoure-silf to drowne in torment and in woo For loos of thyng..Is gret foly.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.89 : Al my good I lefte and to yow wente..But al that los ne doth me no disese.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4976 : They myght..Escape awey withoute shame..Perell of deth, or los of good.
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)16 : Þei drawe trewe men to prison to loos of catel and deþ wiþ outen resonable cause.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Satan & C.(Corp-C 296)212 : An ydiot..ne wole, for his opyn synne..& drede of worldly shame & loos, teche hem goddis lawe.
- (1438) Will Norwich in Nrf.Archaeol.4329 : I beqwethe to Simond Candeler..xl s., to rewarden hym for the losse that he had of my place in Westacre.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)28/11 : If þou wraþþe þee or sory be..for losse of worldis goodis..þe name of God ne is nouȝt confermed in þin herte.
- a1500 St.Brendan Conf.(Lamb 541)8/77 : I haue be glad of oþere mennys harm, of her losse and her dissese.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2543 : No man..vp peyne of los [vrr. losyng, lost] of lyf, No maner shot ne polax..Into the lystes sende or thider brynge.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4975 : They myght..Escape awey..withoute damage..Loss of membre, shedyng of blod.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5588 : The ffreikes were ferd..ffor los of hor lyues.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)200/4 : For losse off spech with sykenesse. Take þe juce off sawge and primerose, [etc.].
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1879 : Many Greke sore..reweth Her gret los and distruccioun, Wrouȝt vp-on hem by hem of Troye toun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3258 : Þe Grekis..Amonge hem silfe compleyne..Þe losse, þe costis, and þe grete damage Þat þei han endured folily.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4601 : He haþ þe Grekis put ageyn to fliȝt, And slayn of hem..Sixe hundrid knyȝtes..For los of whiche þe Grekis fast fle.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2348 : Pirrus..Many daunger eskaped of þe se, Many wawe and many tempest wood, With gret los boþe of men and good.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3415 : Loos of deth no man may recure Thogh he in woo perpetuelly endure.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4644 : Al the gentyl blood was shad out ther, her woundys wer so wyde, To los fynal vnto outher syde.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.27 : Ye Herynes..Thow cruel Mars..This ilke ferthe book me helpeth fyne, So that the losse of lyf and love yfeere Of Troilus be fully shewed heere.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5423 : Wysly his folk he ledde..Wyþouten los [vr. tinsell] slow þe Romayns.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)866 : Latt þi wreth a-wai wende..And þe los [Dub: losse] of Lesias litil þou charge.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3171 : Me is better on þe bent in bataile be slayne, Þan se þe lose [Dub: losse] of my ledis & ay leue in sorowe.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3891 : Many deid of his douth..And him limpis all þe loose be þe lattire end.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1167 : Hast þow be inpacyent For any gref that god þe sent..For los of frendes or of any þynge?
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)210/5 : This is too muche shame and overmuche losse!
d
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.450 : What is the cause..That ye been in this furial pyne of helle? Is this for sorwe of deeth or los of love?
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)308/35 : By þe whiche losse of her owne trust, þei set noon vnordynat affeccioun in no maner creature.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)328/15 : I ȝoue hem..hungir, þrist, losse of staat in þis world.
e
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.94 : Ech man shulde drede more loss of Goddis love by synne.
2.
(a) Loss in battle or combat, defeat; ~ of the feld; (b) losing in gambling and the like; (c) wasting of material things; (d) ~ of time, waste of time.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)9836 : Of gret los [vr. tynsell] mighte he made his ȝelpe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2091 : Thow ges matir to men mony day after..fforto..with spell herkyn Of þi lure and þi losse.
- a1500(a1470) Brut-1461(1) (Add 10099)533/10 : King Henry..hering þe losse of þat felde..departed..toward Scotland.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)174 : I lovue þat we lay lotes on ledes vchone, & who-so lympes þe losse, lay hym þer-oute.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.833 : Anoþer [gamester]..of losse was plaunged in distresse.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.26.8 : Disciplis..hadden dedeyn, seyinge, Wherto this losse [WB(2): loss; L perditio]?
d
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.28 : Los of tyme shendeth vs.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.74 : I wol nat tarien yow..for it is no fruyt but los [vrr. lost, laste] of tyme.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)348/33 : How myche hate & losse of tyme þat comeþ out of þat bodily lyme!
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)997 : Of which..me lesteth nat to ryme..it were but los of tyme.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1256 : Of whiche I nyl as now not ryme, For ese of yow, and los of tyme.
3.
(a) Death; destruction; gon (wenden, yede) to ~, to be ruined, be ended, die; (b) perdition, damnation; ~ of soule; sone of ~, Judas; also, Antichrist; prince of ~, the Devil; (c) banishment of Man (from Paradise); (d) the cause of perdition.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3903 : Heore lif heom eode al to leose [Otho: lose].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)22844 : Þa wifmen..kerueð of hire neose & heore wlite ga to lose.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)23343 : He bið mid strengðe ibunden iȝarked al to leosen [Otho: wendeþ al to lose] leofue his richen [Otho: freondes].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)24076 : Alle his leoden him to lose eoden.
- c1450 Metham Progn.CD (Gar 141(1))147/2 : Iff Crystemes day falle vp-on the Wedynnysday..gret los off schyppys schuld be that yere.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Hos.13.9 : Thi losse [WB(2): perdicioun is of thee; L Perditio], Yrael; oonly of me thin help.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)11946 : Son of los [Ld: loos; Vsp, Göt: tinsel] & of deþ also þat I haue done þou hast spilt.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)18229 : Þou prince of loos [Vsp, Göt: tinsel]..& duk Of wastful werk..Out cast þou art of goddes aungele.
- a1400 WBible(1) Prol.Deeds (NYPubLib 67)p.507 : Loss [Dc 369(2): The sone of lost aquent, preier of the apostlis ymaad; WB(2): perdicioun].
- ?a1400 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Rwl C.750)p.108 : Loss [Hrl 874: þe son of lernesse..shal be cleped liȝth falslich for þe vertu þat he shal do].
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Satan & P.(Corp-C 296)272 : Ȝif prestis..warne not þe peple of hem, þei ben giltif of loos of cristene soulis.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)313 : Los, or lesynge: Perdicio.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)205 : Þe greet losse..was þat þey and alle þat schulde haue be kyndely bigotun of hem, schulde neuer haue come into heuenely perpetual blisse.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)5/24 : Þi losse & þin harme of þiself ariseþ.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)155/26 : Wel scholde..euery wiȝht fle here folies and here loos.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)27 : Ye bene the varay cause of the losse of my saule.
c
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Chr.Pass.(LdMisc 683)1 : Man, to refourme thyn exil and thy loos [vr. losse] Fro paradys..I hange vp-on this Croos.
d
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.720 : Womman was the los of al mankynde.
4.
(a) ?Failure; without ~, ?successfully; (b) suffering, misfortune; also, a mishap; pl. hardships, afflictions; (c) uncertainty, puzzlement.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7417 : Þis litel regioun..I haue..kept..And defendid from alle maner foon, With-oute loos.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)44/24 : He..sorewful was of his greet losse.
b
- c1390 Talking LGod (Vrn)6/30 : Nis he nouȝt good felawe, ne felauschupe worþi, þat nul scoten i þe los as i þe biȝete.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.195 : Better is a litel losse þan a longe sorwe.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)205 : Her [Adam & Eve's] maner of livyng was chaungid into greet lossis and into manye peynes of body and of spirit.
- a1450(a1400) Athelston (Cai 175/96)341 : Þe messanger..On Loundone-brygge sone he wan -- For his trauayle he hadde no los.
- (1450) RParl.5.191a : Which herbages and pastures were late graunted to the said Thomas..for the releve of him of the grete hurte and losses that he hadde by his late takyng prisoner in Scotland in youre service there.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.71.50b : Þis lufe of erdli þing..hyndriþ hem..fro þe feruour of charite, and..fro þat special mede þat þei schulden han in þe blisse of heuene..And þat is a gret los if þei miȝten seen it.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)75b : A losse: perdicio.
- c1500(1463) Ashby Pris.(Trin-C R.3.19)248 : Iob..pacyently suffred hys gret smert; Who had in thys world of losse more ample?
c
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1589 : Þe lady to lauce þat los þat þe lorde hade, Glydes doun by þe grece and gos to þe kyng.
5.
(a) That which is lost; also, that which is forfeited as punishment; (b) a person lost by death; also, lost angels, ?lost mankind; (c) ~ of a dai, ?the day believed to be lost in the sun's apparent passage through the sky during a year.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4186 : Oure corn is stolen..Agayn my los [vr. lostis] I wil haue esement.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)127b/b : In þat ȝere..dettis schulde be forȝeue, and losse schulde be restorid.
- (1436) Will York in Sur.Soc.30217 : If any of thame hade evir any grete losse by him, thay sall have amendis.
- (1443) Doc.Trade in BRS 778 : Please it your lordschip to ordeyne herynne suche due..remedie þat þe seid Richard May myght be..restored to his losses, costes, and damages.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)416 : To be paide agayne they make it nothing straunge..By iiij penyes losse in the noble rounde.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)58/5 : Grettist clerkis kunnen not..be war of lossis, so wel as þei [merchants] kunnen.
- (1463-4) Let.Coldingham in Sur.Soc.12191 : I beseke you to consider the grete infortunez..that hath happynd us..in brynyng of our kirke..with our grete lossez in plee.
b
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)916 : To couer my loos furst mot I hyȝe.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)1302 : That was the los..that I hadde lorn..I have lost more than thow wenest..She ys ded!
c
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)12422 : The sonne recureth ek also, By his mevyng cyrculer, Loos off a day with-Inne A yer.