Middle English Dictionary Entry
Lūcifer n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Lūcifer n. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The leader of the fallen angels, the Devil; to ~, to hell; leien with ~, to be imprisoned in the Limbus Patrum; (b) luciferes aunte (brother, hine, knave, lemman, maister), an exceptionally wicked person; luciferes feste [see feste 4. (d)]; luciferes lordshipe, the rule of Satan; (c) the morning star.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)182/32 : He ualþ oþerhuil uram zuo heȝe zuo loȝe ase dede lucifer.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3189,3195 : At Lucifer, thogh he an aungel were And nat a man, at hym I wol bigynne..O Lucifer, brightest of aungels alle, Now artow Sathanas.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.14.12 : Hou felle thou, Lucyfer, fro heuene, the whiche erli sprunge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)18a/a : Þe heed of þis euel spiritis..is lucifer..he was I-maad more clere & briȝt þan oþir angelis.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6661 : Þys ryche man sone aftyr deyde; Hys soule was bore to Lucyfere with-outyn ende to dwelle þere.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26765 : On ilk side sal be þe fere, þai þat war tint wit lucifere.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.284 : Adam..or any of þe prophetis Þat hadde leyn with lucifer manye longe ȝeris.
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)827 : Thaire saules went alle to lucyfere, Þat hade þam alle to welde.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)187/7 : Þei fallen ofte from so hiȝe in-to þe lowest pitt, as dide Lucifer.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.143 : The dampnid with feendes and lucifere at the last In helle..shalle be shette.
b
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)5.259 : He haþ leiȝen bi latro lucifers brother [vrr. hyne, Aunte, lemman].
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)prol.39 : Qui loquitur turpiloquium his luciferis hyne [C: Lucyfers knaue].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.456-7 : Foles þorw her foule wordes Leden þo þat louen hem to luciferes feste, With turpiloquio, a lay of sorwe and luciferes fithele.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.8 : Lucyferes lordeship laste shal no lenger.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)3.107 : After hure deþ dwelling, day with-outen ende In luciferes lordshup.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Obed.Prel.(Corp-C 296)29 : Ȝif ony worldly prelat axe more obedience, he his anticrist & luciferis maister.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)126a/b : In þe dawinge lucifer, þe day sterre, arisiþ.
- c1400 Bible SNT(2) (Dc 250)2 Pet.1.19 : Lucifer [SNT(1): þe day-sterre] the grete sterne, be resen in ȝoure hertis, þat schyneþ so briȝt.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1417 : Lucyfer, the dayes messager, Gan for to rise.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Job 38.32 : Whether thou bryngist forth Lucifer, that is, dai sterre, in his tyme?
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.6.18 : Lucyfer, the sterre, bryngeth ayein the clere day.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)92/3 : Take seuen graynes of þat seed..and breke hem yn þe vpsryngynge of lucyfer and venus.