Middle English Dictionary Entry
magnificence n.
Entry Info
| Forms | magnificence n. Also magnificens, magnifisence. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Great-mindedness, fortitude, courage.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)168/20,21 : Þe zixte stape of prouesse hi clepieþ magnificence..Magnificence is, hi ziggeþ, of heȝe nyede y-blissede bleuinge. Þise uirtue oure greate filosofe Iesu crist clepeþ perseueraunce, be huam þe guode godes kny[ȝ]t þoleþ þe kuedes and ylest al to þe ende.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.50 : Virgyne wemmeless..Assembled is in thee magnificence With mercy, goodnesse.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.736 : Fortitudo..hath manye speces. The firste is cleped Magnanymitee..Thanne comth Magnificence, that is to seyn, whan a man dooth and perfourneth grete werkes of goodnesse that he hath bigonne.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6499 : Whilom Sampson, for manhod & prudence..Daunted leouns thoruh his magnyficence.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Mum.London (Trin-C R.3.20)224 : Þis fayre lady..Ycalled is Fortitudo, Whame philosophres. Ar wonte to cleepe Magnyfysence.
- c1450 Metham Physiog.(Gar 141)122/9 : The hed that ys gret..be-tokynnyth vertu and magnyfycens.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2487 : Chiualers with confidence Go myghti out, and fire this engyne..And if thei ha not this magnificence [L non audeant], Shote..molliols.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.281 : The goddes that paganes do worschippe were men somme tyme, and began to be worschippede after their merites and magnificence in this lyfe.
2.
(a) Greatness, grandeur, glory, majesty; a state of glory; as a title: your (thi) ~, your majesty; (b) munificence; (c) beauty, splendor; (d) wealth.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.1000 : The senatour..Rood hym agayns..As wel to shewen his heighe magnificence As to doon any kyng a reuerence.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.815 : My lord..I woot, and wiste alway, How that bitwixen youre magnificence And my pouerte no wight kan ne may Maken comparisoun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1430 : I wil reherse..My mater hool..To make it kouþe to ȝour magnificence.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2363 : Þe maner hol I wil declare Of þis drem to ȝour magnificence.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7066 : A fool in presence of a kyng Is bolde..Þing to reherse, concludyng in sentence Preiudice of ȝoure magnificence.
- a1425 WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Dan.4.33 : Magnificence [Dc 369(2): my wit tourned aȝein to me, and I came fully to the honour of my kingdam..and I am ordeyned in my kingdam, and my magnyfience, or greteness is addid to me; WB(2): greet doyng].
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.1404 : Men may heer seen..Pryncis put doun from ther magnyficencis.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)1034 : What had this kynge of high magnificens, Of grete corage, of wysdome and prudence?
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)125 : Þe kyng..mey make new bildynges whan he woll ffor his pleasure and magnificence.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.323 : A man callede Damocles..frende of..Dionisius..commendenge his magnificence and habundaunce, seyenge noo man to be so happy and fortunate as he.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)216 : She ys of grace full of the hyghest place..By hyr most ennobelyd magnificence.
- a1500 Rolle Mend.L.(Wor F.172)52 : God of infinite magnificence [Misyn: gretnes] and inexcogitable of goodenes.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)82 : Pluto, to thy magnyfycence I shall reherse what thys creature Eolus hath doon.
b
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)5.606 : Graunt vs this day of thy magnyfycence The golde of loue, the franke of Innocence.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)136 : As thair renounne wolbe eternall, so it besate the kynges magnyficence to make thair rewardes euerlastynge in their heyres.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)68/137 : Haue mende on oure a-vow for ȝour mech magnyficens; and my..wyff Anne, lord, for þi mercy kepe.
c
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)230 : A tabernacle surmountyng off beaute..This tabernacle off moste magnyficence Was off his byldyng verrey imperyall.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Mum.Bishopswood (Ashm 59)29 : To declare þe hye magnifysence Howe Vere inbringeþe al felicytee.
d
- c1475 *Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)130/8 : Many of thaim lessed thaire houses and power and diminued the magnificence of thaire estates for to be out of charge in the thinge publique in tyme of neede.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 ?Scrope Ribot First Monks (Lamb 192)152/26 : Forthermor thanne, the magnifycenter [L magnificentia] of wrthy men helpenge & also the plentevousnesse of the good Cristen pepyl, the forseyd relygious begonnyn gretly for to construen and byl[d]en monasteryes.
Note: New form (?error).
Note: Sense 2.(b)
Note: 'Magnifycenter' could poss. be construed as comp. adj. used as noun.