Middle English Dictionary Entry
maistrīse n.
Entry Info
| Forms | maistrīse n. Also maistris, maistrice, maistres, mastres. |
| Etymology | OF. Not always possible to distinguish from pl. of maistrīe. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Power, lordship; maken ~, to exhibit power; (b) violent behavior, overbearing behavior; maken ~, to behave obstreperously, constitute a nuisance, commit an outrage; (c) skill, expertise; magical art; maken ~, to work magic; (d) military prowess; maken ~, to engage in combat.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 Whon Men beoþ (Vrn)18 : Hit draweþ to niht Þat slep most make his Maystrise.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14611 : Quar es nu..þis prophete?..Nu sal he sceu vs his maistris [Frf: maistrise; Trin-C: maistrius].
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)1865 : He werkes wounders..& in þis cete makes grett maystryse.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)2303 : No man may swylke maistris make Bot gret god son in trone.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)1432 : Sen þou was man, on what manere was godhede in þe hid? was þou noght ded? what dose þou here? slike maistris [vr. maistryse; maistry] neuer was kyd.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)119/22 : Þis fals fende..Made slike maistrice þam omell Þat þai held him þaire lord allane.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)279 : Maystrys [Hrl 221: maystrye; KC: maistri] or souereyn and heyar hand in strife and were.
b
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)227 : He was borlich and bigge..More miȝti mon þen we his Maistris [vrr. maystries; maystre] to Make.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)26/93 : His mynde he mist, Þe pottes and caldrons fast he kyst..His maystris with þam gun he mak.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)492 : Þare made he no lett At ȝate, dore, ne wykett, Bot in graythely he gett, Syche maistres he made.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)10854 : Aftur regnyd helam, his sun, and mad maystryce [vr. maistrees] and mekyll vnsele; ffor yf þe fader fell was fun, þe sun was feller be fere to fele.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)65/34 : My lord, ye haue a maner of men that make great mastres vs emell, The Iues that Won in gersen.
c
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4172 : Amydde..Was maad a tour of gret maistrise..Large and wid, and of gret myght.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)333 : Þe renke [Anectanabus] Laȝt leue at þe qwene..Gase..Furthe to make his maistryse & mose in his arte.
d
- c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)1062 : In the lande of Egippe gun þay lende, Þaire maystries for to kythe.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)1445 : Now no maistrys he made, Sir Wawayne..Bot houyde styll and habade, His concell to ta.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)3117 : The Saresyns..fledden away fulle faste; Lenger durste thay no maistryes make, Thai were so sore agaste.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400 Recipe MS Hal.in Rel.Ant.1 (Hal 335)55 : Yf thu welte preve mastereys: take a cocke chyke, and putte a knyffe throw his hede..and he schale..lyve never the worse.
Note: New spelling: Also..mastereis.
Note: Belongs to sense (c).--notes per MLL