Middle English Dictionary Entry
malēs(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | malēs(e n. Also malais(e, -eise, -esse, (error) malis & male ese, male eis, male ease, maill easse. |
| Etymology | OF malaise n. & phr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. ese n.
1.
(a) Discomfort, hardship; in (at) ~; (b) pain, suffering; ben at ~, to be in pain, suffer; (c) disease, sickness; at (in, of) ~, sick, diseased; (d) distress, sorrow, anxiety, trouble; ben a (in) ~, to be distressed or troubled; ben at ~, be distressed or troubled; also, be embarrassed [last quot.]; haven ~, have trouble or pain; (e) injury, harm; don ~, to hurt; also, do harm.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)22/240 : In-to þe wildenes he geþ; Noþing he fint þat him is ays, Bot euer he liueþ in gret malais.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)48.23 : For so streite here, sire, we Sitte, and Other goode men At Owre Mete, In distresse And In Mal Ese.
- a1500 Orfeo (Hrl 3810)22/234 : But now he is at male-ese; Now in hard wode he lyþe.
b
- a1300 Serm.Liþer lok (Trin-C B.1.45)105 : I sal þenkin o..te manie soruful teris þat he [Jesus] gret for reunesse of hem þat werin at maleise..þanne þou salt sen & vnderstondin alle þe pines & te michele maleise þat ihesu crist drei for þi loue in erþe.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.76 : Þei prechen..what myschief and malese [vrr. male ese, mal esse, malaise] cryst for man tholed.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)45.134 : And that ȝe hyen ȝow..to Avengen Crist of his Mal Eyse.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)132/485 : As far as ye may..spekys soft Ouer a seke woman's heede that is at mayll easse.
c
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)9.233 : And alle manere men þat þow myght aspye In meschief oþer in mal-ese..Loke, by þy lyf, let hem nouht for-fare.
- c1410 Love God (UC 97)454 : Ȝef he be at malese of body or ful nedy of worldlys catel, help hym and socour hym.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mat.4.24 : Thei brouȝten to hym alle that weren at male ese [WB(1): alle men hauynge yuele].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mark 1.32 : Thei brouȝten..alle that weren of male ese [L omnes male habentes].
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)182/21 : Þai war evur seke & at male ease.
d
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8371 : Þe kingrike..Þou wan..wit mikel pin, And had þou þar-of gret malees [Trin-C: malese] For to stabul it in þin pes.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1153 : Þere was [a]gonne newe fest, And of glev-men many gest; Kyng Philippe was a male eys [Lin-I: in male ese].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7359 : Better is litel to habbe in ayse Þan mychel aghȝtte in malayse [Lin-I: malese].
- c1440(?c1350) Mirror St.Edm.(4) (Thrn)19/31 : Euer-mare when þou erte at male eese, þan He comforthes þe.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)38.250 : In pensifnesse fil Nasciens tho, where-thorwh in-to Mal Ese he made hym go, that bothe he lefte his drynk & his Mete.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)451/16 : A, sir, yett shall I shew you favoure in youre male ease.
- a1500 7 Sages(1) (Cmb Ff.2.38)184/3684 : Y haue nothyng redy Whereof þe kyng to make at ese; Therfore y am at moche malees.
e
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2794 : Mi gestes late ȝee liue in pees; For scam ne dos þam na males [Göt: malis].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6300 : Oft þai did him haue malees.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6788 : Widues ne barns faderles Do yee na wrang ne na males.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)6300 : Wiþ her grucchynge on moyses, Ofte dud þei greet Males.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.192 : Ac þough my thombe & my fyngres bothe were toshullen And þe myddel of myn hande with-oute male ese [C: mal ese], In many kynnes maneres I myȝte my-self helpe.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. malease.