Middle English Dictionary Entry
manful adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | manful adj. |
| Etymology | From man n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of persons: (a) courageous, brave, resolute; (b) magnanimous, noble; (c) as noun: a valiant man.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)8306 : Werrour art þu, man-ful wight, And many man slayn wid þi hand.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7789 : He was a worþi knyȝt, In werre & pes manful & riȝt sage.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1891 : He entred Inne, most manful of corage, Texecute the fyn of this massage.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)14.206 : He was so Manful In the feld, On they leyden.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2202 : This burthen þou beire shall..Mighty and monful, maistris to wirke.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)1513 : The cowarde she kan chaunge To be manful, and gete a name.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)3794 : Mars was yong and eke lusty, Gentil, manful, and hardy.
- c1455 Spec.Miser.(Tak 32)446 : Mee thowghtte it noblede moche my name That men me heelde manfull and boolde.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.103 : They mornyd for þe morthir of manffull knyȝtis.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)455 : Wat worschype yt ys to be manfull in dede.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)170/38 : Sum men hym callyth a corageous man, or a manful man.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2624 : Þe frute of good is to spende large; And who is manful, set but litel charge To parte frely his tresour in comovne.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)324 : Mannfulle: Humanus, magnanimus.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)935 : A more manful man off hys age, we trowe, liuyth noght.
c
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)171/28 : The hardy or the manfull, in hidlynges he nendeynyth not anythynge to do.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)172/10 : Anothyr maner hathe the manfull or the hardy, that he Spekyth lytill.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)173/9 : Here begynnyth old stories to Shewe the condicionys and the propirteis of the hardy or the manfull.
2.
(a) Of courage, appearance: bold, resolute; (b) of words: manly; of voice: undaunted; of an action: brave; (c) of good breeding: magnanimous.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2881 : He made avou With manfull herte..That Rome scholde nevere abreide His heires.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)3634 : Darel bare the Soudanes baner With hertli corage and manful chere.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)417 : Ne grete emprises for to take on honde, Shedyng of blode, ne manful hardynesse..Al ys for noughte.
b
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.62 : Þou were wont to hurtlen and assaile With manful [L uirilibus] wordes drawen out of my sentence.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)17793 : Þe moþer be manfull steuyn..Comforthys hyr suns all seuyn.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)140 : Yf I hym slepyng slone, Manfull Ded were yt none.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.2107 : To Hector he made þis requeste..þat he of manful gentilnes Wolde..make hem þat wer of Troye toun Only with-drawe.