Middle English Dictionary Entry
manhēd(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | manhēd(e n. Also -head(e, -hōd(e. |
| Etymology | From man n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Human condition, nature, or form; in ~, in human form; (b) theol. the human condition, nature, or body of Christ after His incarnation; nimen (taken) ~, to become incarnate.
Associated quotations
a
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)567 : He ðe is ai in heuene mikel wurð her man &..drowing ðolede in ure manhede.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2783 : Men wondrede ynou, & þoȝte þat is [Merlin's] manhede to godhede drou.
- c1330 KTars (Auch)44/447 : Þat blac hounde..Þurch miȝt of Jesu..Spac to hir in manhede [vr. monhede], In white cloþes als a kniȝt.
- c1330 Le Freine (Auch)241 : When hye couþe ouȝt of manhed, hye bad þe abbesse hir wis & rede whiche were her kin.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)118/29 : Huanne godes zone nom and spousede oure zoster and oure uless, oure manhode and oure kende.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4390 : Sone schal þe puple se þi semli face In manhede & in minde as it out to bene.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.260 : Bot as it thenkth to the manhode, The hevene is ferr, the world is nyh.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18797 : Vr manhed bu we þan him vn-to In al þe god þat we mai do.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18811 : Quat elles bot erth es vr manhed, Þat es mad an wit his godd-hed?
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25179 : But þat es man-hed mast o mede, Be funden treu in ilk nede.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)19.221 : Theese þre þat ich carpe of, adam and eue And abel, heer essue aren bote on in man-hede.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)35/18 : Þabbesse sal sitte wid þaim, ouþir a-noþir nunne..þat can speke wid þaim o godis lay for to comfort þaim and speke of man-hed [L humanitas].
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)90 : God made neuere with hise handes in the world but twey bodies of manhode.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.31.76b : An ymage..noght hath of manheed but a liknes be maner of schapp withowt.
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)985 : Þet tu..underfest þe an half & dustest adun þe oðere: þe godcundnesse of godd, for mennesse of his monhad [vr. manhad].
- a1250 Wooing Lord (Tit D.18)273 : Onont ti monhad born þu wes of marie.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)135/22 : Þe articles..beoð..þe liðes of ure bileaue onont godes monhead [Nero: monheade].
- c1300 SLeg.Kath.(LdMisc 108)106 : For loue of us In ore flesche he nam him manhede.
- ?c1335 Þe grace of god (Hrl 913)194 : Þroȝ is deþ he ouercam, As he is manhed siwed.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)372 : And many anoþer him iseih..But noht alone in his godhede, Ac i-meind wid þe manhede.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)12/15 : Þe þridde article and the vifte..belongeþ to þe zone, ase to þe manhode, þet is to zigge, ase þet he is man dyadlich.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.165 : He sheweþ in his manhode þat he was & is al miȝtful.
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)111/127 : He þat is verrei God and Mon, þe Godhede in þe Monhede schut.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)82 : Alle poyntes..Þat bifalleþ to Godes godhede As wel as to his monhede.
- c1390 ?Hilton Qui Habitat (Vrn)11/15 : Fleo þou to his schadewe of his precious monhed whon þou art in temptacion.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.48 : Goddis sun manhed hauis tan.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)683 : Þo men fallyn more yn plyȝt Þat sweryn..By any menbre of hys manhede Byneþyn þe gyrdyl.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10642 : Þan most þis mai be clene and bright..O quam þe king þat al can mak Semed his manhed [Trin-C: monhede] wel to take.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)22.158 : Marie magdalene mette hem [read: him] by þe weye, Goynge to-ward galile in god-hede and man-hede.
- c1400 Wycl.Dominion (Dub 244)292 : Crist bad men iuge of him boþe bi his godhede and eke by his manheed.
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)6/3 : Þe tyme of his manhed was from þat he toke flesch & blode anoon to his passioun.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) Prol.Mat.(1) (Roy 1.C.8)p.2 : Matheu duellith principali aboute the manhod of Crist.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)1562 : Þe manheed for vs he ȝaf.
- a1425 Here begynnes a new (Roy 17.C.17)217 : Comme agayn He sall also..At domys day in Hys manhed.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)33a/a : Humano: cloþ in monhed.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)160/11 : I grauntide myn oonly soothfast sone, Ihesu..for to knytte and oone togyderis my dyuyne nature wiþ þe kynde of manheed.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)86/22 : For sche was ful sor aferd of þe Godhed..al hir lofe..was set in þe manhode of Crist.
- a1450(a1400) SLeg.Corp.Chr.(Bod 779)104 : Þe prophetus..sede þat god wold..on erþe tak manhede.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)70/12 : Oure lord ihesu crist was þat tyme in his manhede a litil childe of xiij dayes age.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)163 : Aftir þe incarnacion..crist appered in his manhod uisibily on to all þat wold se him.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)354/21 : There he assendid alle hevenys god in his manhed.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget (Gar 145)55/35 : Glorifie be to thi godhod a-bove all thinges, whych is with thy manhod oo God.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.35.22a : It is an opninge of þe gostli eiȝe in to Cristes manhede.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)227 : To take Manhede: humanare, incarnare.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)424 : I clad my seruaunte, that is, my manhode, nought but to vtterly vtilite and necessite.
2.
(a) Manly virtue, character, or dignity; manliness; (b) the character befitting a knight or monarch; chivalric nature or dignity; courageous behavior, bravery, valor; (c) courteous behavior, good manners, gentility; (d) humanity, compassion, kindness, generosity.
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2216 : Wanne ȝe abbeþ fourme of men, beþ men an alle wise, & tourneþ ȝoure hond to manhede.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)617 : Þe kinde of þi manhede Wolde haue wreche of wrongful dede.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1212 : It sit the wel to taken hiede That thou eschuie of thi manhiede Ipocrisie and his semblant.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3044 : Forthi, my Sone, tak good hiede So forto lede thi manhiede, That thou ne be noght lich a beste.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1964 : He was man..Of wit, of manhod, and of strengthe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2033 : It is wel resonable..If that a man his herte sette, That thanne he for no Slowthe lette To do what longeth to manhede.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4256 : A Prince him scholde avise..that he nassote To change for the wommanhede The worthinesse of his manhede.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)3.172 : Ȝet I may, as I miȝte auaunce þe wiþ ȝeftis, And maynteyne þi manhod [vrr. monhode, Monhede] more þan þou knowist.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.676 : His manhod [vrr. manhode, manhed] and his pyne Made love withinne hire herte for to myne.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.428 : Troilus..in hymself with manhod gan restreyne Ech racle dede and ech unbridled cheere.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)106/2 : He þat bereth the dyamand vpon him, it ȝeueth him hardynes & manhode.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)10508 : In alle answeres he [Arthur] was right wys; Of alle manhede he bar þe pris.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)15/14 : For oure berdis they sey it is a sygne of oure manhod.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.233 : Who so vseþ wickednesse, Benethen manhode doun he doth hym payse.
- c1460 Ipom.(3) (Lngl 257)333/38 : If there be any manhede in him..sicurlie he woll be there.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)443 : I conceyvede..That who scholde ther-with-Inne Entre by fforce, he most yt wynne By manhood only and by vertu.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)32/27 : This peeple is also apt and redy to euery dede & manhode.
- a1500 He that wilbe (Roy 18.A.6)4 : He that wil be a lover..muste haue thre thingis..The secunde is manere, which manhoode makith.
b
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)24671 : He were þries ifonded in fihte, and his manede [ Clg: oht-scipen] icud and him seolf icnowe.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)74/106 : Seint wolston..spac a-ȝein him [William the Conqueror] baldeliche, and ne sparede for no drede, For he was þo þe cuyndeste englische man þat was of enie manhede.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9327 : In word he is god inou, & coward in dede, Slou to fiȝte & quic to fle, & þat nis no manhede.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1840 : Lesen y mot mi manhed Or ȝeld ysonde me fro.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)142/354 : Ne mey me more ioye aspye Þane wanne a man þorȝ pur mestrye Keþ hys manhode.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3861 : By wisdom, manhede, and by greet labour, From humble bed to roial magestee Vp roos he Iulius, the conquerour.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1285 : Thou mayst syn thou hast wisdom and manhede..make a werre so sharp on this citee.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1639 : His fader grete werres hadde With Rome, whiche he streite ladde Thurgh mihty hond of his manhode.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2514 : Bot most of alle of his manhode The worthi Sone of themperour, Which wolde ben a werreiour..Began his fader to beseche That he the werres mihte seche.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.325 : He woll no manhed understonde, For evere he hath drede upon honde.
- (1415) Hoccl.Oldcastle (Hnt HM 111)178 : Who so hath right, and nat wole it deffende, It is no manhode; it is cowardyse.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.37 : Now help, o Mars, þat art of knyȝthod lord, And hast of manhod the magnificence!
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.99 : Achilles..Most renomed of manhood and of myȝt Amonges Grekis.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.835 : He of geauntys þoruȝ his manhood wan Þis noble yle.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2668 : Lo! here a manhod for to preise a-riȝt!
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1608 : By ȝour wit ȝe shul the lond amend, And of manhode knyghtly it diffend Ageyn oure enmyes.
- (1433) RParl.4.423a : My Lorde of Bedford..as a noble Knyght and well assurid..be his grete wisdome and manhede..hath nobly doon his devoir.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)351 : Here es comyne ane armede knyghte; Now do hym resone and ryghte, For thi manhede.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)62b : Riȝt so hit is manhede noȝt algate to spare þese harmes..ȝif þou findist þin enemyes out of array.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.677 : Into this tyme ȝit of him speken we May, Of his Manhod & his Chevalrye.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)32.80 : Of the bestes we scholen not drede, So mochel we trosten In Owre Manhede.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)112 : Kyng Egbert..scomfidid his enmyes wt batel & monhode y-fere.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2785 : Now is tyme..to aunter on our Enmys with armes in werre..And mene vs with monhode maistry to wyn.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)258 : This ȝere deyed..Ser Jon Hakwod..moost named in manhod and werre.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)700/19 : Manhode is nat worthe but yf hit be medled with wysdome.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)876 : Ther thorugh thay most hym lede, or ellys lese her manhede, ȝyf that they flowyn a-plyȝt.
- a1500(?1388) Syng I wold (Dub 516)p.270 : Englond sum tyme was..Of manhod the flowre.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)170/4 : Here..begynnyth the thyrde vertu that is y-callid in latyn fortitudo..In Englysshe Streynth of herte, othyr boldenys, othyr manhode, othyr hardynesse.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)4231 : By mandhood [read: manhood] suerly or by prow[e]se, Yow shall spede your mater in noo wise.
c
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)197 : So kynde & so corteys comsed he þere, þat alle ledes him louede..& blesseden þat him bare..so moche manhed & murþe schewed þat child euere.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)431 : Lelly me þinkes, bi his menskful maneres & his manhede, þat he is kome of god kin.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.99 : Men schulde stonde and nouȝt sitte forto see pleies and merþe, forto save here owne manhede [Higd.(2): manhode; L virilitas].
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.756 : A fairer burgeys was ther noon..wys and wel ytaught, And of manhode hym lakked right naught.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.158 : This worthy Phebus..for his manhode and his gouernaunce..no man sholde han put hym from hire grace.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5056 : Þogh a man have oght erytage..ȝyt behoueþ hym lere Manhede and curtesye yn fere.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)12.293 : Witt and wisdome..was somme tyme tresore, To kepe with a comune, no katel was holde bettere, And moche murth and manhod [vrr. manhede, manhed].
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1674 : Eke gentil herte and manhod that ye hadde..This made..That I was youre.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)1178 : When wo approcheþ, lat myrþ most habound, As manhod axeþ.
d
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)145/3 : Zuyetnesse of herte..makeþ man zuete and milde manhede.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.429 : Alisaundre hadde i-buried here [Darius' wife] wiþ grete worschepe..nouȝt for love, but for manhede [Higd.(2): manhode; L humanitatis] of hym self.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)18.65 : Loo! laurence for hus largenesse! as holy lore telleþ, Þat hus mede and hus man-hede for euere-more shal laste.
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)19/13 : For ȝe kunne nouȝt vse manhed, suffraunce, & pacience of princes, y trowe ȝe schal fele berkyng & bityng.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)5/17 : Nouȝt I mene þat þe souȝle schulde of quantite be gret, but gret of kunnynge, of goodnesse, & of manhod.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)83 : He louede almous-dede, Poure folke for to fede, With menske and with manhede.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)1167 : It es mare manhede þaim to mene, And beseke god þair bote to bene, Þan outhir forto curse or scorne.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)1415 : Cuthbert welcomed him with manhede And broght him water with gude spede.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5200 : Þe monkes thoght Þat it was na manhede Mare penance him to bede.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)231/4 : Thou mayste for thy manhode have mede to thy soule.
3.
Miscel. senses: (a) the race of man, mankind; also, a man [quot.: a1425]; (b) the age of a mature man, manhood; (c) worldly occupation, secular activity; worldes ~; also worldi ~, ?men of the world; (d) don ~, to pay homage; (e) ?reputation (for the virtues of sense 2.), martial repute; (f) ?manpower.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25611 : For dred o þat bitter ded, Þat þou sufferd for al man-hed, þi hert was wel sari.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)16.209 : And þis [read: þus] is mankynde or manhede of matrimoigne yspronge.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)319/926 : To day neo schal þeo wommon beo dolue, Til y haue jugged wyues twolue, Ȝef any child may beo mad Wiþ owte getyng of monhed [Auch: Wiþ outen mannes flesche].
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.794 : This Elda triste in special Upon a knyht, whom fro childhode He hadde updrawe into manhode.
- c1450 Wimbledon Serm.(Hat 57)2/4 : He clepiþ men in diuerse ag[ys]..sume in chylhode..summe in state of vexing..summe in state of manhode..and summe in olde age.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)77/2 : In his age of manhode, þe childe is bounde to reuerence fadir and modir.
c
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)393 : He þouȝte al on god and on is soule, and bi-lefde al his manhede.
- c1330(?a1300) KAlex.(Auch)380/119 : Hye [Sereses] no hadde warldes manhed To her oþer gode hede.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)413 : Heere þei hadden need to be war of herboringe of stronge beggeris and of myȝti men of þe world to haue heere þank of worldly manhed.
d
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5197 : Hii dude him anon hor manhede [B: honoure, homage], & ne contekede nammore.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8716 : Monie heyemen ne dude him none manhede.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)19/13 : He ys wel renay þet þet land þet he halt of his lhorde deþ in-to þe hond of his uyende, and deþ him manhode.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)19/15 : He deþ manhode [Vices & V.(2): makeþ omage] to þe dyeule and becomþ his þrel.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18794 : Naman es he dos na man-hede.
e
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)330/1172 : Ȝef y telle þis folk by fore, How þat þow ware gete and bore..Þen hastow lore þy manhod [Dc: þan moche þe lasse ys þyn manhode].
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.162r : Leofric erle of Hereforde .. defended the kyng ever more with his manhod and ffauour ayenst the mayntenours of duc Godwyne.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)32 : To mey[n]ten hys manhod, all men to hym lout.
f
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.294 : Kyng Edwarde..To Barwike came with hoste and gret manhede.