Middle English Dictionary Entry
man-qualm n.
Entry Info
| Forms | man-qualm n. Also -cwalm, -cwealm, -quelm. |
| Etymology | OE cp. WS man-cwealm, A mon-cwalm. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Death among people from the plague or pestilence; a fatal epidemic; (b) fig. moral disease; (c) slaughter.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1112 : Hit wæs swiðe hefig tyme & sorhfull þurh ormætne man cwealm.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3908 : Þær after com swulke mon-qualm [Otho: mancwalm] þat lute hær cwike læfden.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)406 : Muche shal beo þe manqualm and gret honger þerto.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8599 : Me sai..so gret manqualm [vr. manquelm] þat monimon al vnbured lay.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)262 : Thei seid hit bytokened werre strong, Manqualme, eiþer hungere long.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)16433 : So gret a man-qualm cam þerwyþ, ffro deþ vneþe might non haue gryþ.
b
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)1.1 : Pestilens is a neuyl rechand o lenght and bred..Moryn or manqualm, that bytakyns luf of lordschip and appetite of dignyte, that nerand corompis all men, as that yuel dos when it comes.
c
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3348 : Ne worþe þee of hym non oþere acorde Bot manqualme [vr. mon quellyng] wiþ many spere and swerd.