Middle English Dictionary Entry
man-slaughter n.
Entry Info
| Forms | man-slaughter n. Also -slatir, -sclauȝter, -slawthtur, -sleighter & man(e)s-slaghter, manus-slauȝtur, monnesslauhtre. |
| Etymology | From man n. & slaughter n. Also cp. man-slaught. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The act, crime, or sin of killing another human being, whether by direct deed or by indirection of hatred, indifference, or command; homicide, murder; don ~, to commit murder.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)1348 : If any man be in presoune ffor manslaghter or for tresoune.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.473 : Sooþfast God ȝeveþ men riȝt..he voideþ manslauter [L homicidia].
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)24/1016 : Kyng Dauid Hedde idon auoutrye And monnes slauhtre.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.564-5 : Homycide, that is manslaughtre, is in dyuerse wise; Som manere of homycide is spirituel and som is bodily. Spirituel manslaughtre is in sixe thynges: First by hate, [etc.].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.570-1 : Bodily manslaughtre is whan thow sleest hym with thy tonge; in oother manere, as whan thow comandest to sleen a man, or elles yeuest hym conseil to sleen a man. Manslaughtre in dede is in foure maneres. That oon is by lawe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25457 : O mansslaghter [Göt: manslaghter] had i na mak.
- a1400 CMSoul (Bod 923)273 : Ȝif he haue done þe synne of avowtrye or fornicacoun or homicidye, which is cleped manslaughter.
- (c1400) Gower PP (Eg 2862)171 : Among the ten comandementz y rede How that manslaghtre schulde be forbore.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)75/29 : Ȝif oon haþ do manslauȝter oþer symonye..þat makeþ hym vnable to a benefice of holy chirche.
- a1425 HBk.GDei (Arun 507)145 : Some fallyn in deadli syn, as lucheri, glotonie, thift, couaitise, manslaghter, & oþer sere synnes.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)81/33 : How manye manslauȝtris, þeftis, raueynes..comeþ out of þis synne!
- c1425 Treat.10 Com.(StJ-O 94)26 : Agaynes þis commaundement doos he that slees with hond or with worde or wille..Agaynes manus slauȝtur with wille..Agaynes man slawȝtur in word.
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)455 : Makeþ mencion' in þe stoppyng of þis seyd lane be cause of manslawth'tur þat was do þere.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1174 : Dauid..Dede manslauhtre and fals auoutrie.
- c1440(?c1350) Mirror St.Edm.(4) (Thrn)27/15 : Þer es manes-slaghter of hand, of tunge, of herte.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)415 : Man slauȝter is a synne or vice.
- (1444) RParl.5.108b : Open disheritaunce and supportation of manslaghter, perjure and grete oppression to many of the Liege people of oure Soveraigne Lord.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)53/32 : He þat sleeþ a man..is gilty of manslauter.
- (1450) RParl.5.200b : Many Murdres, Manslaughters, Rapes, Roberies, Riottys..nowe late have growen within this your Roialme.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4486 : And othire harlotry ȝe hant..Of fornicacioun & filth..Maumentry & manslatir.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)93/18 : Þe fyfte fote depthe of wose in wretthe is mansleyghter.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.44/6 : With open thefte or mansslautter vppon my demayne londis, they be take and attachid.
- (1462) Paston (Gairdner)4.25 : I herd nevyr sey of so myche robry and manslawter in thys contre as is now within a lytyll tyme.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)141 : Ther bith therfore mo men hanged in Englande in a yere ffor robbery and manslaughter then þer be hanged in Fraunce ffor such maner of crime in vij yeres.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.2250 : Manneslaughter is hadde without ony grace.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)639 : Of murder and manslawter I haue my bely-fyll.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)125/23 : Tho that were reed and blody in þe visages, they ben..louyng..falsdedes and mansclauȝters.
2.
The killing of human beings in battle.
Associated quotations
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)364 : Better is pes for ay and oo Þan monslauȝter in werre and woo.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)12.418 : There grete Manslawghtre Men Miht se, How that Eualache men Tholomes men slowe.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)244 : Ther was a stronge bataile and grete manslaughter on bothe sithes.