Middle English Dictionary Entry
margarīt(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | margarīt(e n. Also marguerite. |
| Etymology | OF marguerite, margarite. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A pearl; ~ perle (ston); (b) a shellfish that produces or bears pearls; oyster; (c) fig. that which is precious or excellent, a priceless quality or attribute; also, used as an epithet for Christ, Mary, etc.; ~ ston; derk ~, a darkened or corrupted conscience.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)355 : A Marchaunt..a precious Margarite whanne he haþ yffounde, He..sulleþ al þat he haþ and byggeþ hit.
- a1350 Ichot a burde in a (Hrl 2253)9 : Þe myht of þe margarite haueþ þis mai mere.
- c1330(?c1300) St.Patr.Purg.(1) (Auch)p.107 : He gan yse a gate..tre no stel nas þer on non bot rede gold..cristal, margarites, and coral.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.192 : In þe tuelue gates ben tuelue Margarites.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.13.46 : Oo preciouse margarite founden, he wente and solde alle thingis that he hadde and bouȝte it.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)88a/b : Aȝenst herte quakinge, me schal ȝeue..medy[ci]nes in þe whiche is moche goolde oþir margarites oþir perlis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)137b/a : In springinge tyme oystres openeþ hemsilf aȝaynes dewe & fongiþ dew..þat dew so I-holde and I-kept fediþ þe fissche..and by his incorporacioun wiþ þe inner partyes of þe fissche brediþ..a stone þat hatte margarite.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)37/20 : Cros..wiþ Cristes bodi ert mad holi, and wiþ his limes ymad fair as wiþ margarites.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Tim.2.9 : I wil..wymmen..enowrnande þem not in herys wryþen or..with margarytis.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)178a/b : Margarite [marg.: Perles; Ch.(2): margery perles; L Margarite] ar knowen; þai ar fri. & sic. þai clarefie & conforte.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)273/16 : Gode mynystris ben worþi eendelees ioye, þat is, for to be sett in my siȝt for euermore as goostly margaryte stoones.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)64/23 : Þe brawnchez of this venett ware sum of cristalle, sum of Margaritez.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)445 : This book in Grece was brought to your sight..As a Charbouncle ageyn dirknesse of nyght..Or clerest margaryte Of philisoffres.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)40/32 : He that has the best iustyd, shall haue..a cercle of golde full of margarites.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)6793 : Ther ys drope noon certeyn..off mor prys..Than outher perle or margaryte.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1030 : The Margaryte..ys both good and whyte, Eke medycinable and comfortatyf.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)228 : A Margaryte stone: margarita, nomen lapidis preciosi.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)95/26 : Originals er what þyng ys engelyd yn þe entrailles of þe erthe..þe depnesse of þe sees..stones, Margarites, Corale, Tuty.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)102/35 : A Margarit-perle, that is so precious a gemme with [?read: whit], clere, and litel.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)161a/b : Swiche shelle fysshe is yclepid conchile & margarite..when in here fysshe preciouse stones ben piȝt.
c
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)357 : Þe ston þat is precious oþer a Margarite..is a man of goed lif þat wel precious is.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.25.12 : A margarite [WB(2): peerle; L margaritum] shynynge [is he] þat vndernemeþ a wis man.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.7.6 : Nyl ȝe ȝeue holy thing to houndis, nether sende ȝe ȝour margaritis [L margaritas], or preciouse stoonys, before swyne, lest..thei defoulen hem with theire feet.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.286 : Þe manheed of Crist is a margarite þat worshipiþ his Chirche and confortiþ mennis hertis..he wiþ his martiris weren hoolid margarites.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)265/4 : Þe margaryte of riȝtwiisnesse, schynede in hem [doctors, martyrs, etc.] and in her sogetis.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)267/18 : Þis derk margaryte was not, ne is not, in my verry trewe mynystris; But in hem it is schinynge, þe which maken hem to desyren pouert wilfully.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)292/28 : In myn hous..schulde schyne þe goostly margaryte stoon of riȝtwiisnes.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)316/2 : I schewide þee þe excellence of vertuouse mynystris, in whom þe margaryte of vertu schynede and of holy riȝtwiisnesse.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)158/1 : The sowle is the precious marguarite vnto God.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)160/6 : Neiþir caste ȝe ȝoure margaritis bifore swyn.
- a1500(?a1410) Lydg.CB (Lnsd 699)253 : Men shuld nat put a precious margarite, As rubies, saphires..Emeroudes..To fore rude swyn.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)186/1 : Come to me, þou precious margarite, and entre in-to thy dwellynge place of euerlastynge lyf.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)108/10 : Hevenly wisdom..is a preciose margarite and hid fro many.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1484 Fragm.Hour-Lines (Trin-C R.14.52)660/1158 : Sette the threed in thyn instrument vpon the gree xxxv and the margarit or perle vpon the lyne meridional.
Note: Editor's note: "margarit or perle: The almury (sliding bead) on the quadrant's plumb-line."
Note: ?Sense (a), modify gloss, or ?new sense 'a pearl or bead on a quadrant's plumb-line'.