Middle English Dictionary Entry
Mars n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Mars n. Also marce, marcz, marcus, marche. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. Marte.
1.
(a) The god Mars; ~ the red; also, in asseverations; (b) astron. the planet Mars; (c) alch. the metal iron.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1682 : Theseus..for to hunten is so desirus..after Mars [vrr. marcz, marcus, marche], he serueth now Diane.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1708 : By myghty Mars, he shal anon be deed That smyteth any strook!
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1969 : Why sholde I nat as wel eek telle yow al The purtreyture that was vpon the wal Withinne the temple of myghty Mars [vr. marcus] the rede?
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.651 : Mars..of batailles is The god.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)67b/b : Deth hatte mors..& haþ þat name of mars, for it is feyned þat mars makeþ deþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)113a/a : Mars, god of bataile and of werre, was I-holde amongis naciouns.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2109 : By Mars, that is the chef of my beleve.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)83/15 : Mars ȝe say es godd of þe breste, bi-cause he was prynce of Batells.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)22/4 : Mars, the god of bataille, may wel be callid the sone of God.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)481 : Lordes..aqwente hem bet with mars, God of bataile.
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)1 : Thou ferse god of armes, Mars [vr. Marce] the rede..Within thy grisly temple..Honoured art, as patroun of that place.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)60/1774 : Mars vs graunt to wynne him bi sum chaunce.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)421 : Þare-bi-neoþe beoth seoue firmamenz, þat euerech of heom..One steorre hath with-oute mo..Saturnus is al a-boue, and Iupiter sethþe next, þanne Mars bi-neoþen him..þe sonne..Venus..Mercurius..þe Mone is next þe grounde.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2437 : Planetes, yliche clere sterren, seuene as ȝe seþ: Saturnus & Iubiter, Mars & þe sonne ywis, Venus & Mercurius, & þe Mone lowest is.
- c1350 Ye þat be bi comen (Rwl D.939)p.351 : Mars is good a mon þat haþ to done.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1974 : In thilke colde frosty regioun..Mars [vr. Marcus] hath his souereyn mansioun.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.889 : Mars the Planete bataillous Next to the Sonne glorious Above stant, and doth mervailes Upon the fortune of batailes.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)297 : Mars was swiþe reed, fere lyche.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.716 : If ich hadde..Aspectes badde of Mars or of Saturne..Thy fader prey al thilke harm disturne Of grace.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)44b/a : Vniuersale doyng was disposicion of a certane coniunccioun of þe 3 vpper planetez, i. saturnus, Iubiter, & mars.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2589 : The rede Mars [vr. marce] was that tyme of the yeere So feble that his malyce is hym raft.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)21/23 : Mars is a planete that yeueth influence of werres and batailles.
- c1450 Metham Palm.(Gar 141)86/21 : To yche off this fyngyrrys ther ys a planete longyng..Mars, the lytyl fyngyr with hys hylle.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)48a/a : The 5 spere is clepid Celum martis, in þe which Mars dwelliþ.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)99/37 : Þey fand him engendryd yn þe planetys of Venus & Mars.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)9477 : Þe seuene planetes ȝeueþ..Shappe to euery lyme his kynde..Mars shapeþ the body also.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.827 : Sol gold is and Luna siluer, we threpe; Mars iren, Mercurie quyk siluer.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)7/34 : In þat wiyn or watir ȝe quenche mars manye tymes; þanne mars schal take algate þe neischede and þe softnes of saturne.