Middle English Dictionary Entry
maumetrī(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | maumetrī(e n. Also maumetterie, mammentrie, maumientrie, maumtrie, maunmetrie, maunmentrie, maumretrie & maumetrẹ̄, maumentre, mamentre; pl. maumetries, maumentries, maumetrise, maumentrisce, mallmettrise. |
| Etymology | From maumet n. Also cp. OE (late & rare) mahometerie. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The worship of idols, images, or pagan deities; idolatry; also, Mohammedanism; craft of ~; worship of false gods (Antechrist, princes, etc.), an idolatrous religion; (b) fig. misdirected worship; the worship of worldly goods, vices (especially avarice), etc.; (c) a wile or snare of the Devil; trickery, deceit; pl. superstitious practices, charms, spells.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)25 : He leuede al in maumettrie & for-sok god.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.138 : Þe grete dampnacioun of Antecrist & of his decpiles for her ydolatrie, þat is, maumetrie.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 15.23 : Betere is obeisaunce þan slayne sacrifices..for as synne of dyuynynge bi deuelis is to repugnen, & as hidous trespas of mawmetrie [WB(2): wickidnesse of ydolatrie], to wiln not assenten.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.33 : Whan mametrie bygan in Nynus tyme, kyng of Nynyue.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.115 : Antiochus..compelled þe Iewes to mawmetrie, and slouȝ hem þat wolde nouȝt offre swynes flesche.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.25 : He forbeed þe paynyms mametrie [Higd.(2): ydolatry; L idololatriam] and graunted circumcisioun to þe Iewes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.236 : In destruccioun of Maumetrie [vr. mawmattrie] And in encrees of Cristes lawe.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.750 : The synne of Mawmettrie [vrr. Mawmientrie, Maumatrie] is the firste thyng that god deffended in the ten comaundementz..Thow shalt haue no false goddes bifore me ne thow shalt make to thee no graue thyng.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)186 : Here fadyr was prest of sarysyne; In maummetry he leued ynne.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21993 : He sal do rise all maumentri [Phys-E: maumetterie] And clepe him godd-self almighti.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.320 : Þe kyng said..þe pape was heretike..Errid mislyuyng, haunted Maumetrie [F ydolatrye].
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)57/30 : For hit is as hit were þe synne of sorcery & of wicchecrafte to wiþstonde, as hit were þe synne of mawmetre to be nouȝt buxom to Goddes heste.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5479 : Þus þe peple..Were by þe fend brouȝt..To done worschip..With sacrifise & cursed mawmentrie, And in þis wyse began ydolatrie.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5825 : Amonge þe goddis of fals mawmetrie.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)155 : A fende..tellez þam many thinges, forto dessayfe þam with and for to mayntene þam in þaire mawmetry and þaire errour.
- ?c1430 Wycl.PPPriests (Corp-C 296)279 : Þat þe peple of oure lond be not brouȝt to maumetrie.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.1250 : Causyng pryncis to resceyue ageyn riht Godli reuerence of froward maumetrie.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)330 : Mamentrye: Ydolatria.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)3.1316 : To shewe..that Iborne was hee, Of heven and erthe that hath the Regalye, And shall distroye al false mawmetre.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.104 : Fro alle here mavnmentrie and her fals lawe, he made hem in crist..for to drawe.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)1600 : And to maumetry þai þaim graythe Be charmes and incantaciouns.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)21 : Prometheus..mad first of erde ymages of men, and of him cam al that craft of maumentrie.
- a1475 Against Lollards (Vsp B.16)102 : Thes lollardes þat lothen ymages most with mannes handes made..& pilgrimages..þei seien hit is but mawmentrie.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)78a : Mawmentry: ydolatria. To do mawmentry: ydolatrare.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)96.8 : Ill aungels will be loutid; goed aungels loutys and will noght be loutid..all mawmetry aghe to cese in men.
- a1500 Methodius(3) (Stw 953)489 : Ysmaellys sonys..In mamentry was all here fay.
b
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6156 : Auaryce ys þy moche fo..syluer..namely, Hyt ys a god of maumetry.
- a1400 Wycl.MPl.(Add 24202)54 : Mennus averice and coveytise..is maumetrie..for that that thei shulden spendyn upon..ther neȝeboris, thei spenden upon the pleyis.
- a1400 Wycl.MPl.(Add 24202)55 : After ther hidouse maumetree of covetyse in ther pleyinge of myraclis..maumetrye, I seye, for siche pleyinge men as myche honoryn or more than the word of God.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)35/10 : Þei þat..setten þer likinge in false wordli worschupes..don mametri.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)113/16 : Alle þat haue likinge in here maumetrie, þat is, in alle þat a man haþ likinge inne more þan him nedeþ to loue þe more God.
- c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)77,79 : It forbedes all mamettrie..Mammentrie is to do creature that honour That thou suld do all onely to thi creatour.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)4501 : Auarice is a loue inmoderat, Richesses temporel for to purchace..And sche þe thraldom is of Maumetrye.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)120/3 : Þe firste fote brede of þis wose in coueytise is mawmetrye; þat is, whanne þou settyst more þin herte on þi good, þi catel, þi golde, þi syluer, & on þin erthely muk þan on þi god.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)96.7 : Mawmetry is when any man gifis the luf til any creature that aghe to be gifen til god.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.35.80b : So þat thei be not disclaundryd of no viciows tacches, principaly of couetise, which is called mawmentrye and rote of alle synne.
c
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)176 : In this commandement is forboden us Alkyns mysbileues and al mawmetries [Rwl: maumentrysce], Al fals enchaunmentez..sorceries..charmes, and..witchecraftes.
- c1440(a1349) Rolle 10 Com.(Thrn)10/9 : In this comandement es forboden all mawmetryse, all wychecrafte and charemynge..For þay erre þe snarrys of þe deuelle.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4456 : Þis lyuyatan..with falshede..our faders dissayuit..Of þis mater of mawmentry nomore at this tyme.
- a1475(?1436) Satir.Procl.(Vsp B.16)12/16 : I am Stiward of Helle. I lete you wite I haue alle gouernaunce of wicked mawmentries & wicked spirites.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)260/78 : He [Christ] shall with all his mawmentry No longere vs be tell.
2.
(a) Coll. Images of pagan deities, idols; pagan gods or goddesses; honouren (worshipen) ~, to worship idols, practice idolatry; (b) an image of a deity, idol; a pagan god; also, image or magical object worn as a charm; (c) fig. false gods, objects of worship (vices, finery, etc.) preferred to God; a source of distraction (a building, finery, worldly vanity) from the proper worship of God; servise (servage) of ~, idolatry, worship of false gods.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.179 : Alle þat honouren mavmetrie & ymagerie..her partie shal ben in þe ponde of fyre.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.215 : Þere Pantheon þe temple of all mawmetrie [Higd.(2): goddes; L deorum] was..is now a chirche.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.29 : Now is a prophete i-bore þat schal destroye al þe mawmetrie [Higd.(2): suche ydoles and similachres; L eorum sculptilia et fusilia] in Israel.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.21 : Machometus..worschipped mawmetrie [Higd.(2): servynge ydolatry; L idolorum cultui deservivit] somwhat of tyme..and he ȝaf hym specialliche to worschippe Venus.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)283/52 : Somme hedde visages of Meselri, And somme were lyk foul Maumetri.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)8255 : Crystendome to take he graunted: He dyd breke his maumetrye [F ydles] And dyd hyt brenne byfore hys ye.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9188 : Foles war þai bath, for-þi Þat þai honurd mamentre [Göt: maumettri].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11776 : Quen he þem sagh in temple lij, Hijs godds and his maumentri [Frf: mawmetrie; Göt: maumettri], He com to maria.
- c1410 Trev.Higd.(Add 24194)1.217 : Bisshops to serve false goddis and mawmetrie, and heet flamines.
- c1435 Lydg.St.George (Bod 686)212 : A temple ful of maumretrye.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.1810 : Thei haue also doun rent The grete idoles & al suich maumetrye And..gan chirchis edefye.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)1337 : A temple..þat..þe folk..Worschiped þer-inne Maumetry, Dyane in lyknesse of o lefdy.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)93/11 : The cherche where that Seynt Thomas lyth is..ful of ymagerye of here maumetterye.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4301 : Throgh the glorious gyfte of goddes son of heuyn..All maumentre in myddelerthe myrtlit to peses.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)1307 : He ran with a drawe swerde To hys mamentrye, And all his goddys þer he amerrede.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)263 : To my lord mahoun, To termegaunt, and a-polyn, and to oþere mametrye.
- a1500 Bevis (Chet 8009)68/1174 : The Sarzins..swore all, he shold abye For disspysinge of theire mawmentrye.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)84/6 : I wyll you honour no God saue me, ne Mawmentrye none make yee.
b
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4974 : Þese Phylystyens þat hadde þe maystry Beleuyd on Dagoun, a maumettry.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)25382 : Þe kyng..Alle his mallmettrise..forsok; Alle slik figurs, falsegoddes, idoles In fire he keste.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)780 : The burd..broght hym..An ymage..all of white siluer, Charmet with enchauntment..Hit was wroght all by wit & wiles to helpe, And myghty suche mawmentry made to distroy. Sho bade hym kepe it full close on his clene body.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)1956 : Hys folke..made þem mawmentry, A calf of gold þei gart vp stand and honerd yt.
- c1450 Siege Jerus.(1) (Add 31042)235 : Thaire Mawmetries [Ld: mametes] mourlede.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)371/441 : I beleve in crist Jhesu..and forsake my mavmentryes fals in here felthe.
c
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)35/18 : Þei worshupen þer is no uertue but alle uices, and so þei ben idolatres -- þat is, doynge worshup to maumetrie.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)49/1 : Ne none nyce dameselis wiþ garlondis of gold ne perlis..ne suche oþir maumetrie as Eue doutres disgisen hem now bi daie, for Marie, Quene of Heuene, louede none suche ydolatrie.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)114/10,12 : Seint Bernard and his broþer saluteden here syster for such maumetrie: Seint Bernard clepede hur 'þe deuelis net'; þat oþer seide sche was 'a tord wrapped in maumetrie'.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)117/1 : Þe deuelis ale-hopes, þat ben her garlondes of golde, of seluer, and of perlis, wiþ here oþer maumetrie.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Possessioners (Corp-C 296)122 : Siþ coueitise & glotonye ben seruage of maunmetrie, as poul seiþ, þes possessioners honouren false goddis.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)36 : Mech cristen puple..left..her deuocioun and..gased on þese uanities rith for nouelte of þe site; Tho mad seint siluester þis maunmentrie to be broke and spent in to betir use.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)18/1 : They that..fulfille here desyre of body, loue of mony, other ellys apetyte of worschipe more than charite of god, they worschipen invisibily Maumtrye.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)96.7 : Auerice is seruyce of mawmetry..sum has syluyre his mawmet, sum fayre hors, [etc.].