Middle English Dictionary Entry
mendinaunt n.
Entry Info
| Forms | mendinaunt n. Pl. mendinauntes etc. & mendina(u)ns, meindenauns & (error) mendenautez. |
| Etymology | AF pl. mendinantz. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A begging friar; (b) one of the mendicant orders of friars; (c) a beggar.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1906 : We mendynantz, we sely freres, Been wedded to pouerte and continence.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)111/27 : Þere ben manye religious men & namely of mendynantes.
- ?c1430(?1383) Wycl.Curse (Corp-C 296)303 : Þes mendynauntis, Menours, falsly and sutely maken wrongful eiris.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.RMArticles (Corp-C 296)225 : Whiche is þe beste ordre for prestis, where it be possessioneris ordre or mendynauntis.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)66 : Þe foles foundeden hem-self..And maken hem mendynauns.
b
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)16.81 : Ich wiste neuere freek þat frere is ycallede Of þe fyue mendynauns [vrr. meyndenauns, mendenauntis]..That took þis fore here teme.
c
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.201 : For mendynauntz [vrr. mendynauntes, mendinantis, mendynans] at meschief þe men were dewid.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.150 : Men beth mercyable to mendynantz & to pore.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.76 : Monkes and moniales þat mendinauns sholden fynde.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.179 : Alle poure pacientes..As mesels and mendinauntes, men yfalle in myschef.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)667 : I charge the..To mynystre my mobles..To mendynauntez and mysese.
- a1500 PPl.A(1) (Eaton)11.52 : Mendynantz [vrr. mendynauns, mendenawtes; Trin-C: Manye men meteles miȝte go to bedde].