Middle English Dictionary Entry
menskful adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | menskful adj. |
| Etymology | From mensk(e n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of persons: honorable; excellent; maken ~, to honor or ennoble (sb.); (b) of a position or condition: exalted, honorable; (c) of manners: noble, courteous; (d) helpful, profitable; (e) beautiful; (f) as noun: honorable or valiant man; noble or beautiful woman.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)202 : Þe riche emperour of rome rod out for to hunte..wiþ alle his menskful meyne, þat moche was & nobul.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)242 : My menskful moder is his meke wiue.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)405 : Þat menskful mayde melior was hoten.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4808 : William þan..made him menskful messageres..þe grettest lordes of þat land, þat lellest were hold, & konyngest of kurtesie & kowden fairest speke.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)312/148 : Þat ilke mon..þe kyng wolde Menskeful make.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.10 : Efter me sal com in hy That es sa menscful and mihty That I me self es noht worthi To les the thuanges of his schon.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17775 : Þis menskful [Göt: menskeful] ioseph did him delue In tumb þat wroght was til him-selfe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)365/389 : Was neuer madyn so menskfull here apon molde.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)555 : Whan his menskfull menne might nought fynde Hur ked king in Egipt, carefull þei were.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)183/18 : I þe menske of þe dom..is hehschipe menskeful [Recl.: worschipful] ouer alle understonden.
c
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)431 : For lelly me þinkes, bi his menskful maneres & his man-hede, þat he is kome of god kin.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)508 : His maners were so menskful, a-mende hem miȝt none.
d
- c1390 Talking LGod (Vrn)16/8 : More him delyted forte enbrace Mock..þen baþen..in þe brennynge loue of þe holygost..þat on is wonnen wiþ swynk & wiþ muchel anguisshe..Þat oþer..is ful muche menskeful, wiþ waxinde likyng..& bringeþ atte laste endeles blisse.
e
- a1350 Ichot a burde in boure (Hrl 2253)7,31 : Ichot a burde in boure bryht, þat fully semly is on syht, menskful maiden of myht, feir ant fre to fonde..Middel heo haþ menskful, smal.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9878 : In a castel..A worthy sted, menskful to hald.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1809 : I am here an erande..& haue no men wyth no malez with menskful þingez.
f
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)555 : Þenne þe best of þe burȝ boȝed to-geder..Sir Boos & sir Byduer..& mony oþer menskful.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1268 : 'Bi Mary,' quoþ þe menskful, 'me þynk hit anoþer.'