Middle English Dictionary Entry
Merce n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Merce n. Also mershe; pl. merces, mercii, pl. gen. merken(e, merkin(e. |
| Etymology | OE (cp. A Merce, WS Mierce) & ML Mercii 'the Mercians'. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. Merchene laue.
1.
(a) Mercia, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom; (b) pl. the Mercians; also, the inhabitants of the English Midlands in ME times; (c) merkene marche (riche), the OE Mercian kingdom; (d) in place name [see Smith PNElem. 2.38].
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4366-7 : Þyr was a kyng, 'Conred' he hyght, Þe Merce was hys kyngdom ryȝt; þe Merce hyght þan, as y herd seye, Þat men kalle now Lyndeseye.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.992 : In kyng Kynredis tyme, I vndirstonde, He hadde the mersshe hooly in his hande, That tyme it was so called, as I herde seye, Whiche now is called Lynnesey.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.53 : Þanne departeþ þe prouince of Lyndeseye, þat longede somtyme to þe Merces [L Mercios] from þe oþer contray Norþumberlond..Þe Merces were men, as hit were, of myddel Engelond.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.163 : Mercii, þat beeþ men of myddel Engelond, as it were parteners of þe endes, vnderstondeþ bettre þe side langages, norþerne and souþerne, þan norþerne and souþerne vnderstondeþ eiþer oþer.
c
- ?1316 SMChron.(Roy 12.C.12)373 : The kyng of Merkyneriche, Nes ther non ys yliche. He hade Gloucestreschire..Hertfordschire ant Hontindone, Northamteschire..Rykemondeschire, nis nout to blam.
- c1330 SMChron.(Auch)1371 : Þe king of merken merche, þer nas non to him y liche. He hadde glowcesterschire and pinnokschire, Worcesterschire, warwikeschire, Staforþshire & derbischire, Chesterschire, schropschire, Al þe marche herforþschire, Oxenforþschire, bokinghamschire, Norhamtonschire, leycesterschire, Lincolnschire, notinghamschire.
d
- (1209-19) in Ekwall Dict.EPN300 : Merkenefelda.
- (1254) in Ekwall Dict.EPN300 : Merkinfeld.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4302 : In the lyf of seint Kenelm I rede That was Kenelphus sone the noble kyng of Mercenrike how Kenelm mette a thyng.
Note: Additional quote(s)
Note: Postdates sense (c).
Note: ?Same sense--per REL