Middle English Dictionary Entry
merī̆diā̆n adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | merī̆diā̆n adj. Also meridien. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Belonging to midday or noontime; (b) southern; (c) astron. altitude ~, the elevation of the sun at midday; ark ~, the arc of the celestial meridian of a given place which is intercepted between the zenith of that place and the celestial equator; place ~, the midday position of the sun.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)1601 : Moche sleep wyl kepe the in hih Estat, Metys swete and wyn licour divyne, Merydien Reste.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.373 : The kynge Albinnus beynge in slepe in his meridien tyme [L meridiano tempore], Rosamunda..made faste his swerde.
- a1500(?a1449) ?Lydg.Diet.Interpol.(Lnsd 699)40 : Gorge vpon gorge is cause of gret langour, And in especial flee meridian sleep.
b
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.253 : Peple descendenge from Sem..hade in possession the londe meridien [Trev.: souþlond; L terram meridianam].
c
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[intro.] 75b : The thridde partie schal contenen diuerse tables..also wel for the gouernance of a clocke as forto fynde the altitude meridian.
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[2.13.head.] 87b : To knowe the altitude of the sunne in myddes of the day, that is clepid the altitude meridian.
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[2.39.] 95b : Whan the sunne, by mevynge of the firmament, cometh to his verrey meridian place, thanne is it verrey mydday..ȝif men clepyn the latitude of a contrey the arch meridyan that is contenyd or intercept bitwixe the Cenyth & the equinoxial, [etc.].