Middle English Dictionary Entry
mīldeshipe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | mīldeshipe n. Also mild-, milt-. |
| Etymology | Prob. OE; cp. ME mīlde adj.; ?also cp. miltse (var. of milce) misr. as pl. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Mercy; (b) kindness; ?gentleness; (c) humility, meekness; (d) gentleness.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 Talking LGod (Vrn)6/12 : A derworþe lord, muchel is þi myldeschupe, þat spraddest so þin Armes bodiliche on Roode.
b
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)49 : Habbe we hurend hure mildshipe of duue..duue ne harmeð none fugele ne mid bile ne mid fote, and fedeð briddes þeh hie ne ben noht hire.
- a1250 Wooing Lord (Tit D.18)269 : Summe menske and mildeschipe and debonairte of herte and dede [make beloved].
- a1250 Wooing Lord (Tit D.18)275 : A ihesu..þu wið meknesse and mildeschipe and mikel debonairte..haues mi luue chepet.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)17146 : Whan swa cumeð neode to auer æi þeode, & mon me mid milde-scipe wulle me bisechen..þenne mæi ich suggen hu hit seoððen scal iwurðen.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)36/603 : Metelec [?read: Mekelec] & miltschipe & swotnesse of heorte..limpeð alre þinge best to meihades mihte.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)36/626 : Ȝef þu hauest, wið meiðhad, meokelec & mildschipe, godd is i þin heorte.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)38/659 : Eadi meiden..ne beo þu nawt trust ane to þi meiðhad wið-uten oðer god..& ouer al, miltschipe & meokeschipe of heorte.
- c1390 Talking LGod (Vrn)36/12 : Mekenesse and myldeschupe..makeþ ofte mony mon leof and dere.
d
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)16/12 : Lowse me, lauerd, ut of þe liunes muð, & mi meoke mildschipe of þe an-ihurnde hornes.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)50/15 : Man schulde be milde, for sone so he leseþ his myldeschipp, he leseþ his jnnocent kynde.