Middle English Dictionary Entry
minster n.
Entry Info
| Forms | minster n. Also minstre, minister, ministre, (error) mitere & menstre & (S & SWM) munster, mun(e)stre. |
| Etymology | OE mynster, from L, from Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. monasteri(e.
1.
A monastery; a nunnery; ?also, a hermitage; also, the premises of such a religious community; nonnes ~, a nunnery or convent.
Associated quotations
- ?a1114 Chron.Dom.A.9 (Dom A.9)244 : Eac he geaf þæt abbotrice on Eoforwic Ricarde wæs munuc on ðam ylcon mynstre.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.654 : Hi wolden an mynstre areren Criste to loue & Sancte Petre to wurðminte..& nama hit gauen Medeshamstede.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.656 : Ic..gife..þone abbode Saxulf & þa munecas of þe mynstre þas landes & þas wateres.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1117 : On Octab sci Johis Euglæ wæs seo mycele eorð byfung on Lumbardige for hwan manega mynstras & turas & huses ge feollon.
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1127 : Siððan warð he munec on Clunni & siððon prior on þone seolue minstre.
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1132 : He uuolde underþeden ðat mynstre to Clunie.
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1154 : His wif & his sune wæron bebyried æt Faures feld; þæt minster hi makeden.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)16/18 : Þe halȝa wer wrohte him ðær munster.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)15263 : Þatt oþerr lott iss all þatt follc Þatt lifeþþ i clænnesse..I minnstress & i tuness.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13028,13031 : He..spæc wið þæne abbod þe þat munster biwat þer Costanz wes munec..wende in to þan munestre.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15642 : Nu wes Mærlinges moder wundermere i-wurðen in ane haȝe munstre [Otho: nonneric] muchene ihaded.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)24280 : I þære burh weoren twa munstres [Otho: munestres] swiðe mære..þer weoren nunnen..moni heh iboren wifmon.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)29357 : Gurmund falde þa munstres and an-heng alle þa munkes.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)99/28 : Beon ȝesette an oððe twa ealde swustre..þe þæt mynster [L monasterium] ȝeondȝanȝen & þas ȝyman, þæt þær nan swuster embe ydelnesse, [etc.].
- (1296-7) Acc.Cornw.in RHS ser.3.68265 : Et de 2 s. de priore de Minstre pro falsa querela et trans'.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.91 : It semeth nouht parfytnesse in cytees for to begge Bote he be obediencer to pryour oþer to mynstre [vr. mynystre].
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)48/1 : Freres..haueþ y-bilde fayre mynstres [vr. monasteries] & rial palyces.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)669/42 : Monasterium: a mynstre.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3038 : Mynsteris and masondewes they malle to þe erthe.
- a1450 Ordin.Nuns(2) (Vsp A.25)147/23 : I sister N..hete my stabilnes & turnyng of my maners & buxsumnes efter þe rewle of sant Benett..in þis mynster.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2722 : He [Cuthbert] went agayn to his mynstir [L Monasterium] his solayn lif he had begonn.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)6695 : Aydane þe kyng sterid and gerte Make in þe Ile a mynstere, Duellyng for monkes and him in fere.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)240 : A Mynster: cenobium; cenobitalis; monasterium; monasterialis.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)216/24 : He..dide sle me and broȝt me and beryede me in the mynster of this abbot that here is.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)237/2 : He dyde make a mynster or an abbey with-outen the cite, where he lyued in grete abstynaunce with viii hundryd disciples.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)2596 : Claustrall monke he shold be made on In faire maillers, that ministre roiall.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.104 : They..now been saynts & marters euerychone, In nonnes mynster, conserued in Coleyn.
2.
The church or chapel of a monastery or nunnery; a church, cathedral, or basilica.
Associated quotations
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)61 : Ech bishup þe in his minister beð driueð ut þo forsinegede men þe habbeð þo sinnes don..forte þene þuresdai biforen estrene dai.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)105 : Seint iacob..þat writ sende into chirchen, and hit is cumen into þis holi minstre to dai.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)95/9 : Be þan þe on munstre [L oratorio] mysted oðð miswod.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)103/12 : Be þam ȝeswustre þe swinced feorr fram mynstre.
- a1300(OE) Deed Crediton (CotR 2.11)116 : Þay..a-wirȝede alle þaye, þe hit aswide and þane minstre of cridiamtone wiþ-sette.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)2197 : Þis holi bodi [of Becket] was i-bured In þe munstre [Hrl: minstre; Corp-C: ministre] of ihesu crist.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8672 : Amorwe anon he was ibured In þe munstre [vr. mynystre] ywis Riȝt biuore þe heye weued.
- c1390(?a1300) Stations Rome(1) (Vrn)19 : A feir Munstre [vr. mynstyr] men mai þer se Niȝene and twenti greces þer be.
- c1390(?a1300) Stations Rome(1) (Vrn)410 : Ȝif þow be þere..Vche Wednesday in þat munster, Þenne hastou of crist pouweer A soule to drawe from purgatori fer.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7059 : In cherches and in Menstres eke Thei gon the wommen forto seke.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2588 : Þere he lyþ be-ȝunde þe see, He [St. Forsyne] ordeyned a mynyster [vrr. mynstyr, mynstre] for to be.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)20923 : Beried his [Peter's] bodi was..a-pon þe est side þer now a faire mynster dos stande.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.302 : At þe kirke of Saynt Petir þe day of Saynt Agnes, þe bisshop on his mitere [F mouster] of Carlele it says He stode vp in pulpite þe office forto do.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1063 : Chapel ne temple þat euer watz set Þe Almyȝty watz her mynyster [L templum] mete.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)11/69 : Into þe mynster so he hym bare, Whore oþer bisschoppes bidand ware.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)46/31 : Withoute the mynstre [Man.(3): menstre; Man.(2): kirk] is the chayere þat he [St. Jerome] satt in.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)482 : The septre..Off Seint Edward..the Kyng bare..Into the mynstre..Tyl he kome to the hyh awtere.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)121/18 : On þe Sundays sche was howseld in þe Mynster wyth gret wepyng.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)338 : Mynstre, chyrche: Monasterium.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)954 : Bi the grete dore in þe mynster there, Three Maries cutten of her here.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)7195 : Na woman anes durst prese To come with in his mynster warde.
- a1475 Stations Rome(2) (Brog 2.1)p.30 : In þe mynstur byn a C autorris, & at euery autur ys xxviij ȝere of pardon.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)98 : Thei..yeden a-gein in to the mynistre to heir oute the masse.
- a1500 Bevis (Chet 8009)187/3686 : In meny a stid Beues dyd wyrke Abbeys, mynesters, and meny a kirke.
- c1450 Stations Rome(1) (Clg A.2)366 : In þat mynster þat ys so hende, Fowr dores shalt þou fynde.
3.
A Jewish or pagan temple; godes ~.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1017 : An waȝherifft Wass spredd fra wah to waȝhe, Biforenn an allterr þatt wass Innresst i þeȝȝre minnstre.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)7580 : Þeȝȝ comenn inntill Ȝerrsalæm & inntill Godess minnstre.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)215 : Swo ne andswerede noht moyses ure drihten þo he bad him minster maken.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1267 : Alle þe maydenes of þe munster maȝtyly h[e] kyllen.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)207 : My wife..es a sarizene; mynsters has scho made ȝow new and done gude dedis.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)116/11 : Before the mynstre of this ydole is a vyuere in maner of a gret lake.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1564 : Þar passis þe procession..Of childire..With bellis & with baners..& ymagis with-in of þe Mynstire [Dub: temple].
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2174 : To Tergarontes he teȝe þare tiȝt was a mynstre [Dub: mynster].
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)27 : Þe mecul mynster þerinne a maghty devel aght.
4.
In cpds. & combs.: (a) ~ bok, a book used in church; (b) ~ dor (gate), the door or gate of a church; also, the door of a temple; ~ garth, churchyard; ~ eles, the aisles of a church; (c) ~ kin, monastics; ~ lif, monastic living; also, a monastery; ~ man, a monk; (d) ~ reule, monastic rule; ~ work, the fund for the repair or maintenance of a minster.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)109 : Eft-sone ure helende aros alse sunne þo þe ure lafdi Seinte Marie hin kennede of hire clene meiðhode alse þe holi minster boc seið to þe heuenliche quen þus queðinde, 'Ex te ortus est sol iusticie.'
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1060 : Att te minnstredure wass An allterr þær wiþþutenn.
- (1393) Will York in Sur.Soc.4185 : I commend..my body to my graven in the mynster Garth be for the butres at the charnell.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)268 : [Jonah] þrwe in at hit [the whale's] þrote..As mote in at a munster dor, so mukel wern his chawlez.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)144/16 : Þis Iew and a grete meneya of oþer Iewis with hym come in att þe mynster dure.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5263 : Mynster yles were made as warde.
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)128 : Mynsterdores were makyd opon, quen matens were songen.
- a1500 Bevis (Chet 8009)215/4275 : The kyngis doughter was..to the mynester durre I-led.
- a1500 St.Alex.(5) (Tit A.26)43/200 : He sitteþe eorly and late Withowtyn att the mynster yate.
c
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)16/11,12 : Þe ylcæ Gregorius wolde Gode aræren haliȝ mynsterlif ihende anre sæ; ac ðær wæs bi halfes an..heah clif..& wes þe stude myriȝe to þam mynsterlife.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)6339 : Tær iss all þatt eorliȝ [read: eorþliȝ] þing Þatt minnstremann birrþ aȝhenn Wiþþutenn cnif & shæþe, & camb.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)13/32 : We ða..to þam strengustum mynstercynne mynecæna [L cenobitarum..genus] ȝecyrran.
d
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)39/23 : Þe eahteþa eadmodnysse stæpe is, ȝif þeo mynenecena nan þing ne deþ, buten þat se ȝemæne mynsterreȝol [L monasterii regula] tæcð.
- (1451) Lin.DDoc.54/25 : I will the mynster warke of lincoln haf xiij s. iiij d.
5.
(a) In names of monasteries, churches, or cathedrals; (b) in surname & place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.46-7].
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.686 : Þæs Cædwala gef into sancte Petres minstre..an igland Heabureahg hatte.
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1130 : Þær be het se abbot Heanri him þat he scolde beieton him þone mynstre of Burch þat hit scolde beon underðed into Clunni.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3230 : Tueie riche dragons of golde he let makye anon; At þe heye munstre [vr. mynstre; B: mynster; vr. monastere] of winchestre he offrede þat on.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.261 : Faste by þe mynystre [Higd.(2): Abbay; L cenobium] of Seint Michel is marbil i-founde þe fairest þat may be.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.27 : Faste by þe mynistre [Higd.(2): monastery; L monasterium] of Wynburney, þat is nouȝt fer from Baþe, is a wode þat bereþ moche fruyt.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.38 : On þe sunday next after þe ascensioun, alle þe breþerin and sistrin..shal..gon alle togidere in processioun..in-to þe menstre of þe trinite.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.65 : Þe gode kyng Edward to London turnes he, Þe feste of ȝole to hold..At Saynt Petir mynstere.
- c1425 Liber de Hyda in RS 45156 : If hyt so be that the Erchebyschop be ded, than go that fe in to the mynystyr of Crystyschyrche at Caunterbury.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)15168 : Sire Ethelbright dide hym wyrke Seynt Poules mynstre to ben his kyrke.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)52 : Was broght his [St. Cuthbert's] body In duram mynster forto ly.
- a1475 Stations Rome(2) (Brog 2.1)p.30 : Before þe mynstur of sent pettur ys A steyre of xxviij grecys.
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)35 : Of þis Augustynes art is Erkenwolde bischop..Syttes semely in þe sege of Saynt Paule mynster.
b
- (1209) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)36 : Minstirton.
- (1211) CRR(2) 6157 : Segwinus de Minster.
- (1243) in Bowcock PNShrop.163 : Munstreleg.
- (1333) EPNSoc.24 (Oxf.)365 : Little Munstre.
- (1367) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)225 : Sumynystre.