Middle English Dictionary Entry
mistērī(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | mistērī(e n.(1) Also (Latinate pl.) misteria. |
| Etymology | L mystērium, from Gr. & OF mistere secret. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
Theol. Hidden symbolism, doctrine, or spiritual significance in matters of religion; mystical truth; ~ of the feith, ~ of god; ~ of holi chirche, etc.
Associated quotations
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)24/672 : Alle takeþ þat ryȝt body Þyse men at hare houslyng..Ac one god aryȝt hyt nomeþ, Þat body ine hys mysterye.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.13.11 : For to ȝou it is ȝouen for to knowe the mysterie, or priuyte [L mysteria], of the kyngdam of heuenes.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.16.25,26,27 : The revelacioun of mysterie holden stille, that is, not shewid..the which mysterie is now maad opyn by scripturis of prophetis..the mysterie knowun to God aloone wyse by Jhesu Crist.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.14.2 : Sothli the spirit spekith mysteries.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Tim.3.9 : It byhoueth dekenes for to be chast..hauynge the mysterie [vr. ministerie; L mysterium] of feith in clene conscience.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)155a/a : In Jordan Johan baptist was worthi..to here þe voyce of the fadir when he vndirstode þe mystery of alle trinite.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1194 : To þat Pryncez paye hade I ay bente..To mo of his mysterys I hade ben dryuen.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Col.2.2 : In knowynge þe mysterye of God þe Fader, of Iesu Crist, in whom beþ alle þe tresoures y-hud of wysdom & of connynge.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (LdMisc 210)14/22 : As ofte as Crist criede, his crie bitokeneþ sum gret mysterie.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Cor.2.7 : We spekyn þe wysdam of god, þe whylke is hyd in mysterye of þe incarnacyoun.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)80/30 : After the misterie of holy chirche, thei [Syrians] vsen lettres of Grece.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)81/25 : Entre is opynd in behaldynge of heuenly misterys to þe ee of his mynde.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Corp.Chr.(Trin-C R.3.20)8 : Now..Schal beo declared..Gracyous misteryes grounded in scripture.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)64 : She had also wisdom anempst god by heuenly contemplacion and by knowyng of the mysteryes of the fayth.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)358/22 : Forto kunne dye..vndir a felable ensaumple, I schalle ȝeue the þe misterie of [t]his doctrine.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)27 : Men may haue merueile þat uirgile schuld haue swech knowyng of þe misteries of our feith.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)114a : Þeos beoþe þe gret mysteryes þat oure lord suffreþe vs to yowe to telle.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)44 : Ysaie..tellith in his bok the misteriis of the Cherch, of Cristis Incarnacion and Passion.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)163 : At welles five licour I shal drawe..Where al mysteryes of the olde and newe lawe Toke oryginall.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)27/14 : Ther is nat so harde ne mysbeleuing an harte but it ought to be rauischid through the wondirfull and merveillous misteries of the Cristen feithe.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)131/1 : But nowadays thei seche all secular operacions and make the spirituall mysteryes as a thing þat is repreveable.
- a1500 Leg.Cross BC(1) (Wor F.172)217 : Bi hem God shuld purvey helth to be made to almankynde in the mistery of the Cros.
1b.
(a) A rite, happening, or feeling with religious or mystical significance; (b) a sacrament, the eucharist; don (haunten, ministren) misterie(s, to celebrate Mass; ~ of a sacrament, performance of a sacramental rite.
Associated quotations
a
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)71/24 : He þat verraly felys þe heytt of endles lufe his hart byrnand, nott it gos not away, þe mynde lyghtynand with sweytt mistery.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)84/18 : In hym-self he felys inspiryd a mistery of lufe.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.1773 : The Aungellis song which is in that place, Iff thou myght heere it, þou shuldest astoyned be; Thou hast noo grace suche mysteryes to approche.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)129/22 : For the oblacions that ben shewed owtwarde is but a figure apparent, and the misterye [F mystere] of the wourship that longeth to the divine magnificence.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)130/33 : Masses..war ordeigned for the mystery of sacrifices.
b
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)249/9 : Wiþ what iȝe..schuldist þou and oþire byholde and se, touche, and resceyue þis blessid mysterie?
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)262/3 : My mynystris whiche mynystren þe mysterie of my sones precious blood.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)279/1 : Þou schuldist dispose þee a nyȝtis tyme for þe mysterie þat þou schuldist do on þe morowe.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.40/29 : Nethir heir the holy mysterys of my son be hawntid.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)182/1 : Maner also of araynge to the mystery of this holy sacrament es touchede, Exodi xii, thus of the pasche lombe.
2.
(a) A problem of meaning, a hidden import, an enigma; (b) an inexplicable feat; (c) ~ of wikkednesse, the mystery of Antichrist's iniquity.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.2.27 : And Danyel answerde byfore the kyng, and saith, 'The mysterie [WB(2): priuytee; L Mysterium] whiche the kyng axith, the wise men and the witchis and dyuynours..mown not shewe to the kyng.'
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.17.5 : And in the forhed of hir a name writun, Mysterie, Babilon the greet, moder of fornycaciouns and of abhomynaciouns of erthe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)325b/a : Þe resoun of nombres is nouȝt worþy to be despised, for in many place of holy writ it scheweþ how moche misterie and priuete [L mysterium] is in resoun of nombres.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)187/5 : Ȝif I haue prophecie and knowe alle misteries and alle konnynge..and haue no charite, noþing I am.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)25/6 : All þe sagis of Babiloun kowde no keies fynde þis visioun to schewe til Daniel vndede hit & þe misteries þer of.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.3514 : Danyel Fulli expownyd to Baltazar the kyng The mysterie of this derk writyng.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)340 : Mystery, or prevyte: Misterium.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.MRose (Hrl 2255)86 : The tragedyes divers and vnkouth Of moral Senek, the mysteryes to vncloose?
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)231 : Be disposicyoun to haue intelligence Of Secre thynges, whan I was in dowte, The hyd mysteryes for to seke hem owte.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)6.211 : Euery man aught..offre a turtil, firste of Innocence, And a dove next for his offence, For grete mysterye is in bothe tweyne.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.103 : Seynte Mathewe..assignethe xiiij generaciones, for the cause of a certeyne mistery [Trev.: som priue menynge].
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)44 : Daniel, ouercomer of lyowns, saw misteris of priui þingis.
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)125 : Digne hit, my Lorde..fulsen me to kenne Þe mysterie of þis mervaile þat men opon wondres.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)123/32 : The ensaumples of this matir be dewly sowen all abowte in Scriptures and light for to fynde, yet ben thei of right a grette mysterye.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.355 : Denys Liber Pater..was ibore of Semela..and took misteria [Higd.(2): misterys; L mysteria] of Perseus.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Thes.2.7 : Forwhi the mysterie, or priuyte, of wickidnesse worchith now.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)182/23 : For Anticrist worcheþ now misterie of wickednes to hem þat parshen, for þei receyuen not charite þat þei myȝten be saued.