Middle English Dictionary Entry
mistēr-man n.
Entry Info
| Forms | mistēr-man n. Also mester-, mester(es-mon, (gen.) mistermannes; pl. mister-men, mester-, muster- & mesteres-men, misters-, mistiers-, misterus-. |
| Etymology | From mistēr n. & man n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A craftsman, an artificer; (b) one who follows any calling or profession; an official, archer, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)136/13 : No mester mon non nas inis mester, so prest ne so queinte Þat he[o] nas to bringe men in sunne.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27261 : All mister men wirkand wit handes.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)111/13 : Herinne ben blend alle maner mister men; for þouȝ craftis weren ordeined for help of man, now þei unhelpen man.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)247 : Othere mistermen that brouȝten with hem dyuers instrumentis.
- a1525(?1435) Cov.Leet Bk.183 : Also that no smythier ne Brakemon..bye ne selle be colour ne sotell Imagynacion ne Cardwyre ne mystermannes wyre.
b
- a1350 Prov.Hend.(Hrl 2253)264 : 'Of alle mester men mest me hongeþ þeues,' Quoþ Hendyng.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)39/11 : Zuyche reuen, prouost, bedeles, oþre mesteres men, huiche þet hy byeþ, þet makeþ þe greate robbynges and þe wronges ope þe poure.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)36/31 : Þise two mysters men ben þe deuels gonge fermers.
- a1425 Christ.Belief (LoC 4)9/341 : He chased out of þe tempel þe sellars and þe biars, him ale-one, þoff ale [?read: ale-þoff] þe temple ware full of swilk mystermen.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.335 : Ho-so pleyned to þe prince, þat pees shulde kepe, Of þese mystirmen, medlers of wrongis, He was..y-mummyd on þe mouthe and manaced to þe deth.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)2 : Now þe myster-man takith his bowe, and woll schete att þe ymage.
2.
A class or kind of men or women; what ~ is he, what kind of person is he?
Associated quotations
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)506 : Of eche muster men some sholde ysaued beo.
- ?c1335 Þe grace of godde (Hrl 913)65 : Nouþe oþer mister-men þer beþ..Þat wer leuer wend to þere deþ Þan spene þe gode þat god ham send.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1710 : But telleth me what myster [vr. mystiers] men ye been That been so hardy for to fighten here Withouten iuge.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6332 : Now am I maister, now scoler, Now monk, now chanoun, now baily; Whatever myster man am I.
- a1425 PPl.C (Cmb Ff 5.35)3.78 : As beth þese mysterus men.
- c1425 Treat.10 Com.(StJ-O 94)14 : Also of alle coiurisons þat been euyll..Alle þese mester men & wemen..been out of þe feith of haly chirche.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)730 : Palen gan his hewe Whan they hym asken what mystir man he were.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)13 : What mester man Js he..that doth vs here al this distres?
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)63 : Ayens suich a mister man it is good to haue suich a gorgeer.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5903 : Þai wer noȝt knawen what myster men, Noȝt ȝit what þai ware ne when.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)132/255 : What mystyr man dede þe [Mary] mys-vse; Why hast þou synned Ageyn þin husbonde?
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)60 : Burgeys boghit þerto, bedels ande othire, And mony a mesters-mon of maners dyverse.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)2762 : Me thynkys..Largely haste thow seyde; Whate myster man arte thou?
- a1500(a1450) Parton.(1) (Add 35288)1313 : Owte of my bedde, thow mester man..Hoo may þou be?