Middle English Dictionary Entry
mistrust n.
Entry Info
| Forms | mistrust n. Also mistrost. |
| Etymology | From trust n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Lack of faith or confidence; disbelief, distrust; also personified [quot.: Lydg.CBK]; (b) ~ in (of, to), distrust of (sb.); ~ of, doubt as to the probability of help; (c) suspicion; haven in ~, to be suspicious of (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.780 : For evere som mystrust or nice strif Ther is in love, som cloude is over that sonne.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3981 : Till Jelousie hath us blamed Of mystrust and suspecioun, Causeles, withoute enchesoun.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)505 : When Mystrust also, and Fals-suspecion, With Mys-Beleve she made for to be Chefe of counseyle.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)66/8 : He..said that he wold byde no lenger in his courte in mystruste ne in susspeccion.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)118/79 : Þe Aungel Apperyd..Seynge I xulde conseyve, and hym thought nay Sethe ffor his mystrost he [Joseph] hath be dowm Al-way.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.1259 : The mistrust of Iudas greved God more Than all the grete offence he hadde doo afore.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)79/15 : Feere..is a mystrust of the herte which makith a man dredefull to trust God.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)80/3 : What thing is worse thanne money, which comonly is groced vp by vntrouþe of the getters and is kepte through mistrust of the holders?
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)125/36 : Mistrust with foly, with yvel wil medled, engendreth that welked padde!
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.53 : No mistrust I have of hire..I trowe, in al this world to seche, Nis womman that in dede and speche Woll betre avise hire what sche doth.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.323 : I sey nought this for no mistrust [vr. mys-trost] of yow..but for foles nyce.
- (1469) Paston (Gairdner)5.44 : I dowte not..that my brother will put no mystrust in you.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)5760 : To you..now haue I noo mystrost.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)105/10 : And oftentymes mystruste of helpe enforceth nature and fortune to save þem that shulde be perishid.
c
- c1450(c1430) Brut-1430 (Glb E.8)423/27 : In the Frensshe side stode a pale dichid, for mistruste that they had of the Engelisshe pepull.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)6184 : By cause she had hym in mystrost, Allway she demyd the [?read: that he] wold hir quyte.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)124/21 : Ne frostes of mistrust, ne hayles of jelousy right litel might have in harming of suche springes.