Middle English Dictionary Entry
monstre n.
Entry Info
| Forms | monstre n. Also moustre; pl. monstres, monstr(o)us. |
| Etymology | OF mostre, monstre, moustre & L monstrum. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A deformed human being or animal, a monstrosity; a mythological or allegorical monster; (b) fig. the goddess Fortuna; (c) a wonder, prodigy, monstrous thing or event; omen, portent.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3302 : Was neuere wight sith that this world bigan That slow so manye monstres [vrr. monstrous; monslers; mynstres, maystries] as dide he [Hercules].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.404 : Of comun name Gorgones In every contre ther aboute, As Monstres whiche that men doute, Men clepen hem.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5275 : King Mynos hadde in his kepinge A cruel Monstre..half man and half beste, And Minotaurus he was hote.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9846 : If þou fand..A barn..þat had thre fete and handes thre..Sli scap to se was na ferlik, Bot monstres [Göt: monstrus] moght man call þam like.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2505 : It is an ernes and no game With suche monstres vnwarly for to dele.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3438 : From þe myddel vp vn-to þe crowne He was a man, & þe remenaunte doune Bar of an hors liknes and figure; And horsis her þis monstre in nature Hadde on his skyn.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.7.59 : Hercules slouh the monstre Kacus.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)30/4 : A monstre [F monstre] is a þing difformed aȝen kynde both of man or of best.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)140/18 : Þare es anoþer ile..whare geauntz er..fyfty fote lang, sum sexty..þer may ma man com in to þat ile þat ne he schall alssone be strangled with þa monstres.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1928 : This Mynos hadde a monstre, a wiked best.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.935 : For eddris, spritis, monstris [L monstra: L gloss.: portentis], thyng of drede, To make a smoke and stynk is good in dede.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)15/18 : He delyuered Andromeda fro the bellue; This was a kynges doughter, the which he delyuered from a monstre of the see.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3774,3777 : 'Monstre Maryne' men seide hit hight..So wonderful best no man þer knew; Swylk calle men 'Monstre', als y fynde, Þat lymes hauen out of kynde.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)159 : These poetes feyne þat þer were thre monstres..men or women mis schapin, for þei thre had but o hed and on eye.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)74 : Grace dieu..ledde a wenche that hadde noone yen as me thouhte at the firste..But whan she was nyh comen..I sigh that hire sighte was set in hire haterel bihynde..'Lady,' quod j, 'of this monstre..wolde j fayn wite the name.'
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)7/19 : These thre abhominable monstres [Deffyaunce, Indignacyon and Desesperaunce] hadde appered before me.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)20/19 : My visage was turned and my fantasie fermely sette towarde thes three monstres vnto the tyme Vndirstondinge drowgh himself towarde þe parties of my mynde.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2062 : O..venym queynte, O monstre that so subtilly kanst peynte Thy yiftes vnder hewe of stedefastnesse..Why hastow Ianuarie thus deceyued?
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.1.17 : The felefolde colours and desceytes of thilke merveylous monstre [L prodigii], Fortune.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)628 : Fals Fortune..She is the monstres [vr. Mowstres] hed ywrien, As fylthe over-ystrawed with floures.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.5.4 : It byfelle..to be seen fourty days horsmen rennyng aboute by the eyre..Wherfore alle men preyeden, the monstris [L monstra] or wondres, tokne of thingus to cummyng, for to be togidre turned in to good.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1344 : For wende I neuere..That swich a monstre [vrr. mister, muster, maistrie] or merueille myghte be; It is agayns the proces of nature.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.213 : It is lyk a monstre and a merveyle, how that, in the presente sight of God, may ben acheved..swiche thynges.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.1.44 : That were a greet merveille..and wel more horrible than alle monstres, yif it were as thou wenest.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)344 : Was it not eek a moustre [?read: monstre] as in nature Þat god I-bore was of a virgine?
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)599 : It wer a monstre a-geyn natur..That a gret Mastyff shuld a Leoun bynde.