Middle English Dictionary Entry
morgāǧe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | morgāǧe n. |
| Etymology | OF morgage, mort gaige. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The conveyance of property as security for a loan or agreement; also fig.; leien in(to ~, setten to ~, to mortgage (land, possessions); lien (ben) in ~, be mortgaged; (b) putten lif in ~, to offer (one's) life as security for an agreement; offer trial by combat; (c) a pledge; in ~, as a pledge; leven (yeven) herte in ~, to pledge (one's) heart; taken merci in ~, accept mercy as a pledge, be merciful.
Associated quotations
a
- c1460(?c1435) Lydg.Let.Glo.(Hrl 2255)38 : My purs and I be callyd to the lure Off indigence, our stuff leyd in morgage.
- (1440) *Proc.Chanc.PRO ser.C 1 file 9no.457 : John Wodewyk..leyde certeyne londes & tenementez..for v marces in morgage.
- (1442) Proc.Privy C.5.200 : Chaunceller wol leye both his goodes in morgage & be bounde.
- (1448) Paston2.86 : I am aferd that Jon of Sparham is so schyttyl wyttyd, that he wyl sett hys gode to morgage to Heydon.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)31/35 : Þei taken hem ofte here londes and rentes..in wedde and in dede wedde, as morgage..þat ben lost for euere-more.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)123/27 : Gouyl is whanne þou lenyst monye for a rente in morgage & takyst þe profyȝt þerof, tyl þe day come of payment, and þanne þou takyst aȝen þin hole payment & rewardest noȝt þat þou hast takyn þerof.
- c1450 Okure þrow (Eg 2810)p.231 : Þat is quene a mon fore a vauntage Lenes syluer for rente in morgage.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1513 : My moblis wol nat suffice..But yf I leyde in morgage my lond & eke my rent.
- (1469) Paston (Gairdner)5.48 : Wherfor I beseche yow to sende me comfort with what money ye coude fynde the menys to get or chevysche uppon suerte sufficient, er uppon lyflod to be inmorgage er yit solde.
- (1475) RParl.6.147b : It is ordeyned..that all Maners, Londes, Tenementes, Rentes, Reversions, Possessions, and other Enheritamentes of the which any persone..were seased, or had any astate, title, right, interesse, or possession..in any maner morgage..be not forfeted.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)18860 : My skrippe and my bordoun Ben I-leffte in that hostage And lyne in maner off morgage, And I ne may not hem recure.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.OFools (LdMisc 683)47 : Malapert of cheer and off vysage..he..Of ech thyng medlith; his thrifft lith in [vr. to] morgage.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)180/28 : Many their be..which haue leyde their londe to morgage [vr. in morgage; CQ(1): haue..morgaged; F ont..engaigees] and aftirward haue fallin in grete pouerte.
- ?a1500 Purchasers Land (Lamb 306)44 : Se that the lande be cleere..And whethir it be in any morgage.
b
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Consulo (Hrl 2255)30 : Lyke thy felaship spare no daungerys, For lyff nor deth thy lyff put in morgage [rime: language].
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Guy (LdMisc 683)143 : The Denmark dukis..Requyred..To haue answere or pleggis for hostage..How they caste hem to puttyn in morgage The lyff of tweyne.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4228 : Forthi scholde every good man knowe..hou that in mariage His trouthe plight lith in morgage.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3549 : Þe tyme is set..And my trouþe for morgage in depos, Þat in al haste I shal make a dyvos Atwixe þe and þe quene Eleyne.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.4038 : Myhti princis sholde..For innocentes take merci in morgage, Respityng rigour til ther ire asswage.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)2/37 : For sewrte more he leuys in morgage His hert.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)125/3720 : I redy am here forto bie hem welle, Which geue yow shalle myn hert as in morgage, Hit to dispende as yowre owen heritage.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1766 : Let the trowith, on both sidis, be morgage & I-plegg, That who-so be I-matid, graunt & assent To do the todirs bidding.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400 PPl.Z (Bod 851)3.95 : The mase for a mene man, thouȝ a mote euere, Wythouten mony or mede or morgage ys landus: Lawe ys so lordlyche ant loth to make hynde.
Note: Antedates sense (a)