Middle English Dictionary Entry
mǒrning(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | mǒrning(e ger. Also mǒurning(e, mō̆rning(e, morening(e, moroneng, morneinge, morningge, mourening, murning(e, (Cornish) morningh, (early) murnung(e, (errors) mornening, moringe, mournig(ge, murnig(e, marninge, mornmoying. |
| Etymology | OE murnung |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Sorrow, sadness, grief; ~ and sorwe; dol (sorwe) and ~, in mirthe other in ~, ~ and mirthe, etc.; (b) ~ bitiden, to beset (sb.) with sorrow; amenden his ~, menden thi ~, cheer him (you); ben broght in ~, be made to sorrow; fallen in ~, fallen into a ~, sorrow; (c) worry, apprehension; anxiety; a worry; also, a reverie [quot.: Lovel.]; dred and ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)175/9 : Habbeð þah to ower bihoue..alle cuðe sunnen, as of prude..of sum fals gleadunge, oðer of heui murnunge [Cleo: murnung; Tit: murninge].
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)51/172 : Heo bi-lefte, þo it was non oþur, in gret deol and mournyng.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6078 : Ac þe king of engelond in such sor & morninge Carede of is ȝonge sones mest of alle þinge.
- c1330(c1250) Floris (Auch)44 : Child, ful of mourning I þe se.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)123 : Accedie..is as a derne mournig in mod And makeþ man anuied to do god.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)571 : Þus þat maiden meliors in mornyng þa liuede..here mete & al merthe sche missed in a while.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)742 : In his mochel morning, on a morwe he rises, For kare þat kom to his hert.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 1.16 : Of þe multitude of sorewe & of my moornynge [Corp-O: mournynge; WB(2): morenyng; L mæroris] I hafe spokyn.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.12.25 : Mornynge [WB(2): Morenynge] in þe herte of þe riȝtwis man shal meeken hym.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)28.279/2 : Þer nis Emperour ne kyng þat he nis oþur while in Mournyng.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)262 : Your perle is..in þis gardyn gracios gaye, Hereinne to lenge for euer and play, Þer mys nee mornyng com neuer.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)13.203 : Myscheifs and myshappes, and menye tribulacions By-tokneþ ful triweliche in tyme comynge after Murthe for hus mornynge and þat muche plente.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)18.147 : Then suweþ þe þy soule to sorwe oþer to ioye..In murthe oþer in mornynge.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.995 : Wives and childer eke disconsolat, In wo abide, mournynge, & distresse.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)27/2 : Calays men, now mai ȝe care, And murnig mun ȝe haue to mede.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1450 : For now es mirthe, now es murnyng, Now es laghter and now es gretyng.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1846 : Þe mare þat twa togyder lufes..þe mare sorow and murnyng Byhoves be at þair departyng.
- (1442) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23252 : The grete moornyng and sorowe that the people have for youre the departyng fro hem.
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle Luf es lyf (Cmb Dd.5.64)72 : Whasa had hym in his syght, or in his hert hym knew, His mournyng turned til joy ful bryght, his sang intil glew.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)29.183 : Ther may non Abiden vndir this tre -- thowh glad & Joyful that he be -- but ȝif In Moroneng [F dolans] he parte Away.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1394 : Þanne medelyth no mornynge, But joye is joynyd wyth jentyl gynne.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)1121 : In care and moornyng he ledes hys lyff.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)345/18 : Þe swerde of bitter mowrnynge peresede þe sowle of þat treweste moder.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5988 : The grekes keuriyt for comford by comyng of hym..The Troiens full tyte were tyrnit to ground, Thurghe Achilles chiualry..Of myrthe & of murnyng thurgh might of hym one.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)3057 : Shalle I never be withoute moornynge, Tille I of him be wreke.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.13 : I, wrecche, þat whilom was in welthe..Now am I set in sorowes and vnselthe; Wiþ mournyng now my merþe I most respite.
- c1450 PPl.B (RwlPoet 38)14.237 : So he is neuere murie, Withoute mornynge amonge and mischief to bote.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)47/135 : Lat be, good fadyr, ȝour sad wepynge..tell me, fadyr, ȝour grett mornyng, and I xal seke sum help þer-fore.
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)350 : Meche mournynge and myrthe was mellyd togeder.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)825 : So greet sorowe hym was vpan Gladlyche hys lyf he wold a forgon In care and in marnynge.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.22.67b : Appese thi self and cesse of thi pietows complaynt and put a way al mornyng and hevynesse.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)4890 : It angreþ hem..And ful of mornyng þei ben þerfore And þoleth greet..woo.
- a1500 Welcome be ȝe (Cmb Ff.1.6)8 : But in gladnesse I swym and baine, Ye haue my mornyng dreven away!
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4235 : O cumforth wald he nathing here; Es noght his murning mai amend.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)13866 : He say him al mournyng bi-tid, For iewes so had him chid.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)2204 : I sal þe hyght To mend þi murnyng at my myght.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)6/27 : How þis soule fel into a mornynge for þe blyndnesse of hem whiche weren drenchid in þe..flood.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Satan & P.(Corp-C 296)269 : For sumtyme þes children frendis fallen in mornynge to deþ, & sumtyme bi myschef ben dede where here children þus stolen schulden ellis helpe hem.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)585 : So was sche Sorweful..and thus jn morneng and wrathe sche fyl jn slepe.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)2390 : He gan to fal in grete mournyng, Deid he wende Dame Sereyn bene.
- c1475(a1400) Amadace (Tay 9)p.42 : Thoȝhe Sir Amadace wasse in mournyng broȝte, His curtase forȝete he noȝte.
c
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2908 : Moyses told hem ðis tidding, Ðog woren he get in strong murnig.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1751 : In dreȝ droupyng of dreme draueled þat noble, As mon þat watz in mornyng of mony þro þoȝtes.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)21.180 : Into A gret Morneng he fyl Anon [F coumencha moult durement a penser].
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)138/10 : A kynge sholde be Pyteous, Enchu wreth, and the mowrnynges of his corage to hyde and hele, that he be not y-holde hastly..othyr vnwyse.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10642 : Bitwene þe soule and þe body Ben foure þinges redily Whanne þat þei departe shal, Drede and mornyng..Sorwe and peine.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10645 : Drede haþ the soule and greet mournyng For it ne knoweþ where it is to comyng.
2.
(a) A lament, an expression of sorrow; sorrowing, lamentation, complaint; mourning for a death; maken ~, to lament, complain; mourn; also fig.; (b) ~ blak, blak ~, black cloth of mourning garments; ~ clothes (habit, wede), clothes of ~, mourning garments; ~ hous, ?a tomb, ?a chapel for commemoration; ~ time, daies of ~, a period of time specified for mourning; dite of ~, a poem of lamentation; token of ~, a sign of mourning.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1598 : An mine gode song for hire þinge Ich turne sundel to murnige [Jes-O: murnynge].
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3205 : For swinc and murning hem was on Fro ðe liches in-to ðe erðe don.
- a1350 Ichot a burde in boure (Hrl 2253)85 : For hire loue al nyht ich wake; for hire loue mournyng y make more þen eny mon.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4270 : What helpeþ ous swiche morning? Fond we ous to bistere And our lond sumdel to were.
- c1330(?a1300) KAlex.(Auch)370/42 : Lete be, sir, swiche morninge, And go comfort þi genge.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1406 : Þe mochel mornyng þei made for here frendes, whanne þei wist witterly whiche in batayle deyde.
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)1917 : On his face þan fell he doune And kest powder o-pon his croune; ffull mykell mornyng gan he make And sorowd for his fader sake.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3765 : Ther is non of ȝow þat wot to wys Wather he ys ded or quyke; þer-for leteþ al ȝour mornynge.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3797 : Rolond askede..Yf sche couþe hym telle, Whar-for was mad þat gret mornyng [F freour] Amonges þe Sarazyns olde & ȝyng, As hy þar herden alle.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 7.34 : I herde the mornyng [L gemitum] of hem, and I caam down for to delyuere hem.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mal.2.13 : And eftsoone ȝe diden this thing: ȝe hilliden with teris the auter of the Lord, with weepyng and mournyng [WB(2): mourenyng; vr. weiling; L mugitu].
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2968 : By proces and by lengthe of certeyn yerys Al stynted is the moornynge and the terys Of Grekes.
- c1390 Þe wyse mon in (Vrn)144 : Whon oþur lauȝwhen, he schal make murning [L cruciabitur merorem; F ert mournez].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.621 : Ther was greet moornyng [vrr. mournyng, mornmoyng, Morneinge, morenyng; mvrmuryng] Among the peple.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)4229 : But al his mournyng [Göt: murnig; Frf: waymentinge] for to rede Ouþer to speke, hit myȝt not spede.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4486 : Ne seiȝ man neuere man ne kyng Make so mychel mournyng..He gradde 'Wele-away!'
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)2318 : Þan herd he men grete murning make.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)13/206 : He..Fell in se..And all þe shipmen þat þore ware Made murning with mekill care.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Job 30.31 : Myn harpe is turned in to morenyng, and myn orgun in to the vois of weperis.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.8.26 : Þat spyrite..makys us to aske with mournyngys [L gemitibus] þat may not ben told.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)54b/a : Querimonia: mornynge or playnt.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)49/2 : Þei maden meche doel amonges the monkes whan he scholde dye, & ȝit þei ben in moornynge in the wise þat þei maden here lamentacioun for him the firste tyme.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)68/19 : Sche herd and saw in hir gostly sygth þe mornyng of owyr Lady..and of many oþer þat louyd owyr Lord.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.49 : Hir habit was of manyfold colours..Feynt blak for moornyng, russet for trauaille.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)286 : A man may..do to hym certeyn meenys and helpis þe bettir to kepe degrees of vertues comaundid to hym, whiche meenys and helpis..ben fastyngis..moornyng or desolacioun, [etc.].
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)17907 : Telle me..why thou makest so gret morneng and with þi blereyed eyen so sore wepyng.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)17916 : Eft-sones he made his gret moorneng [F duel a faire].
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2001 : Þey sorwedone & sykede sore..hurre mowrenyng was allere-mast.
- ?a1450(?1350-75) Res.Dom.in Norris Anc.Corn.Drama (Bod 791)438 : Ow mornyngh vyth ogh ha tru.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9079 : The Troiens did aske The corse of the kyng..ffor to bery in the burghe on hor best wise, ffor whom mournyng was made mekill ynogh.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)186 : For vnto wo acordeth compleynyng..And pitouse morenyng vnto drerynesse.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)120/20 : No-thynge schal be herde in helle bot wepynge and sorowynge, mornynge [L gemitus] and weylynge, sorynesse and gristynge of tethe.
- c1455 Spec.Miser.(Tak 32)127 : Make thow theer fore no more mornyngge, ffro thy deeht thow most nedis drye.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)14/467 : Of crystys deth..they make gret mornyng and be ful wo.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)95/19 : Synful lijf schulde appere to vs looþsum, hateable, fleable..for it is, in as moche as in vs is, dryuyng þe and þin aungels and þi seintis into sorewing, moornyng and birewing.
- c1475 Why Nun (Vsp D.9)98 : Lord to my mornyng be mediate.
- a1500(?c1414) ?Brampton PPs.(1) (Sln 1853)p.11 : To the my moornyng [vr. mornenyng] I make; On me have mercy and pyte.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.34.8 : Folfulled been þe dayȝes of mornynge [Corp-O: mournynge; WB(2): weilyng; L planctus] of hem weylynge Moises.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)p.76 : Thou seist it were more almes to helpen the nedy, than to make siche housynge to men that ben deede, to whiche longith but graves and mornynge housis.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4440 : They went on foote bare..In tokyn of mournyng.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.27.41 : Esau seide in his herte, The daies of morenyng [WB(1): weilyng; L luctus] of my fadir schulen come.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4756 : For also wel wol love be set..be amourettes In mournyng blak [F buriaus], as bright burnettes.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)1/20 : He did of al his knyȝtly clothinges and cladde mornyng clothes.
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)4 : Þei..bosten..in owtward signes or wordes, as mornynge abite, lettris of fraternite, þat crien here holynesse and synguler deuocions bifor men.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Possessioners (Corp-C 296)123 : Siche on is a dede careyne gon out of his sepulcre, wlappid with cloþis of morynge [read: mornynge].
- c1460(?c1435) Lydg.Let.Glo.(Hrl 2255)5 : Whan I wrot, myn hand I felte quake, Tokne of mornyng, weryd clothys blake.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.456 : Dites of murnyng and off compleynynge Nat appertene onto Calliope.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.442 : Thei cladde hem in moornyng clothes blake.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.337 : What dost thou heer in thi murnyng habite?
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.1343 : Afftir..Cam gret noumbre..of Iacobis hih kynreede..Lik folk dismaied, clad in moornyng weede.
- c1440 C.d'Orl.When shal thow (Paris fr.25458)224/127 : In blake mournyng is clothyd my corage.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)6926 : Whan mowrenyng tyme ypast, She may..forsake hir clothes blake.
3.
Remorse; an expression of remorse; a feeling of remorse; regret.
Associated quotations
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)51/19 : Offre þou morninges, and be sori þat þou hast so ofte wiþ synnes lost Crist, þi make.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)47/27 : Desier wiþ an inward bittirnes for offence to God waxe togiders in þis soule forseid, ȝit, þoruȝ þe hope þe which oure Lord had putt in hir, þe bittirnes and þe moornyng was lassid & decreessid in her.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)191 : Holy writt..techeþ mekenesse, mornynge for oure synnys & oþere mennus.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)91 : For þei don not here sacrifices bi mekenesse of herte & mornynge & compunccion for here synnes.
- a1450(1410) This holy tyme make (Dgb 102)38 : Weel ȝow shryue..Ne derne mornyng counterfete.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1920 : Þai sal pray in godes precens, Noght with crying ne voce ful grete, Bot with murnyng on brest to bete.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)60/3 : He had prechid ofte sithe þat þere schuld no cristen man passe owt of þe world with-outen mornyng and compleint for defautes in whech he hath falle.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)374 : Spiritual mornynge or weylynge is slayne..For it is not axyd in þe chirche if he kan..wepe & weyle for synys.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.5.4a : Stille mournigges..scourin and clensin þe herte fram al þe fulthe of synne.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)68/19 : Þenke on þy synnes wiþ gret displesaunce & mornyng [L mœrore].
4.
Love-longing, yearning; ben in ~, to endure love-longing.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.2 : The Princes douȝter, Admiraud..lovede him in durne love, in gret murnynge and in wo.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)181/9 : He gan to louien hire in folie, and for hire was in mourninge [Corp-C: mornynge].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3706 : Ywis lemman, I haue swich loue longyng That lyk a turtel trewe is my moornyng [vrr. mournynge, Morneinge]; I may nat ete namoore than a mayde.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4060 : Jn mychel loue is grete mournynge; Jn mychel nede is grete þankynge.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1400 PLove (Hrl 2254)132/13 : A what sorwe wat wepynge and what mornynge þou shalt make.
Note: Additional quote(s)