Middle English Dictionary Entry
multitūde n.
Entry Info
| Forms | multitūde n. Also (errors) multitudo, multude. |
| Etymology | OF & L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A large number of persons or things; ~ of; (b) a large amount, abundance, greatness; mass; (c) a crowd, host, army, mob, flock; a great progeny; (d) a sum, size, total number (not necessarily large); plurality, multiplicity; (e) as adj.: multitudinous.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.16.10 : Þi seed..schall not be noumbrid for þe multitude [L multitudine].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Esd.14.22 : Haue mynde of me, my god, & spare to me after þe multitude [WB(2): mychilnesse] of þi myseraciouns.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)1 Pet.4.8 : Charite couerith the multitude of synnes.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.2201 : Hanybal..of Romeins..a multitude slowh.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)166b/b : Multitude [L multiplicitas] of Ryuers and of welles maken þis mount libanus myry.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)270b/b : Multitude of spiþeres is tokene of moche reyn.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (LdMisc 210)7/4 : In charite, þat heleþ, as Seynt Ieme seyþ, multitude of synnes.
- a1425 Methodius(1) (Hrl 1900)101/4 : Þe castels..of hem was myche multitude.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)108/4 : Men of ynde..neuere gon out of here owne contree, & þerfore is þer gret multitude of peple.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)120b/b : To tineam folweth multiplicacioun of pediculez, & mltitude [read: multitude; Ch.(2): multiplicacioun] of pediculez pretendeþ lepre.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)37b/a : Þe herte..is cleped drye be cause of multitude of spirites.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)61b/b : Þe..Ieiunium..is voide made be multitude of veines.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)111a/b : Þer is gret inflacioun & multitude of teres.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)116/22 : The multitude of outward scrophules bytokeneþ pluralite of ham wiþynneforth.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)132/20 : Blerednesse of þe eyȝe liddes and multitude of teres.
- (c1438) *Proc.Chanc.PRO ser.C 1 file 9no.168 : A multitude of pleyntes of dette, accompte, and trespas.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)348 : Multytude, of grete nowmbyr: Multitudo.
- (c1448) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1p.lxiii : Pembroke halle and Clare halle..are of grete Reputacion for good and worshipful clerkis..by grete multitude haue be bredde and brought forth in theym.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)603 : Myȝt no stede doun stap, bot..on burne oþer on beste..So myche was þe multitude þat on þe molde lafte.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)69 : Slik was þe multitude of mast..a hare wod it semyd.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)391/15 : Sho saw..a grete multitude of handis haldyng vp.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)129 : Þis cherch stant ny in þe most multitude of houses.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)43/32 : He say weel þat, for þe grete multitude of causes & þe grete prees of straungeris..he must hold a houshold.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)393 : Þe clerkis han many grete & smale perquisitiuys..þat for multitude may not wel be nowmbred.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)88b/b : Þe multitude of þe senewis and þe ligamentis..in þat place comen togideris.
- a1500(c1380) Wycl.Papa (Ryl Eng 86)477 : Þey..han foundid perpetuel abbeys in so myche multitude.
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)8 : Truste nat oonly in men is multitude.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)272 : There be but planetis sevyne Amonge the multitude of sterris.
- a1500 *Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)43/3 : But and ther be enythinge þat puttith you vndir them it is nothinge ellis but the multude [vr. multitude] of your synnys.
- a1500 12 PTrib.(2) (Rwl C.894)393 : After the multitude of the sorrowes in myn herte, thi comfortis hane gladdid my soule.
b
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)30.23 : Michel his þe multitude of þy swetnes.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)51.7 : He hoped in þe multitude of his riches.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 1.16 : Of þe multitude of sorewe & of my moornynge, I hafe spokyn.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.5.8 : In þe multitude of þi mercy I shal entren in to þyn hous.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.36.11 : Þe bonere..shuln..delyten in þe multitude of pes.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.150.2 : Preise ȝee hym after þe multitude of þe gretnesse of hym.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.40.26 : And alle bi name he clepeth, for multitude of strengthe.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.60.5 : Conuertid shal be to thee the multitude [L multitudo] of the se.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)44b/b : For multitude & plente of þe erþy partye..þey [hairs] ben I-ryveled & I-wralled.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)132b/b : Cole..tofalliþ in to multitude of asschen.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)304b/b : Blaknesse gendreþ ye by cause of multitude of moysture.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)318b/b : If þe norice haue moche multitude of milk, ofte it noyeþ.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)98/7 : If þat greet multitude of blood lettiþ, þat may be knowen bi ful replecioun of þe veines of al þe bodi.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)81/1 : Aftur þe multitude of here wickednes, cast hem out.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)148a/a : Abstening..fro multitude [Ch.(2): mykel] of rydyng & labour of þe backe.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)102a/a : Water..may not be..sende to þe places þat he schulde gone to be cause of his multitude.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)145/21 : In multitude of slepe, sodeyne stranglynge is dradde.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)390/28 : Þat it [cure] be bygonne wiþ blode laste, if þat ther be multitude of blood.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)106/71 : It es impossibel to com bot in a grete multitude of lufe.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)14.828 : For multitude of blood no man hem sye.
- ?c1450 Brut-1447 (Trin-C O.9.1)483 : The frute was all goon..for þe multitude of watere þat come of þe hayle and rayne.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)64b/b : If þu parseyue..þat þer be to myche multitude quytture gaderid in þe wounde, þanne it muste be vndo.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)114/30 : Greet multitude of heer vpon bothe þe shuldres bytokyns ffoltynesse.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)8/5 : Þe poure man & meke in spirite is delited in multitude of pes.
c
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.57 : Þe grete multitude..stood bifore þe throne, þat noman ne miȝth noumbre.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.16.30 : Þe hous fel vp on alle þe princys & þe toþer multitude þat þer was.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Wisd.4.3 : Þe manye-fold goten multitude of vnpitous men shal not ben profitable.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 15.12 : Al the multitude heeld pees.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2449 : At congregacions and multitudes of folk..fooles han the maistrie.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2846 : The victorie of batailles..lith nat in greet nombre or multitude of peple..but..in the hand of oure lord god almyghty.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1810 : Perseus..With al his multitude rod.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3737 : He schop to gon This multitude to assaile.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)prol.6/12 : We ne schuleþ not drede þe multitude of oure enemyes.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)48/10 : Þou maist murie singe wiþ þe muchel multitudo of angelis.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4318 : Þe Grekis with double multitude Gan hem enchace to þe deth.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3538 : Þe maner is of women..To drawe þedir..Where as þei be sure þat multitude Gadrid is.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.16.40 : Thei shulen lede to vpon thee a multitude, and thei shulen stoone thee with stoonus.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.Lear (Göt Hist 740)283 : Her fadyr held..Of knyghtes to gret multitud.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.3.54 : Pervertede..thurw the errour of the wikkide or unkunnynge multitude of hem.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.5.20 : Thy cuntre..nys nat governed by emperoures, ne by governement of multitude, as weren the cuntrees of hem of Atthenes.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)31/2 : Þer commes rukes and crakes and oþer fewles flyand..in grete multitude togyder.
- (1430-1) RParl.4.386a : Thomas Boys..with grete multitude of armed men entred into the said Burgages.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2905 : Of siche a grett multytude was meruayle to here.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)6a : A litel tauȝt multitude in werres and bataillus is redier and more worþ to geten victorie..þan an vntauȝt multitude.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)28a : More multitude of werriours wel vsed to dedes of armes may wiþ lasse cost be norschid.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)546 : I went my wai for þe multitude, Me to refressh oute of þe prese allone.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)389/18 : Alle þe company and multitude of blessid spirites..schullen be ioyfully make drunken.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)191/30 : The multitude of people that followed him were drowned by brekinge of the yse.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.81 : Mony multitudes [Trev.: companyes; L turmæ] of peple may sytte vnder..oon figge tre.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)115/1932 : Grete multitude he hath forsente, Of knyghtes and barouns bolde.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)23.6 : Swilk is the getynge, that is, multitud [WB(1) (Bod 959): generacioun: L generacio], of tha that sekis him.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)220/21 : There folowyd hym a multitude of olde fadres vnnumerable.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)68/124 : To abraam and Isaac And iacob I sayde shuld be blyst, And multytude of them to make, so that thare seyde shuld not be myst.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)325b/a : A nombre is a multitude y-gadred by ofte takyng of oon.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)325b/b : In oon is no multitude.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.5.52 : Of thy dessertes..thow hast seyd soth, but after the multitude of thy gode dedes, thou hast seyd fewe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)49b/a : Þe vtilite off þe multitude of þe tunykels of þe yȝen is for þre skilles.
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick252 : We charge..that ther be more multitude to sarufe the qwere.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)92b : He..can trewely iuge..of his owne copie or multitude and eke of his aduersaries.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)62/18 : To declare þe nombre and þe multitude of a Cohorte..þer be two maner Cohortes, þe more and þe lasse, & þe more..conteynyth fyve hunderid.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)2 : Of þe multitude of paleys in rome.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)25/10-11 : Multitude ouȝte be refusid where þat multitude may be lackid and avoidid.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)51/5 : Sum man vsiþ..worldly godis..withoute eny refuse of her multitude or quantite.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1969 : She [Arsmetryk] taught vs..that nombre ys A multitude of vnytees.
e
- c1450(c1430) Brut-1430 (Glb E.8)404 : For the sodeyne and multitude dethe that was euyry day amonges hem for lakke of ffode..the pepull with-ynne come to the wallis.