Middle English Dictionary Entry
mūtābilitẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | mūtābilitẹ̄ n. Also mutabilitie, (error) mutabyte. |
| Etymology | OF mutabilité & L mūtābilitas. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Liability to alteration or change; instability, or an instance of it; withouten ~, steadfast, unchangeable; (b) the transience of flowers.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)199 : For entieer love first groundid vpon the Affeccyoun..Voyde of al Chaung and mutabilite.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.223 : The firste trawthe, whiche is God, may not be where mutabilite [L commutabilitas] is founde.
- a1500(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(1))16662 : Thow [Mary] abydest euere in Oon, stable and ffyx, with-oute Mutabylyte.
- a1500(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(1))16964 : O holy Sterre ffyx in stabylnesse, With-oute Eclypsyng Or Mutabylyte.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)108/16 : As longe as þou lyuest, þou art suget to mutabilite.
b
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.8.44 : But the schynynge of thi forme..Certes it es more flyttynge than the mutabilite of floures of the somer sesoun.
2.
(a) The changeableness of Fortune, the world, etc.; disposition to change; inconstancy, or an instance of it; ladi of ~, Fortune; (b) the inconstancy of persons and their behavior; fickleness.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.72 : Þis quene of variaunce [Fortune]..Þis double lady of mutabilite.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1027 : O Fortune, fals and vnassured..Meynt and allaied with mutabilite.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.851 : Fortune..sith hire whiel by no way may sojourne, What woostow if hire mutabilite [vr. mutabilitie], Right as thyselven list, wol don by the?
- ?c1425(c1390) Chaucer Fort.(Benson-Robinson)57 : Thou pinchest at my mutabilitee, For I thee lente a drope of my richesse, And now me lyketh to withdrawe me.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.359 : Thou [Fortune]..First wer founde out hatful dyuysiouns Be thi contreued fals mutabilites.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)2090 : O grasyous anne.. graunt, at my partynge Be þe fatal cours from þis mutabilyte, Me in blysse eterne stablisshed to be!
- c1456(a1449) Lydg.Epistle Sibille (Ashm 59)115 : Al worldly besynesse nis but vanytee..Fresshnesse abydeþe in mutabilitee.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Mum.London (Trin-C R.3.20)2 : Þis lady þat yee may see, Lady of mutabilytee..called is Fortune.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Timor Mortis (Hrl 2255)6 : I gan remembre with-inne my resoun Vpon wourldly mutabilite And to recoorde wel this lessoun, Timor mortis conturbat me.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)848 : Þere preue I schal þe mutabilitee Of þis wreched worldes affeccioun.
- c1450 To thynke (Add 31042)p.318 : To thynke it es a wondir thynge Of this werldis mutabilytee.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)19205 : They may not se ffor to considere the vanyte Off this worldis ffalse veyneglorye, Euere vnsure and transitorye, And fful off mvtabyte [vr. mutabylyte].
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.TWoe (Hrl 2255)4 : Ye that beth blynde with worldly vanyte, No better myrrour than experience, For to declare his mutabilite.
- c1550(a1467) Musyng vppon (Rwl C.813)1 : Musyng vppon the mutabilite off worldlye changes & grett vnstablenes..Best is..to trust In god.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1859 : Þei seyn þat chawng and mutabilite Appropred ben to femynyte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4741 : Where is be-come þi feyned fals constance? In stede of whiche, mvtabilite Hath take his place.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1749 : Allas..that eny doublenesse..Chaunge of word or mutablite, fraude or deceyte or vnstablete, Shuld in a kyng han domynacioun.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)420/389 : In hym was founde no mutabilite; Stable as a wal he stood in his degre.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.1823 : Riht so the wyndi fauour bloweth in veyn, May resemble for a mutabilite, Of them that doon for any comounte.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)1166 : A kynges promys shulde be Iust & stable..Nat Chaunge lightly nor be varyable, And be-war of mutabylite.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1749 : Allas..that eny doublenesse..Chaunge of word or mutablite, fraude or deceyte or vnstablete, Shuld in a kyng han domynacioun.
Note: New spelling
Note: !Quot. already taken under mutabilite n. 2.(b) (3rd quot.)--JL