Middle English Dictionary Entry
mūtāciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | mūtāciǒun n. Also mutasion, mwtacioun. |
| Etymology | L mūtātio & OF mutacïon. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The act or process of changing; a change or alteration of circumstances, actions, character, nature, etc.; vicissitude of fortune; transformation of one thing into something else; in ~, changeable, fickle; ~ of kingdoms, civil upheaval, violent change; ~ of ordre of presthod, ?the transferal of the office of priesthood from one individual or his line to another [quot.: Mandev.(1)].
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)121a/b : Þere is double mevinge of mutacioun and chaungeinge: ouþir þe meovinge is of chaunginge fro place to place oþir of chaunginge of disposicyoun in to anoþir disposicioun.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)31/12 : Now þe wynde is lowd, now is it stille. Þe see ebbith & flowiþ..Aȝens þese mutacions grucche no man, for þei ben naturel.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.6.89 : Weenestow that thise mutacions [L uices] of fortunes fleten withouten governour.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.1.35 : But no sodeyn mutacioun ne bytideth noght withouten a manere chaungynge of corages.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.3.37 : Feble and light is the hand of Circes the enchaunteresse, that chaungith the bodyes of folk into beestes, to regard and to comparysoun of mutacioun [vr. Mutasion] that is makid by vices!
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.164 : Thilke ordenaunce moveth the hevene and the sterres, and atemprith the elementz togidre..and transformeth hem by entrechaungeable mutacioun [L commutatione].
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)70/25 : Þere spak god..to Samuell and schewed him the mutacioun of ordre of presthode & the misterie of the sacrement.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)44b/a : Þe more coniunccionz..signifieþ wonderful þingez stronge and ferdful & mutacionz [Ch.(2): chaungynge] of kyngdomez, comyngz of prophetez, & grete mortaliteez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)57a/a : By spasme vnderstondeþ Aueroys decurtacioun of membrez..for in it is noȝt take a way operacioun as is in peralisy, bot þer is mutacioun.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.3397 : Men bi langage shewe out ther ententis, The naturall meeuyng & mutaciouns Accord & discord of the foure elementis, Kyndli variaunce of foure complecciouns.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)40.10 : Sche that hire lord loved Sovereinly..for non temptacioun hire herte was Neuere In Mwtacyoun.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)965 : In myn age wrastle with hardenesse, That with hym stroglid neuere in grennesse Of youthe, þat mutacion and chaunge An othir day me seeme shulde al straunge.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)23 : The bred in to quik flesh he turned..the wyn he turnede in to red blood..ther shulde noon kunne telle of non swich mutacioun [F mutation] that hath so wunderful a renown.
- c1450 Royal SSecr.(Roy 18.A.7)26/24 : And necessite constrayne the to chaunge custome, thou muste done it wisely, that is to say, litille and litille, and thus with helpe of god shalle thi mutacioun be good.
- a1456 Affter þe stormy tyme (Trin-C R.3.20)19 : At whiche tyme [spring], nuwe mutacyoun To alle grene thinges doþe consolacyoun.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)3280 : To hem he gaff pleynly power To maken..That merveyllous mutacion, Bred in-to flesshe, wyn in-to blood.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)29/33 : He..in the euirlasting throne of His eternyte hath an ententif regarde vpon þe mutacion of temporall lordeschippis and chaungith their fortunes..tymes..placis.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)120/148 : The course of the planettes..maken your transitory tymes with chaunginge of lyves and mutacion of people.