Middle English Dictionary Entry
nīce n.
Entry Info
| Forms | nīce n. |
| Etymology | From adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A fool; (b) a lascivious or dissolute person; also, a wicked person; dame ~, the personification of wantonness; (c) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4725 : Fulofte he faileth of his game That wol with ydel hand reclame His hauk, as many a nyce doth.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5043 : If it be ony fool or nyce, In whom that Shame hath no justice.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)14420 : After Malgo, Carice þei ches, A nyce þat louede no pes.
- c1450 Whanne marye was greet (Lamb 853)47 : Out of þe wey wole him lede And make of him boþe fool and nyce.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1359 : Hit is not innoghe to þe nice al noȝty þink use, Bot if alle þe worlde wyt his wykked dedes.
- a1450(1414) Whanne alle a kyngdom (Dgb 102)162 : God ȝeue ȝow grace þis reme to ȝeme, To cherische þe goode, and chastyse þe nys.
- c1475 Why Nun (Vsp D.9)236 : Dame lust, dame wantowne, and dame nyce, They ware so there enhabyted.
c
- (1313) Sub.R.Bristol(1) in BGAS 19237 : Ricardus the Nice.