Middle English Dictionary Entry
nīce adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | nīce adj. Also nici, nis(e, nisse & nece, neci, nesi. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of persons: foolish, frivolous; ignorant; (b) of actions, words, thoughts, faces, gestures, etc.: foolish, absurd, senseless, mistaken; (c) ?wild, uncultivated; primitive.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Magd.(2) (LdMisc 108)493 : Bote ich þe [seide] hou heo heold mi lif, for-soþe ich were nice.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2326 : He was nyce & ne couþe no wisdom.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)59/1282 : He..wente fram hem als moppe and nice.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)86/21-2 : Þaȝ folk þe heelde a nice man, Þer-fore nert þou nauȝt nyce.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)59/7 : Þe wordle zelf ham halt uor fol and uor vilayn and uor nice.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)491 : Ich am vn-wis & wonderliche nyce.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5843 : Þou art a nycy man, þat þou dost me rede To by-lyue on such a mon þat was on a croys y-don.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.925 : Ye been lewed and nyce [vr. nys]; It was nat tempred as it oghte be.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.525 : Myn herte, to pitous and to nyce, Al innocent of his crowned malice..Graunted hym loue.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)72b/b : A wise seruaunt schal haue maistrie and lordschipe vppon nyse [L stultis] children.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)652 : He dude þe childe habbe noryce, Gentil leuedyes and nouȝth nyce.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.202 : O veray fooles, nyce and blynde be ye!
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)6 : Þei seyn to nyse wymmen þat it is lesse synne to trespase with hem.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)46 : Who is so nyce that wil good corn Awey caste, for it growyth in chaf?
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5721 : Coyl couþe of many queintise, And manie artes..He was neuere nygon ne nyce.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)55.70 : He Cam In to A strounge land, where As Nise peple he fond, That ne Cowden but Of Lond tylyng.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)126 : A poore..olde man helde me lewed & nyce.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.822 : Whanne she covde aspye ony mysdraught Of man or of woman, that thei were nyce..wulde she leue nawght, But sone shuld þei ful wysly be taught.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.26.104b : Ne no fool is so nyce þat wil calle it thre sonnes for cause of this propreteis.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)50 : He that is not a grete clerke Is nyse & lewde to medle with that werke.
- a1500 7 Sages(1) (Cmb Ff.2.38)138/2083 : Then was the Erle a nyse jobarde.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4282 : His wyf..wiste nothyng of this nyce [vrr. nyse, nesy] stryf.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1038 : And thus the nyce reverence Of foles, whan that he was ded, The fot hath torned to the hed And clepen him god of nature.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)81a/a : Me schal nouȝt answere to his [madman's] nyce [L stultis] wordes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)316a/b : Werissh sauour..is by a nyce vse [L abusiue] y-cleped vnsauery sauour.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)323 : Þyn askyng is nys..þou foly hatz frayst.
- (?1406) Hoccl.MR (Hnt HM 111)204 : So tikelid me þt nyce reuerence Þt it me made larger of despense.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.911 : How often hastow maad thi nyce [vrr. nyse, nece] japes.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1144 : Lat be this nyce fare.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1297 : This nyce opynyoun Shal nought be holden fully yeres two.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1342 : This was hir mooste feere, That al this thyng but nyce dremes were.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.8.28 : What preyere mai I make, that be digne to the nyce thoughtes of men?
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)99/1 : Som men aren so kumbred in nice corious contenaunces in bodily beryng, þat..þei wriþen here hedes onside.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)48/8 : Avise the, or any worde be schewde Of grete manacynges, nyce or lewde, Comyng oute of thi mouth be to grete ire.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)55.144 : This kyng..Merveyllede Mochel Of his promys, that Of his beheste he was so Nys.
- a1450 Chauliac(4) (Cai 336/725)15/7 : He nemenede manye nice [*Ch.(1): fond or folish; Ch.(2): lewde] þingis.
- ?a1450(?c1400) Wycl.LFCatech.(Lamb 408)41/634 : Aftyr noon gyf þe not to nyse vanytes.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.295 : Þis were right a nyce [vr. foly] þing to fele.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)61 : From nyse iapes and rybawdye, Thow moste turne a-way þyn ye.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)148/4396 : Ne were hit no that y in wisshis nysse Delite my silf, not koude y lyvyn this.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)166/4977 : If that y shalle say yow what sche were..me þouȝt it passyng nyse.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2933 : Geffrey..had a nyce visage.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)508 : Cookes with þeire newe conceytes, choppynge..new curies..provokethe þe peple to perelles of passage..þrouȝ nice excesse of suche receytes.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)693 : Of trust of this arte arisith Ioyes nyse, For lewed hope is folys paradyse.
- a1500 Arth.& M.(Dc 236)284/195 : It was a nyce þyng, Of a fool to make a kyng.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)247b/a : Sicomorus..is..a nyce figge tre [L ficus fatua].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)286b/b,287a/a : Dragouns schul dwelle wiþ nyse [L fatuis] ficarius, þere þe glose seiþ þat þat is to menyng wiþ woode men [L hominibus siluanis]..fatui ficary ben y-cleped fauni and satiri þat wonen bitwen woodes of ficus and of feldes..þey ben y-cleped nyse figge gadrers and woode men.
2.
(a) Sluggish, slothful; (b) faint-hearted, weak; cowardly, timid.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)179a/a : Catotephas..ben litil of bodye and nyse [L iners] of membres and slowe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)292a/b : Plinius seiþ..þat wolues of affrica ben nyce and litel, and þilke..in colde contreys and londes ben..more scharp and ferse.
- (?a1430) Hoccl.MG (Hnt HM 111)5 : Thogh þat I be nyce And negligent in keepyng of his lawe.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)355 : Nyce: Iners.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.610 : Whi hast thou drede?..Ha, nyce herte, fy for schame! Ha, couard herte of love unlered!
- a1400 Bevis (Eg 2862)p.148 fn. : Wymmen ben doutyng And namly maydens at her first weddyng, Wel nyse al þe first nyȝt.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3828 : Wiþ Perciens fouȝtten þe Gregeys; Þere roos cry and grete honteys! Hij kedden þat hij neren nice.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1286 : Lat be youre nyce shame.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.598 : She myghte holde the for nyce, To late hire go thus to the Grekis oost.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.7.71 : O nyce men! why nake ye your bakkes? (As who seith, 'O ye slowe and delicat men! whi flee ye adversites?').
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.282 : Þe [read: ye] nyce men ond mased in ȝoure mende, Why nyll ye fighte aȝeyn aduersite?
3.
(a) Fastidious, fussy; scrupulous; (b) dainty, delicate; (c) strange, extraordinary, remarkable; (d) intricate, ingenious; of persons: clever, cunning.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.398 : Ful many a draughte of wyn hadde he drawe Fro Burdeuxward whil that the chapman sleep; Of nyce conscience took he no keep.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)824 : Þis vnfavere [read: vnsavere] hyne Lovez no salt in her sauce, ȝet hit no skyl were Þat oþer burne be boute, þaȝ boþe be nyse.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.98 : Nyce men..Ye seken..To enbelesch youre excellent nature!
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)476 : Lewe yowr nyse chastyte and take a wyff.
b
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)237 : Þou ne art nycier þan a nunne nyne-folde tyme.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)140/4193 : Be nyse myn hert as purse is of an ay.
- a1500 Sum be mery (Lamb 306)p.268 : Some be nyse as a nonne hene.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.842 : Thogh he sitte at his book bothe day and nyght In lernyng of this eluyssh nyce [vr. wise] loore, Al is in veyn..To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.26.69b : I merveyled noght..so muche of no thing þat I sawe..as I do now of this nyce sight.
d
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2227 : O nyce [vrr. nyse; vile, vnwise] proude cherl, I shrewe his face.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2232 : Ey, nyce [vr. necy] cherl, god lat hym neuere thee.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)168/5030 : Hir crowne was made with wawis nyse And sett ful of karbonkil.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)881 : Nectanabus..with his nice werkes Too begile þe gome graithes hym soone.
4.
(a) Of persons, their dress, habits, etc.: extravagant; self-indulgent; (b) of persons, actions, demeanor, etc.: wanton, dissolute, dissipated, lascivious; also, inciting to lasciviousness; (c) wicked, sinful, depraved.
Associated quotations
a
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)7 : Prelatis..that..wasten the godis of the chirche..in pride, glotonie, and lecherie, and nice arai of the world..ben theuis and sleeris of pore men.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416:Everett)48/21 : Þou schalt fynde..none nyce dameselis wiþ garlondis of gold ne perlis.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)p.101 : Neithir the acte of teching, neither the acte of maistir, ben forbodun of Crist, but oonli ambicion, and the nyce appetite of worldly worship.
- a1425 St.Anthony (Roy 17.C.7)116/15 : He wold neuer desyre oþer dayntys þan hys moder sett befor hym, os oþer nyse chylder done.
- ?c1430(a1400) Wycl.Wedded Men (Corp-C 296)191 : Many hote and coragious men..abiden to have a riche womman for muk, and þanne wasten here goodis in harlotrie and nyse pride.
- a1450(?1409) Vision Staunton (Roy 17.B.43)64 : Thei disworship god with hire pride of hert and of aray, takyng more hede to þe bodi for þe vanite of þe world and of þe nyse vsage þat is hadden þerynne.
- a1450 Who þat wole knowe (Dgb 102)122 : Wacche not outrage in wast despence, Fro hard to nyce, þy fflesch to fede.
- c1450 Lychefelde Comp.G.(Lamb 853)205 : Þou studiest aftir nyce aray, And makist greet cost in cloþing.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)189/17 : The ladies lefte their nyce arrayes, and the men lefte their glotonyes.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)295 : Be ware of New Gyse, Nowadays, and Nought, Nyse in þer aray.
- c1500 PFulham (Trin-C R.3.19)p.125 : Men nowe adayes been so lycorouse..So newefangle and nyce men been of thewes.
b
- ?c1350 Why werre (Peterh 104)p.10 : These nyse [vr. wantoune] prestes..playeth her nyse [vr. nice] game By nyȝt.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.157 : He made hem to use tauernes, pleyes, iapes, and nyse craftes with horlynges and strompettes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.67 : It was i-doo wiþ foule songes and gestes and iapes and nyse menstralcie.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.409 : Ȝif..he were assentynge and accordynge wiþ þe merþe..he was i-cleped a nyce [vr. nyse] man and a fool.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4578 : Anthonie..was so nyce, Wherof nature hire hath compleigned Unto the god.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.236 : We salle..telle ȝow oþer tales of..Madok þe Morgan, of þer nyce ribaudie.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)16.33 : Þe flesshe is a fel wynde..it norissheth nice siȝtes and some tyme wordes [C vr.: nise wordes].
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1354 : In notyng of nwe metes and of nice gettes, Al watz þe mynde of þat man on misschapen þinges.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)66/7 : Þe kyng..was rauisshede for here beaute..he made towarde here nyci semblant in lokyng and leiȝhyng.
- 1425(a1400) Spec.Chr.(1) (Lnsd 344)86/3 : These are synnys of þe mouthe..Proude & presumptuose spekinge, Nice & ioly chantyng.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Priesthood (Corp-C 296)170 : Many prestis..[han] daliaunce wiþ nyce wommen.
- a1450(?c1430) Lydg.DM(1) (Hnt EL 26.A.13)389 : I haue spente my life in many vise Liche as a fole dissolute and nyce.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1473 : Þou woldest han as wantonly þe gyed As doþ þe nycest of hem.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)159/23 : Men may synnen ofte in syȝt of wommen; as nyce wommen, þat dyȝten hem qweyntly to make men to mys-vsyn here syȝt on hem.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.21 : Þat nyse abbot werþe wood, and wente out of cherche, and brak his nekke.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)16740 : Þis þeof þat on his riȝt side heng, dismas he het þe wis; Gesmas het þe oþere, þe fend him made nys.
- a1450(1412) Glade in god þis (Dgb 102)60 : God ȝaf..heuene to hem þat wole be wys..And helle to hem þat wole be nys.
- c1450 Whanne marye was greet (Lamb 853)390 : Dampned soulis..wolen not do weel, but euere be nyce.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)262 : Of alle crafftis, and of eche degre, They be nat al perfite, but som nyce be.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)38/18 : The wickednes descendith from the grette to the smale..The schrewed kynge makith his subiectis nyce and owte of mesure.