Middle English Dictionary Entry
nōn-certaine n. & adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | nōn-certaine n. & adj. Also -certain, -certein(e, -certen, -certeigne. |
| Etymology | From nōn adj. & certain; also cp. OF noncertain adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Uncertainty; doubt; uncertain proof; unsure or insecure circumstances; ben (standen) in ~; (b) adj.: uncertain, variable.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)302/272 : Terme of ȝeres..ben in noun-certeyn.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.2179 : Al the whiles that I hove In noncertein [vr. no certein] betwen the tuo, And not if I to wel or wo Schal torne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.2378 : Venus..stant withoute lawe, In noncertein..as men drawe Of Rageman upon the chance.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)936 : Beyng in doute, and in non certeyn, At theyre repeire, as they tolden alle, Of this childe what afterward is falle.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.337 : In nouncerteyn [vrr. non certeyn; no certeyn] ben alle youre observaunces.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.4388 : Them that were exilid & stood in nouncerteyn, He off his knyhthod made hem resorte ageyn.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.946 : Fortune..This cloudi queen stant euer in noun certeyn.
- c1450(c1390) Chaucer Ven.(Benson-Robinson)46 : Thus be we ever in drede and sufferyng; In nouncerteyn [vrr. noncertayne, non certeigne, non certen, noun certaine, nouncerteine; no certeyn, vncertane] we languisshe.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)190/5661 : Syn hit is so we nedis must depart And, when to mete þe tyme in nonecertayne, Even to myn hert hit is as dethis dart.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)20903 : Sathan..Yiveth an answere wych ys double..And leueth hym euere in none-certeyn.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)21689 : I may wel sorwe and seyn allas, Out off my wey, in nouncerteyn, And kan no mene to kome Ageyn.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)24103 : I stonde in nonecerteyn, yef I retourned hom ageyn wher I sholde grace haue therby my soule for to save.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)176/29 : Hit is a grete noun certayne of good renoune, that a man Putte hym of anothyr manys mouthe to be Praysid.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)103/61 : Opinion is whyl a thing is in non-certayn, and hid from mens very knowleging, and by no parfit reson fully declared.
b
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5426 : She hoteth stabilite In a stat that is not stable..And worldly blisse noncerteyn.
- (1448) Shillingford71 : The ende of the seide mater is non certyn and doutefull.