Middle English Dictionary Entry
nǒnnerī(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | nǒnnerī(e n. Also nonneriȝe, nonerie, nonri(e, nunnerie, nuneri, nunri(e. |
| Etymology | From nǒnne n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A nunnery; blak ~, a Benedictine nunnery; (b) nunhood; blak ~, the coventual life of Benedictine nuns; ?coll.: Benedictine nuns.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)15642 : Nou was Merlyn his moder wonderliche iworþe in one nonnerie, munechene ihoded.
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(LdMisc 108)134 : Ich bidde..Þat þou sumȝware þine sostrene do in-to ane nonnerie So þat huy mouwen clene lif lede in ore louerdes seruise.
- ?c1335(a1300) Cokaygne (Hrl 913)148 : An oþer abbei is þer bi, For soþ a gret fair nunnerie.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2728 : Is moder, an kinges doȝter, was of þulke londe & wonede at seinte petres, In an nonnerie [B: nonneriȝe; vr. Nunrye] þere.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5735 : King edgar & seint aþelwold In winchestere arerde..An oþer hous..Of womman of religyon & made a nonnerye.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.566 : Þo was sche founden in an ile In a nunri þat while.
- c1375 SLeg.Concep.Virg.(Eg 1993)159 : Þer an abbey now is In þe honour of oure ledi, a blak nonnerie.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.43 : Alle ye bretheryn an sisteren schul gon..in processioun to ye nunrye of Carrowe and yer heryn a masse and offeryn an ob.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.3968 : Hir thoghte that a lady sholde hir spare What for hir kynrede and hir nortelrye That she hadde lerned in the nonnerye [vrr. Nonerie, nunnerye].
- (1393) Will York in Sur.Soc.4186 : Also I wyte torchese of ix fote lang to the Nunry of Thikhence.
- a1425(c1300) NHom.(1) Abp.& N.(Ashm 42)p.78 : In this ilk forsaide nonnrye Was wonand nonnes full manye.
- a1425 This blessyd boke (LdMisc 286)31 : Hampole the nonry hyȝt, betwene dancastir and poumefreyt.
- c1425 Glo.Chron.A (Hrl 201)p.291 : Ȝut Eldfred, þe leþer quene þat Seynt Edward slou Of yr trepas byuore yre deþ repentant was ynou, And rerde tuo nonneryes.
- c1440(a1350) Isumb.(Thrn)485 : At a nunrye the knyght was levede..The nonnes of hym thay were fulle fayne.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)14225 : Sch[eo] ȝald hure til þat nonnerye [F abaie], & tok þe veil for hure folye.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)320/10 : On a day sho come vnto þe nonrie yate & askid þe porter if he knew evur a non in þat place þat hight Betres.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)8139 : Þare he made an Nonry, An abbas, also scolys þar by.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)10/9 : And the thyrd syster Morgan le Fey was put to scole in a nonnery.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)87a : A Nunery: Cenobium, Abbay.
- a1500(?c1400) Gowther (Adv 19.3.1)182 : He see a nonry be þo way..Tho pryorys and hur covent.
b
- a1350(?c1280) SLeg.Concep.Virg.(Ashm 43)161 : Heo was ibore In hire fader house..þat nouþe an abbei is In honourance of s. anne, of blake nonnerie.
- c1450 St.Wulfhad (Nero C.12)314 : Ermenylde..fowndyde here a place of nonry.