Middle English Dictionary Entry
nōn-pǒuer n.
Entry Info
| Forms | nōn-pǒuer n. Also -poiar, -poer, -poair(e, nun pouer, nompouer, noumpouer, (?error) nounper. |
| Etymology | OF non-pöoir |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Lack of power, weakness; an instance of weakness; ben of ~, stonden at ~, to lack power or authority; (b) lack of wherewithal; destitution; dien at ~, to die in poverty.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.389 : Þis byfel nouȝt in þis manere for nonpower [vr. no power; Higd.(2): impotence; L impotentiam] of seynt German, but he sparede and dede his gest reverence in his owne hous.
- (1394-5) Let.Bk.Lond.H (Gldh LetBk H)420 : And our lige lord, it has ben declared to alle your lordes spirituels and temporals in the same parlement the pouert and the nounpoaire of your pouere comunes of your Roiaume.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.310 : Good hope..to wanhope torneth -- Nouȝt of þe nounpowere [vr. nounper; C vrr.: noumpower, noun-poer; vnpower] of god, þat he ne is myȝtful To amende al þat amys is and his mercy grettere Þan alle owre wykked werkes.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.374 : God mai not faile on his side for noun-power or unwitt.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.5.22 : And certes uppon thilke syde that power fayleth, which that maketh folk blisful, ryght on the same syde noun-power [vr. none power; L inpotentia] entreth undirnethe, that maketh hem wrecches.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)8400 : And if I falle In thi daungere With any vn-hap or noun-powere..al my kynde Schal go a-way.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)14117 : We are so hurt..That we Are alle of nompower Aȝeyn hem to fyght any lenger.
- (c1429) *Proc.Chanc.PRO ser.C 1 file 9no.14 : The saide pore suppl[iaunt] ys of nounpower to sue ayenst the seide Hertilpole as lawe wol by cause he ys one of the maisters of the chauncerys.
- (1438) *Proc.Chanc.PRO ser.C 1 file 9no.288 : Be cause of his seide vexacion he stondes now atte nounpowere to sue þe commone lawe.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)14/14 : To thi felawe, thou scholdist yeue councell and helpe, councell in teching hym where he is ignoraunt and helpe him in confortyng his novn-power [vrr. nown-power; owyn power; F non puissance].
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.148 : If..boþe his power and his vnmyght Were fully counterpaysed in a balaunce, His nonpower wolde paysen all doun right.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)121 : It is no poiar..to be seke, wex olde, or that a man may hurte hym self; ffor all thes poiars comen of impotencie, And therfore thay mey properly by callid nown poiars [vr. noun powers].
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)150 : When thai lafte such counsell, thai ffell into non poiar and pouerte.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)19501 : Helpe to sustene Myne nownpowere and inpotence That I may stonden at dyffence Vp-on my ffeet.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)409 : Suynge of crist in vertues..is so liȝt a suyt þat no man is excuside bi noun power.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)71/4 : Hor good wyll schall fulfyll þat hor nonpower may not.
- a1500 Richardoune Stones (Add 34360)8 : Nunpower nor pouerte makith none excuse Of theym that love fectually.
- c1613(1464) Plumpton Let.p.13 : Herin blame my non power but not my will, for in faith I might not doo it.
b
- (1389) Lond.Gild Ret.in Bk.Lond.E.(PRO C 47/var.)59/26,28 : Also we han ordeyned..tweye tapres..on for to brennen at þe hed another at þe fet of what maner pouere man or woman, in þe parissh aforseyd, deye at noun power and hatz nouht wher of for to bringen him self anerthe..also if ony of our breþerin..fallen in noun power..þoruȝh Fer, or robberye, or syknesse or euel happes of þe world, & may nouht him seluen helpin, he schal haue eche wyke..vj d. ob.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.175v : Whanne duc William hurde this he was wrothe and disposed to wynne Engelond and let clepe all his lordes togeders atte a place that was called Lillebon and askede hure conseille and hure helpe of whiche some graunted and summe withsaide, alleggyng powerete and non-power.