Middle English Dictionary Entry
obeisaunce n.
Entry Info
| Forms | obeisaunce n. Also obeisauns, obeisaunz, obeiesaunce, obeiseaunce, obeisiance, obesaunce, obbeisaunce, obisaunce & obeissaunce, obbeissaunce, obeiceance, obeciaunce, nobbecians & obeishaunce, obeishans, obeiȝshaunce, obeshaunce, obeshiauns & abeisans, abesians. |
| Etymology | OF obëissance |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The act or quality of being obedient, compliant, or dutiful; submissiveness, obedience; ~ to (toward, unto), obedience to or compliance with (sb. or sth.); don ~, don ~ to, to obey (sb.), do what (someone) commands; (b) pl. rules, commandments; ?rituals.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 15.22 : Betere is obeisaunce [Corp-O: obeishaunce; WB(2): obedience; L obœdientia] þan slayne sacrifices.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2974 : Ther was a parlement..To haue with certeyn contrees alliaunce, And haue fully of Thebans obeisaunce.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.3045 : If ye wole that men do yow obeisance, ye moste..yeue moore esy sentences and iugementz.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.107 : The poeple stod in obeissance Under the reule of governance.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.24 : Ye han of vs as now the gouernaunce, And therfore wol I do yow obeisaunce As fer as reson asketh.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)878/89 : Of þi liges feithful obeisaunce..I praye God graunte.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.568 : Obeisaunce..Doon off entent to ther souereyn Lord Shal cause hem regne in long prosperite.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)14/10 : Yeue than..to thi souereyne reuerence and obeisaunce, reuerence in herte and obeisaunce of bodi.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)10319 : In al hys preceptys..She was foundyn to hys obedyence..And by meke obecyaunce wyth-outyn vyolence She myht vyctory han.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)485/143 : Haile, pereles in plesaunce..Haile, bote of oure bale in obeyesaunce.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)139/23 : Þe meke is riȝt swifte and delyuere, whan vertue of obeyȝschaunce and þe wille of God and of his prelate bereþ hym and ledeþ hym.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.67 : Thow hast þe put vnder þe gouernaunce Of fortune..Vnto hire maners owest þou obeyssaunce [vr. obeyschaunce].
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)182/24 : Man es made more buxum to correpcion by Cristes body..redyer to obeyssaunce, more deuote to doynge of thankes.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)26/13 : All women..that wolde not do her husbondes comaundement be not of the obeisaunce that a merchauntez wiff was.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)189 : Who ever..unobeieth the prelatis of the chirche..synnyth deedli..For certis..the obeischaunce to bischopis and to preestis..is there in his writing ofte chargid.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)223/22 : The reames myght be kepte in the beste estate..by the obbeysaunce of his people.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2052 : Tech hem obeyssaunce; sey..Com on your way, we wil our self you gide.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)12031 : Thow shalt be stylle vp on thys Tre Tyl thow, by ffeythful obeysaunce, Be mek & humble to my plesaunce.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)77/7 : Chargys of þe wijf toward þe husbonde stondiþ in reuerence to him doing, in obeisaunce to alle hise comaundementis.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)119/12,16 : The thirdde degree of abusyon is the yong man that is withoute obeysans, in whom ought to be seruyce, subieccion, and humilite..may no man atteyne to honour that hathe no labour in his youthe in som maner of obeisaunce and discipline.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)227/16 : Obeisaunce aught to be had and preserued toward the prince in tyme of werre by his knyghtes and subgites.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)817 : Ȝelde me nethyr golde nor tresure, but yowr humbyll obeysyance, The voluntary subjeccyon of yowr hert.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)34/16 : The diuine furour turned vpon his sone Roboam and toke away the tenthe parte of his lordshipp and the hertis and the obeisaunce of his subiectis.
b
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)117/34 : How euer þese now seid sacramentis of þe new lawe and þe seid cursingis and assoilingis and þe seid obeisauncis in þe new lawe mowe be conueniently tauȝt bi vertu of þe wordis writen in moyses tablis, it is ouer hard me to se.
2.
(a) The power or right to command obedience; authority, rule; under his (your, the kinges, etc.) ~, at hire ~, to your ~, under his (your, the king's, etc.) rule; subject to him (you, the king, etc.); (b) subjection; of on ~, subject to one ruler; (c) the lands and property under someone's rule or authority; domain, kingdom.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1870 : I schal evermo..myn observance To love and to his obeissance The betre kepe.
- (1420) MSS PRO in App.Bk.Lond.E.299 : To all yo yat ben vndir oure obeissaunce, we notifie and declare that..ther hath ben here-a-fore diuers tretees.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)587 : Out of Rome was sent a senatour For to conqueren regnes and honour Unto the toun of Rome..To han the world at hire obeysaunce.
- (1433) RParl.4.423a : Ye obeysaunce yat he had in ye Reme of Fraunce..was right tendre..and ye hertis of ye peple yer, noght so fermid, stablisshid, and assurid in affection, love, and trouth to ye Kyng.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.1112 : The world al hool vndir his obeissaunce, As god and lord he took the gouernaunce.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.2174 : Corolian off Rome..ther protectour..Brouht in rebellis to ther obeisaunce.
- c1440 C.d'Orl.So fayre (Paris fr.25458)222/68 : Wher that euer y be, I wylle abyde vndyr your obeyssance.
- (1442) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2213 : Ax and your town of Saint Sever were nowe late reduct to your obeissance.
- (a1443) *Pet.Chanc.PRO ser.CP 1 file 12no.195 : The hous of Mary Mawdeleyn of Goldclyffe withynne the marche of Wales..is..vnder the kinges obeysaunce.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)209 : The Mount of Seynte Michell And Seynt Malouse wolde nevere a dele Be subject unto his governaunce Ner be undere hys obeysaunce.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)6/34 : Now lete..all the strenghtes & contres come to your obesaunce and to yeld you tribute.
- (1454) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2.p.49 : This acte shall nott extende to..eny persone boron the kynges lege man and under his obeysaunce.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)194/18 : Kyng Arthure..commaunded all that were undir his obeysaunce.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)371/18 : All were undir the obeysaunce of kynge Arthure.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)77/10 : Pompee..sette him [King Tigram] agayn in his estate vndir the obeisaunce of the Romayns.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)1096 : Ye shall here haue the rewle and gouernaunce Of this contre..My men shall be vnder your obei-seaunce.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)26/29 : He submittid the piete of natur to the obeisaunce of the feithe whanne he wolde haue sacrificed his son for to obey that God that he beleuid on.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)820 : Þai haue hade long tyme, by þair offyce, The hole cuntre of loue in obbeisaunce.
b
- (1417) Let.War France in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)69/22 : Our entente is noght to move you..to no thyng that myght be perill to your lond, that ye haue put in obbeissaunce.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2227 : Hold your seruauntis vnder obeisaunce; Lat hem nouther ha fredam nor largesse.
- c1450 Royal SSecr.(Roy 18.A.7)6/16 : Alle tho that ben vndir his regne ben of oon obeyshaunce, and in on subieccioun of trewe ligeaunce vnto her liege kyng, for disobeyshaunce of subiectis is most enfleccioun and enfeblisshyng of euery lord.
c
- (1419) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.2.173 : The Abbot of the Mounte has sent for safe condute for to come to ȝour obeysshans.
- (1422) Doc.Hen.VI in Déprez Diplom.(PRO Privy Seals file 669 no. 1204)37 : Yat the saide Johan Moreau entre in to noon of oure castelles, forteresses, or walled townes, beyng of yobeyssance of oure fadirs of France or oures.
- (1439) RParl.5.32a : Your Lieges..selle the Merchandises of youre Reaume..in other places of your obeisance and amyste where the Merchantes of the said Contres ben Conversant ynne.
- (1440) RParl.5.444a : Gret hurte and losse..have fallen to the Kynges Lordshippis and Contres in his obeisaunce of that other side of the See.
- (1444) RParl.5.74a : Provision myght be made..to stuffe the Castelles, Tounes, and alle maner Forteresses of the Kynges obeissance.
- (1449) RParl.5.147b : The Kyngs Oncle hath commaunded and made crye thorogh all his obeissance that all Nobles prepare them to be redy horsed.
- -?-(a1461) Doc.in HMC Rep.3 App.280a : Maunce and Mayne..was the keye of well faire of alle the kynges obeisaunces in Fraunce and Normandie.
- a1475(c1450) Shirley SSecr.(Add 5467)263/8 : But governe the peple of thyne obeysaunce in benygnite.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)35/1 : He toke away the ceptre and lessid his obeisaunce by the thridde parte and withdrowe his subiectis.
3.
(a) Respectful submission, homage; deference, reverence; ?courtesy; (b) don (maken) ~, don obeissaunces, to pay homage; make formal or ritual gestures indicating reverence, submission, etc.; don ~ to, pay homage to (sb. or sth.); behave reverently toward (sb. or sth.); maken ~ unto, make a formal bow to (sb.); (c) an ~ of servauntes, a group of servants.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.2281 : To you, Cupide and Venus bothe, With al myn hertes obeissance I preie.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.230 : She kepte hir fadres lyf on lofte With euery obeisance and diligence That child may doon to fadres reuerence.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.739 : She for his worthynesse And namely for his meke obeysaunce..fel of his acord.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.93 : This straunge knyght..Salueth kyng and queene and lordes alle By ordre as they seten in the halle With so heigh reuerence and obeisaunce As wel in speche as in contenaunce.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.173 : He was..diligent in chambre and at table..Vn-to his lorde, in al þat euer he can Devise in herte of feithful obeyschaunce.
- (1421) Hoccl.Hen.V Vict.(Hnt HM 744)10 : Yee been welcome, heir and Regent of France..Right feithfully with hertes obeissance.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1375 : Of thy feyned trouthe and thy manere With thyn obeysaunce and humble cheere..There othere falsen oon, thow falsest two.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)22326 : Ȝe ben myn, and j am ȝowres To alle manere obeyschaunse & honoures.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)7376 : Thre knightes come to the Soudon With humble obeissaunce.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)149 : Hire bekes gonnen meete, Yeldyng honour and humble obeysaunces [vr. obeysauns] To love.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.30 : I yelde yow thank wiþ lowly obysaunce.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)5.243 : Thay [the Magi] cast with deuoute obeysaunce Of dewe right with the childe to parte Of her tresour.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)56/1654 : O helpe me, loue..I the requere with humbille obeyshaunce Sum praty moyan that thou wolt me lere.
- c1460 Dub.Abraham (Dub 432)38 : O gret God..To þe be honoure, to þe be ioy and all dewe obesaunce.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)357/71 : O hye wysdam..Wyth dew obeschyauns I make you gratulacyon.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)367/326 : This body so brith is, alle creaturys therto owyn dew obeschaunce.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.St.Giles (LdMisc 683)217 : The kyng lowly with deuout obeysaunce Prayde thou woldyst in thyn Orysouns Haue hym dayly in thy remembraunce.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)6897 : Generides Was crownyd kyng..Thanne the lordes..With very dew and feithfull obseruaunce Dede hym omage with vmble obeysaunce.
- a1500 Mercy me (Sln 1212)4 : Mercy me graunt off þat I me compleyne, to ȝow my lyfis soueraigne plesaunz; And ese ȝour seruaunt of the importabyl peyne þat I suffre in ȝour obeysaunz.
- a1500 Now wursheppful (Tan 407)3 : Wursheppful souereyns..With alle maner of abesyans we recomaunde vs right Plesantly to ȝour persones.
b
- (c1390) Gower CA 1st Concl.(Bod 902)8.3021* : Ben we alle wel beholde To do service and obeyssaunce To him [Christ].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2606 : He, to kepe his observance, To love doth his obeissance.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.2197 : Ate laste he gan to loute And obeissance unto hire make, As he that wolde his leve take.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.515 : This god of loues ypocrite Dooth so his cerymonyes and obeysaunces [vr. obeiceances], And kepeth in semblaunt alle hise obseruaunces.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1268 : This Troyan..can so wel don alle his obeysaunces And wayten hire at festes and at daunces.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)343 : Of paynymrye the patryark was he..To whom alle prestys dede obecyaunce.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)61/1777 : My lady and mastres, I come to yow to doon myn obeyshaunce.
- a1486 Jousts of Peace (Mrg M 775)39 : Then shall all þe vj Gentillmen..un helme them be fore the sayde ladyys, and make theyre abeisans.
c
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A nobbecians of seruantes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)499 : The sect of Ebionytis…helden the riȝtis and obeseauncis of the Iewis rennyngli with lawe of kinde and with the feith of the Gospel.
Note: New spelling
Note: sense 1.(b)
- (1451) MSS Beverley in HMC31 : The French party…schulde be resceyved in Burdeux and take the obbesiance and sacrament of alle tho that will be Frensch.
Note: New spelling
- a1525(?1474) Cov.Leet Bk.409 : There cowth none…so profitable meane be found…as to sett vp a…mighty werre…for the recouere…to oure abeisance of…the Duchies of Normandie and Guyen.
Note: New spelling