Middle English Dictionary Entry
obstā̆cle n.
Entry Info
| Forms | obstā̆cle n. Also obstakle, obstakel. |
| Etymology | OF obstacle, var. of ostacle & L obstāculum. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An obstacle, obstruction; hindrance, impediment, barrier; bi ~, by a barrier; withouten ~, without hindrance; as tag: truly, indeed; withouten ani ~, without any hindrance; withouten (ani) more ~, without further hindrance; maken (don) ~, to cause a hindrance; (b) hauen ~ of, to meet with opposition from (sth.); maken ~ ayen (ayenes, to, unto), offer resistance to (sth.); refuse (a request); maken ~, offer hindrance or resistance; refuse (to do sth.); putten ~ ayen, setten ~ at, offer hindrance to (sth.); putten ~, offer hindrance; (c) a physical obstacle, obstruction, hindrance, or barrier; also fig.; (d) a defense, protection.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1787 : The god of loue..Agayns his myght ther gayneth none obstacles.
- c1390 Psalt.Mariae(1) (Vrn)355 : In whom [Mary] he tok wiþ-oute obstacle Of vr flesche þe Clay.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.521 : Ther is non other time lore, Wherof ther mihte ben obstacle To lette love of his miracle.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1300 : And whan he knew that ther was noon obstacle..Doun to his maistres feet he fil anon.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5931 : Þei ne myȝt..For lak of fir, don her sacrifise; For ay þei fonde a wonderful obstacle.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)19/18 : Þoow þe comen lawe inhibete þe to take holy orderes, in holi wryt is non obstacle þen þouȝ may be an holy lyuere.
- (1434) Misyn ML (Corp-O 236)107/8 : Violence he doys to all his lettars, & all ostakyls he byrstis to-gidyr.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)83/35 : Cristis lufers all obstakyls cessis nott to cut away.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)624 : And whanne I hadde with oute more Obstacle, Seyn ther thynges with Secrees delitable.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)2290 : It is to be titled how prevy, with oute obstacle..That in man is founde greet myracle.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)54.151 : They seiden withOwten Obstacle [F vraiement] that God for that body wrowhte Miracle.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)55.188 : Be this Aventure & this Myracle he wax A goodman with-Owten Ony Obstacle [F maintenant].
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)3670 : Þe Holy Gost I ȝeue ȝow here To leve in me without diswere, To be ferme wiþout obstacle For euermore in my miracle.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)93 : The bodi maketh an obstacle [F obstacle] bifore, gret and thikke; oother thing can he not doon but aldai be to thee contrarious.
- (1465) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.lxvii : Yen the said Thomas Coke..withoute ony difficultee or obstakle making, shuld make a state sufficiant to the said John Broddesworth..of the said manour, londes, with all their appurtenaunts.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)20602 : The blynde man was bor blynde..'To preve the workys off the lord..by myracle, Withouten any mor obstacle.'
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)135 : We shalle travayle..al maner obstaculys done a-way in thys party, that bene ordaynyde..that..bothe crounys..perpetually to bene togedyr in one.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)49/33 : Yf ȝe besely study it..non obstacle [L obstaculum] shal be by twen ȝow and þat þat ȝe desire.
- a1500(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(1))16167 : As grete ys the dyfference Atwene hem tweyne by Obstacle, As bytwene venym and Tryacle.
- a1500 *Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)183 : So many obstacles and evils to vs don, al the nyght we walked with thurst and charge of armure and harneys evynmade.
- a1500 Rolle Mend.L.(Wor F.172)31 : Who forsoth desirith verily to love Crist..al obstaclis hym withstangyng he brekith.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)37/97 : In al this pricke, may no name be born, in maner of peersing, for many obstacles, as..straunge langages.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5666 : Þe spere..gan anon..To florische..And of nature had noon obstacle To wexe grene with fresche blomys newe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1363 : To-forne his swerd þe durst nat..make noon obstacle.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)148/8 : The Chane sagh þat þei made non obstacle [Man.(2): lettyng; F obstacle; vr. contredit] to performen his commandement.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)41/25 : Put non obstakyl ne obieccyon a-ȝen þe goodnes of þe Holy Gost, for he may ȝevyn hys ȝyftys wher he wyl.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.3693 : The knyht..herd a child..A-geyn his suerd to maken an obstacle.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.1629 : Ananyas..Spared nat..to crie; Vnto this noise was maad non obstakle.
- c1440(a1349) Rolle Desire & D.(Thrn)58/24 : Kepynge or hegheynge of þe herte in lyghtenynge of þe Haly Gast, þat haldis his herte upe fra all erthely thoghtes, þat he sette nane obstakill at the comynge of Criste intill hym.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)898 : My penne also gynnyth make obstacle And lyst no lengere on paper to renne.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.St.Giles (LdMisc 683)235 : To thy requeste was maad noon obstacle.
- c1475(1459) Pros.Yorkists in EHR 26 (Roy 17.D.15)514 : Youre rudnes and undyscrete demeanynge shalle put none obstacle but that ye shalle have audience.
- a1500 Timor mortis (Lngl 29)p.236 : Was neuer none off such dignite Aȝyns dethe myght make obstakyll.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)9 : Slepe me gan oppresse So ponderously, I cowde make noon obstacle.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.197 : 'Þu schalt be loused'..sone al þe obstacles [L obicibus] broken, he took her by þe hand and drowh hir out of þe chirche.
- c1390 GGuy(2) (Vrn)324 : As þou seost þe sonne whom hit arist scheweþ his lyht ouur-al, but hit be let wiþ eny obstakel.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)49a/a : Hoosnesse of þe þrote & kouȝhe..somtyme..falleþ by incastinge of poudre; þerfore he haþ bondes & obstacles to wiþstonde & lette þe poudre & oþer suche greuous þinges falle nouȝt inne.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)134b/a : Whanne þes wynd fyndiþ obstacle [L obstaculum] & let þat he schowviþ his myȝt is þe strenger..he þrowiþ doun hous and trees þat wiþstondiþ hym.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)332a/b : This weye wiþoute obstacle is clene and sadde, y-paued wiþ stone.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3236 : Sche gan..by greces to ascende Of a tour in-to a hiȝe pynacle, Þer as sche myȝt haue noon obstacle, Nor lettyng nouther, for to han a siȝte Of hym.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)125b/b : Sumtyme it [shoulder bone] is dislocate forþwarde, but þat falleþ but selden be cause of multitude of sinewes & for þe obstakel of þe fourche of þe breste þat defendeþ.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)125b/b : Ȝif a man drawe it [arm] o ferre fro his bodie, he schal fynde in þe toppe of þe schulder ane obstakel of þe schulder bone, þe whiche letteþ þat þer is none naturel pitte as þer ouȝte to ben o kinde.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)488/31 : He feld a blak myrk thyng welter betwix hym & his wyfe..And be þis obstacle he was lett fro halsyng of his wyfe.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)17.32 : I sall ouerpasse the wall, that is, obstakil of synn, that is made itwix synful men and heuen.
d
- c1390 Vrn.Mir.Virg.(Vrn)145/17 : Wiþ lust he eeseþ his putfalle To gylen wiþ cristene soules alle; But grace a-ȝeynes þat is obstacle.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5577 : It was with led & tymber cured, Ageyn tempest for to bene obstacle.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.143 : Men be writyng knowe the meracles Of blissid seyntes & of ther hoolynesse, Medecyne, salue, & eek obstacles Geyn mortal woundis and eueri gret seeknesse.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Mum.London (Trin-C R.3.20)55 : Þer dooþe assayle A raage floode þat mancyoun..Her is no reskous, ner obstacle Of þis ladyes habytacle.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Say.Nightingale (Trin-C R.3.20)317 : Þis banier is moste mighty of vertu, Geyns feondes defence mighty and cheef obstacle.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)3413 : Hit is so dredful..That non may recuryd be Ageyns deth by noon obstacle, By herbe, stoon, nor triacle.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)119 : The name of Iesu..Support and sheld, defence & chief obstacle, To alle that knele to Iesu on ther kne.