Middle English Dictionary Entry
ōld(e)nes(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ōld(e)nes(se n. |
| Etymology | From ōld(e adj.; also cp. late WS ealdnes. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Old age; decrepitude; (b) of things: the condition of decay due to old age or long use.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.23.18 : To them that dwellede bifor the Lord shal be his nede doyng, that thei ete into fulnesse, and be clad vn to oldnesse [L vetustatem].
- 1408 WBible(2) (Frf 2)Ps.70.9 : Ooldnesse [Roy: Caste thou not awei me in the tyme of eldnesse].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)123b/a : It is to vnderstonde þat þof al þer be double horynes, Naturale & vnnaturale, here neþerlez is not done bot of vnnaturale þat afore ocupieþ oldenes [L preoccupat senectutem].
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1025/17 : The fyre of the Holy Goste ys takyn so in the that my fleyssh, whych was all dede of oldeness, ys becom agayne yonge.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)134/25 : Thegh they haue not myght and streynthe armes to bere in har oldnysse, they hathe vertue and Streynth of consaill yprowide.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.66 : Achites is nombred amonges þe stones þat be good..And a man þat bereth it, he holdeth him in a men statt & defendiþ oldnes.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Josh.9.5 : Þei..tokyn to hem..fol olde shoon, þe whiche to þe doom of oldnes been souwed wiþ patchis.
2.
Great age, antiquity; also, remoteness in time [quot.: c1460].
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) Prols.Job (Bod 959)85 : So myche forsoþe is þe custum of oldnesse þat also oþerwhile confessid vicis plesen.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.118/34 : Hit is to be knowe þat by noone oldenysse fro þe mynde of men þy lettyngowte..hit be i-callid agayne.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.303 : Oldenes of tyme [Trev.: passynge of tyme; L vetustas temporis] and site of climes..have chaungede moche of theire maners.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Pseudo-F.(Dub 245)324 : Oldnesse of þise errours shulde not moue to leue hem.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Lamb 633)193/16 : The ije caus is that matremony ys to be comend is the oldennysse of hit..of oldennys hit passith all manner of orderis in erth.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)60/22 : There is thre-fold auctorite of fastynge; scilicet, the firste auctorite is oldenes of tyme, [etc.].
3.
(a) Ancient or former times; (b) a former condition; the state of former times.
Associated quotations
a
- c1410 Trev.Higd.(Add 24194)1.7 : Oldnesse [StJ-C: Storie is wytnesse of tyme, mynde of lyf, messager of eldnesse].
b
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.16.55 : Thi sister Sodom and hir douȝtris shulen turne aȝen to her oldenes, and Samarie and hir douȝtris shulen turne aȝen to her oldenes.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.7.6 : Seruiamus in nouitate spiritus et non in vetustate litere..we serfen in newenesse of spyryt, and not in þe ooldnesse of þe lettre.