Middle English Dictionary Entry
olive n.
Entry Info
| Forms | olive n. Also oleve, oliva, olif(e, olefe, oliwe; pl. oleis. |
| Etymology | L olīva & OF olive, olif, pl. olis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An olive tree (Olea europæa, etc.); ~ place, ~ yerd, an olive orchard; (b) a spray or branch of an olive tree, often a symbol a peace; (c) bough (braunch, sprai, twig, wond) of ~; (d) ~ braunch, braunch ~, ~ bush, ~ lef, ~ plaunte, ~ tre.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)608 : Ðe duue..brogt a grene oliues bog.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.81 : Þere two olyues ben & two Candelstikkes shinande & stondande in þe siȝth of þe lorde.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)p.185 : Þe werk of þe olyue shal liȝe, & þe feldes ne shul nauȝt bringe mete.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.23.11 : So þou schalt done in þi vyneȝerde & in þin olyue ȝerde [WB(2): place of olyue trees; L oliveto].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.6.11 : Þe lord þy god..ȝeueþ to þee..beestis and olyuys [vr. olyue placis; WB(2): places of olyues; L oliveta] þat þou hast not plaunted.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.9.8 : Trees wentyn for to anoyntyn vp on hem a kyng, And þei seidyn to þe Olyue [WB(2): olyue tre; L olivæ], Comawnde þow to vs.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Esd.5.11 : Ȝeeldeþ to hem to dai þer feeldis & þer vynes, þer olyues [WB(2): olyue places] & þer houses.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Amos 4.9 : Y smote ȝou in..the multitude of ȝour gardeyns and ȝour vijn ȝerdis and olyuetis (or placis wher olyues wexen) [WB(2): ȝoure olyue places]..and ȝee turneden not aȝein to me.
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)80 : Þe Briddes in Blossoms, þei beeren wel loude, On olyues and amylliers and al kynde of trees.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)237a/a : Þe tree is y-cleped oliua and is a worþy tree and a tree of pees..þe olyua springeþ of a bitter roote þat ben norisshyng of light, medicyne of woundes, fedyng of þe hungry.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)237a/b : Þe olyf bereþ fruyt..sette oleys aȝein þe sonne.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7159 : Sua þair corns did he [Samson] brin, Þair oliues, wit þair vintres; Þe foxs brint al wit þat bles.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)51.8 : And I als oliue fruitberand In þe hous of god liuand, I hoped in goddes merci.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)91/5 : Dauid clepiþ a mannes werkes his children: 'As nouels of olyues aboute þi bord, Traueiles of þin hondes þou schalt ete.'
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2554 : I behelde..a grene fresche olyue; And þer-vppon..In þe brawnchis I sawe sitte an owle.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)64/4 : Olyuete..is cleped so for the plentee of Olyues [F doliuers] þat growen þere.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.515 : Olyues now & other treen ychone, Do donge hem in decresyng of the mone.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4972 : Þare ware tacchid vp trees..Lyke oleues out of lebany & lores so grene.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)153 : He seith þus þe trees of þe crosse wer palme, cedre, cipresse, and oliue.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)658 : And Pallas hir spere pycched down pleyne In-to the erthe, and out anon gan sprynge A faire grene olyve, full of fruete hangynge.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)51.8 : Bot i, as olife froite berand [WB(2): a fruytful olyue tre] in the hows of god, hopid in mercy of god.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)128 : In a forest..Hey sperrys ther he fonde And gret olyvys growonde Coverd in levys smale.
- a1500(?a1410) Lydg.CB (Lnsd 699)8 : Trees somtyme ches hem-silf a kyng; First in ther chois they namyd the Olive To regne among hem.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)245/39 : The tren bene dispoylid of thare lewis, al the grene is fadid, outake the Pynes, lorreis, olyues, and few othyr tren.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)237a/a : Among þe athinienses victours were y-corouned wiþ oliue.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1023 : Of olyue and of muge-floures Weren ystrewed halle and boures.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2568 : Þer was þe olyve þat betokneth pes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5694 : Þe olyve tokeneþ loue & pes.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)7/3 : Olyue betokeneth pes, As the storye of Noe witnesseth.
- a1456(c1425) Lydg.Eagle (Trin-C R.3.20)23 : Þis is þe foole..Which leete dovne falle in þe natiuyte Of Cryst Ihesu vn-to Octouyan Þe grene olyue of pees and vnytee.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)181 : The olyve of pes, and eke the dronke vyne; The victor palm, the laurer to devyne.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)3733 : I come now fro Paradise with þis olyue, And streyth to Premonstrate now schal I goo To plante þis braunche þere þat it may thryue.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)302 : A culuer he sente þe secounde day; He fond lond as blyue And come aȝen wiþ grene olyue.
c
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)89 : Þat burh folc..wenden ut togenes him, and beren on here honde blostme, sum palm twig and sum boh of oliue.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)74 : Hi wylnede him [Christ] to seo..and ffayre bowes of olyue, And of oþere treos some corue and in his wey caste.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3986 : Þer come in tuelf olde men..& branches hii bere Of oliue as in signe þat hii aȝen pays nere.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)2543 : Wiþ þat come Gij prikeinde, & a smal tvige in his hond bereinde Of oliue, in token of pais.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)127.4 : Þy childer shul ben as braunches of oliues a-bout þy table.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)128b/b : Oure lord..was I-fonge worschipfulliche of þe puple wiþ bowis and sprayes of palme and of olyue.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)237a/a : Þe story of romayns meneþ þat wiþoute spray of olyue no messangeres were y-sent fro rome to gete pees noþer to profre pees.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1690 : Bouȝ hi baren of olyue [LinI: olyf] grene.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1701 : Þai comen alle, honde in honde..Vche wiþ bouȝ of olyue, Þat was tokne of pays.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)487 : Ho broȝt in hir beke a bronch of olyve, Gracyously umbegrouen al wyth grene levez.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.8.10 : She come to hym at euen, berynge a brawnche of olyue with grene leeues in hir mouthe.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)6/2 : Þe doufe broght þe braunche of olyue in hir beek, whilk betakned pees made betwix Godd and man.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)3726 : In his hand he held A braunche of olyue ful fayre & ful grene.
- c1440(c1350) Octav.(1) (Thrn)1174 : Þat was þat tym messangere lawe, A brawnche of olyue [Cmb: clefe, read: olefe] for to schewe And it in hand to bere.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11433 : Þe troiens..turnyt to þe walles With braunches full brode all of bright Olyue, As in proffer of pes.
- c1450(?a1400) Siege Milan (Add 31042)1214 : Þe Messangere bare a wande Of ane Olefe in his hande, In takynnynge he come of pece.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1196/11 : Every knyght hylde a braunche of olyff in hys honde in tokenyng of pees.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)2532 : A branche of olyfe hath he tane.
d
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)127/14 : Marye..Þou ert þe coluere of noe Þat broute þe braunche of olyue tre, In tokne þat pays scholde be By-tuexte god and manne.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.41.19 : I shal ȝyuen in wildernesse cedre & thorn, and myrte tree & olyue tree [WB(2): the tre of an olyue].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.11.24 : Thou ert kitt doun of the kyndely wylde olyue tre, and aȝens kynde ert inseet in to a good olyue tre.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)238a/a : Olyaster is a wilde olyf tre [L siluestris olea] and haþ þat name for he is liche to þe olyf tre, but leues þerof ben braddere þan olyf leues.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1904 : Sco went forth and com ful suith..An oliue branche in moth sco broght.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)185b/a : Take ij ounce of scrofularie, ane ounce of gynger, brionie, peleter, sauereie, matrisiluie, oliue leues.
- c1425(c1400) Primer (Cmb Dd.11.82)p.27 : Thi sones as þe newe spryngyngis of olyve trees in þe cumpas of þi boord.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)86/11 : Aposteme..is opened wiþ yren, and..be þe hole made..to þe schappe of an olyue leef or of þe leef of myrtus.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)296/13 : Take of egrimoyne þre parties..of olyf leues one parte.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)tab.268 : Oliuis, to rere withouten oliue plauntis.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)11446 : Twelue messegers til hym were sent..Wyþ olyue braunches in handes born.
- ?a1450(?1350-75) Origo Mundi in Norris Anc.Corn.Drama (Bod 791)1122 : Dynythys yv hag yma yn hy myyn branch olyf glas.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)331 : An olyue branche full soyn he fand and broyȝt to schep.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)1373 : Euery foule than bringeth he A grene braunche of an olive tree.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)43/251 : A grett olyve bush þis dowe doth us brynge.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)2616 : To the Emperour he gooth soo, An Olyue boughwe in his handes twoo, That pees shuld beetoken betwene theim.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)88b : An Oliue tre: olea, oleaster, oliua, oliuaris.
2.
Wood of an olive tree; tres of olives, ~ tre, olivewood.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 6.23 : He..maade in goddis answeryng place two cherubyn of þe trees of olyues [L lignis olivarum].
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)7/3 : The tytle was writen in Ebreu, greu, & latyn..And the table of the tytle þei maden of olyue.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.94 : A man schall let graue in þis stone yarmede, & a ȝerd in his honde..þat schold be of olyuetre.
3.
The fruit of the olive.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)237a/b : Þis name olyua is þe name of þe fruyte of þe tre olea.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)164b/a : The seconde instrument is oliuare, nouȝt to þe fourme of þe lefe of an oliue..bot like to þe litel bonez or stonez of oliuez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)167a/a : When þer be made cold oilez of oile olyuez, þam oweþ to be made with olio omfacino, þat is, oile of grene oliues & vnripe.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)31/4 : Ilk ane of þam [birds] bringes..a braunche of olyue and lefez þam þare, and on þat wise þer es grete plentee of olyuez [Man.(1): oyle; F doille] left to þe sustynance of þe hous.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)162/488 : Þies thyngis bene euel for the syght in the eyȝen..lekes, onyons, rype olyues, anete, worts of cole, and fygges.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)98/17 : He vndirstode by his connyng that the..nexte yer olyves shulde take gret wurthe.
4.
(a) Olive oil; [quot.: 1418 may belong under (b)]; (b) oile (of, de) ~, oile of olives, olive oil [see also oil(e 1b. (d)]; (c) ?error for olie.
Associated quotations
a
- (1418) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)7.313 : [600] jarres [of] olyve [oil worth 4 d. a] jarre.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)73/22 : Thies herbis stampe wele with a pounde of schepe talghe & a pounde of olyue.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)190 : Tak..[one ounce] of olyue veteris [vr. olei viridis ueteris].
b
- (1309-10) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.996 : 1 barello olei olive.
- 1381 Pegge Cook.Recipes (Dc 257)p.103 : And the fisch dayes, do therto oyle of olyve.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.24.2 : Comaunde to þe sonys of Irael þat þei bryngyn to þee oile of olyuys, most pure & briȝt.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)167/6 : Amonges hem oyle of Olyue [Man.(2): oile de olyfe] is full dere, for þei holden it for full noble medicyne.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)30/26 : Oile of oliue vse þai als wele for metes as for lawmpes brynnyng.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)30 : In a Fysshe day, take Almaunde mylke & oyle of Olyff, & draw þer-vppe withal a gode pouder.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)191/1 : Tak þis herbe and stamp it and medle it with olye de olywe and anoynt þer-with þe forhed.
- c1470(?1458) Wey Prevision (Bod 565)6 : Whan ye com to havyn townys..ye may by eggys..for they be ful nessessary in the galey, sum time fryed with oyle olyfe and sumtyme for a cavdel.
- a1475 Hrl.Bk.Hawking in Studia Neoph.16 (Hrl 2340)14 : Anoynt the hawke is erys with oyle of Olyve.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)121 : Tak appelles and sethe them..take almonde mylk and oile olyf ther to.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)71a/a : Þou schalt helden into þat wounde oile of rosis, swote smellynge, þat is maad of oile de oliue þat is not ripe.
- a1475 Sidrak & B.in JHMAS 23 (Lnsd 793)p.170 : He..took the snailes thanne And fried hem wel in a panne And oyle of olive.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)50/6 : An vnce of oyle of olyf.
c
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)115/22 : Olyf of Excesstre. Take calamynte, herbe jon, [etc.].
5.
In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (?1242) Doc.in HMC Var.Col.7214 : Johanne Oliue.
- (c1250) Doc.in HMC Var.Col.7168 : Waltero Oliue.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 4.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of olive(s).