Middle English Dictionary Entry
ō̆n-hē̆d(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ō̆n-hē̆d(e n. Also onehed, ounehed, oned(e, onned, onehod(e, onhod(e, (early) ānhād & (N) ānhē̆de, anehede, aned. |
| Etymology | From ō̆n num. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Unity, oneness, singularity; also, the number one, unity; in ~, as one, as a single person or entity [quot.: Cleanness]; single of ~, simple in nature; (b) theol. unity of being or essence in the Trinity; (c) primacy of authority, supremacy.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)326a/b : In al general kynde is oonhede [L vnum principium], and welle þat is particuler þerinne, as white in colours, and in pneuma sownes.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)612 : Þenne watz he war on þe waye of wlonk wyȝez þrynne..And as to God þe good mon gos hem agaynez, And haylsed hem in onhede.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)70a/a : Vnitas: on-hede.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.18 : Two is þe firste noumbre þat comeþ after oonheed.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)1/22 : The resoun of þis exposicioun or gadryng togedre was noght defaute of bookes, but raþer onhede [*Ch.(1): vnyte; L vnitas].
- c1440(?c1350) Mirror St.Edm.(4) (Thrn)47/20-21 : And for-þi þat anehede es gude, and manyhede alswa, þare-fore it behouede nede þat anehede and manyhede bathe ware in Godd.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)5128 : Cercly shap is most perfite figure, Bi-tokenyng, in gemetrie, onhede.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)95/31 : This dualite..is founden in every creature, be it never so single of onhed.
b
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)p.194 : We honuren o God in trinite & þe trinite in on-hede [vr. onhode].
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)p.195 : On-hede [vr. as onehode] in þre-hede & þre-hede in on-hede be to honour [vr. onehode is to be honouryd].
- (c1384) WBible(1) Prol.Cath.Epist.(NYPubLib 67)4.594 : The onhed of the Trynyte in the firste epistil of John wee reden set.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)10 : God, Fader and Sone and Holigost..o God art and þrillihod, And þreo persones in onhod [vr. vnite].
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)14,16 : In thre persons and anhede..God wald ay with þe Fader and þe Son And wyth þe Haligast in anhede won.
- c1425(c1400) Primer (Cmb Dd.11.82)p.14 : Bi oure lord ihesu crist, þi sone, þat lyueþ & regneþ wiþ þee, in oonhede [L unitate] of god þi holigost, bi alle worldis of worldis, amen.
- c1425(c1400) Primer (Cmb Dd.11.82)p.14 : Almyȝti, euerlastinge god, þat ȝauest us..in þe myȝt of þe maieste to worschip þe oonhede [vrr. onehed, oonheede; L unitatem], we bisechen..we be kept & defendid of alle aduersites.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)15/33 : O godhede treuly is of iij persones..& ilka persone in þe self contenes þe hole godhede, euynhede & onhede [L idemptitatem] forsoth haueand.
- c1440(?a1400) ?Nassyngton Trin.& U.(Thrn)8 : A God and ane Lord yn threhed And thre persons yn anehede, Thus was thow aye and euer sall be.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)72 : Þou, lord, oon god in þyn now proved oonheed of beyng and of substaunce, hast iij persoonys.
- c1450(?a1402) *?Trev.Reg.Princ.(Dgb 233)3b/b : God is essencia, beyng in unite or onhede.
- c1450 *Bonav.Medit.(4) (MSU 1)p.22 : Þe secunde persone of trinite, crist, hase bene euer one with þe fadur of euerlastyng onhede of þe blyssede godhede.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget (Gar 145)86/13 : Ther-fore iij colours ar shewed vn-to þe boþe departed and Ionede togeder; departed for distinccion of persones, and oned to-geder for oned of nature.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)2.46.139a : Þe onhed in substance..in þe blissid trinitee.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)120/143 : The presence everlasting dureth in oonhed, withouten any imaginable chaunging, and ever is present and now.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)42b : O highe, incomprehensible, and glorious maiestie..O onehod in substaunce, o trinehod in diete.
c
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)449 : Aboue manye to gidere of these laste seid hiȝer lordis and officers be oon other to ouer waite hem and her reule and gouernaunce; and so forth, til we come vnto oon highest emperour, bi whos hiȝest oonheed schal reste and pees be mad thoruȝ alle peple hiȝer and louȝer lyuyng vnder him.
2.
(a) Accord, concord, agreement, unanimity; ~ of brotherhede (love, pes, spirit, treuth, wille); ~ in bileve; ~ and accord; dere ~, unity in charity; ~ of wit, uniformity of understanding; (b) theol. the hypostatic union of the human and divine natures of Christ; (c) union; esp. mystical union with God; also, the union of body and soul [quot.: c1450(1410)]; (d) community, communion; (e) physiol. integrity of the body or of the substance of the body.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)79/32 : Charite ne is non oþer þing þanne dyere onhede [Vices & V.(2): leef-onyng; F chere unite].
- (c1384) WBible(1) Prols.Rom.(NYPubLib 67)4.299 : The apostil..counceilith to onhed.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)318 : Þe hali gast es tat goddhede þat giues lijf and mas an-hede [Göt: onede].
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)23521 : Alle [in heaven] ben euer at oon acorde; Þei are in onehede so in dole Þat euer her wille on is hole.
- a1400 WBible(1) (Dub 75)1 Tim.3.2 : [Dc 369(2): It bihoueth a byschop for to be irreprehensyble, or without reproue, and the hosebonde of oo wyf], feithfully gouernynge the chirche in oonhed of loue.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)2/19 : Þer is but..oo feiþ þat alle men schulden bileue wiþouten chaungyng..Alas, hou is þis oonhed or vnite broken?
- a1422 Gild St.Geo.Nrw.(Rwl D.913)451 : If the aldirman and maistres may nogth bring hem to onehede and acord..they mown sue þe comoun lawe.
- (c1422) Hoccl.JWife (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)576 : The fals and coueitous Been soone accordid; allas, this onhede Synful shal be.
- (?c1422) Hoccl.ASM (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)p.213 : There shal neuere be discord, stryf, ne debat, but alle thynges conuenient and accordynge; no diuision, but onhede, for ther shal been o concord of all seintes.
- (1424-5) RParl.5.407a : The which Peeax and tranquillitee..standeth principally in the gode oonhede and accord among the Lordes.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)7845 : In heven..Þare es acorde ay and anehede.
- a1425(?a1400) Benj.Minor (Hrl 674)46/5 : In þis oneheed of studies & of willes, loke þat alle þi þouȝtes..be only set in þe loue & þe preisyng of þis Lorde Jhesu.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.350 : Paynim princis wolden have oonheed in bileve and oonhede in mennis hertis for ellis þe comynte wolde not stonde.
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)103b : Oonheed [WB(1): vnite; L unitatem] of spiryt, eph. fourþe cap.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)41/30 : He treuly þat to god draws, one spiritt is, not on kynde, bot grace & oned [L idemptitate] of will.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)365 : Onehede [Win: On hedd], or on a-cord: Unitas.
- c1675(1440) Plain Decl.in RS 22.2 (Ashm 856)453 : The grete trouble..is not like soone to be ceassed..onlesse that Cristen princes..putte..thair mighty handes thereto..Goddes chirche supported, and thestate and oonhede therof observed.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)416 : All þat serues vnto a lord, In anhede aw þam to a-corde.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)135 : The sawe is cleped hayne, Bi which disioynct is ysawed the onhede of bretherhede and the trouthe of oonhede.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)3691 : Þaes þat vnite or aned of pes comyn brekys, or leuys wiked in synn..Deele ȝe noȝt with þaim in na case.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)3b : Anhede: vnitas, conformitas, congruitas.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)24.17 : I am noght distracte in many thoghtes, bot in anhed of thi lufe dwelland.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)47.4 : The kyngis of erth..ere gadrid in anhede of trouth.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)429 : As lordis of englond han þe bible in freynsch, so it were not aȝenus resoun þat þey hadden þe same sentense in engliȝsch; for þus goddis lawe wolde be betere knowun & more trowid for onehed of wit.
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)931 : He is soð godd..he is ec soð mon: of his feader soð godd, & of his moder soð mon in anhad ba somet.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)p.195 : He [Christ] is on in alle, nouȝt þurȝ confusion of substaunce, bot þurȝ onhede [vr. onhode] of persone.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)54/26 : God is man þoru þe couple of an oonheed of dyuyn nature in þe nature of ȝoure humanyte.
c
- a1425(?a1400) PCounsel.(Hrl 674)153/27 : Perfeccion of mans soule is not elles bot an oneheed maad bitwix God & it in parfite charitee.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)160/11 : Þerfore, by þis vnicioun and oonheed ȝe mown not biholde my ȝift but ȝe biholde þe ȝeuer.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)163/2 : By þe which vertu sche resceyueþ anoþir, þat is, þe last staat of parfiȝt vnicioun and oonheed in me.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)41/23 : Þe will of man with þe will of god..is made on; In whilk onhede [L unione] slik swetnes..to a lufand saule is insched, how grete þe felar may not tell.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)98/24 : All þat we do to þis ende is referd þat we to god parfytely be knyttyd in onned [L uniamur], And fro þis onned [L unione] many þingis draws.
- c1440(?a1396) ?Hilton Angels' Song (Thrn)15/10 : Þe soueraynte of perfeccione standes in a verray anehede of Godd and of manes saule by perfyte charyte.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)27 : Þe liȝt of discrecioun þat þe soule haþ bi þe vertu of þis oonheed in loue, ȝeueþ þe soule loue and myȝt.
- c1450(c1400) Rev.Jul.Norwich (Add 37790)67/10 : He wille that we be lyke to hym in anehede of endeles luffe.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.189 : In a beest..While soule and body ben togidere knyt..in hys vnyte..a best men callen it; But when þis forseid onhede is ykyt..It is..But careyn torned to corrupcioun.
- c1450 Treat.Perf.(Add 37790)230/27 : He muste..feele oned with god, that is to saye, in nothynge elles to hafe desyre ne wille bot onely in god.
- c1450 Treat.Perf.(Add 37790)231/25 : Whensumeuer a man hase clere and fre desire to his god..it folowes necessarely..that he felys with his god trewe oned, thorowe the whiche is fulfilled spiritualle lyfe.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)35 : Þo hous of God her is tane þe congregacoun of feiþful men, in onhed of spirit wiþ Crist, þat is þe general kirk.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)26/28 : Blisfull is he þat may putte awey euery letting distraccion, and bringe himself to þe onehed [L ad unionem] of holy compunccion.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)113/16 : Hool resignacioun and daily offringe of hemself first made, wiþoute þe whiche onehed [L unio] of fruicion stondiþ not.
d
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)505 : So manye foold dyuerse religiouns..is not but of vnconstaunce..and of scisme making in the oonhede of Cristen britheren.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)150.1 : The cite of god, that is, the anhede of all chosen men, is amonest to synge til god in will & mouth.
e
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)135a/b : Þise sikenez [of the ear] ar ouþer after discrasiez..or after solucioun of onhede [Ch.(2): lousynge of þe onehed; L vnionis solutionem], namely vlcerez.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)73/23 : An euel complexioun, first it trespasiþ more by hitself, folowyngly þe þridde onehede [*Ch.(1): þe vnion or onyng; L vnio] whiche is þat composicioun.
3.
(a) Solitude, isolation; (b) wilderness, desert.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)142/17 : Þe wordle is him prisoun; onhede [Vices & V.(2): to be alone; F solitude] paradis.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)142/29 : Þous biginþ þe zaule to louie onhede [Vices & V.(2): solitude] and stillehede.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)61a/b : Solitudo: ownehed.
b
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)106.4 : Þe childer of Israel erreden in onhede [L solitudine].
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)p.186 : He fonde hym in londe forsaken, in hidous stede, and of waste on-hede [L vastæ solitudinis].