Middle English Dictionary Entry
orient adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | orient adj. Pl. orient(es; sup. orienst. |
| Etymology | From orient(e(e . |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of regions of the world: eastern; (b) of precious gems: from the East; also, characteristic of gems from the East, brilliant, shining; ~ perle, perle ~; (c) brilliant, shining; fair.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)122/26 : The quene [of] Saba..came from the parties orientys vnto Ierusalem.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)255 : That juel, þenne, in gemmez gente..Set on hyr coroun of perle orient.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.807 : Hector..gan se Þe multitude of stonys and perre..so orient and schene.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4787 : Þe royal ruby, so orient and liȝt Þat þe dirknes of þe dymme nyȝt Enchacid was with his bemys shene.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)130/26,32 : He hath abouten his nekke ccc perles oryent [F dorient], gode & grete..he bereth also aboute his nekke a Rubye oryent, noble & fyn.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)97/22 : He hase aboute his nekke a corde of silke, on whilke er ccc precious stanes, grete and orient.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)554 : The Sqwan, that to Jouys dyd perteyne, Was plumyd with oryent margarytys.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5269 : Þe bild was all of brent gold..Piȝt full of pentests..Of Onycles & orfrays & orient perles.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)5745 : The grauel..Was so ful of ryche stonys..So orient and so shene.
- c1450 Dice(1) (Frf 16)22 : To the orient perle as norisse is Cokille; Ryght so ben ye to al vertu the rote.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3926 : The second brouȝt a swerd I-shethid, with seynture I-fretid all with perelis orient & pure.
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)86/23 : And about that ther was a full riche counterpoint of cloth of gold..with lettris Ebraicis writen in the bordure of the orfreys with grete and orient perlis.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)6722 : Another poomel..Maad off a charboncle ston, The wych as any sonne shoon..Yt was so Oryent and so bryht.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)308 : On her hede a crowne ther stood Cowchyd with perles oryent, fyne and good.
c
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.576 : In Paradis..Thre ryuers wern..orient and fyne.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)305 : Thyn oryent skyn shall rympell in-to age.
- c1450 Thow holy douȝter (Eg 3307)p.125 : The orient lyght of Nazareth Thow ert also.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)746 : The thrid course..Perche in Iely, oryent & clere, whelkes, menuse, þus we devise.
- a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193)31 : A crown of gold, the moost oriyenst and richest that ever I sawghe.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1839 : The saphire colour, that orient blewe, Like in colour to the heuynly hewe, Is moch fairere then wone colour to syght.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2270 : Freshire liquour there is noon in taste..which Democrite named for his entent, Lux vmbra carens, watir most orient.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)452/74 : Noo clowdys Blak, noo darknes noctyall, May defare þe beemes of þis light Most orient and most persaunt of myght.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)464/9 : O lord þat art maker and creature Of thynges all..Clothyng þe dey wyth lyght full orient, [etc.].
- a1500 Truth it (Cnt Add 68)p.71 : A ryghth fayer sterre to them dede peere, Ful orient in hys shynyng.