Middle English Dictionary Entry
availāble adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | availāble adj. Also avail(l)eable. |
| Etymology | Prob. AF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Beneficial, useful, helpful; ~ to (unto), helpful to (sb.), useful for (sth.).
Associated quotations
- (1444) RParl.5.121b : He shall not..yeve no maner Counsell unto the seid Baillifs..but such as to his conscience may be most proffitable and available to the seid Baillifs.
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)1855 : In ded watir..ffissh norhisshid is vnprofitable, And vnto kynde not avayllable.
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)2091 : Boore he was vndir such signe..That he shulde..be..to Counsayl avayllable.
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)2195 : Oon singuler man to make thy leyf tenaunt, To the ne thyne is not a-vayllable.
- (1450) Wars France in RS 22.2596 : Thei to obbeie his ordinaunce..as may be moost advaileable be the saide lieutenauntes grete wisdome.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)291/4 : A man that absteyneth himself from angre and couetyse, it is avayleable thinge in this worlde and in the tother.
- (1460) Paston (Gairdner)3.218 : I prey yow tendre my laboure withoute my comyng..for I conseyve it shuld be but charge to the dede, and lytell avayleable.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)3424 : All thy speche, y holde it auayleable.
2.
Law (a) Legally valid; ~ in lawe; (b) ~ for (to, unto), of legal advantage or benefit to (sb.), legally applicable to (a case, a demand for payment, etc.).
Associated quotations
a
- (1417) Proc.Privy C.2.237 : Oure commissioun is noȝt availlable.
- (1442) RParl.5.42b : That the seide entre..be vertu of the seide Act, be good, juste, effectuell and availlable in lawe, be auctorite of this same Parlement.
- (c1443) Contract in OSSLH 4195 : Þat the saide award shulde not be effectuell nor avaylleable in lawe.
- (1444) RParl.5.112a : That any Chartre, to be made to any such person..be voide and noght availlable in lawe.
- (1449) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)11.237 : I, Richard Andrew..by wey of solempne Protestation (which I wol be taken in wey and fourme most advailable in the Lawe) Sey, Open, and Declare.
- (1450) RParl.5.203a : Yat youre said Letters of pardon extend not to eny somme of money by the said Abbot resceyved of the seid Dyme, nor that the same Letters in eny wyse therof be availlable or effectuell.
- (1464) RParl.5.516a : But that every of oure Lettres Patentes..be good, effectuell, and available in all thinges.
- c1475(?a1440) Burgh Cato(1) (Rwl C.48)307 : Thouh thou haue be riht available [vr. vailable], Yit of thi good deede make thou no bobbaunce.
b
- (a1440) *Proc.Chanc.PRO ser.C 1 file 9no.424 : To make the recorde of that sewte of dette avaylabull for the seid William and Thomas in enforsyng of there purpose.
- (1444) RParl.5.115b : Yat in all such actions..the Kynges protection shall not be alowed nor availlable for the Defendaunt.
- (1444) Paston2.65 : And prey yow that ye will do it [the verdict] make as effectuel and availeabill for the wel of my maister..as ye kan.
- (1449) RParl.5.145b : Provided alway, that any manere of Graunt..for paiement of eny somme..extende not, ner be available, for eny paiement or levie to be hade of this same Subsidies.
- (1449) RParl.5.157b : The sayd Serjauntz..had dyversez assignementez in taylez..which, for the chaunging of the Collectours of the sayd Custumez..myght not be to them avayleable.
- (1461) RParl.5.482b : That all obligations made of Statute Merchaunt..suertees and reconysaunces made to any of the seid persones..be availlable to theym, to whose use..the same obligations, suertees, and reconysaunces were made.
- (1464) RParl.5.539a : That oure seid Graunte, Confirmation, or eny othir Lettres Patentes, be unto the seid Thomas effectuall and avayleable.
- (1472-5) RParl.6.163b : That the same ordre and lawe..be as available for all maner of persones..as was for such persones..with the said late Kyng.
- (1473) RParl.6.75b : That the same Letters Patentes..be goode and available to the same Alice and to hir heires.