Middle English Dictionary Entry
ac(c)ūsǒur, -or, -ur, -er(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ac(c)ūsǒur, -or, -ur, -er(e n. |
| Etymology | OF acuseor. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. accusator.
1.
(a) One who accuses or brings charges; also, one who makes false charges, denounces, or defames; fals ~; (b) one who reveals or betrays confidential matters; that which reveals or makes known what should be held in confidence.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.71.4 : He shal meke the false acusere [WB(2): chalengere].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)18b/b : He [the devil] hatte criminator, acusere & blamere, for he puttiþ forþ accusasiouns & blames.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)111/14 : Þei wole be iugis wiþouten autorite &..false accusars.
- a1425(a1349) Rolle MPass.(2) (Upps C.494)40/11 : A fore pilate and alle þe fals accusours of þe Iewis.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5425 : Fiften maneres of accusours sere, Þat sal accuse in þat dredeful day Þe synful men.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.143 : The accusynge of myn name by thilke same accusours.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)35 : Her accusours and appellours weren yonge men.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)353 : For in youre court ys many a losengeour, And many a queynte totelere accusour.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.34 : He was accept accuser of my name.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)11/23 : Hur accusers garte write vnto þe bisshop.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)188 : These too Spenseris had offered hemself often-tyme to answere to here accuseris.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)1a : An Accusere: Accusator, calumpniator, reprehensor.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)4/24 : Woo schall be to hom þat schall here þys rebuke yn þat day..He schall haue accusars aboue hym, wythyn hym, on aythyr syde hym.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.4.1 : Symont..accuser [L delator] of moneys and of the cuntree.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1450 : O cruel day, accusour of the joie That nyght and love han stole and faste iwryen.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3157 : Be avised wel..How ye your pardoun graunte, leste errour Of nyce pitee be your accusour.