Middle English Dictionary Entry
pācience n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pācience n. Also paciens(e, patience & (errors) passiantes, pacient(e & paciencie. |
| Etymology | OF & L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The calm endurance of misfortune, suffering, etc.; a willingness to bear adversities, wrongs, etc.; steadfastness against temptation; also fig. a mantle of patience; (b) with reference to the story of Griselda or of Job; Grisildes ~; Jobes ~, ~ of Job; (c) haven ~, to bear (to live); haven ~ in, nimes (taken) in ~, accept (sth.) with resignation; taken in ~, accept with resignation (whether one lives or dies) [quot.: Chaucer Mars]; (d) a source of fortitude; (e) the word 'patience'.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)94/19 : To þe uttre temptatiun is neod patience [Nero: pacience], þet is, þolemodnesse.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)426 : In ȝoure pacience [vr. suffrance] ȝe shulleþ ȝoure soules wytie.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)33/34 : Ase he ne may no þing bere be boȝsamnesse, he ne may þolye be paciense.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.6 : Ich Iohan, ȝoure broþer & partinere in tribulaciouns & duelle in pacience in Iesu crist, was in an yle of þe Cee.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Jas.1.3 : The prouyng of ȝoure feith werchith pacience [L patientiam].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.662 : Man suffreth foure manere of greuances..agayns the whiche foure he moot haue foure manere of paciences.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3229 : With ful gret humilite He soffreth his adversite; Pompeie sih his pacience And tok pite.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.230 : Pore men in pacience & penaunce togidere Hauen eritage in heuene.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.166 : Pees cometh playinge in pacience yclothed.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)45 : Pouerte and pacyence arn nedes playferes.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (LdMisc 210)11/5 : Þe tymber of oure hous is of cedre and cypresse þat schal neuer rote; þat is, strong pacience and sad parseueraunce in tribulacioun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5313 : Oure foon..may drede For to do wers to vs..ȝif þoruȝ oure pacience We liȝtly suffre her importable offence.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)80/21 : Oftymes pacyence in seeknes & in oþer diuerse tribulacions plesiþ God.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)7/32 : Prey pacience helpe þe to bere, & liȝt schal be þi birthen.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)3/37 : A man may not plese God but he bere tribulaciouns wiþ pacience.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)412/35 : For to preue his paciens, he discreetly put him & þe beest fro him wiþ boistous wordis.
- (1434) Misyn ML (Corp-O 236)116/12 : Qwhat is paciens bot gudely suffirynge & wilfull of aduersite?
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)376 : Pacyence [Win: Pacyente], or sufferaunce: Paciencia, sufferencia, tollerancia.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)114/15 : Whanne we endure aduersitees stedfastly, it cometh of God & not of oure pacience.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3466 : The kynde of pacience is to sustene Myghtily wronges and hem neuere wreke.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)48/16 : Preye to hym þat he sende þee pacience in temptaciouns.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)15446 : Þis werke was wroyȝt with outyn wene, for god wold so his pacience proue.
- c1450 From þe tyme (Lamb 853)36 : Praie we for us silf..Þat god sende us paciens in oure olde age!
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)180/24 : The maniple..betokenez pacyence in aduersite.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)7373 : Pacyence..Maketh neuere no gruchchyng Off no thyng she doth endure.
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cxviii : In þe tyme of antecrist hooly men shulun be gloriouse bi pacience.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)58/28 : And þey þat been pore aȝens here wyl, summe han pacience, summe han noo pacience.
- a1500 Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149)71 : Al thys Jhesu suffred wyth gret pacyence.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)3022 : It shal be loue and abstinence And charite and pacience.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.436 : Ye sholden be al pacient and meke And han a swete spiced conscience Sith ye so preche of Iobes pacience.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.1177 : Grisilde is deed and eek hir pacience, And bothe atones buryed in Ytaille.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)173/24 : Þe pacience of Iob ȝe hauen herd.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.348 : In prose he wrot the Tale off Melibe..And off Gresildes parfit pacience.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.126 : Of famous women he wrot thexellence, Gresilde preferryng for hir gret pacience.
- c1450 Dice(1) (Frf 16)206 : Now spronge ys newe Grisildes pacience.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)286 : Ȝe may not haue yowr intent at yowr fyrst dysyere; Se þe grett pacyence of Job.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)41/18 : Yn þe er founden..þe pacience of Iob, þe chastite of daniel.
- 1558(a1437) Lydg.Hay (Add 29729)60 : Gresylde..and all her pacience Wer buryed with dethes violence.
c
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1084 : For Goddes loue take al in pacience Oure prisoun, for it may noon oother be.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2188 : Vs oghte as wel in the deth of oure children as in the losse of oure goodes temporels haue pacience.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2683 : Ful manye thynges..shul..make yow for to enclyne to suffre and for to han pacience in the wronges that han been doon to yow.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3444 : Best is..No man grucch, but of hegh prudence The sonde of goddis tak in pacience.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)8/27 : Yef ani do yu wrang, ye sal take it in pacience.
- ?a1425(c1280) SLeg.Eust.(Jul D.9)124 : His wo he nom in pacience, to eche godnesse he drou.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)40 : When her deyned to cast on hym her ye, He tok in pacience to lyve or dye.
- c1450(c1400) Rev.Jul.Norwich (Add 37790)52/20 : I was turnede & lefte to myselfe in hevynes..that vnnethes I cowthe hafe pacyence to lyeve.
d
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)70.6 : Lord, þou art my paciencie [read: pacience; vr. paciens; L patientia], and þou art, Lord, myn hope fram myn ȝouþe.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.70.5 : Þou art my pacience, lord, lord, myn hope fro my ȝouþe.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)70.6 : Thou ert my paciens, lord..That is, of the i hafe vertu gladly to suffire for the.
e
- c1425 Wycl.Concord.in Spec.43 (Roy 17.B.1)271 : If þou fynde not þis text, tribulacioun worchiþ pacience, in P, in þis terme pacience, þou shalt fynde it in T, in þis word tribulacioun, & þus of oþire lijk tixtis.
2.
(a) Forbearance, moderation; self-restraint, calmness, equanimity; haven (sheuen) ~ in, to be forbearing with (sb.); taken in ~, take (sth.) patiently; also, be forbearing; (b) sufferance, leave, permission.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Jer.15.15 : Wile þou not, in þi pacience, take me.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.18.26 : Haue pacience in me and alle thingis I shal ȝeelde to thee.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Phil.4.5 : Be ȝoure temperaunce, or pacience [L Modestia], knowun to alle men.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Tim.1.16 : I haue getyn mercy, that Crist Jhesu schulde schewe in me first al pacience.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)1 Pet.3.20 : Thei abiden the pacience of God in the dayes of Noe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.443 : By good witte and paciens, he overcom al þe malys of his enemyes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2702 : Salomon seith that the doctrine and the wit of a man is knowen by pacience.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3155 : This worthy monk took al in pacience.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.46 : She floured in virginitee..With alle attemperance and pacience.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.672 : Ye oghten first correcte youre self, that han lost al youre pacience for the gilt of a child.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2819 : His pacience and his simplesse Hath set him into hih noblesse.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.23 : Wrathe..hath hise wordes ay so hote That all a mannes pacience Is fyred of the violence.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.849 : Wel I woot thy pacience is gon.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2369 : Sire, what eyleth yow? Haue pacience and reson in youre mynde.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.10 : Þe preste..gaue me, for my synnes To penaunce, pacyence.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.99 : Þere parfit treuthe and pouere herte is and pacience of tonge, Þere is charitee.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2103 : I preye hem to take in pacience; My purpos is nat hem to done offence.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4671 : Machaon..was..Fel, proude, & fers, deuoyde of pacience.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.55 : Many sich men..preien God of his grace to have pacience in hem.
- (c1434) Drury Wks.(CmbAdd 2830)76/25 : Envie distroyit charite; wrethe, paciens.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)536 : He xall be very angry Ande lose hys pacyens.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)91b : Pacience: paciencia, longanimitas, meknes.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)6748 : Ser, please it yow..To take it in pacient that we shall saye.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1019 : Bi goodnes, pacience, and grace, There moght haue growe ful grete solace.
- a1500 St.Brendan Conf.(Lamb 541)21/380 : As þou art ful of pacience, þou wilt it be do paciently.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1222 : To write how þei wrouȝt My purpose is..Vnder support of ȝoure pacience.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2400 : How þei wrouȝt Duryng þe sege..I shal discrive with ȝoure pacience.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)198 : I shal ȝow platly lere The maner hool..Vnder support of ȝoure pacience.
- (1442) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8518 : Al ye ease yat ye said Abbot has of ye said wall is thurgh sufferanse & paciens of ye same John.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)569 : The resydu vp to descriue, I pray yow off pacyens, I schal a do belyue.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Horns (LdMisc 683)47 : This litel schort dyte..Vnder support of your pacyence, Yeveth example hornes to cast away.
3.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1098 : Contek..Folhast hath to his Chamberlein, Be whos conseil al unavised Is Pacience most despised.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)6.108 : Charite & chastite beþ hire chief maidenes; Pacience & pees mekil folk þei helpen.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.35 : Pacience and I were put to be macches And seten by owre selue at a syde-borde.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)33 : Dame Pes and Pacyence put in þer-after.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)3.201 : Sothnesse..priked forth on pacience.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)171/32 : Þe qweene of paciens..haþ domynacioun and holdeth þe principal ladischip of alle vertues.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)212/15 : Þis pacience is a qweene, sett in þe tour of strenkþe.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)242 : Byfore the temple-dore ful soberly Dame Pees sat..And by hire syde..Dame Pacience.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.2371 : Vertu of vertues, o noble Pacience, With laureer crownid for vertuous constaunce.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)63 : Ire ageyns Paciensse ful fast ganne he fyth.
4.
A kind of European dock (Rumex patientia).
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)196a/a : Lappacium latum, Paciencia: pacience, h. & d.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)149/37 : He..techeþ to make plastres to dissolue of þe rote of pacience, of radisshe, [etc.].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)376 : Pacyence, herbe: Paciencia.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)193/23 : Paciens..haȝt lewys lyk to þe rede dokke, but þe lewys of þis herbe is more long and more quyt.
- ?a1450 Arderne LW (Em 69)113 : An herb..is called passiantes and it hath rede floures & bereth seed lyke Saxifrage.
- c1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(2) (Hrl 4016)69 : Take Betus and Borage..Violette, Malvis, parsle, betayn, pacience, þe white of the lekes, [etc.].
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)82 : Tak..betayne, prymrose, pacyens, the whyt of lekes, [etc.].
- a1500 Sln.Herb List (Sln 1201)75 : Herbys necessary for a gardyn..Pacyence.
5.
Error for passioun.
Associated quotations
- a1500 Bod.EMisc.Lapid.(BodEMisc e.558)30/204 : The dun [celandine] is goode agayn grevous pacience [F passiun], þat seweth the cou[r]s of the mone.