Middle English Dictionary Entry
parā̆ble n.
Entry Info
| Forms | parā̆ble n. Also -bil, -bol(e, -bele. |
| Etymology | OF parable & L parabole; from Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An allegorical or metaphorical narrative, usually with a didactic purpose; an allegory, or parable; a comparison [quot.: Ashmole SSecr.]; in a ~, figuratively, allegorically [quot.: c1400]; (b) a proverb; pl. the Biblical book of Proverbs; a wise saying or admonition; (c) a speech or discourse; taken (to) his ~, to take up his discourse, begin to speak; (d) a scornful speech, taunt; an object of scorn.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)48.4 : Y shal bowe myn ere in parabiles [vr. ensaumples].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.13.3 : Jhesus..spak to hem many thingis in parablis [L parabolis].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.13.24 : Another parable Jhesus putte forth to hem, seyinge, 'The kyngdam of heuenes is maad liche to a man, [etc.].'
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Heb.11.19 : God is myȝty to areren up men from deþ to lyf, Wherfore he vnderfong hym in a parable.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)352 : Þus spekiþ Crist in þe gospel of dette in þe Pater Noster, and also in o parable, bi which he moveþ men to mercy.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)406/18 : To þe haue I declarid þis parable leste þat errour falle in þe.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)382 : Parable: Parabola, enigma.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)92a : A Parabyll: parabula, paradigma..exemplum.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)121/4 : Þe phylisophyr, qwer he specifiyth of vertuys moral..it must be takyn as a parabyl or as an exampyl.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)48.4 : I sall held in parabole myn ere.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)48.4 : Sothfastnes..spekis in me..lerand me to speke in parabils, that is, in likyngis that all men kan noght vndirstand.
- a1500(?a1410) Lydg.CB (Lnsd 699)16 : Poetes laureate, Bi dirk parables ful convenyent, Feyne that briddis..Sent out writtis to hold a parlement.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)41/22 : This forsothe is the same parable [Lambeth: lyknesse; Royal: ensampille] in wynter and somer.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)63 : Al mastirs..made theire bokis to many men ful derk, In poyses, parabols, & in methaphoris alle-so.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)1987 : Hit sownyd to me as a parable, Derke as a myste or a feynyd fable.
b
- a1275 Serm.St.Nich.(Trin-C B.14.39)66/104 : Of hem speket salomon in parabolis.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 4.32 : Salamon spac þre thousend parables, & þe ditees of hym weren fyue thousend.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.20.22 : Of þe mouþ of þe fool shal ben repreued a parable.
- (a1382) WBible(1) Prol.Kings (Bod 959)54 : Þe þredde is of Salamon, hafynge thre bookis, prouerbis þat þei clepyn parablys, [etc.].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 14.7 : He seyde also a parable to men bodun to a feeste.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.369 : Been ther noone othere resemblaunces That ye may likne youre parables [vr. parabele] to?
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.679 : The Parables of Salomon, Ouydes art, and bokes many on..were bounden in o volume.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6530 : Salamon..In his Parablis us wrot..God thou me kepe..Fro richesse and mendicite.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)1455 : Þer men myght..Se..þe Pokalypps of John..The Parabylls of Salomone Paynted full righte.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)30.41 : Salamon..his book he spak..Wheche that parables he Calde the Name.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)135/1 : Saloman in hys paraboles seith þat a glad spirit maket a flowry[n]g age.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)92a : A Parabyll:..prouerbium.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)7/28 : Lete not þe paraboles of eldir men displese þe.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Num.23.7 : He..taketo his parable.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Num.23.18 : He taked to his parable, seiþ 'stond, balac, & erkne.'
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Job 27.1 : Also Job addide, takinge his parable, & seiþ, 'God lyueþ þat tooc awei my dom.'
d
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)68.14 : Ich made þe haire my cloþyng, and ich am made to hem into pables [read: parables].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Par.7.20 : Þis hous þat I haue bild..I schal þrowen awei..& taken it in to a parable & in to exsawmple to alle puplis.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.14.4 : Þou shalt take þis parable aȝen þe king of babiloyne & seyn, 'what maner ceside þe pletere?'
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Jer.24.9 : I shal ȝyuen hem in to weri trauailing & tormenting..in to repref & in to parable & in to prouerbe & in to cursing.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Under sense (c), the phrase taken (to) his ~ should be broken into two. The form that includes 'to' in the WB(1) Num. quots. renders an ablative absolute, meaning (as WB(2) gives it) 'whanne his ~ was taken.' Phrase taken to ~ should be glossed separately, using the existing first gloss 'take up his discourse', whereas phrase taken ~ should retain the gloss 'begin to speak.'