Middle English Dictionary Entry
parciā̆l adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | parciā̆l adj. Also partial & percial. |
| Etymology | OF & ML |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Not whole, total, or complete; (b) ~ of, part of (sth.), sharing in or partaking of; (c) pertaining to a selfish or singular interest rather than to the common or larger good; individual, personal; (d) unfairly biased or prejudiced in favor of one side in a dispute, lawsuit, etc.; not indifferent or impartial.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)178a/b : In þis londe been many parcial cuntrees, in þe whiche ben nameliche many Oliphantes.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)66b/b : Wonde of a bone forsoþ is inscisioun made in a bone..which somtyme is al fully totale, somtyme parciale [L partialis].
- c1450(?a1402) *?Trev.Reg.Princ.(Dgb 233)2a/b : It is oure entent to devyde this my hole booke in þre parcial bookes.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.146 : Sumtyme is moreyn general, sumtyme parcyal.
b
- c1475 As I me lenyd vnto (Trin-C R.3.21)14 : Thow shalt here Hym commendyd, whyche dyd..of hys blysse to make the parciall.
- ?a1500 O blyssed king (Cuth 10)p.50 : Thou hast conqueryd..A hevynly kyngdome..Hwar joye haboundeth and grace perpetuell..Off wych grace thou make me parcyall.
c
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1030 : Parcial causes in sooth ther may non be Atwen vs tweyne.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1280 : Neuer I fauht no fraunchise to atteyne As for my-silff, nor parcial syngulerte, But al for profit touchyng the comounte.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.61 : Euery thynge is of more animosite and audacite in his universalle then his parte parcialle.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)143/30 : Oure parciall [F parciaulx] desires cooleth the affeccion of the publike well.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)187/29 : They might gete, to the comon prosperitee, the saluacion of thaire estates and thaire lyfes, the whiche by thaire parciall desires they lose with the lordship that they lyue in perdicion.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.175 : In defaute of lawe..Comon profyte was wasted and deuoured, Percyall profyte was sped and obserued.
d
- (1425) RParl.4.296b : My said Lordes..shall..procede and acquite hem self..withouten yt thei..shall pryvele or appert..be partie or partiall yrinne.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.2407 : In his doomys he be nat parciall.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)382 : Parcyal, or he that more holdyth wythe on part, than wythe a noþer, for favowre, or couetyse: Parcialis.
- (1440) Wars France in RS 22.2593 : There be ordeined..a man of astate..nought covetous ne partialle.
- (1449) Ordin.Tailors Lynn78 : The seid ii hedesmen wil be parciall, or rewle þe mater otherwise þan conciens.
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)2397 : Have Iuges trewe good and wyse, not parcial but indifferent men.
- (1451) Paston (Gairdner)2.239 : My Maister Yelverton..myght weel conceyve how the governaunce of the oyer determyner shuld procede, for it was the most parcial place of alle the shire.
- (1465) Paston (EETS)1.307 : The juge ys soo parcyall wyth the othere party.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)145 : Men make be meanes off corrupcion somme off the seruantes and counsellers..ffauorable and parcial.
- c1475(?a1449) ?Lydg.7 Counsels (Trin-C R.3.21)23 : Twene frende & foo stond euyn, & be egall, And for no mede be nat parciall.
- c1475-a1600(a1473) Fortescue Declaration (Clermont)532 : Your wrytynges..were but arguments, and ye no Jugge, but a parcyall man, seruant to him for whos fauour ye made the arguments.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)153 : In thys matyr be nat parciall; Remembre your name was wont to be egall.
- 1534(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Herford)2.92 : Wronges to redresse there was in hym no slouth, In his domes stedfast as a wall, Not singuler founde nor yet parciall.