Middle English Dictionary Entry
parfī̆tlī adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | parfī̆tlī adv. Also -fiteli, -fiȝt(e)li, -fithli, -fet(e)li & perfit(e)li, -fightli, -fiȝtli, -fithli, (late) perfect(e)li & parfitelẹ̄ & (?error) perfyly & (errors) profitely, profitelich. |
| Etymology | From parfī̆t adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Flawlessly; in perfect form or manner; more (most) ~, with greater (greatest) perfection; (b) exactly, precisely; (c) with verbs of seeing or articulating: clearly.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1834 : Ther nys no werkman..That may bothe werke wel and hastily; This wol be doon at leyser parfitly.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.201 : Me were leuer..Haue pacience perfitlich [C: parfitliche] þan half þi pakke of bokes.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.9.18 : Thou drawest alle thyng of thy sovereyn ensaumpler and comaundest that this world, parfytly [vrr. parfytlyche, perfitlyche] ymakid, have frely and absolut his parfyte parties.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)10 : Thou schalt neuere fynde where man may so perfiȝtly be tauȝt.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)7919 : That semyth to be & ys nouht, I-wys, Is al þat here in þis werd ys..But þat þing wych most perfythly ys And semyth nouht, ys þat eternal blys.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)312a/b : To þe tonge comeþ sixe brawnes..and þer by þing þat is y tasted may be perfiteliche [L perfecte] y-knowe; but to þe lyme of smellyng oon brawne comeþ allone, and þerby comeþ but litil spirite þat may nouȝt so perfiteliche knowe.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)217/14 : Do þe cure perfitli, For bi yuel curyng in þis place miȝt engendre a festre.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)123/16 : Noman cowde redye him perfitely toward the parties þat he cam fro, but ȝif it were be aventure & happ or be the grace of god.
- (1454-5) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)364 : Yef suche people of straunge londes myght clierly and profitely understonde the konnyng and fete of makyng of suche englisshe hornes, wold not hider repaire yeerly to bye suche englisshe chaffar.
- (1463-4) RParl.5.501b : Every of the seid Clothes and half Clothes, folowe and sue parfitly and directely oon ordre of makyng thoroughly.
- (1464) RParl.5.567a : The makyng of Hornes and other werkes perteynyng to the seid mystere beth not perfitly had nor konned in eny region or place of the world except in this londe.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)6/15 : Ouer long it were forto parfitli denounce and notifie vndir what entent y seie and write al what y haue.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2399 : A man that waketh out of his sleep..may nat sodeynly wel taken keep Vpon a thyng, ne seen it parfitly.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)45a/b : Lippis..hauen many synewes and..ȝif þey ben I-kut..wordes may not be perfitliche I-schape.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.3.5 : Men..al be it nat clerly ne parfitly..loken from after to thilke verray fyn of blisfulnesse.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.127 : Þou thise false goodes hast seyne Ful perfytly.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)53 : This scrippe is of greene colour..Ne neuere shal the soule perfytliche [F parfaitment] see if this greenesse ne lene him miht and strengthe.
- 1591(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hnt HM 2)234/97 : Thou..even yesterdaye couldest see no yearthly thinge and nowe seest so perfectly.
2.
(a) Completely, thoroughly; entirely, fully; (b) steadfastly, continuously; (c) absolutely, consummately; (d) maken ~, to make (sth.) complete; bring to perfection; ben ~, exist in a complete state; become (sth.) completely; (e) parfitlier, more ~, more completely or thoroughly; (f) gram. ~ apassed, of a period of time: having completely elapsed, not extending into the present.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)15/25 : In erþe ne ys zuo holi man þet moȝe parfitliche [Vices & V.(2): parfyȝtly] be-uly alle þe maneres of zenne.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)144/20 : Hou hi ssolle by y-blissed ine þe oþre wordle, þet ne may non parfitlyche [Vices & V.(2): parfiȝtliche] y-wyte.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.122 : Þai shullen vnderstonden parfitelich of his makynges þat ben wonderful.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Esd.6.21 : Be it parfijtli soȝt [L perquiratur] in þe kingis librarijs of king ciri þat ben in babiloyne.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 1.45 : Tho thingis that ben seid to thee fro the Lord schulen be parfytli don [L perficientur].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2381 : Ther is no wight parfitly [vrr. perfitly, perfytely; parfite] trewe to hym that he to soore dredeth.
- (c1390) Chart.Abbey HG (LdMisc 210)342 : It was fyue þousande..ȝer..or euere þei miȝten comen aȝen alle to-geders as parfiȝtliche [vrr. parfytly, parfetely] as þei weren beforn.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.2136 : Al his feith So sikerliche on hem he leith..That thei ben parfitli believed.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)228b/a : And if fruyt is perfitliche rype, it schal haue good sauour and mery smelle.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)285a/a : It nedeþ þat he [the elephant] go wiþ fole two ȝeer for hugenesse of þe fole þat may nouȝt be perfiteliche and complete y-schape in lasse tyme.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)12092 : He þat shryueþ hym parfytely..haþ forȝyuenes of Goddys ȝyfte.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)341/24 : Boile hem sotilli til þei be perfiȝtli boilid.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)27/15 : Whan Jesus hadd hem ytauȝth þe werkes profitelich -- what hij schulden do..þo went Jesus doun wiþ hem to þe folk.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1972 : I dar afferme þat we..han of armys parfitly þe art.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)8331 : Of þe syns þat þou here has wroght..þou ert here schryven parfytely.
- ?a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (RwlPoet 175:Napier)p.461 : Full perfytely he couth his partes.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.5.9 : What is ther in hem that mai be thyn in any tyme, or elles that it nys fowl, yif that it be considered and lookyd perfitly?
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)140b/b : Procede in þe cure of þe wounde to þat it be perfitelie hole.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)171 : Þou hast it [our sin] forȝouun fullich and parfiȝtly.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)105/20 : Inseparabel es þi lufe when al þi hert..es swa haly..and swa perfytely festend..in Jhesu Cryste.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)24 : The þridde transfoormynge is whanne Iesu Crist and a soule ben so parfiȝtli [vrr. parfiȝteli, parfitele], so vnpartabli, and so accordably oonyd and bounden togidere, þat Crist is in þe soule and þe soule is in him.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)introd.21 : Alle the conclusions that han be founde or ellys possibly might be founde in so noble an instrument as is an Astrelabie ben unknowe parfitly to eny mortal man in this regioun.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.126 : Þe habyt of þy mynde..Was sadly set þerto þe wiche þat I Enformed had pleyn and perfightly [vr. perfectly].
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)16/8 : On-to Cristis skole..was he not parfithly entred.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)128/33 : Too of hir neybouris..infect with a maner of palesie..wer..mad parfitly hool.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)146/32 : Þe man constreynyd nylliþ vttirli and parfijtli þe principal outward deede which he dooþ.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)2 : These reules had in mynde, the reder schal more parfitely undirstand this book.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)1/15 : God..ordeyned..how þat olde euangelik men, and feble in kynde, myȝte be restorid..& be mad hool parfiȝtly.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)49a/a : So with her vij poyntis, þei han regned fully and parfiȝtly 24 houris in þe natural day.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)211 : This science was nevir taght to man But he were prouyd perfitly.
- a1500 Hisp.SSecr.(Rwl C.83)6/27 : When þu hast ete þi mete, be ware þu ete not eftsonis, vn-til þi mete bifore receiuid be perfitely digestid.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)8/6 : The man þat is not parfitly dede in himself is sone temptid.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Heb.13.17 : Ȝoure prouostis or prelatis..perfytly [vr. bisili] waken [L pervigilant] as to ȝeldinge resoun for ȝoure soulis.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Phil.3.16 : Netheles to what thing we han comen, that we vndirstonde the same thing and that we parfytli dwelle [WB(2): perfitli dwelle; L permaneamus] in the same reule.
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)123a : Þat we perfitly dwelle in þe same reule, phi. þridde cap.
c
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)187/33 : Ouer al thynge thou shalte enchu and hate Parfitely losengerie in thy-Selfe and otheris, ffor losengerie destrueth euery vertu.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)91/18 : Þei þat despisiþ parfitly [L perfecte] þe worlde & studieth to lyue under holy discipline, þe swetnes of god..is not unknowen to hem.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.79.16 : God..visite þou þis vyne And parfitly mac it [WB(2): make..it perfit; L perfice eam] þat þi riȝthond plauntede.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)81/4 : Putte wiþ him good oile of rosis & vynegre..stiryng til it be perfiȝtly [vr. perfitlyche; L perfecte] an oynement.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)16.220 : Þus in þre persones is perfitliche manhede, Þat is, man & his make & moillere her children.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)9/25 : Vertu in infirmite is perfitly mad.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)39a/a : For in him schulden be fulfillid þe digestioun þat was not fully ne parfiȝtly maad in þe stomac.
e
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)73a/a : But it may parfiȝtloker be y-knowen on þis wise, [etc.].
- a1450(a1397) WBible(2) GProl.(Hrl 1666)p.54 : Poul bringith it in to preue, that Crist is more than aungels; but such preuynge may not be maad bi goostly sense, as Austin seith..; forsothe the forseid autorite was fillid to the lettre in Salomon, natheles lesse parfitly, for he was the sone of God oonly bi grace, but it was fillid parfitlier in Crist, that was the sone of God bi kinde; but natheles euer either expocisscioun is literal outtirly.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)26/20 : I wolde be more perfectely enformed by the how the tormentis and passions myght be ouircome.
f
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)112 : How many tymes be formed of the furst person of the tyme that is fullych agoo of the indicatyf mode? Thre:..The tyme that is more than apassed in the same mode, the tyme that is parfetly a passyd in the coniunctyf mode, and the tyme that is to come of the same mode.
3.
(a) Righteously, in a spiritually perfect manner; (b) parfitlier (perfitliest), more ~, more (most) virtuously or righteously, with greater (greatest) spiritual perfection.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)243/22 : He ssel clyerliche izy god and him ssel louie parfitliche [Vices & V.(2): parfiȝtliche] and worþssipie euremo.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Amos 5.10 : Thei wlatiden a man spekynge perfitly [Bod 959: parfitly; L perfecte].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.111 : Crist..spak to hem that wolde lyue parfitly.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.43 : Alle þe puple hadde pardon ynow þat parfytliche lyueden.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)17.325 : Charite..of crist precheþ..What sorwes he suffrede, in ensample of ous alle That pouerte and pacience parfitliche ytake.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)2423 : And alle our dedys þat gud here semed Þan sal be discussed haly and demed..wilk was don on wrang manere, And wilk we dyd parfitely here.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)3428 : Swa parfitely may nane lyf here, With-outen veniel syns sere.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)1/5 : I beseche þee..þat I may parfiteliche loue þee & worþilich preise þee.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)52/19-20 : Sche miȝt not boþe serue God in bodely besines & goostly to-gedir parfitely; inparfitely sche may, bot not parfitely.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)1/11 : Þat þu aske of hym wid besy prayer alle gude thing þat þu begyns to do to be perfytely endid.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.385 : Þis þridde [contemplative] liif..shal laste evere perfitli.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)87/1 : All þo þat beleuen perfectely in god schul ben saued.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)29/530 : A prechur schuld lyue parfytly And do as he techys truly.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)124 : For hir trewe feithe and bileue in the whiche were grounded perfitely hope and charite..hadde made hir saaf.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)26/16 : Þe vertu of charite..the good spirite scholde perfiȝtli haue in himself.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)2 : If þou wilt contynuely styen up to perfeccioun..euere perfiȝtly moore and moore encreesse fro vertu to vertu.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)143/27 : They connot spekyn parfitly to [read: of] God and specially of the Trinite, for they han none techeris to shewyn hem of the Sone and of the Holy Gost.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)28/4 : And þen at þe first is þe goodnes of God confermed & stablid in oure hertis when we parfitely loue God.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)29/6 : Þis þing may noȝt fully be fulfillyd of vs here in þis lijf, ffor in þis deedly lijf we may noȝt oure loue so parfitely ordeigne.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)59 : Þe sacrament of presthed befor oþer more worþily and wiþ cure is to be ȝeuen and tane, for but if it be so ȝeuen and tane, it schal fuyle to be rate or ferme, os it is not perfitly done.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)85/4 : I desire not to lyue to myself, but to þe, & þat, wolde god, miȝt be parfitly & worþely!
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)12b/a : Þe aungel ioyneþ hym by his owne wille þe more parfitlich [L quanto perfectius] to þe soþnes þat may not be chaungid.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)12b/b : And he fongiþ alwey þe more principal þeophamas þat is liȝt & schininge of god, in so moche as he turnith hym þe more parfitliche to þe hiȝest god by loue þat chaungith not.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)523 : The othere plesauntis and eesis of the religiosis persoones..schulde make hem the perfitlier and the stablier perfoorme her othere substancial vowis.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.11.7b : Þat is of þe goodnesse of God..in conforte of simple deuout sowles for to encressen here trust and here disir to God, for to seke þerbi þe knowing and þe loue of God more perfitli for swilk a confort.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)105.24 : For he is maste at loue that lest settis bi this warld, and perfytliest lufis heuen.
4.
Skillfully, competently.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)20.136 : Þe fyngres is ful hand, for, failled thei here þombe, Portrey ne peynte parfitliche..Sholde no wryȝt.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Wisd.13.11 : Ony crafti man, a carpenter, hewith doun of the wode a streiȝt tre, and rasith awei perfitli [WB(1): taȝtli; L docte] al the riynde therof.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)360/5 : For he þat obeyeþ, casteþ his nett moore parfiȝtly, kepinge boþe þe comaundementis & þe counceilis mentaly & actualy.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)2/19 : In þis inuentarie is sette..comune þinges..full nedefull to what man þat is willynge to doo perfitly in the craft of cirurgye.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)36/17 : Beestis mowe and kunnen forme proposicions, argue, and proue..þouȝ þei not so parfijtli as a man may and kanne argue about þe same þingis.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3300 : iij preciouse stonys been within the hafft Perfitlych I-couchid & sotillich by crafft.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1500(?a1425) Boeth.Bk.Comfort (BodAuct F.3.5)237/305 : Thay..wenes that oon liberal scyence myȝt perfyly [?read: perfytly] be cowde, or myȝt make a perfyte wise man withoute another.
Note: New spelling, (?error) 'perfyly' added to form section; quot. belongs in sense 2.(a).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1475 Bk.Physiog.(Cmb Ll.4.14)222 : We shull speke of of þe heed, and of þe signes of him by everyche parties of him…if it be whiȝte, it betokeneth a man of fful witte…if it be blake, it betokenet a man fful of witte…if it be citrine, it betokeneth a man swythe meke and large, kepinge parffitnliche ffellawschepe, and stedffaste.
Note: ?NE
Note: New spelling
Note: This quot. has been proposed as new entry, parfitliche adj.; however, it may be parsed either as adjective (modifying "ffellawshepe") or as adverb (rather more awkwardly, modifying the participle "kepinge"). For want of definitive evidence of the adjective, it is treated here as an adverb. In either case, it is a unique spelling.