Middle English Dictionary Entry
permanent adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | permanent adj. |
| Etymology | OF parmanant, permenant & L permanēns, permanentem. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Enduring, permanent; unchanging; unchanged; of substances, chemicals: stable; (b) ~ in, steadfast in (a virtue).
Associated quotations
a
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.32/33 : A bilynge certeynly styddefastly here permanent, vnspottid shall be translatid yn-to the kyngdome euerlastynge.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)121 : A þing not permanent, þat is to seie, not abidyng hool þoruȝ al his beyng and alle his parties togidere in oon poynt of tyme, but is a þing hauyng his kindely beyng in a successioun and in a slidyng duraunce into a certeyn markid to it an eend bi kynde.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)269 : Aman may encrese his bodily strengþe..but þilk strengþe schal not be permanent, for it schal falle soone after þat helþe falliþ.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)35/5 : He tretith who we may ascende in owr vndirstanding fro bodely and chaungable noumbres on-to goostly and permanent, whech permanent noumbres be in þat treuth whech is God.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)9421 : He made the Immortal, Permanent, & euere stable, And tadwellyd Immutable Yiff thow nat haddyst..fforfetyd hys comaundement.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.255 : Other thynges be permanente [Trev.: stondeþ; L permanent] as thei were, as men of Assiria toke theire name of Assur, men of Hebrewe of Heber.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.461 : We be not the inhabitatores of this vale fulle of misery, but aliaundes where we haue noo permanente habitacion, but we knowe vs to departe from this world, hyenge to oure propre habitacion.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2238 : But democrite said best liquour to present Elixer with-alle was water permanent, whose naturalle vertue & propertie was fyre to abide, & neuer to flee.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2339 : With liquours ye may a-bate The principal agent from his estate, If he permanent and abidinge be In any poynt of superfluyte.
b
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.349 : The sonnes and doȝhters of the seide Nicholas were permanente [L permanserint] in chastite alle the tyme of theire life.
- ?a1500 Job (Hnt HM 140)94 : Yet in thi simplicite Thou here art permanent.