Middle English Dictionary Entry
perniciǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | perniciǒus adj. Also pernisious. |
| Etymology | OF pernïcios & L perniciōsus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of a deed: evil, wicked; of a sickness or diseased condition: extremely harmful, fatal.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)36a/b : Cancre of al his kynde is a sikenez pernicious or perilous [Ch.(2): venemouse; L pernitiosa].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)78a/b : Of þis forsoþ renne þai in to þat pernicious accident of aking & torcions of intestinez, of which þay may be spasmed and bi consequens dye.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)93b/a : Þe spasme is a pernicious & a wicked accident, & ouþer while he is destroier for euermore of alle þe naturel operacioun of þe member þat he falleþ in and sumtyme sleeþ þe pacient.
- c1475(1459) Pros.Yorkists in EHR 26 (Roy 17.D.15)516,517 : Of a pure malice and longtyme precogitat wykednes, the whiche after the furst indulgence hade relapse and recay in a greter and more pernicious offence thann the first was, and in the same..withoute eny erubescence hathe the thirde tyme attemted and put him in his utmoste devoire to accomplesshe his pernysious entent..is it herin ony cause of mercy?
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)161a/b : Summe woundis..of þe brayn panne..make þe man þat is woundid haue perniciouse accidentis or ellis sle him.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)168b/a : And as touchinge þe cure of ony pernicious accidentis if þat it falle as tercoun or dwellynge akiþ intollerabile in þe guttis & in þe wombe..it schal be curid in þis maner.