Middle English Dictionary Entry
persevē̆raunt adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | persevē̆raunt adj. Also parseveraunt. |
| Etymology | OF perseverant |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of persons, knighthood: constant, steadfast, persevering; steadfast in grace; ben ~, to persevere, be steadfast; (b) of things, qualities, conditions, actions: persistent, unflagging; enduring; stable; (c) of a king: enduring in position of kingship; (d) as noun: one who remains or continues.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4880 : He was alwey feithful, iust, & stable, Perseueraunt, and of wil inmvtable Vp-on what þing he onys set his herte, Þat doubilnes myȝt hym nat peruerte.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)169/8 : Þei ben pacyent and stronge and also perseueraunt for to suffre.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.13/25 : He, trewly yn the same cheir and soule euermore parseueraunte, expressyd holsumme doctrine.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)43/26 : Þei cownseld hir to be perseuerawnt, for here most dred was þat sche xuld turnyn & not kepyn hir perfeccyon.
- c1440(a1401) Life Bridlington in NM 71 (Yale 331)p.141 : Perseuerant hale in þat mode..To Bridlyngton at last he yode.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)274 : Perseveraunt in hoope..I stood, Of my Request with feithful attendaunce.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)341/32 : Be perseuerant, askynge, knokkynge, & sechynge tille þou haue þi askynge.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)50 : Al þat I say is bot lytel in regard of þat þat þou schalt fele in experience bothe of sygnt [read: syght] and of trouthe yf þou be perseuerant vnto ende.
- c1450 Lover's Mass (Frf 16)213 : I ha founden and seyn the grete trouthe of Troylus perseuerant to hys lyves ende.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)120/14 : Ther lay sche seuene days continuely perseueraunt in hir prayeris.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)137 : Knyghthode an ordir is..As confident the right to magnifie As wil the lawe of Goddis mandement, And as perseueraunt and patient.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.255 : The grete Pompeius was the firste whiche willede to haue redacte the lawes in to bokes, but he was not perseuerante [Trev.: fulfilled it nouȝt; L non perseveravit] for drede of obtrectatores.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)25 : In goode werkys I awyse yow..to be perseuerante.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)307 : The iewes..byn perseuerante. in theyre errour, Forsakyng clene the heuynly socour.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)4096 : Sum in holi chirch þer bene..that ben not fondet with no wo, ne ffallen not in no maner ny but perseueraunt ay ben so.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)1.13.9b : He hath be perseuerant in good purpose euene to þe ende.
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)33 : He that is perseveraunt in goode werkyng vnto the ende, he shall be sauf.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)120/29 : Seldom is founden a trusty frende þat is perseuerant in all þe necessites of his frende.
- a1500 Away ffeynt (RwlPoet 34)6 : Another lady chese me muste, Wich euermore ys perseueraunt In luff and never varyaunt.
b
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)111b/a : Vlcera ben engenderde in þe yȝen when þat stronge akkeþ is perseueraunt in þe yȝen.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)285 : It longiþ to douȝtynes forto be perseueraunt in al þat is vertuosely bigunne.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)439 : At þe first is þi supernatural power redi to fulfille what þerynne we mowe not do neiþer procure..but myche þe raþir if we preie þerfore bi diligence and perseueraunte instaunce.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.15 : This worldly welthe is nouth perseueraunt Ne neuere abidynge in stabilite.
- (c1453) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35322 : Within short tyme oure seid worke effectuosly may be complessid, the wich after oure powere shall endure unto you and youre progeny in oure Universite a perseveraunt memorialle.
- a1456 Marmaduke SSecr.(Ashm 59)204/13 : I signefye to þi prudence þat I have founden in þe lande of Perce one maner of folke of gret raison and of perceuerant vnderstonding.
- (1464) Let.Ormond in Fortescue Works27 : Write to my lord Charles..commendynge hym of his perseverant kyndnesse.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)95/12 : To be rekeles forto gadere into oure remembraunce certeyn trouþis..is..leesing promissis so habundaunt, so delectaunt, so perseueraunt, for vs to haue in hevene.
c
- a1456 Marmaduke SSecr.(Ashm 59)208/7 : I halde him moste noble kyng perseuerant, þat he þat is large to him-selff and to heos servantz, he is moste worþy and beste liche to tolonge endure.
- a1456 Marmaduke SSecr.(Ashm 59)208/13 : Þe prince þat is avaricious to him selff and in þe same wyse to heos servaunte, his reavme, his puissance, his domynacion, may not longe stonde perseverant and weele endure by no raison.
d
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)42/32 : The sleer of hym..shall be one of the perseuerantes [L vnus de perseueratoribus] in eterne peynes.