Middle English Dictionary Entry
pē̆sī̆ble adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | pē̆sī̆ble adj. Also peas-, peac-, peis-, pais-, paiz-, & pesable, pese-, peas-, pais-, & (errors) peasebly, peisble, pos(s)ible; pl. pesible(s. |
| Etymology | OF paisible, peisible & paisable. Forms show influence of ME pē̆s n., some substitution of -āble for -ī̆ble suf. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Mild, peace-loving, gentle, peaceable; peacemaking; also, trusted [quot.: WB(1) Jer.]; (b) ~ to, friendly or at peace with (sb.), peaceable toward; ~ unto, calm toward (sb.); ~ with, friendly or peaceable toward (sb.); kind to (sheep); (c) restrained in conduct, not violent; civil.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)261/6 : Þo byeþ payzible..þet alle þe steriinges of þe herte ordayneþ and zetteþ onder þe lhordssipe of riȝte scele.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judith 3.6 : Cum to vs a pesible [L pacificus] lord & vse oure seruyse as it pleseþ to þee.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Jer.38.22 : Han begilid þee & hadden þe maistri aȝen þee þi pesible men.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.263 : No pesible man demeþ aȝenst holy chirche.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (LdMisc 210)10/8 : Blessed be paysable folk.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)348 : Þei [friars] moven londis to bateilis and pesible persones to plete.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.321 : Ȝit men mai muse how Crist is pesible kyng, siþ he seiþ he cam not to sende pees in þe erþe, but swerd.
- ?c1430(c1400) Rule & T.St.Francis(1) (Corp-C 296)41 : I conseile..my freris..þat þei ben mylde, peisble, and manerly.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)390/782 : Thei were humble of maneres..Pesible of port and of condiciouns.
- c1440(?a1396) ?Hilton Angels' Song (Thrn)16/3 : Þe mare þat a saule es..confourmede & Ioynede to oure Lorde Godd..þe mare wysse & clere, Gude, peyseble, luffande.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)1570 : Dauid dowth signyfye 'The souereyn heuenely progenytour', And salomon 'pesyble' after ethimologye.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.BC (Trin-C R.3.20)107 : Moost pacyente and mooste peysyble, Sheo neuer sayde to me amysse.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3080 : He louede pes wiþ al hys myght, & pesyble men held he to ryght.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)3232 : We cum..Trewth, Mercy, and Ryth, and Pes, pesyble in fyth.
- c1450(c1400) Rev.Jul.Norwich (Add 37790)79/17 : God wille euer that we be sekere in luffe, & peessabille & ristefulle as he is to vs.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.26 : A noble man..he was for the nones, Gracyovs in feeld, peesible in wones.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)120 : He was cleped Pesibel Edgare.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)277 : Pesabylle: pacificus, portunus, quietus, paciens, tranquillus, portuosus.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.192 : Salomon..schal ben clepyd þe kyng pecible.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)41/23 : Allas, hough many iuste and peacible creaturis haue borne the peyne and the angwisch of this werre.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)13/25 : Throgh besechynge of two Bisshopis..and othir Pesibbill [Dub: possible] men..thay yoldyn ham al to Macmurgh.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)42/34 : A pesible man auailiþ more þan a gret lerned man.
b
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)119.6 : Ich whas peisible wyþ hem þat hateden pes.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.6.6 : Manye pesible ben to þee, & counseilour be to þee oon of a thousend.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.289 : Þe men of Flaundres..bringeþ forth meny children, and beeþ pesible to hir neighebores.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)63 : Thei myghten lightli ouirrenne vs cristene, as bi mannis power, if God made hem not peesible to vs withouten oure deseruynge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)71b/a : In a goode spouse and wif nediþ þes condiciouns, þat sche be..esi and pesible to here neiȝbores.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)186a/b : Þe men ben..deuoute to godde, peysible and trewe to men.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)298 : O Mars'. cheueteyn off nobyl weryouris, With Venus and Lucyna, the mone, pesybyl be.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)117/22 : She..brought hym oute of hys frensye and made hym paisible vnto her and vnto all other peple.
- a1500 Henley Husb.(Sln 686)54 : Yeff þe shepe þen fle fro hym it is a sygne þat he is not peseable with þem.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4375 : Who can ben peisible in his smerte, It is a tokene he hath a manly herte, Nat to wepen as wommen in her rage.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)49a/a : His brethern..hated hym & myght not speke to hym a pesyble worde [Vulg. Gen.37.4: quicquam pacificum].
2.
(a) Characterized by peacefulness, peaceful; untroubled; (b) untroubled by war or disturbance, peaceful; unwarlike; of words: friendly, nonbelligerent; of advice: conducive to peace; (c) of the sea, weather, night, summer: calm, peaceful; of wind: gentle; of a port: safe from storm, sheltered; (d) of offerings: conducive to peace, propitiatory; ~ sacrifices (thinges), peace offerings.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Tim.2.2 : I beseche..for to be maad bisechingis..for kyngis..that we lede quyet and pesyble [L tranquillam] lyf.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Jas.3.17 : Wisdom that is fro aboue, first sotheli it is chaast, aftirward pesible, mylde, suadible.
- a1400 Alle-mighty god in trinitie (Roy 17.B.17)39/215 : Þere is souerayne sikernes dight..paysibul ioye with likande sight.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)7833 : Þare es peysebelle ioy ay lastand.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.5.3 : Sche, with hir cheere pesible and nothyng amoeved with my compleyntes, seide thus.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.10.6 : Her is the havene stable in pesible quiete.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)382/38 : Þi face is not troublid by vnpaciens, but þou hast a pesible & also a plesable [vr. pesable] siȝt in þisilf.
- ?c1425(c1380) Chaucer Form.A.(Benson-Robinson)1 : A blisful lyf, a paisible and a swete, Ledden the peples in the former age.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)189 : Þis peisible [vr. posible] herynge of cristis word..þat magdeleyne hadde was þe beste part.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)26b : Ȝoure softe pesible studie [L tranquillitas]..desireþ olde þinges of dedes of armes to ben gedered out of olde poetes bookys.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.173 : Thow art pesible rest of mannys mynde.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)371 : Þe peple mai lede a pesable lyfe undir hem.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Pseudo-F.(Dub 245)305 : First it [pure religion] is chast, pesible, temperat, tretable.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)211/1 : Yf thou seeke or will haue..peasible conscience, thou resemblest him that sekith reson amonge the mad and woode men.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)97/7 : If thou woll entre in comparisons to knowe what thing may be..moste profitable to euery man, moste peasable to all folkis..I say that it is the holy Cristen feithe.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)7411 : Hys lokyng was not disdeynous, Ne proud, but meke and ful pesyble.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)261/25 : Þe like blissinge ssel by uolmad huanne hi ssolle by ine payzible possession of þe eritage of hire uader.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.18.15 : Þei wentyn in to þe hous of þe ȝonglyng leuyte..& þei salutydyn hym wiþ pesible woordis.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 16.4-5 : Þe elderis..seidyn, 'wheþer pesible is þi incomynge?' & he seiþ, 'pesible; to offren to þe lord I am comyn.'
- (1386) RParl.3.225a : The eleccion of Mairaltee is to be to the Fre men of the Citee, bi gode and paisible avys of the wysest and trewest.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)175a/a : Generalyche and comunelyche þis londe is peysible and quiete.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)332a/b : This weye..is clene and sadde, y-paued wiþ stone, euene and pesible, and comyn to alle men.
- (1415) Hoccl.Oldcastle (Hnt HM 111)171 : Our goode fadres olde..hadden the seisyne Peisible of Crystes feith.
- (1419) Let.War France in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)80/31 : In more quiet ne pesibler rest..was neuer erthly Citee nor place.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5253 : For to make pesible that passage..Hercules slouh Bisiris.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.3469 : Woordes pesible enbelisshed with plesaunce Appesid of tirauntes the rigerous vengaunce.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.1943 : Charlis was put..In ful pesible and hool pocessioun Of Cicile.
- (1442) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.3.176 : The whiche Contrees and Towne..haue be vndre the paisible rule, gouernance, and obeisance of oure progenitours.
- (1449) RParl.5.167a : Comaundyng theim..to do restore your seid besecher unto the seid Office, and hym therein in peasebly possession to putte.
- a1450 Methodius(2) (Add 37049)107/30 : Þan sal þe erth be made pesabyl, þat was dystroyed of þaim.
- (1450) Paston2.50 : The Conuersacion of good tranquillite and pesable rewle among all trew sogettes.
- (1466) Stonor1.75 : William and Thomas arrestyd þe seid John in pesible wyse.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1177/1 : We woll be there in pesyble wyse and beare none harneyse of warre uppon us.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)243/15 : The ripe direccion and noblesse of Kynge Charles..this reame out of greef mischeeuys releeuid in pesible felicite.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)109/5 : He..lefte vnto you bothe Empyre and the realme of Fraunce in pesible possession.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.154 : Thy realmes desolacion..with lawe and peaceble constitucion Might haue been saued.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1845 : I was a-noon with wynde pesible blowe To an yle whiche was to me vnknowe.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)98/22 : He is þe gate..þat þei mowe entre to me, which am þe pesable see.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)319/19 : I axe þee of grace þat I mowe haue two floodis of teeris whiche mowe come out fro þee þat art þe peesyble see.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.38/19 : xi schippis fro the havyn of the pesible porte with ioye ther shulde be losid..In a breyf space with the wodnes of wynde euery of them were cast from othir.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)455 : In þe bigynnyng of al his walke whanne þe wedir was pesable, he hadde bileeue þat þou myȝtist saue him from drenching.
- a1450(a1401) Chastising GC (Bod 505)107/13 : Whan þer is no tempest, in a pesible wedir, while þe sunne shyneþ merie, it [bee] gooþ out and seekiþ floures.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)25.111 : The nyht, Pesible [F paisible] and fair it was, Ne A softere Nyht neuere there Nas.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)41.212 : That Nyht it was bothe fair and stille, and the See pesible [F paissible] At here Owne wille with-Owten tempest.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)28 : The ebbyng and þe flowyng of þe see..is peisible in fayre wedir & troubled in tempest.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5210 : A pesable port pight full of shippes.
- c1450 Metham Progn.CD (Gar 141(1))146/25 : Iff Crystemes day falle vp-on the Tusday..the somyr schuld [be] pesybyl and drye.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)73/26 : Þe wyndes litel blowyn, þe see ys paisyble.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.3.1 : Ȝif þe hoost of pesyble þynges [L pacificorum] were þe offrynge of hym & off þe oxen he wol offre amaal or afemaal, wiþ oute wem he shal offre byfore þe lord.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)4 Kings 16.13 : He offride sacrifices of lycouris & helde þe blood of pesible þingis þe whiche he hadde offrid vp on þe auter.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Par.33.16 : He enstorede þe auter of þe lord & offrede vp on it slayn sacrifises & peseble & preisyng.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.20.24 : An auter of erthe ȝe shulen mak to me, and ȝe shulen offre vpon it ȝoure brent sacrifices and pesible [WB(2): pesible sacrifices].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ezek.46.2 : Preestis schulen make the brent sacrifice of hym and the pesible sacrifices of hym.
3.
(a) As noun: peaceable people, peacemakers; also, friends [quot.: WB(1) Jer.]; -- also pl. peacemakers; (b) as noun: a peace offering; (c) as adv.: in a friendly manner.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)96/34 : Yblissed byeþ þe paysyble, uor hi ssolle by ycleped godes zones.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)SSol.8.11 : A vyne she was to þe pesible.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Jer.20.10 : I herde..'pursueþ & pursue we hym' of alle men þat weren my peisible [L pacifici mei] & kepende my side.
- c1390 Mirror St.Edm.(1) (Vrn)675 : Blesset be þe pesybles i-tald, Godus children schul þei be cald.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Ezek.46.2 : Prestis shuln do his brend sacrifice and his pesibles [vr. pesible; WB(2): pesible sacrifices; L pacifica].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Ezek.46.12 : Whan the prince shal do wilful brent sacrifice or wilful pesibles to the Lord, the ȝate that biholdith to the eest shal be opnyd to hym.
c
- c1425 Treat.10 Com.(StJ-O 94)27 : With his frende he spekith peesybul, and undur þat preuyly he settith spies for to do him malys.