Middle English Dictionary Entry
Pīlāt(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Pīlāt(e n. |
| Etymology | L Pīlātus |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Pontius Pilate; also, an abusive term for corrupt, lax prelates; pilates vois, a loud, boastful voice like that of Pilate in the mystery plays.
Associated quotations
- a1250 Creed (Blick 6864)p.138 : He was..Gepined under þane pontische pilate.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 13.1 : Sum men neiȝeden in that tyme, tellinge to him of Galilees, whos blood Pilat myngede with the sacrificis of hem.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3124 : The miller that for dronken was al pale..in Pilates [vr. pilat] voys he gan to crye.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.298 : I went To warne pilates wyf what dones man was ihesus.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)63 : Þus þes cursed pilatis, not prelatis, ben verray anticristis, procuratours of Sathanas, & traitours of ihu crist & his peple.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)271/19 : Loo! Pilate, I am proued a prince of grete pride; I was putte into Pounce þe pepill to presse.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)56 : Prelats not preching are raþer Pilats þan prelatis, spoilars, not biholdars, herodians of Heroud, not heyris of Crist.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)278 : Pilate: pilatus.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)279/21 : Stemate regali kyng atus gate me of pila..Nomine wlgari pownce pilate, that may ye well say.