Middle English Dictionary Entry
b n.
Entry Info
| Forms | b n. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The letter B of the alphabet; (b) the letter B used in labeling the verso of a folio, a part of a diagram, a section of a chapter, a square on the chess board, etc.; (c) the second of the seven dominical letters; (d) the sound of the letter 'b'; (e) used in a saying.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)1 : Tuaye lettres of þe abece, þet is to wytene A and b.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)8a/a : In þe firste lessoun þat I took..I lerned a and Be And oþir lettres by here names.
- a1475 Inf.Chr.(Hrl 3954)197 : Now qwy is a beforn þe b?
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.11 : The lettres of the A B C.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)2460 : De Iebus & Salem compositum est nomen Ierusalem..b letter was putt þer-fro And r sett þer-as b stode.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)1 : A betocneþ þe uerste half of þe leave, b þe oþerhalf.
- ?c1400 Treat.Geom.(Sln 213)65 : Wite you that A es þe right cornel vpward, B þe left cornel vpward, C þe left cornel donward.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)105 : B [written in the margin to indicate a subdivision of a chapter].
- a1475 Chess(1) (Porter)602 : Chec with þi roke, þen he gois into B.
c
- 1397 WBible(2) TL (Em 102)vol.1 p.lvi : This was writen in the ȝer of g sundai next after lepeȝeer of b in the ȝeer of the Lord mccclxxxvij.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)2.6.295 (f.48rb; p.140) : Tak hede on what lettre Sondai goþ; F E D C B A G are concurrantz: when þe Sonday goþ on F, þe concurrantz goþ þat ȝere on j; when þe Sonday goth on E, þe concurrant goþ on 2; when on D, on 3, & so of alle þat oþer.
- a1500 in Singer Cat.Alchem.1.290 : The pryme being this yere 14 and the dominicall lettre b in the yere of kyng henry the vith, after the conquest 36.
d
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)3.3.3 (p.223) : It schuld be said 'ambulla' (which [?read: with] -b-) and noȝt 'ampulla' (which [?read: with] -p-).
e
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)p.57 : I know not an a from the wynd-mylne, ne a b from a bole foot.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1425 *Tit.Alphabet (Tit D.18)9a : Alphabetum Anglicum: A, a; b, be; c, ce.
Note: Additional quot. for sense (a).