Middle English Dictionary Entry
pleintī̆f n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pleintī̆f n. Also plaintif, -tief; pl. pleintifs & (?error) playntees. |
| Etymology | AF pleintif, pl. pleintifs; cp. CF plaintif adj., pl. plaintis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Law A person who brings formal suit against another in a court of law, plaintiff; one who seeks redress for wrong; (b) a complainer, plaintive person.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (1278) RParl.1.10b : Al quel jour, le Bailif, les pleintifs, e les veisins ke furen sumuns vindrent. ]
- [ (c1290) Britton 1 (Lamb 403)p.12 : Et si le pleyntif vodera sure soen apel de eynz le an et le jur, si troeffe deus pleges. ]
- [ ?c1425(c1390) Chaucer Fort.(Benson-Robinson)head. : La respounse de Fortune au Pleintif. ]
- a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)p.84 : Þre somounces schulle be y-maked by þre dayes fulfuld..so þat þe playntyf [vr. pleynere; F pleintif] to euerych court him profry to þe somaunce procuratour.
- (1429) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)10.430 : For the Suyt of the whilk cause the Persones, Playntief of Scotland, shal have sufficient Saufcondit..And right so the Persones, Playntief of England.
- (1430-31) RParl.4.376a : That ye Juges..make oute a remembrance under her seall or his seall, atte the sute of ye demaundant or tenaunt, Pleyntyf or Defendaunt, in ye plee in ye whiche bastardie is or shal be allegged.
- (1436) RParl.4.501b : Yei have no prejudice therby; ne ye Pleintifs in the seid Actions and Writtes of atteint noon avauntage.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)31 : Ȝif the tenaunt do his lawe in the maner afore seyd, thanne taketh the pleyntyff [ID(1): le demaundaunt] no thyng be his writt.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)55 : In that plee of wast ben alowed iij essoynes as weel for the defendaunt as for the pleyntyff.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.3217 : Roial blood hath routhe..On poore pleyntiffs.
- (1444) RParl.5.111a : Yef the Defendant duely warned therinne make defaute..then the Pleintifs recovere ayenst theym that so ben convicte.
- (1449) RParl.5.150a : If any persoune or persounes, at thaire sute theruppon be convicte or atteynted, that the same Maire..shall have Juggement for to recovere alle the movable Godes and Catell..at the election of the Plaintifz in the same actions.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)130/33 : A fals pleyntyf..sekyth a cause to moote aȝens resoun & feynyth a fals accyoun.
- (1451) Paston (Gairdner)2.239 : Ther was nat one of the pleyntyfs ner compleynuantez ther, but..John Paston.
- (1454) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1280 : Gyf the pleyntyff be put to eny delay, he..sholde sywe in the Kyng's courte.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2870 : Such is the equyte That who pursu othir, & his pleynt be wrong, He shall make a-mendis..Riȝt as shuld þe todir, yf he condempnyd were, Riȝt so shall þe pleyntyff.
- (1463) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2.p.65 : That than the partie playntyff or playntees declare..atte the request of the partye playntyf or playntyffs, defendaunt and defendaunts.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)192/26 : Ther was a strif and a discorde bitwene Margery Dyne, abbesse of Godestowe, playntyf, of that one partie, and Nicholas, Abbot of seynt Iames..on that other partie.
b
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.1108 : Among alle stories to tell þe pitous caas Of woful pleyntiffs..myn auctour, Iohn Bochas, Was meued..To write the falle of Calistenes.