Middle English Dictionary Entry
plūrā̆litẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | plūrā̆litẹ̄ n. Also pluralte, plurelte. |
| Etymology | OF pluralité & L plūrālitas. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A number greater than one, plurality; the state or fact of being plural or having a plural referent; numerousness; also, expression in the plural number; (b) frequency of forgiveness; (c) eccl. the simultaneous tenure by one cleric of more than one benefice; esp. ones in which he has spiritual charge of people in a district; pluralism; also, the site of one of the benefices so held; ?also person.; ~ of benefices (chirches); tri ~, tenure by one cleric of three benefices.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)118b/b : Plyades ben seuene sterris, and hauen þat name of..pluralite, for þey beoþ many.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)137b/b : Rayne hatte pluvia, and haþ þat name of pluralite of droopes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)329b/a : It may be knowe þat perfecciouns is in þe persones of god and þat þe pluralite of hem..passeþ nought þe numbre of þe trinite.
- a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.Ps.(Bod 554)45 (Ps.32.14) : Þe Ebreu word set here signefieþ boþe syngulerte and plurelte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1892 : Þei be nat content with vnite; Þei pursue ay for pluralite.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)151a/b : Þe byrþ is made hard for pluralite of birþez [Ch.(2): for many children].
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)116/22 : The multitude of outward scrophules bytokeneþ pluralite of ham wiþynneforth.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.1989 : Thus speketh he that ȝe be goddis alle; Whom mente he heere in this pluralite But god, whiche ȝe syngulere confesse?
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)7772 : The noble uertu contynence..seyd in syngulerte, Ys egal to pluralyte [F un plurier].
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.27 : I haue studiede that hit schal be called Policronicon of the pluralite of tymes whom it dothe conteyne.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.2.90b : So wold he than, be distribucion of many hundred yeres suyng be succession..schewe the pluralite of worldes.
b
- c1455 Spec.Miser.(Tak 32)757 : Seynt petyr..for soke hym thriese, But yit soo cvrteys god to hym hee wase, His meke hertte hee wolde nowt despise But toke hym ayeen to Mercy and grace..And evere wt Mercy is menged pluralitte [rime: dignytee].
c
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.200 : Dobet doþ ful wel, & dewid he is also, And haþ possessions & pluralites [vr. pluraltes] for pore menis sake.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)4.33 : Porchase ȝow prouendres while ȝoure pans lasteþ, And bigge ȝow benefices, pluralite to haue.
- c1410 Trev.Higd.(Add 24194)8.257 : He dampned pluralite of benefices wiþ cure.
- (1425) RParl.4.290b : Ȝiff cas befall that mony a Parsone, Viker, and Hospiteler of this lond have pluralite and somme tripluralite, that everychon of home may holde residence for the rate opon yche of hire Benefice, opon the payn aforesaide.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1417 : Adayes now..O chirche vn-to a man may not suffise; But algate he mote han pluralite.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)555 : Thenne raughte I fro religion..And caried to closes and cathedralle churches, There þat pluralite was prisely ystablid.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)18.11 : Alle þey bene acursed þat receyvin & holdyn pluralyte of cherchys hauyng cure of soule but ȝif it be by dyspensacyoun of þe court of Rome.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)160 : For his sobirnesse and good lyvyng thei chose him Pope; It is seid of him that he wold nevir graunt pluralite of benefices.