Middle English Dictionary Entry
poesī(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | poesī(e n. Also poisi(e, poisei, posi(e, poiesie, (error) poysries & poisẹ̄. |
| Etymology | OF; ult. Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Poetry; ?also, figurative language or poetic concepts; ?also, ancient or proverbial literature [1st quot.]; fig. flattery [quot.: (?1406)]; ~ matere, poetic matter; (b) a poem; passage of poetry; ?a verse [quot.: 1483]; ?ancient writings [quot.: c1450(1410)]; (c) the art of poetry.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 Whon Men beoþ (Vrn)73 : Salamon seide in his poysi, He holdeþ wel betere with an hounde Þat is lykyng and Ioly.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2668 : In Poesie To the lovers Ovide wrot And tawhte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.6806 : As the Poete it tolde..Nou herkne a tale of Poesie.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)8a/b : Diuynyte vsith holy informacioun and poesies [L sacris et poeticis informationibus], þat myistik & dirk vndirstondinge and figuratif speches..may be I-take of þe liknes of þinges þat beþ J-seye.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.406 : Thanne piped pees of poysye a note.
- (?1406) Hoccl.MR (Hnt HM 111)262 : If sum man dide his cure & diligence To stoppe his eres fro thy poesie..Vn to his greef it were a remedie.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.262 : Somme han the trouth spared In her writyng..But it transformed in her poysy Thoruȝ veyn fables.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)214 : Bochas list to specifie, Cler expownyng this derke poysye.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1790 : But litel book, no makyng thos n'envie, But subgit be to alle poesye [vrr. poesy, Poyesye, posye], And kis the steppes, where as thow seest pace Virgile, Ovide, Omer, Lucan, and Stace.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Hrl 1766)9.3412 : In parfight lyvyng, which passith poysye.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)418 : All thies maistres & mo she made in hir tyme, Als put is in poise and prikkit be Ouyd.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4612 : Is þar na lare in ȝoure land..Piromancie, ne poisei, ne practyse of lawe?
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2664 : In poyse and philosophe also he can endite.
- a1500 Wast bryngyth (Cmb Ff.2.38)st.13 : In wordys of dowble entendement, In poisie, in sopheme resone hydes.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)2/25 : There ben some that speken their poysye-mater in Frenche.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.101 : Poetes and gestoures uppon a pulpet rehersede poysees [vr. poysries], gestes, and songes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.143 : He made wonder poysies, as it were, of alle þe stories of holy writte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2488 : He [Mercury] is discriued in Fulgence, In þe book of his methologies, Wher be rehersed many poysyes And many liknes.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Possessioners (Corp-C 296)124 : Þei prechen cronyclis & poisies & newe fyndynges of hem self.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)407 : Poyse [Win: Poysy]: Poema.
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)22/12 : I rede in haly wryte; I sey noght at I red in ouidie, noyþer in oras, Vor þe last tyme þat I was her, ich was blamyd of som men word, be-cause þat I began my sermon wyt a poysy.
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)75/820 : Þanne þe maiste to beter loke posies & fables & swich maner þyngis.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1344 : Vnknytte I a bagge Where many a pryue poyse is preyntid withynne, Yn bokes vnbredid in balade-wise made.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.2 : Noght liketh me to labour ne to muse Upon þese olde poysees derk.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)285 : A Poisye:..versus.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)63 : Thei made theire bokis to many men ful derk, In poyses, parabols, & in methaphoris alle-so.
c
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)285 : A Poisye: poesis.
2.
(a) A heraldic motto; (b) ?a heraldic emblem; ?a motto; (c) an acrostic; in a ~ wise, in the manner of an acrostic.
Associated quotations
a
- (1459) Doc.in Macray Reg.Magd.Oxf.14 : Item, a spice plate wyth a foote and a sheft of syluer and gilt, wyth hys armys and his poesye, 'Me faut fayre', wreten in the myddill.
b
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Cleo.(Cleo C.4)134 : The kynge..kom ouer the see and so to london, and the craftes roode ayenst him in white gounys, embroudered euery craft with diuerse poyses [vr. sundrye devyses].
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.184 : He hadde a ffresshe cote Was al to-Iagged with poisies on euery side.
c
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)497 : Armacanes argumentz..Provyn hit apertly in a poysie-wise, For of Caym alle came..C, for hit is crokid, þees Carmes þou mos take; A, for þees Augustines, þat amoreux been euer; I, for þees Iacobynes, þat been of Iudas kynne; M, for þees Menours, þat monsyd been þaire werkes.
- a1450 It wern fowre letterys (Sln 2593:Borroff)1 : Pur posy [Sln:Greene: It wern fowre letterys of purposy, M and A, R and I, Tho wern letteris of Mary].
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.DJoos (Trin-C R.3.21(1))125 : For your poysy these lettres fyue ye take Of thys name Maria oonly for hys sake.