Middle English Dictionary Entry
portāble adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | portāble adj. Also (error) partable. |
| Etymology | OF portable & L portābilis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Able to be carried from place to place, portable; (b) tolerable, endurable.
Associated quotations
a
- (1454-5) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 9118 : Item, for mendyng the portabil crucyfix at Corpus Xri day, ij s. iiij d.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)91/20 : Þat portable kynde, þat engendrys reuerence and honour, ys a tree whos leuys er lappyd to-gedir..he þanne þat yn his name racys hit and berys it with hym clanly, he shal purchace reuerence and honour.
b
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)315 : Drye tisyk is withal partable [read: portable].
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)2384 : Dere sone..the hous of thy mynde be thy sogettys..ffroom velonye..Them to diffende to the is portable.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)118/15 : They acustomed them to..suffir all maner of othre portable peynes.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)81/32 : For lyȝt chastisyng and portable is grauntyd vnto hem.