Middle English Dictionary Entry
preciōsitẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | preciōsitẹ̄ n. Also precious(i)te, presciousite. |
| Etymology | OF precïoseté & L pretiōsitas; for some forms, also cp. ME preciǒus(e adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Preciousness, value, great worth; costliness, monetary value; richness; in ~, as of value.
Associated quotations
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)p.68 : Were we no sendal ne satyn ne goldun clothis, and these passen in presciousitee many foold ouris.
- (?c1422) Hoccl.ASM (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)241 : My dayes I despente in vanitee; Noon heede y tooke of hem but leet hem passe, Nothyng considerynge hir precioustee.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.376 : Crist techiþ here þe preciousite of his preching, þat man shulde not..lette to teche Goddis word.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)133 : In takynge of medecyne, man hath no reward to more or lasse or to the preciosite or bostousnesse or swetnes or bitternesse, bot only as it is most conuenient and profitable to hele the soore or the siknesse.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)57/31 : Gold passez all maner of metalle in bewtee & in precioustee.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)562 : In the bodili chirche ben had and vsid signes of greet curiosite, preciosite, and cost..as bellis, baners, and suche othere.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)364/15 : Wherfore now do awey fro me, do awey, þe softnesse of beddynge, þe precyosite of clothinge, and sloute of slepe me lettynge.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.64 : Holdest þow þis as for a wilfulnesse Of preciouste [Chaucer Bo.: precious to the] þat þus away schal slyde?
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.214 : A wonder þing it were..If vesselles þat ben riche and preciouse Schulde so despysed and defouled be And foule vessel be made in preciouste [vr. preciouse].
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)38/39 : Þis iewell was Cristes owne preciouse bodye; Of þis preciouste spekeþ well Seynte Poule.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)83/21 : How schulde a man bring peple of englonde into wil forto bye..but if he wolde denounce and proclame þat he had such chaffre, and which were þe preciosite and þe profitablenes of hit?
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.366 : Wood he had, and other marchaundise..Iewelles in chestes, and stones of precioustee.