Middle English Dictionary Entry
preciǒus(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | preciǒus(e adj. Also -ios(e, -ius(e, presious(e, -ios, -ies, -ias, prescious(e, -ius, preshous, -ious, precouse, precos, pracious & (errors) preciouns, precouns, prestyous; pl. precious(e, etc. & preciouses; comp. preciouser, preciosour, presiussour, preciousher; sup. precious(s)est. Contraction: preciouston (precious ston). |
| Etymology | OF precïos, -ïose, -ïus(e, -ïouse, prechïous. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Valuable, precious; of great worth, costly; also, rare; so ~ of pris, ?valuable enough; (b) beautiful, fair; excellent; (c) ~ ston, ston ~, a precious stone, gem; also fig. and in comparisons; ~ stones, testicles [quot.: We bern abowtyn]; (d) ~ jeuel, jeuel ~, yim ~, a precious stone; ~ beril, ~ margarite, ~ perle; (e) of clothing, trappings, etc.: rich, costly, fine; (f) of a medicine, an herb, ointment, etc.: efficacious, effective, valuable as a remedy; (g) of a person: beloved, dear; highly esteemed, noble; also of the soul, the life; (h) in proverbs and comparisons.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)8 : Of spykenard hit was ymad, þat wel precious þing is.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)76/27 : He ous tekþ to knawe þe greate þinges uram þe little, þe preciouses [Vices & V.(2): worþy] uram þe viles.
- (a1382) WBible(1) Prol.Kings (Bod 959)105 : I preye þe whiche anoyntyn þe heuyd of þe lord down sittynge wiþ þe most precyouse mirre of beleeue.
- (?1387) Wimbledon Serm.(Corp-C 357)105/706 : He..made a uow to God..þat he wolde honoure Goddis temple wiþ preciouns aray.
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)273 : He wol cun þe more þonk for meke wasschyng of his feet..þen for al þe preciouse peyntyng & araying þat þou can make aboute his hed.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.148 : This iuge..yaf hym yiftes preciouse and deere.
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)22/34 : Now hastow the visage of this precios equatorie.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1549 : Nembroth..Let make of gold and Stones fine A precious ymage riche.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)200b/b : Al þat is skars and seelden y-hadde is cleped gret and precious..þe word of God is precious, þat is to menynge scars [L preciosum..preciosus, i. rarus].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8321 : It sal be precius and prude, þe werc he sal sua semele scrude.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)21.412 : May no pyement ne pomade ne presiouse drynkes Moyste me to þe fulle ne my þurst slake.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)173/17 : Þe erþe-tyliere abideþ pacientliche preciouse fruyt of erþe.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.114 : Marie Mawdeleyn took a pound of trewe oynement and preshous.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.1.82 : Holdestow thanne thilke welefulnesse precious [vr. presyes] to the?
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.m.5.39 : He dalf up precious [vr. presios] periles.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)56b/a : Þe arteries ben vnder þe veines be cause þat þe arteries conseruen oþer kepen more precious blode.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)412 : Precyows [Win: Prescyows]: Preciosus.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)4145 : A-noþir louere..precyoushere ornamentys me hath sent.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)125/19 : They holde the skyn of that beste more precious than as meche gold.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7188 : Elan was neuer honour auenant so mykell, Ne so precious of prise to pay for vs all! So mony to be martrid for malice of hir!
- (a1465) Paston2.317 : Dede of..plentevus and lyberall ȝiftis..ys more presyussour þan goolde er syluer.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)33a/a : Þei kepen myche more þe precious blood þan doiþ þe veynes.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)80/32 : Man..is as..slowe as a bere, precious and dere as an elyfant, vyle and dulle as an asse.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10325 : Wyn is a þing ful precious, Þat men ben after coueitous.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5842 : Þe tres, so delicious, Of paradys were nat so precious, Nouþer in siȝt nor in semlynes, To ben egal to hym in fairnes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4891 : He fyndis A palais, ane of þe precioussest & proudest in erth.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)9 : As a carpenter leith blak colour besides whijt or reed to make hem þe more preciouse, riȝt so in cumpany of yuele men riȝtful men ben maide þe more clere.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)290 : Precious: preciosus, & cetera; vbi fayre.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)71/14 : Nothyng is precioser [Lambeth: moor precious]..it is the cercle of þe firmament.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)11075 : Grene is a precious colour And shulde be holde in honour.
c
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)42 : We i-seiȝen a newe lond..bi-set in eche side..of suete preciouse stones þat briȝtte schynen and wide.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)382/204 : I-maud it is..Of ȝimmes and stones preciouse.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)354 : Þe kyngdom ȝut of heuene to a Marchaunt iliche is Þat seoþ preciouse stones and Margarytes.
- c1330(c1250) Floris (Auch)294 : Þe grauel in þe grounde of preciouse stone.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)15/151 : It was of a precious ston; As briȝt as þe sonne it schon.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)29/814 : Þe preciouse stone, Þaȝ he lygge amang oþere ylyche, Me honoureþ hym alone.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.235 : Som men seiþ þat þat lanterne was a carbuncle oþer som oþer precious stoon.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1354 : Ther was with that A riche bridel..Of gold and preciouse Stones.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)203b/b : Precious stones foloweþ vertu and kynde of planetes in effecte and Worchynge.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1412 : Some of þo wynly wones were peynted with precyus stones.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3249 : Þei maked han a riche sepulture To Achilles of stonys precious.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.5.41 : The schynynge of gemmes (that I clepe precyous stones), draweth it nat the eighen of folk to hemward?
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)357/18 : Alle siche schinen among synners as preciouse stoones of vertu.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)412 : Preciows stone [Win: Precyowston]: Gemma vel lapis preciosus.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)10420 : All vesels mad for mete and wyn ware pyght with mony a prescius stone.
- c1450 Siege Troy(1) (ArmsAr 22)118/1490 : He was wel gode..& gayly y-dyȝth wyt prestyous stonys.
- a1450 We bern abowtyn (Sln 2593)p.279 : I haue a poket for the nonys; Therine ben tweyne precyous stonys.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)992/22 : Thereto make ye a pomell of precious stonys.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)50b/a : Aftir þe day of doom..þe erþe þanne schal be a þousand tymes briȝttere þan ony cristal or precious stoon.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)98b : A Precious stane: Adimas..amatiscus, Berillus, Carbunculus, [etc.]..gemma, gemmula..Gagates, Iacinctus, Iaspis, lapis preciosus, Margarita, onix..Saphirus, [etc.].
- a1500 Bod.EMisc.Lapid.(BodEMisc e.558)23/2 : Here begynnyth the lapidarie the whiche tellith the vertues of xxxvj precious stones.
- a1500 GRom.(Glo 42)769/11 : Precyous stonys..be merytory warkes plesyng to gode.
d
- c1300 SLeg.And.(Hrl 2277)76 : Hail beo þu swete rode..Þat þu wiþ mi Louerdes lymes ihalewed mostest beo & of ȝymmes preciouses.
- (c1390) Chart.Abbey HG (LdMisc 210)341 : Þei beren a-wey mo precious iewelys þan al þis world is worþe.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)216 : Her depe colour ȝet wonted non, Of precios perle in porfyl pyȝte.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)9b/a : Belilus: a precious beryl.
- a1500(c1400) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)79 : Al wyt glisnande golde his gowne wos hemmyd, Wyt mony a precious perle picchit þer-on.
- a1500 Hisp.SSecr.(Rwl C.83)8/13 : Kepe well this litill booke for þe gyding of þi body as a jvell precious.
- a1500 *Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)100 : Precious margarites and stones..thei drewe and drof.
e
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.433 : Many a vicious knaue..is sustened by cause of hem in to curious harneys..and bridles couered with precious clothyng.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.338 : Thow seist also that, if we make vs gay With clothyng and with precious array, That it is peril of oure chastitee.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)184/4 : Wommen in a feir abite..not in crullinge lockis or gold or margaritis or precious cloþinges.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)231 : He hath on him better and costioser and precioser garnementis.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)822 : In grene gres tyl he be graue, Putte hym in þi precyous pall.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)3.539 : Youre clothynge semeth not ryght presyous.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2156 : Þair clathes of common woll was made; Preciouse colour nane þai hade.
- 1451-1500 Tundale (Wagner)1747 : Her clothes wer precious [vr. pracyows] and newe.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)147/1 : Of so preciouse and riche ourage was wrought this mantell..that vnder heuyn was neuir seen hire piere.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)454 : Se how comunly [vr. comly] to man ys precyus wede.
- a1500(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Dub 213)820* : He..with hym fangez..Full preciouse apparement, hys person to cleth.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)84/25 : Þey schul usyn kerchiues honestli in one maner of kerchiues & of colleres, whoche schal be alle white & nat precious.
f
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.640 : Now kan nat Canacee..maken saues newe Of herbes preciouse [vr. preciouses] and fyn of hewe To heelen with this hauk.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)222b/b : Of bayes is y-made precious oyle þat helpeþ aȝeins many yueles and colde passiouns.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)152b/b : For manye oþere maladies it is a precious oynement.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)458/19 : Þe confeccioun cunya..Lamfrank takeþ..for precious aboue oþere.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)604/9 : Þe seuenþe fourme is þe precious oynement..þat is commune in þe helynge of alle woundes.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)278 : With hem they brouhte..Ful precious poudrys and confortatives.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)125 : Þis precious oynement wole destroie þe holy fire.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)199 : Git is gode and precius for many causes.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)1197 : Ther was no preciosour thinge vppon grounde That myghte helpe a man more.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)229/6 : For þe fallyng euyll, a precyus medcyn.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)85/18 : A precious oynement for þe skabbe.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.9 (Hrl 2169)175 : [A recipe for a hot unguent..which is..] a presyas oynement all so for the gowte.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)94/1 : A medicine to make a precious water to clarifyen eyne.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)5045 : Þis oignement is made also Of diuerse herbis þat gooþ þerto, Þe preciousest þat men may finde In al þe londe of greet Ynde.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)346 : Ther ys no precyouser fer nor nere, For all wykkyd metys yt wyll degest.
g
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3612 : He schal spouse Gvenour, his douhter precious.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4474 : Þis Brangores of valour Ludranes douster þemperour Bi þat time hadde yspoused, A leuedi gent and preciouse.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 20.24 : I schame, or drede, no thing of these, nether I make my soule, that is, lyf, preciouser [WB(2): preciousere] than my silf.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)192 : Þat gracios gay..Rysez vp in hir araye ryalle, A precos pyece in perlez pyȝt.
- 1448 Rich.(Arms 58)189/6 : Kyng Ric the precouns Beringer he shulde spouse.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1307 : Corsed be he..To sille so precyous a prince for penyes so fewe.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)811 : Aryse, my precyose redempt son! Ȝe be to me full dere.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)1839 : Quente þou art of gynne Yf þou þat lady wynne Þat ys so precyous.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)136/31 : Thomas of Wodstoke, his owyn precious Vncle, at Calise he makyd to be Mvrderide.
h
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)57/33 : Hy lyeseþ þane time precious [Vices & V.(2): noble].
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)152/36 : Huerof zayþ ous god ine his spelle þet we ne þrauwe naȝt oure pre-ciouse stones to-uore þe zuyn.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.3.15 : Blisful þe man þat fyndeþ wisdam..more precious [WB(2): preciousere] þan alle rychessis it is.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Eccl.7.2 : Betere is a good name þan preciouse oynementis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)121b/a : Noþing is more precious þan tyme.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.12 : Draf were hem leuere Þanne al þe precious [vr. preciousest] perrie þat in paradis wexiþ.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)p.110 : The presciouse perlis ȝe strowun to hogges.
- a1425(a1349) Rolle MPass.(2) (Upps C.494)43/11 : Swete Ihesu, make me..precious as perle in to þe heiȝ degree of charite.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)20/6 : Noþing is more precious þan tyme.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Spec.Antichr.(Corp-C 296)110 : Men schullen not ȝeue holy þingis to hondis & putten precious perlis to hoggis.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5398 : Many a book he made..The which wern mor precious than gold.
- a1500(?a1410) Lydg.CB (Lnsd 699)253 : Men shuld nat put a precious margarite..To fore rude swyn.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)31/25 : Tyme is riȝt preciose.
2.
(a) Of great spiritual worth; holy, spiritually efficacious; ~ wordes, words of devotion, commendatory words; (b) ~ blod (flesh, etc.), the sacred blood (flesh, etc.) of Christ; ~ bodi, the sacred body of Christ sacrificed on the cross; also, Christ's body as present in the Eucharist; ~ name (persoune, passioun, etc.), the sacred or highly revered name (person, passion, etc.) of Christ; (c) in oaths.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1300 Sayings St.Bern.(Dgb 86)759/68 : Þou hauest, man, in þat foule hous A þing þat is wel precious [Ld: A deoreworþe þing and precious].
- (c1390) Chart.Abbey HG (LdMisc 210)339 : Almiȝti god..haþ ȝouen..a lytel preciouse place þat is clepid Conscience.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.893 : Chastitee..is the moost precious lyf that is.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1347 : O blisful ordre of wedlok precious!
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)19121 : How dar ȝe do þis þing, So preciouse wordis [Vsp: loueword] of him to say, þat we dud deme þis endur day.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)2.149 : Loue is þe plonte of pees and most preciouse of vertues.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4432 : Þe men of þe worlde þat er covaytous, He sal turne thurgh gyftes precious.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.13 : Þis gospel tilliþ us goostly witt..and þis shulde we undirstonde, for it is more prescious.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.102 : Whan God biddiþ men heere þus, his sentence is presciouse, and shulde be markid wel of men.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.Lear (Göt Hist 740)77 : Scho lofys hym ouer all creaturs, No lof to her so precious.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Satan & P.(Corp-C 296)266 : Hou schulde god teche hem þe precius treuþes of his lawe?
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)38/3 : Noȝt is left bot þat my saule to a nodyr warld þou lede, whar my tresure is preciosist.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2 : The precyous prayere of hys prys modyr Schelde vs fro schamesdede.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1555 : Þat castel is a precyous place, Ful of vertu and of grace; Whoso leuyth þere hys lyuys space, No synne schal hym schende.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)22/4 : So moche is the victorie more gloriouse and thi merite more preciose, for thexcellence of vertu is peysid aftir the difficulte of his werke.
- c1500(a1450) ALacrim.(Hrl 2274)p.276 : His prechyng was so precouse Folke folowed hym of ylke contre.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)96/1,6,7 : Þet wode, þet is his preciouse uless..Þet zep of þo traue and þe tyeres, weren uour wel preciouses þinges..þet of his preciouse lemes yourne.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.43 : Iesu crist..bouȝth vs wiþ his preciouse blood.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)p.192 : Helpe þy seruauntz..which þou raunsouned wyþ þy preciouse blode.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.385 : Men may also refreyne venial synne by receyuynge worthily of the precious body of Iesu Crist.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.591 : Ye thynke that the cursede Iewes ne dismembred nat ynough the preciouse persone of Crist.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.598 : The precious name of Iesu Crist..is so heigh and so worshipful.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)112/21 : He suffrede his preciouse bodi be al torent and totore wiþ scourges and nailes.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)2/17 : Gretter raunsoun ne myghte he put for vs þan his blessede body, his precious blood, & his holy lyf.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)3407 : He hathe forgetyn þe þat hym wrout..And wyth þi precyous blod hym bowth.
- c1475(a1400) Amadace (Tay 9)p.42 : Now thenke on him that deut on rode, That for vs sched his precius blode.
- c1460 Cursor (LdMisc 416)198 : Yt shalle be rad you than..how they shed his preshious [Vsp: blisced] blode.
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)48/16 : This sacrifice was wel made in remembraunce of the precious deth of Iesu Crist.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.19.12a : Bi þe grace of Ihesu Crist thurg stedfast thinkeng on þe meknes of his precious manhed, schalt þou mikil abate þe steringes of pride.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.44.30a : Cri merci and aske onli sauacioun bi vertue of þis preciouse passioun.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)20.1 : That is cristes ioy and gladnes, that..he spend noght his preciouse blode in vayn on vs.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3082 : By that precious corpus Madrian, I hadde leuere than a barel ale That Goodelief, my wyf, hadde herd this tale.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.651 : By goddes precious herte and by his nayles!
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.782 : By goddes precious dignytee!
3.
Misc. senses: (a) fastidious; -- also mistransl. [quot.: c1450]; (b) as intensive: thoroughgoing, outright.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.148 : I nam nat precius; In wyfhode wol I vse myn instrument As frely as my makere hath it sent.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1962 : Lest that precious folk [vr. honeste peple] be with me wrooth, How that he wroghte I dar nat to yow telle.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)25 : I slepe nouht, ne j am nouht ydel, ne j am not preciows [F pereceuse] to do alwey my deveer after my wit and my powere.
b
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.JHare (LdMisc 683)3 : A precious knave that castith hym neuer to thryve, His mouth weel weet, his slevis riht thredbare.
4.
As surname.
Associated quotations
- (1327) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames281 : John Precious.