Middle English Dictionary Entry
prīme-temps n.
Entry Info
| Forms | prīme-temps n. Also primetens & (error) primsauns. |
| Etymology | From prīme & temps, var. of tens n.; cp. OF printens. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Spring; (b) beginning, early period.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4747 : Love, it is..Pryme temps full of frostes whit, And May devoide of al delit.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)26/17 : Cassidoire seith that charite is as the reyne the which fallith in the prime-temps.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)24 : The eerthe is of my robes, and in prime temps alwey j clothe it.
- c1450 Royal SSecr.(Roy 18.A.7)27/20 : Prime temps, that is, veer, is hoot and moyste.
- a1475(c1450) Shirley SSecr.(Add 5467)245/5 : Of the pryme temps and what it is.
- a1500(1446) Nightingale (Corp-O 203)2/11 : Hyre peple..are in lustynesse Fresschly encoragyt, as galantus in prime-tens.
- a1500(a1449) Lydg.Haste (Cmb Kk.1.6)65 : At prime-tens, men seen hit wel at ye, Hasty ffrutus haue no longe resydens.
b
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4534 : Men shulde hym snybbe bittirly At pryme temps of his foly.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)965 : In the prymsauns [read: prymtauns] of grene vere..floures spryngyn and bygynne.
- c1480(1422) Lydg.SD (Add 48031)49/3 : It is remembered in bookis of olde antiquyte, the prime temps of his fundacioun, whenne the wallis were reised on heithe bi the manly & prudent diligence of Remvs and Romvlus.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)18/8 : The pryme-temps of thi best and ioyfull dayes is past, and whanne yowthe faylith, thanne begynnyth angre and syghing thoughtis.