Middle English Dictionary Entry
principāt(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | principāt(e n. Also princepat & (errors) principae, pricipate. |
| Etymology | L principātus |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Authority, rulership; a position of rule or authority; also, the authority of a part of the body; ~ and potestate, authority and power; (b) power over sin, moral self-control; (c) the dominance or rule of an astrological entity.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Eph.1.21 : Settinge [Christ] on his riȝthalf in heuenly thingis, aboue ech principat [L principatum] or power of princes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.317 : Oon [Hebrew] schulde bere adoun þe principat of Egypt [Higd.(2): make Egipte meke and tame] and arere þe kynde of Israel.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.233 : Aboute þat tyme deyde Charles Martellus; after hym his tweie sones..come to þe principate of þe kynges hous.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)14a/b : A Ierarchie is an ordeyned power and myȝt of holy þinges and resonable holdinge of dewe principate ouer subiectes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)17a/b : Archangelis..holdith þe principate a mong angelis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)38a/b : Among all þe vttir membres of þe body..þe heed haþ þe beste princypate.
- a1400 WBible(1) (NYPubLib 67)Luke 20.20 : Principat, or power of the prince [Dc 369(2): Aspieris..feyneden hem selue iuste, that thei schulden take him in word and bitake him to the prince].
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Cor.15.24 : Þe ende schal be when he has betake þe kyngdam to god and to þe fadyr, and schal hafe voydyd ylke princypate and potestat and vertue.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20665 : Þe principae [read: principate] suld haf bene þairs; It fel to þam and to þar airs.
- c1450(?a1402) *?Trev.Reg.Princ.[OD col.] (Dgb 233)lf.23/1 : Mannes perfit goodnesse is not Iknowe but he be Iset in som manere principate, for while a man hath to reulynge but hymself, it is not Iknowe atte þe ful wheþer he is good oþer euel.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.179 : Constantine made that cite egalle to Rome, seyenge hit was not conueniente an Emperoure to kepe residence where thapostles crownede kepede the principate.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.125 : He receyvede a renewede principate.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)138.16 : Til me sothly ful mykil honurde ere thi frendis, god; ful mykil strenghid is the pryncipate of thaim..made thai ere pryncis of godis folke.
b
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)46.3 : Vices, ill werkis, and fleyssely affeccion he sett vndire the fete of charite, swa that we trede thaim down; if we be thus heghe in erth, we sall be ful heghe in heuen; this principate has nane bot haly men.
- a1500(1413) ?Hoccl.Poems PS (Eg 615)p.li/5 : Honured be thu, holy gost..That vn-to poeple..hast youe thi grace..ffor to endwe them with thi principate To leve hire erroure & hire liffe to amende.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)109a/b : Astronomeris..takeþ hede..of arisinge of signes and dignitees of planetis, þat þey mowe deme & gesse what schal bifalle by pricipate [read: principate; L principatus] & maistrie in housis, in angules, oþer assendentes.
2.
(a) One of the orders of angels; (b) a level or hierarchy of angels containing three orders.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.8.38 : Nether deeth nether lyf, nether angels nether pryncipatis, nether virtutes..nether othir creature schal may departe vs fro the charite of God.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Col.2.15 : He took that..picchinge it to the cross, spoylinge princepatis and poweris, led out tristily, openly ouercomynge hem in him silf.
- (?c1422) Hoccl.ASM (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)p.214 : Abouen all thynges is to been associed to the conpaignies of the trones, dominacions, Principatz, & potestatz of Angels.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)296 : The secounde day in the self manere maden her feste archaungeles, the thridde day vertues, the ferthe day potestates, the fyuethe day principates.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)496 : I am certeyn þat neiþer deeþ neiþer lijf, neiþer aungels neiþer principatis, neiþer vertues of heuene..neiþer eny oþer creature may departe vs fro þe charite of god þat is in crist jhsu oure lord.
- a1450(?c1343) Rolle EDormio (Cmb Dd.5.64)61/21 : Þe mydel ierarchi contenes principates.potestates, and dominacions.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)141.156 (v.2:p.399) : Heuynes takyn vp mayde Marye, gladyd aungelis ioyinge, archaung[e]ls iubilyng, troun lawinge, dominaciones seyinge, principatus armonizinge, prelates harpynge, cherubyn and saraphyn ympnizing (or ympnis singynge).
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)189/21 : The blessid lady..is..worschipid..aboue alle the felaschip of heuenly spirites, as aungels, archaungeles, principates, [etc.].
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)2075 : Þe fourþe is now principate, And maister of good spiritis he hate.
- a1500 Swet Ihesus is cum (BodPoet e.1)p.58 : Hys aungels And archangels Do syng incessantly; Hys princypates And potestates Maketh gret armony.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)8a/b : Among goode aungels beþ þre principates þat beþ I-clepid Ierarchies.
3.
A territory ruled by a prince.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.207 : Þis was þe firste of alle þe duke of Rome þat was i-cleped Cesar and emperour for a passynge lordschippe [of] oon principate [Higd.(2): for the singuler lordeschippe of oon monarchye].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.291 : Kyng Edward ȝaf his sone Edward þe principate of Wales and þe erldom of Chestre.
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)10/14 : He may take, of princes & of kynges, principates and kyngdoms at his owne wille & ȝeue where hym likeþ.