Middle English Dictionary Entry
principaunt adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | principaunt adj. |
| Etymology | Cp. L principans, -antis, ppl. of principāri & F (16th cent.) principiaunt. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Commanding, ruling; tourmes ~, princely or ruling troops of angels; (b) as noun: the foremost troops of an army, the front line of a legion [cp. prince n.5.(b)].
Associated quotations
a
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)153 : Folk angelik, knyghthode archangelike, And the terrible tourmys pryncipaunt, The Potestates myght, ho may be like? The vigoroux vertue so valyaunt, The Regalye of thordir domynaunt.
b
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1790 : First is to sette a frounte, an Ege his name Is..This ege, in dayis olde a principaunt, Of wurthi men, as princys, had his name.