Middle English Dictionary Entry
prisọ̄̆ner n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | prisọ̄̆ner n.(2) Also -ier, prisoun(n)er, prisoiner, prisener, presoner, presunnere, presoun(n)er, preisiner & (Cornish) prisner. |
| Etymology | OF prisonier, prisonnier, prisounier, presoner & ML prisōnārius, -erius. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A person in prison, a prisoner; in prisoneres estat, as a prisoner; knight ~, an imprisoned knight; (b) ~ hous, jail.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Col.4.10 : Aristark, myne euene caytyf, or prisoner with me [L concaptivus meus], greetith ȝou wel.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1063 : Palamon, this woful prisoner..Was risen and romed in a chambre an heigh.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.376 : He wol nat visite the syke and the prisoner.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)3.126 : She..letiþ passe prisoners [vr. prisouns]..And ȝiueþ þe gaileris gold.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.39.22 : The prince of the prisoun..bitook in the hond of Joseph alle prisoneris [WB(1): gyued men; L vinctos] that weren holdun in kepyng.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)39/16 : Many men þer be as presoneres & oþere þat wolde receyue with a lawyng chere seche vitailles as þou letist litil by.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)204/5 : Dowtyr, I knowe alle þe thowtys of þin hert þat þu hast to alle maner men & women, to alle lazerys & to alle presonerys.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)414 : Prysonere: Incarceratus, incarcerata, priso, secundum Latinum Anglicanum.
- (1444) Will York in Sur.Soc.30111 : I wil yt the prisoners of Yevilchestre have a noble to parte amonge hem.
- a1450(1410) This holy tyme make (Dgb 102)126 : Giltles presoneres loos ȝe lete.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2368 : Þere were Gret miraclus at hurre tombe ydo..& presoners ouȝt of presone weron lousede also.
- ?a1450(?1350-75) Pass.Christi in Norris Anc.Corn.Drama (Bod 791)2231 : An prysners kettep onan dre why yn rak dyssempys.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)99b : I shal delyuer to yowe at Estre oon of þe prysoiners.
- c1460 Cursor (LdMisc 416)17321 : To calle Iaylars wer they bold And bad do hym vp in hold..in presoners estate [Vsp: in prisun state].
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4917 : I wille the presoneres in the Gayle have o day brede, mete, and drynkke.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)138/21 : We bene here twenty knyghtes presoners, and som of us hath layne here eyght yere.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)180/13 : This booke..was drawyn by a knyght presoner, sir Thomas Malleorre, that God sende hym good recover.
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cx1 : Crist wold þat þei visiteden prisouners & comfordiden hem.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)983 : Herbard caried dalton..to the Castelle of Gloucetter; There was dalton prisonere ful longe.
- a1525(?1430) Cov.Leet Bk.130 : They orden..that ȝeuer-y-man that is prisener brynge in his bedde at his lyste and take it a-wey when he woll.
b
- (1423) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)267 : I be whethe..to ich prisoner hows in London vj s. viij d., also to ich prisoner hous in Northampton vj s. viij d.
2.
(a) A captive, prisoner of war; ~ of pris, valuable captive; (b) his takinge ~, his being taken captive; eschaunge of prisoneres, exchange of captives; Chaungen prisoneres, to exchange captives; escapen to ben ~, escape capture; haven to ~, maken ~, taken (as) ~, taken to ~, take (sb.) captive; leden ~, take (sb.) prisoner, lead (sb.) as captive; leden as ~, lead (sb.) as captive; holden as ~, hold (sb.) captive; piken prisoneres, rob captives; serchen prisoneres, examine or interrogate captives; yelden..(for) ~, yield (oneself) captive, surrender; (c) a hostage.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1267 : William..profered him þat prisoner..to do þan wiþ þe duk what him dere þouȝt.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.239 : Alle þe prisoneres [L Captivi] schulde folwe þe chaar wiþ hire hondes i-bounde byhynde her bakkes.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2374 : Hise prisoners ek scholden go Endlong the Charr on eyther hond.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)72a/b : Somtyme prisoners were I-kept to be hedid or to be raunsound.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)5133 : Hoome þei coom, not prisoners [Vsp: prisuns] liche, But as þei were knyȝtis riche.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1217 : Þer watz þe kyng kaȝt..And alle hise gentyle forjusted on Jerico playnes And presented wern as presoneres to þe prynce rychest.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4552 : Iocasta, with her doghtres tweyne..To Athenes wer sent as prysonerys.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)414 : Prysoner takyn and yeldyn yn warre: Daticius. Prysoner takyn be stronge hande, nott yolde wylfully: Manceps.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1610 : Prekez now preualye to Parys the ryche Wyth Petir the pryssonere.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8651 : Ector..caupit with a kyng, caght hym anon; Puld hym, as a prisoner of prise for to wyn.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)21/5 : Ye shall dey othir be presoners.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)76/28 : Theim that be so cruell and so innaturall agayn their prysoners for cause of couetyse and to constrayne theim to paye gretter raumsomys than they may gete.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)113/1994 : Guy and his felawes..All their prisouners with theim lede.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)412 : Thei returned with grete plente of prisoners [F prisons].
- a1500 Alex.-Cassamus (Cmb Ff.1.6)512 : And we were pressouners, ȝe schuld vs helpe yn haste.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3223 : He this king..forth with him to Rome ladde As Prisoner.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1308 : Nabugodenozar..hatz..þe pryce of þe profecie presoners maked.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1083 : Troylus..eskaped to be prisoner.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5170 : Pollydamas..hym sawe take prisoner.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.59 : They gonnen trete Hire prisoners to chaungen, meste and leste.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.146 : Th'eschaunge of prisoners..Hem liketh wel.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Jer.48.27 : Moab..for thi wordis..thou schalt be led prisoner [WB(1): caitif..lad; L captivus duceris].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Luke 21.24 : Thei schulen be led prisoneris in to alle folkis.
- a1425 Methodius(1) (Hrl 1900)99/16 : Hesdres soþly brent þe rewme of Cham & toke prisoneres alle [Meth.(2): put in thraldom al] þat were dwellinge.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)5146 : Menescen made him þo besy..Troyle to haue to his presoner.
- (1433) RParl.4.455b : All manere..ostages or ostage Englisshe..in eny wise founde at large oute of their oost, be take as prisoners and..putt to newe fyn and raunson.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.239 : They were taken there Euerichon Presoneres.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.875 : They him hadde taken As presonere.
- (1450) RParl.5.191b : Which herbages and pastures were late graunted to the said Thomas..for the releve of him of the grete hurte and losses that he hadde by his late takyng prisoner in Scotland in youre service there.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3227 : Þai..Hopit with hondis to hew hom to dethe, Prisoners to pike, & the pray lyuer.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)509 : He toke him þere to presunnere.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)7/4 : Goo ye and so serche prisoners.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)21/1 : They mette with Ulphuns and Brastias and wolde a takyn them presoners.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14022 : I me yelde prysowner.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)412 : For prysoner Y mot me yeld As ouer-come yn feld.
- a1500(a1450) Parton.(1) (Add 35288)3567 : Y hadde leuer my dethe endure Or me helde as a prysonere Thanne grawnte yow thus.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)4 Kings 14.14 : He tooc al þe gold & seluer..& prisowneris [WB(2): ostagis; L obsides] & is turned aȝeen in to Samarie.
- a1500 Hal.Gloss.(Eg 829)6 : Obsides: presoners, or a thing that is layde to wedde.
3.
Fig. A captive of Satan, death, or sin; a fish as prisoner of a pool; the poor or sick man as prisoner of God; goddes prisoneres, the poor or infirm.
Associated quotations
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.168 : Beggeres..bredlees þei soupe..haue reuthe on þise riche men þat rewarde nouȝte þi prisoneres.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.174 : Pore peple, þi prisoneres, lorde, in þe put of myschief.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)2 Tim.2.26 : That thei rise aȝen fro the snares of the deuel, of whom thei ben holdun prisoneris.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)7/5 : Deth hath taken hem presoneres.
- c1425 Treat.10 Com.(StJ-O 94)21 : A good man schulde visite porere men & wemen..& visiten afturnoones pore bedraden men & wemen, þe wilke been godes preisiners.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)21 : Whan god say his noble sone so worþi a werke to wille, to fiȝte wiþ a tiraunte & bynyme him his prisoneres þat he heelde wiþ wronge, he suffride him to dye to haue victorie of þat tiraunte.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)163/7 : Þer is no grete choyse in a pole, for it is but a pryson to fysche, and þei lyve moste parte in preson and hungre as a presoner.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Pseudo-F.(Dub 245)323 : Siche bildyngis makyn pride & not comfort of goddis prisounneris, for þei ben not fed bi þis but robbid.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.8.60a : This wiked tyraunt þat holdith him [mankind] in warde..askith not at al þat this grene appiltre schal restablisshe me of my dispoyled fruyt, For leuere is him the prysoneres than ony other payment.