Middle English Dictionary Entry
problẹ̄̆m(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | problẹ̄̆m(e n. |
| Etymology | OF probleme & L problēma, from Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A riddle, puzzling question, or puzzle; (b) a scholarly or scientific question, posed as a topic for exposition or investigation; (c) a metaphorical fable, an allegory; (d) a difficulty.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.14.13 : Purpose þe probleme [L problema], þat wee heeryn.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.14.15 : Þei seidyn to þe wif of Sampson, 'fage to þi man & moeue hym þat he schewe to þee what betokneþ þe probleme [WB(2) vr. sutel axyng].'
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3071 : Of depe ymaginaciouns And strange interpretaciouns, Problemes and demandes eke, His wisdom was to finde and seke; Wherof he wolde..Opposen hem that weren wise.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.1681 : In proverbe and in probleme, Sche spak and bad he scholde deme In many soubtil question.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2219 : How hadde this cherl ymaginacioun To shewe swich a probleme to the frere?
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)631 : Spynx..was ordeyned..To sleen all tho..that diden fayle To expowne..His problem.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)736 : Her thy problem fully is expowned.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Judg.14.12 : Y schal putte forth to you a probleme, that is, a douȝteful word and priuy, and if ȝe asoilen it to me..Y schal ȝyue to ȝow thretti lynnun clothis.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Judg.14.16 : Thou hatist me and louest not; therfor thou nylt expowne to me the probleme [WB(1): redels].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)414 : Probleme, or rydel: Problema, enigma.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.15 : In þe whiche book and tretys wel nyh al problemys and questiouns of þe wiseste men..beeþ i-planted.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.363,365 : In libris de Celo et Mundo and oþer bookes also, Aristotle..made problems, medicinal, of phisik, and of kynde..and problemys of perspective and of methaphesik..A problem is a questioun þat is harde to assoille, and also an hard arydels is also i-cleped a problem.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)122a/a : It may shewe..whi in som þai ar crisped And coloured in diuerse colourez..And many oþer problemez þat ar wont to be said of herez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)153a/a : About þis glorious helpyng, G. in þe forseid boke, de fleobotomia, askeþ 5 problemez [Ch.(2): questiouns; L problemata]: ffirst, which bene þo þat nedeþ euacuacioun?
c
- a1500(?a1410) Lydg.CB (Lnsd 699)1 : Problemys, liknessis, & ffigures..been fructuous of sentence, And han auctoritees groundid on scriptures Bi resemblaunces of notable apparence, With moralites concludyng in prudence.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)562 : Rolle vp this problem, thynk what it doth expresse; For no prerogatiffe thi neihbour nat despise.
d
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.402 : They the kyng then had in gouernaunce..And made good rule and noble ordynaunce..For worshyp of the kyng and of his realme, Without doubte or any other probleme.