Middle English Dictionary Entry
prōlix(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | prōlix(e adj. |
| Etymology | OF prolis, prolixe & L prōlixus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of facial features: long; of eye-lids:?droopy; (b) of writings, love-making: lengthy, protracted.
Associated quotations
a
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)94/28 : Whan the eye liddes be long and prolixe, bad and dull inwit it sheweth.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)107/21 : Yf the chynne be full longe and prolixe, with gilis hys mynde is occupied.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)107/28 : Whos chekebone..ben light and prolix, that shewith an importunat claterer.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3568 : I am dul for to comprehende Þe obseruaunce of swiche religious, Prolix in werkyng & not compendious.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)12.220 (v.1:p.137) : What this disputacion was, and what matiers were ventiled bitwixe hem, for thei be prolix and not right necessarie to be publisshid in our .. vulgar language, I passe ovir at this tyme to declaren.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)141.186 (v.2:p.400) : Gerard .. in his omelyis explityth this same processis by mannye diuers and coriously endytyd circumstauncys, the whiche for yt ys diffuhs and prolix I passe ouyr at this tyme.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.325 : Iustinianus..coartede the lawes of the Romanes, occupyenge allemoste ij ml. bookes and iijc ml. versus, as is prolixe [L prolixa] dissonaunce within oon volume of xij bookes.