Middle English Dictionary Entry
pūrenes(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pūrenes(se n. Also purnesse, puernes, peurnesse, poerenesse & porenesse. |
| Etymology | From pūre adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Freedom from admixture or defilement, cleanness; ?also, clearness, transparency [last quot.]; (b) spiritual or moral purity, righteousness, moral integrity; also, ceremonial purity; ~ of religioun, faithful adherence to the monastic rule.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)186b/b : Clerenes of liȝte is proporciened to purnesse of ayre.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)226a/a : Also in þe seed corne nedeþ clennesse and purenesse, ffor..If þe seed is touched wiþ talowȝ oþer wiþ grece, it is schent and ylost.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)306a/b : Þre þinges makeþ whitenesse: brightnesse of light and plente þerof, and purenesse of clere matiere.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)72/6 : It abideth in the place of one of the speeris of the planetes for the purenesse of it.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2032 : Camfere, rosis & thingis colde Haue soote odours, yet..hete virtually incloside is the skylle, with purenes of substance, whi thei so smylle.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.114 : When glas is Imolten in þe fornes & perfyȝtly clensed, þen he takeþ puernes, bryȝtnes, & clernes.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)128b/b : Ester day is..time of clennes and of purenes and of ioyful refeccioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)168a/b : Þis mount hatte mons synay..mount of purenesse and clennesse..for noon myȝt come to þe mount but þilke þat weren clene in body and in sowle.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)2 Cor.1.12 : We ar conuersaunt in þis world in symplenesse and poerenesse of god [L sinceritate dei], and not of fleschly wysdam.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2193 : O Fair Dido..Thi famous bounte to put in remembraunce, Thou slouh thiselff off innocent peurnesse, Lest thi seurnesse wer hangid in ballaunce.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)273/20 : Þei þat lyuen here as aungeles bi clennesse and porenesse..han here hertes in heuene bi desire.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)674/9 : Ther is never kynde or good seruyce do to god, but service comyng forth of the roote of charite be I-keped of the purenesse of Religion.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)52/15 : Gracyous god..teche us all þi plesans, in purenesse put us þat nevyr not fall.