Middle English Dictionary Entry
questiǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | questiǒun n. Also questiun, question(e; pl. questiouns, etc. & (error) questiounouns. |
| Etymology | L quaestio, -iōnis & OF questiön. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An utterance meant to elicit an answer or discussion, a question; matere of questiouns, substance of questions; (b) asken ~, to ask a question, make inquiry; maken ~, ask a question, make inquiry; also, converse [quot.: 1485]; craven (enqueren, putten) ~, ask a question; (c) a request; maken ~; (d) a question of divination.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)158/841 : Ac her aryst a question: Þo þat adam was broȝt a-doun..Wet gelt hedden hy þat þo nere, Þet hy to deþe ischape were?
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.428 : Ye han bigonne youre question folily..that wolden two answeres conclude In o demande; ye axed lewedly.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3098 : Upon thre pointz stod the matiere Of questions, as thou schalt hiere..The thridde is: 'Which is of most cost And lest is worth?'
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1654 : I shal han myn heuene in erthe heere..How sholde I thanne..Come to the blisse ther Crist eterne on lyue is? This is my drede..Assoileth me this question, I preye.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3451 : Þe statue ȝaf of euery questyoun Pleyn answer.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2550 : Atastus þo..After many oþer questioun, Enquered of hym ..Ȝif he knewe ouȝt of Pirrus gouernaunce.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)6/30 : Her may be askyd a demawnde wheþer it be laful..to gadere erthely tresour to gydere; To þis questyon answerith a gret clerk.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)225/4 : Natus est rex..Vppon þise wordes may be meved resonable certeyn questions: quis est rex iste? qualis est?, [etc.].
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)3.323 : I shal enforce þe soo þou may not fayle To yeue hir answere to euery questyon.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)34/158 : A-soyle my qwestyon anon ryght: thy brother Abel, wher is now he?
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)48 : But, ser, I prey þis questyon to claryfye: Dryff draff mysse masche.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)101a : A Qwestioun: Interrogacio.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)11 : Her-ynne ben questiouns many oone, And asoiled ben euer-ychoone.
- a1500 Wast bryngyth (Cmb Ff.2.38)st.16 : To all questyons answere þou noght.
b
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)131/40 : Ich acsy þe a questioun..And-swere þou me: Þe erthe hys heuy..Ho halt ys op?
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1347 : Yow loueris axe I now this questioun: Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamoun?
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.67 : For þe knowleche of erþelyche Paradys þre poyntes moste be i-knowe, Wherfore þre questiouns beeþ i-axed: þe firste questioun axeþ [L quæritur] Ȝif eny suche place is on erþe?
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22891 : An crafti clerc..asked him a questiun Of a wolf and a leon.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)12211 : Ihesu ȝaf him þenne his taske Of vche lettre for to aske Questioun [Vsp.: resun] of vchone bi name.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)8298 : Now may þou ask me..A questyon..'Salle þai oght think..On þe syns of whilk þai þam schrafe?'
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)31/28 : Mare wald þai noȝt graunt me of questiouns þat I asked þam.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)30 : If be 'what' or 'why' Be questyounn maad of thys tretyhs..As for the fyrste..Certeyn the auctour was an austyn frere.
- a1450 *Aelred Inst.(2) (Bod 423)880 : Sittynge in the temple..techynge and axinge questions.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)211 : Þus if we þis question craue Whilk þai er þat heuyn sal haue..Answer haue we halili here.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)9262 : There-fore woll She make no question Of her dyssesse, ne wyth the echoson.
- a1450 Who þat wole knowe (Dgb 102)49 : A questyon of ȝow y craue -- Resoun assoyleþ it by skille -- Who may here soules saue To were an abyte?
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)367/10 : I putte to þe þy symplenesse this questyone here-to accordynge: sey me wheþere þou byleve þat þou haste a sowle.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1110 : Enquire me noȝt þat question, for I queth þe it neuer.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)306 : If thei mad question to what entent thei schuld rise, this answere had thei.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)113/12 : More doctryne seruyng for þe clering of þi two now last askid questiouns þou maist se in þe lasse book of cristen religioun.
- 1485(a1470) Malory Wks.(Caxton:Vinaver)9/12 : But wayte ye make not many questions with her nor her men, but saye ye are diseased and soo hye yow to bedde.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)131/3 : Nough no man asketh what he ought to do in his office, but the woll aske a question, what the benefice is wourth.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10856 : Þerfore anoon answer no del But if þou wite þou kunne right wel; So maist þou thi worship wel saue, What questioun men of þe craue.
c
- a1475(c1450) Shirley SSecr.(Add 5467)309/8 : To helpe and enhance..the well willed men and counsailers and officiars of thy parlamentes, makyng theire questions and demaundes.
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1299 : Of the flod his Ydromance And of the fyr the Piromance, With questions echon of tho He tempteth ofte.
2.
(a) A philosophical or theological problem or topic; a discussion or explanation of such a problem or topic; maken questiouns, to formulate problems; (b) a matter to be determined, something to be decided.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225 Sanctus beda (Wor F.174)4 : [S]anctus beda..þeo cten [?read: cnotten] unwreith þe questiuns hoteþ.
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)1687 : Al aday he desputede with heom With questiones and heom ouercam.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.15 : In þe whiche book..wel nyh al problemys and questiouns [L universa pæne problemata] of þe wiseste men..beeþ i-planted.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.19 : Speke wolde he nevere, as it is i-write in þe questiouns [L quaestionibus] þat he wroot in his scilence tyme.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)7 : Seynt Jerom, in the xij cause, the ij questioun, co. Gloria episcopi, seith thus, 'To take a thing to be goue to pore men..passith the cruelte of all theuis.'
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.58 : Freris and faitours han founden vp suche questiouns [vr. questiounouns; C vr. demaundus] To pleise wiþ proude men..For now is iche boy bold..To tellen of þe trinite to be holden a sire.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)7205 : A boke..he made thurgh study Of sere questyons of divinite.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.10.217 : Tak now thus the discrecioun of this questioun [L Cuius..rei].
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.27 : For in this matere men weren wont to maken questiouns [L quaeri solet] of the symplicite of the purveaunce of God.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.414 : Whanne thou art wel reffressched..thou schalt be more stedfast to stye into heyere questions or thinges [L ulteriora].
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.1.6-8 : The questioun of the devyne purveaunce is enlaced with many othere questiouns.
- a1450(c1405) Purvey Determ.(Trin-C B.14.50)176/216 : Ardmakan, in þe bock of questiouns, seiþ þat þe Sacrament mai wel be made in iche comoun langage.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)362 : This state or power is þe vicar of þe god-heede..as saynt Austyn saiþ in þe booke of qwestyons of þe olde lawe and þe newe.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)102/36 : He purposed firste any question..that he wolde speke of, he wolde fayle no maner of poynte of no wey that longed to his termes.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)213/16 : It is a question whether that Miȝhel be name of one aungel or of many aungelles.
b
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.4.2 : The ascendent, sothly, as wel in alle nativites as in questions and eleccions of tymes, is a thing which that these astrologiens gretly observen.
- a1450 Chauliac(4) (Cai 336/725)6/24 : Þou schalt not answere al þing in al maner questiouns..Or þou schalt not leie alle saluys to alle soris.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1115 : Here be many questions, tonsile..wisely remembrede & fulle craftily.
3.
(a) A difficulty, an obscurity, incongruity; curious of questiouns, inquisitive about problematic matters; (b) an uncertainty, doubt; it is no ~, there is no doubt; withouten ~, doubtless; maken questiouns, to express misgivings.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26104 : Þan we sal þe pointes rede Þat warrai scrifte al of has nede; And þar-wit-al sum questiones We sal vndo þe merk resons.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.4.2 : This is..the olde questioun of the purveaunce of God.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)72a : Þou þat art curious of questiouns, þou seest, [etc.].
- a1456 Marmaduke SSecr.(Ashm 59)215/9 : Offt comvne with hem and moeve hem in questyouns and comvnycacions lowables and doutables [Caritate: meue also to hem dowghtful qwestyonnis].
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)170a/b : The firste is aboute þe woundis; The 2 is aboute þe medicyns; The 3 is aboute questiouns þat ben here necessarie, racionable.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.9 : And for þis lond lieþ vnder þe norþ nolle of þe world, þey haþ liȝt and briȝt myȝtes [read: nyȝtes] in þe somertyme, so þat ofte tyme at mydnyȝt men haueþ questiouns and doute where it be euentyde or dawenynge.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)11.451 : In light smal wyn, withouten questioun, Too sester gipse ynowe is.
- c1450(c1400) Rev.Jul.Norwich (Add 37790)62/25 : Thus oure goode lorde answerde to alle the questyons and doutes that I myght make.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)22/27 : Aftre this itt is no question if Sidon and hir ladies made ioy.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)57/4 : It is noo questyon bot he made grete ioy.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)209/4 : In the meene tyme the houses ben brent thrugh thaire difficultee and necligence, where yche man withoute question aught te renne as to the fyre to eschue the destruccion of his owne house and purchacing the saluacion of his neyghbours house.
4.
A verbal contention, dispute; debate; a ~ of, a dispute about (sth.); matere of ~, a dispute; holden..~, to carry on (one's) debate; maken questiouns of, impugn (somebody's authority), dispute about.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 3.25 : Sothli a questioun or axyng [L quaestio] is maad of Johnis disciplis with the Jewis, of the purificacioun.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Tim.1.4 : Thei schulden not..ȝyue tent to fablis and genologies..the whiche ȝyuen questiouns more than edificacioun.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 18.15 : If questiouns ben of the word and names of ȝoure lawe, ȝe silf se.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2514 : Heer thre, ther ten, holdynge hir questioun, Dyuynynge of thise Thebane knyghtes two; Somme seyden thus, somme seyde it shal be so.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1972 : Thus for trouthe of his decre Zorobabel was most commended, Wherof the question was ended.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)189/10 : Ȝif ony techiþ oþereweies and resteþ not to þe holsome wordis of oure Lord Ihesu Crist, he is proude, and noþinge konnynge, but mornynge aboute questiouns and fyȝtinges of wordis.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)395/21 : Verri obediens haþ ouercome her owne wille & wil not make questiouns of her souereyns wille.
- (1467) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)11.579 : If in any suche Maters any Difficultie or Question in the Lawe happen to ryse, that he therin take thAdvis and Counsel of sume of the Kynges Justices.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)366/5 : Ther was a-spronge a dissencion or mater of question bitwene the religious men..of Oseneye..And the abbesse and couent of Godestowe.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)54/30 : He was deposed for no thyng ellis but for by cause that he herde questions in the temple of diuerse thingis.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)207/31 : We will resemble thaim that seen the fier fast brennynge by thaire places and habitacions and ben in questions and debate amonge thaim to knowe who put therynne the fyre.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)245/16 : The ladie..commaunded thaim to kepe silence, and than she made conclusion in thaire argumentes and questions.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)131/7 : The holy Euaungelys be put away, and the constitucions ben full of barat and of questions.
5.
(a) Legal proceedings, litigation; meuen ~ ayenes, to bring suit against (sb.); meuen ~ upon, bring suit for (sth.); putten into (unto) ~, press charges against (sb.), initiate proceedings against; (b) accusation, grievance, charge; questiouns of, charges concerning (sth.); confessen ~, to confess to a charge.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1013 : He put hem into questioun.
- (1425) RParl.4.271a : If he yat hath verray title of right in eny thing meve question or plee ayens him yat is in possession in ye same ying, he may not, ne aught not, to amitte ye possession to ye tyme he have a juggement for his right.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.158/15 : Þe chanouns of Oseney..here-after, vppon þat, question or playnte schall not meve.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)11.357 (v.1:p.116) : Dyuers of the londe, grete and worthy, he [Thomas à Becket] putt vnto questioun for diuers maners and lordeships which thei helden from the chirch of Caunterbury by force more than by right.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Esth.12.3 : He lernede þat þei enforseden to puttyn hond in to king artaxersen, & tolde vp on it to þe king, þe whiche of eiþer questioun had confessid he comaundide to ben lad to deþe.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 25.19 : Thei hadden aȝens hym summe questiouns of her veyn worschiping, or religioun, and of sum Jhesu deed, whom Poul affermyde for to lyue.