Middle English Dictionary Entry
quī̆taunce n.
Entry Info
| Forms | quī̆taunce n. Also quitans, quit(t)ance, quetaunce, quetans & (early) cwita(u)nce, & (error) queyntaunce; pl. quitaunces, etc. & quetauns. |
| Etymology | OF quitance, quittance & ML quit(t)antia (vars. of quietantia). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. aquitaunce n., quietaunce n.
1.
(a) Payment, compensation, amends; something offered by way of payment for a debt; (b) a document in evidence of a transaction, such as a receipt, release, or deed; (c) discharge from a debt or an obligation; dismissal of a suit; forgiveness of sin, redemption; also, a document attesting same.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)67/2 : Þet is ura rancun þet we schulde reimin us wið & cwitin ure deattes..for wið ute cwitance [Tit: cwitaunce] up of þis prisun nis nan inumen.
- (1433) Proc.Privy C.4.150 : Þe Quene Johane..sendeth charge and a quitance to hir receivour in Britaigne, þere for to paie it unto þe seid Lord Beaumanoir.
- (?1463) Stonor1.65 : Y sende you yn thys paper the names of all ham that wyll desyre to have a quytans of Richard Fortescu for your mater.
b
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.156 : Richard ȝald him his right, his tresore, & his toun..His sistir forto marie, where God wild loke, To mak certeyn partie, R. a quitance toke.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)5b/b : Apoca: a quetaunce.
- c1425 Chaucer CT.Mil.(Petw 7)A.3327 : Wel coude he late blood, clippe, and shaue, And make a chartere of londe or a quytaunce [vrr. on quitance; aquitaunce].
- (1427-8) Rec.St.Mary at Hill69 : For makyng of a quitance to halsangire, ij d.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)421 : Qvytaunce..apoca.
- (1444) Acc.Bk.Carpenter Co.11 : Item, payed for ij quetauns & j obligacion, vj d.
- (a1445) Paston2.519 : He xuld fyndun hym..a soficiant sewerte..þat was a reentre on and of euery day of payment..he..a selyd hym a qwetans, and he hym a noþer.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1348 : There is a quayer of quitances of quethyn goodes, That bisshoppz han begged to binde al newe.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)207/28 : Þai fand in his hand a quytans, wreten & selid with his awn seale, þat he..had resyvid agayn all þe gudis at he had delyverd þe bisshopp.
- (c1456) Paston2.151 : I have quytaunces and seeles to shew.
- (1459) Paston1.91 : That noon othir feffe nor the executours of the said Sir John shall make any feffement, relece, ne quitaunce of any londes before assigned to be solde, þat wer at any tyme longing to the said Sir John.
- (1463) Acc.Howard in RC 57154 : My mastyre was bowndyn..in an oblygacon ffor cloth in a c li., Off the wiche my mastyre had a quetawnce off l li.
- (1470) Paston1.553 : Axe the probate of my fadyrs wyll to be geuyn yow..and as soone as it is prouyd, ye or I may haue a lettyr of mynystracyon vp-on the same and a qwetance of my Lord Cardnalle euyn foorthe-wyth..And he may make yow a qwetance, or get yow on of the Bysheop.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)265/32 : The sentence of this quytaunce is that Iordan..knowleched hym-self to haue resceived cc li. of sterlyngis of the..Couent of Godestowe.
c
- [ (1340) Statutes Realm1.292 : Plusurs des articles susescritz soient compris deinz lestatut..ensi que chescun pourra avoir conisaunce des graces & quitances queles nous les avoms fait & graunte en celle partie. ]
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10812 : The fourþe sacrament ys penaunce, Þat ys for synne a quytaunce.
- a1425 Glo.Chron.B (Pep 2014)p.823 : A queyntaunce [?read: queytaunce; Trin-C: þe teoþe hyde of þis lond..To god & holi chirche he ȝaf quyt].
- (1426) EEWills71/4 : I woll..þat myn Executours pay for þe costes of his qwytaunce of his enditement.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)421 : Qvytaunce: Acquietancia.
- (a1449) Lydg.PPs.102 (Trin-C R.3.20(1))175 : Asseele oure quytaunce with þy redempcion, Whane þou shalt deme vs.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)43/20 : The þride maner of wize a man is delyvered from dette, þat is, by a quytaunce.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)101b : A Qwittance: Acquitancia.