Middle English Dictionary Entry
barbar adj. & n.
Entry Info
| Forms | barbar adj. & n. Also barb(a)re. |
| Etymology | OF & ML, ult. Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Foreign, non-Greek; (b) heathen, non-Christian; -- perh. with implications of inhumanity; (c) ~ tonge [see quots.].
Associated quotations
a
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)991 : All the Barbare blode sall bowe to my-selfe.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.281 : Vnto the Barbre nacioun I moste anon..But Crist..yeue me grace his hestes to fulfille.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.122v : In oure tymes, sturyngges of hetes and batailles and struccion of oure prouinces and also well cruwell rubbynges and rauesshinges of barbare enmys, westynge and duerse tribulacions of hethen men to-tourmentyng vs.
c
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)3/25 : Þis doctour was bore..nowt in þe Greke tonge ne in þe Latyn tonge, but in þe Barbar tonge.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)4/5 : The barbar tonge is euery tonge in þe world whech is fer fro þe iij principall tongis, Hebrew, Grek, & Latyn.
2.
One who speaks a foreign language or belongs to a foreign nation, esp. one who is not a Greek, a Roman, or a Christian; foreigner, barbarian, heathen.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.14.11 : If I schal not knowe the vertu of vois, I schal be to him to whom I schal speke a barbar, or not vndirstondun; and he that spekith, to me a barbar.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 28.1,4 : Sothli barbaris, or hethene men, ȝauen to vs not litil humanyte..Therfore as barbares syȝen the beest [etc.].
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.1.14 : To grewis and barbaris..I am detour.
- c1425 Bible SNT(1) (Cmb Dd.12.39)Deeds 28.1 : Ande þo barbarise schewed myche manhede vnto vs, for þei kindeld a fire ande refresched vs.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.179r : Englysshmen were by diuerse spas and tyme of yeres chaungeable of maners, ffor in hure ferst comyng to this londe they lyued hethenliche as barbares, euer more busyyng hemself in batayll [Cp. L (William of Malmesbury): primis adventus sui annis, barbarico, usu bellico, ritu fanatico] and were konnyng therinne for þe grete vsyng theron.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2534 : Þe grace of þe grekis ouire-gos þe barbers.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3611 : Þai tuke vp þe trumpis..A-grydis grymly to-gedir þe grekes & barbres.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)41/9 : All men..as wel Barbarys as Latyns yn litterure.
3.
A foreign country or faith; speche of ~, language of a foreign country, foreign language; peple of ~, foreign or heathen nation, heathendom. [barbre may be a late spelling of barb(e)rie.]
Associated quotations
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.323 : Wytlandia is..inhabite with peple of barbre, worschippenge ydoles [L gens barbara et idolatra].
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.159 : Men of Flaundres that inhabite the weste partes of Wales, levenge the speche of barbre, speke after the Saxones.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.85 : This childe..goenge ouer Iordan, gedrede the kynges tribute of men and peple of barbre [L a barbaris] by mony yeres.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)533,536 : Hee sei þere..Of Barbre þe bryght god..Hee bihelde how þe god þat heried was in Barbre Governed hur goodes.