Middle English Dictionary Entry
rē̆gulē̆r adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | rē̆gulē̆r adj. Also regulier, -lar(e, -larre, regler; pl. reguleres. |
| Etymology | OF reguler, regulier, reglier & L rēgulāris; for sense (b) cp. AL rēgulāre a ruler. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Belonging to, or subject to, a religious or monastic rule; canoun ~, canounes reguleres [see also canoun n.(2) 2.(a)]; habit ~, the prescribed habit of a religious; wommen ~, professed nuns; ~ canoun, ~ clerk = canoun ~; ~ houre, one of the hours of the office; ~ lif, religious or monastic life; ~ observaunce, an activity prescribed by a religious or monastic rule; (b) of a nose: ?straight as a ruler; (c) of brass: capable of being formed into bars.
Associated quotations
a
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick350b : Defautes done as welle in diuine service and regulere obseruaunces.
- (1443) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23253 : Making all thoo that be called ministers of Goddis chirch, seculiers and reguliers, withyne your diocise..to pray..for the prosperite of us.
- (1447) Doc.N.Convocation in Sur.Soc.113180 : If ony provision be maad to ony persone of Religion..of exemption of obedience Regulier, or of obedience ordinarie, that the provisour..shall reune into the peyne comprised in a Statute of Provisours
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)24/7 : Vyolacion of maydenhod is whan a man be nomyth a womman þe flowr of her maydenhed be sche secler or regler.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.14/31 : What-so-euer thyng..may be i-purchased to þem or to þere successours (Reguler lyfe i-professed)..abyde.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.20/6 : In the ȝere..mcxlix..was i-ȝeve the church of saynte George..to þe regular chanons of Oseney.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.33/19 : Þe patrone and prelate of þe monastery of þe reguler clerkes (þat is to say, of þe chanons).
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)677/4 : Celestyne, bisshop..owed to yeve help to his..doughters, abbesse..of Godestowe and to her sustern..I-professed regularre lyfe for ever.
- c1475 Why Nun (Vsp D.9)172 : Kateryne, thys day schalt thow see And [read: An] howse of wommen reguler.
- c1475 Why Nun (Vsp D.9)355 : Hyt ys an holy thyng To bene in habyte reguler.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.184 : Ȝif..chanoun reguler ȝeue monye þat he be nout put from cure of his parych chirche aȝen to his cloystre, it is symonye.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)89/16 : He that..hath forȝete to say euensonge, compleen, or eny other regulare houre, let hym do the forsaide penaunce.
b
- c1450 Myght wisdom (Add 31042)49 : Blissede be þi nosse, in righte lyne regulere, In parties euen thi vesage mesurynge, With ouertys tueyne, thurgh concordande infere.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)199a/b : Bras þat is wrought wiþ hamour is cleped regulare..whan bras is wel y-purged & y-clensed of all vices, þanne it is made able to be wrought wiþ hamour and regulare [L regulare].