Middle English Dictionary Entry
relẹ̄f(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | relẹ̄f(e n. Also releffe, relief(e, releif, releve, relieve, relīf(e, relive & (error) rerelief; pl. relefes, etc. & relivies. |
| Etymology | OF relief, relef(e, AF relif & (esp. for sense 4.) ML relevium, AL relevum, relivium. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) That which is left over or left behind, remains, remnants, residue; -- often pl.; also, a legacy, charitable bequest; also, dregs; ~ of brucus, what the bruchus leaves; (b) rabble, ruins; (c) pathol. remains or residual traces of a disease or an aposteme; also fig.; (d) as adj.: remaining.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)87/26 : Noble men & wummen makieð large relef [Roy: relefe; Pep: relyf].
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)87/28,6 : Nis þis large relef? nis þis muche laue?..þu leafdest to oþre men alle richesces & makedest of al relef & lauese large.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)74/16 : Auh hwo mei makien largere relef þene ðe..ðet seið mid seinte peter, ecce nos reliquimus omnia?
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.16.23 : All þat is to seeþing, seeþ; & what euer were relefe [WB(2): residue; L reliquum], leyþ-up to to morn.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.23.11 : What euer wern relyfe, þe beestis of the feelde eten.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.10.19 : Þe releef of þe wode of þe wilde wode for fewenesse shul ben noumbrid.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)137b/a : Þe glose seiþ super primum Ioelis..þe relif [L residuum] of bruchus, rubigo schal freten.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.23.34 : Thou shalt drynke it..vn to the drestis, and thou shalt deuoure the relyues [L fragmenta] of it.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Deut.28.5 : Blessid schulen be thi bernes, and blessid schulen be thi relifs [vr. thin othere thingis; WB(1): relikis; L reliquiae].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.16.14 : Thei ben filled with sones; and thei leften her relifis [vr. relifs ether residue] to her litle children.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.75.11 : For the thouȝt of man schal knouleche to thee; and the relifs [vr. leuyngis] of thouȝt schulen make a feeste dai to thee.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)39 : Blevynge, or releve, or relefe: Reliquia, vel reliquiæ.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)101 : Cracoke, relefe of molte talowe or grese: Cremium.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.97 : Ierom seiþ þat of þe releef [Higd.(2): levenges] of þis citee were i-buld two grete citees in Persida.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.75 : Grete nobilite þat was þere in olde tyme is þere ȝit in meny places i-sene..noble bathes, releef of þe temples, places of theatres.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)174b/b : Babilon was alle destroiede..And it was neuere efte ybylede aȝene, but of þe releef þere of were oþer tweye cites y-beelded.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)36a/a : It semeþ to take meliourament or amendyng, neþerlez it haþ it noȝt, for þe relefe or remanence of þe disposicioun..shal lefe vnhelable.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)38a/a : Obtalmie..is not to be negligented, for if it be yuel cured it leueþ yuel relefez [Ch.(2): relikes; L reliquias], as rupture of cornee, spottez & tedious webbez.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)113a/a : Ȝif þe relefe oþer þe remanent of þe obtalmia lefe in þe yȝe, hele it wiþ þe white colirie.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)122/11 : Anone sche armeth here ayenst þe relef and wondes wich is lefte of vices lest þey enfestre and stynke.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.29.12 : Þe blode of calf þou schalt putte apon þe hornes of þe auter..þe relyue blode [WB(2): tothir blood; vr. other left blood; L reliquum..sanguinem] forsoþ þou schalt helde besyde þe fote of it.
2.
(a) A scrap or fragment of food; remnants of a meal, leftovers, leavings; -- often pl.; also fig.; (b) ?a small basket for collecting fragments from the table.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.MPChr.(LdMisc 108)21 : Ore louerd het a non riȝt þere To gaderi þat releef in to bascates.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)2104 : Þo he hadde y-ete by-ffore ham echon, Þe relef he nom suþþe and ȝaf ham anon.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.8.3 : In to þin ouens & in to þe relyues of þi seruantis..schullen gone inne froggis.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ruth 2.14 : Sche sat at þe syde of þe reperis..& sche eet & is fild & tooc þe releefis.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.15 : I myȝte gadre somwhat of þe crommes þat falleþ of lordes bordes, þat somtyme were fulfilled and left hir relif [Higd.(2): fragmente; L reliquias] to hir children..also ȝif I myȝt gadre eny scrappes of þe releef [Higd.(2): remanent; L fragmentis] of þe twelf cupes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)278b/a : Þe hound is envyous and..he is coueytous and skars and busy to legge vp and to huyde þe relief [L superflua] þat he leueþ.
- (c1400) Higd.(1) (Hrl 1900)526 : For hym was lever that gistes schulde leve relef thanne axe more mete.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)p.110 : The releef of Cristis feeste ȝe renden and ratyn, that his alumners the postlis gaderid togidere.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.19 : Þe seven berlepis of relif ben alle þe sentences of seintis after, bi which þei feden trewe men..For many ben fedd by relif þat kouden not ete þis hole mete.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)137/15,19 : Whan the Couent of this Abbeye hath eten, the Awmener let bere the releef [F relief] to the gardyn..& anon all the bestes..comen out..And men ȝeuen hem the releef in faire vesselles of syluer.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)428 : Releef, or brocaly of mete: Fragmentum, fragmen, mistelevium.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)20 : God is þe feest fro which men risen wiþ relefis, after hem leeving of more þan þei mowe take.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)128/17 : He wold lat no man geþur þe releue but is disciples.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)68/6 : All suche pees is but þe releve and þe almes of heuenly pees wich is departid to þe pore in spirite.
- (1469) Ordin.Househ.Clarence in PSAL (1790)90 : That the seid officer take uppe the releif, bothe of mete, breade, and drinke..and it trulye to distrybute..to poore people.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)4570 : Ye Axen the releff Off hys dyner, on & alle.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)81/272 : If owght be leve..I pray ȝow That þe pore men þe relevys þer of haue.
- a1500(?1382) Wycl.Wks.Mercy (NC 95)180 : Þei helpe þe prechoure to declare þe word of God, as releffe fedus men.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)1533 : Fyue thousande men..he fed, & ȝet twelfe lepis lede Of relif þat þer laft wes.
b
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)658/19 : Nomina pertinencia ad pincernam..sporticula: relef.
3.
(a) The remnant of a people; also, the elect, the chosen; (b) the remaining members of a family or other group; (c) progeny, offspring, posterity; (d) a relic of a saint.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.5.13 : Þe relyfys of þe peple been saued.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.11.5 : The relyfs ben mad saaf vp the chesynge of the grace of God.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.113 : He hadde..i-brouȝt þe relyf of Israel and of Iuda out of Egipte.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.251 : Þe poure relyf þat was i-left of þe Britouns [L Britonum reliquiae] sente þe þridde tyme a lettre to..Aecius.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.9.27 : If þe noumbre of þe chyldre of israhel Were of þe grauel of þe see, þe releff of þem schal be made safe.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)268 : Aftir that this captivite was doon, he abiding in Ierusalem with the releef and the rescaile of the Iewis, wrote his book cleepid the Trenys.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.20.48 : Þe sones..of Israel gon oute smytyn wiþ swerd al þe relef [WB(2): remenauntis] of þe cite, fro men vn to bestis.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.155 : Silla..was in Campania forto destroye al þe relif of þe bataille.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.465 : Þe order of Templeres..were i-gadred of þe releef of þe Hospitalers.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.25.16 : Y shal slee the sleers, and Y shal lese the relyues of the see cuntree.
- c1450 WBible(2) (Bod 277)3 Kings 14.10 : Relikis or releffis [Roy: Y schal clense the relikis of the hows of Jeroboam].
c
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.36.38 : Forsothe, vniust men schulen perische; the relifs of wickid men schulen perische togidere.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.14.22 : Y schal leese the name of Babyloyne and the relifs and generacioun and seed, seith the Lord.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.14.30 : Y schal make thi throte to perisch in hungur, and Y schal sle thi relifs.
d
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)114 : Meditacioun mai not be had..withoute summe of these weies..visiting and going into the placis in whiche holi men han lyued..or in whiche the relifis or the relikis of hem abiden.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)182 : It is ful resonable..that where the bodi or bonis or eny releef or relik of a Seint mai be had, that it be sett up in a comoun place.
4.
A feudal payment to the overlord made by an heir upon taking possession of an estate.
Associated quotations
- [ (a1199) Cart.Ramsey in RS 79.2311 : Ita tamen, quod homagia et relevia de praedicto Hugone, et ejus heredibus, de tenemento..erunt ad opus meum, et heredum meorum. ]
- [ (1354) RParl.2.263b : Robert de la Mare..fait son homage pur la moite du manoir de Lanynton..de un fee de chivaler, pur quel fee il ad paie au Roy c s. pur son relef. ]
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.202 : Homage & feaute he askes & releue, þe barons er fulle fre, to do as to þer chefe.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.214 : Of wardes & relefe þat barons of him held, þer ne was ore of chefe tille him no þing suld ȝeld..Tille ilk a lordyng suld ward & relefe falle, Bot tille þe kyng no þyng, he was forbarred alle.
- (1416) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.55 : He shulde bere..The Courte holde, heriettes and relieffes, and the leve of x s. with all the hole lordeshipe to sir Thomas Colpeper.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)141 : In the forseid toun..his cheif lord..may not of his tenaunt after ony ded axyn, chalangyn, ne have releeff [ID(1): relefe], warde..ne other attornement of service, but only the payment of the rente.
- (1449) RParl.5.158a : Barthelmewe..and Hugh shal accounte yerly in the Kyngys Escheker of the receyte of the sayd issuez..and revenuez of the sayd Wardes, Mariagis, Relevis, voydauncez abovesayd.
- (1455) RParl.5.294a : Savyng also to oure said Soveraine Lord, all manere Knyghtesfees, Wardes, Mariages, Reliefes, and Eschetes.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.100/6 : Arable londe..þe which I had..for j ferthyng..for all seculer seruices, Sutes, wardis, relefs, heriettes.
- (c1475) Doc.in Bk.Brome (Brm)143 : I..hath ȝowyn and grantyd..to hys [read: hym] and to hys asseyneys my maner of Cryssygham with all hys pertinences in..wardys, relyvyes [L releuiis], maryages, hommages, rentes.
- a1500(1446) Cart.Boarstall in OHS 88150 : This bille..bereth witnesse that Robert Power..hath reseyuyd of Edmunde Rede squyer xxx s. for a relyf, [etc.].
5.
(a) Help, aid, assistance; relief of a city; (b) sustenance; also, support of an institution; (c) hunt. the act of feeding or pasturing.
Associated quotations
a
- (?1406) Hoccl.MR (Hnt HM 111)55 : O now thyn help, thy socour and releef [rime: theef, mescheef], And I for ay mis reule wole exyle.
- (1431-2) Will York in Sur.Soc.3020 : I Nicholas Blakburn..besekes Almyghty Godd..yat it [disposition of his will] may be..help and releve unto the heel of my saule.
- (1438) Doc.in Welch Hist.Pewterers Lond.10 : Also that euery persone houshoulder..paie yerly to the relef of pouer men of the same Craft xij d.
- (1440-41) Visit.Alnwick125a : We enoiyne yow..that none of yowe receyve ne admitte in to your place any subiournauntes of whate astate..save childerne..whome we licencede yow to hafe for your relefe.
- (1443) Proc.Privy C.5.417 : Þat þe saide Viscounte..ordeine þe saide men, vitaille, & shippes to be sent over in all haste to Bourdeaulx for þe socoure & rerelief of it.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)901 : Thy brothir, se, ny dyeth for myschief..If þou heer-after come vn-to swych pref, Thow wolt ful sore triste after releef.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)12554 : He wyll desyre forto make sacrafyce To beall..in whom he hopes to haue releue.
- a1456 Marmaduke SSecr.(Ashm 59)219/30 : To þeire hele or releve opun þane þe coffres of þy tresore.
- (1470) Paston2.586 : Maister Spicer and Maister Stevyn trustyn vppon me..to speke to my lord for relyeve.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.48b : Divine servicez and other charges..have be duely observed..to the verrey..worship of God and grete releyf and sustenaunce of pore people.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)155/12 : To the traueilous..comyth of the yiftes celestiall, and of thaire good purchasing the high prosperitees and releevys.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)212/19 : And the grettest and wisest prince..were envirouned with grette and wighty necessitees and prikkid wiþe sharpe prikkis to releefe [vr. relese] of the same lordship, it were right harde to purveye a remedy for the..appetites of the people.
b
- a1450 Glo.Chron.B (Lond-U 278)827 : Relyue [A: pur meseise him þuder drof & defaute of biliue].
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)12978 : We wun here owt of all releue.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)14339 : Now was muke most his releue forto inforse his flesch.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4935 : I yeve and be qwethe..Item, to the frerys of Babwelle..and to the relef and reparacion of the seid place, x s..Item, to the nunnys of Thetford..and to the releef and comfort of the place, x s.
- (c1464) Paston2.296 : Þer is non other helpe butt..euery man to do his part to the wellfare, socour, and releue of our monasteri.
c
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)104 : Gladly she wil not be þer as she haþ pasturid but in tyme of reliefe.
6.
(a) Alleviation of distress, hunger, sickness, etc.; also, a release, remittance, or discharge [quot.: 1483]; (b) restoration, renovation, recovery; (c) satisfaction, pleasure; ?also, good fortune [quot.: Mirk]; for the point of his ~, in order to please him.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.1080 : Tho preyde she hir housbond mekely In relief [vr. releueinge] of hir longe pitous pyne, That he wolde preye hir fader..To vouche sauf som day with hym to dyne.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)47/9 : Þerfore þe parischen may..haue suspecioun þat, bycause of getyng somme releue of her beggerie, þei beþ so busy to here schriftes.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)62/346 : Ful grete grace was þore schewd, And grete releue to lerd and leude.
- (1440-41) Visit.Alnwick125b : Thoe xx s..oon Knyvyngtone of Derbyshire oght yerely to pay to your place in releve of the chargees in your fermery.
- c1450 As Reson Rywlyde (Lamb 853)23 : I may make sorewe without relijf [rime: wijf], For filius regis mortuus est.
- (1451) Pet.Hen.VI in Archaeol.Ael.n.s.3186 : To shippe..wolle without ony subsidie..in relefe, confortacion, and supportacion of the grete and unportable charges..the seid Maire and Citesins..beren.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)303 : A Relefe: relaxacio.
- a1500(c1400) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)328 : Be þou, bysshop, þe bote of my sorowe And þe relefe of þe lodely lures þat my soule has leuyd in.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2073 : A lewde man..Tastyd of the white stone a parte, Trustyng therbi to fynde relyefe Of alle seknes and of alle grefe.
b
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)143/10 : The high lordship..of Fraunce, which betwene destruccion and releef [CQ(2): rysing agein] is tremblynge in the moost wofull wyse vnder the hande of God.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)187/27 : Yf all thoo..wold ioyne thaire wyttes togider for to seek the releef [CQ(2): newe arreysing] of thaire seigneurie, they might gete..the saluacion of thaire estates.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.640 : Thus for the point of his relief [rime: lief], The coc which schal his mete arraie, Bot he the betre his mouth assaie, His lordes thonk schal ofte lese.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)1112 : Hast þow had in herte gref Of hys gode and hys relef?