Middle English Dictionary Entry
relẹ̄ving(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | relẹ̄ving(e ger. Also releviinge, reliving(e & (errors) releiung, releuving. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The action of helping, providing for, saving; an instance of this; aid, assistance, succor; also, redemption; ~ oute of, helping (sb.) out of (debt, distress); setten a ~, to provide assistance (to sb.); (b) alleviation of pain, discomfort, sorrow; abatement of sickness; mitigation of poverty or need; also, relief of hunger; also, fig. a lifting up of the heart [quot.: 1532]; (c) remedy, healing; (d) loosening of the peritoneum, slackening; (e) hunt. in phrase: ~ him, of a hare: ?getting up, leaving the form.
Associated quotations
a
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.46 : What broþer or sistir of þis fraternite lese hys katel..or ellis falle in sekenes..þan ilke broþer and sistir of þis gild shal ȝeuen, ones in þe yere, j d. to his sustenauns and releuyinge.
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)270 : Not forto leue hit wilfulli..but ȝif hit were in gret nede, & [vr. at] gret releuyng & cumfortyng of oþur men, ouþur of her bodies or of her soules.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.805 : The auaricious man sheweth no pitee ne misericorde to the nedeful man, for he deliteth hym..nat in the rescowynge ne releuynge [vrr. releeuynge, releuing, releueinge] of his euene cristene.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)16 : Whether it were not greet almese to withdrawe fro vncunnynge prelatis..seculer lordshipis..in releuynge lordis out of dette.
- (?1407) Hoccl.Somer(1) (Hnt HM 111)24 : Elles moot vs bothe mourne & waill Til your fauour vs sende releeuynge.
- c1410 Medit.SSelf (UC 97)442 : Þow ouer þat for þe releeuynge of so menye deedly wrecches tokest vpon þee to suffre so harde betynges.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.76 : Mi lordis fredam and bounteuous largesse Into myn herte brouht in such gladnesse, That thoruh releuyng off his benygne grace, Fals Indigence list me no mor manace.
- (1439) EEWills127/25 : That his executours..distribute of that parte to..his saide sonnes in releyung [read: releuyng] and preferryng of hem.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)291 : Lijk wise of alle oþere..nedis in oure neiȝboris..we ouȝte bi habundaunce of oure power..to alle suche sette a releeuyng.
- (1450) RParl.5.183a : The Communes of youre said Reaume been aswell willed to theire pore power, to the relevyng of youre Highnesse, os ever were peple to ony Kyng.
- c1450(c1430) Brut-1430 (Glb E.8)438/8 : In the same yere..a grete retenewe of pepull..weren sent ouyr the see into Fraunce..in releuynge and helpynge and strengthing of the Kyngis pepull.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)385 : Ȝe schul undirstonde þat mercy or almes is a wille of relevynge of a wreche oute of his mysese.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)221/2 : The aydes ben cessid that were wont to be reysed for the payement of men of werre, and all is for the releeuing of the peeple.
- -?-(1435) Doc.in Power Craft Surg.309 : It is ordeined..that eueri Cirurgian..to paie..viij d. aȝeer to the profit & worschip of the craft in helping and releuving the nede of pore men of the same felowschip.
- -?-(1450) Pet.Hen.VI in Archaeol.192 : It pleased your highnesse in relyvyng of your said pouere citee..to graunt unto your maire and commonalite of the said citee..in relife of all the charges abovesaid, xl marc.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)126a/b : Diluculum..is ende of þe nyȝt and biginneþ of ful liȝt, releuynge and seynge [read: esynge] of sikenesse [L alleuiatio infirmitatis].
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.3868 : O welle of fredam..of thi bounte yive sum attendaunce To heere..my supplicacioun, In releuyng of myn hertis greuaunce.
- (a1440) Let.Coventry in EHR 55644 : Wherefore liketh hit to your good wills to considre the gret age, nede, & pouerte that she is ynne, and in releuyng therof to graunt hir alowance of the forseid rent.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)383 : Þe scribis and phariseiys tauȝten ..þat þei schulde raþer..spende her money..aboute signes of worschiping god..þanne..aboute releuyng of her fadris and modris neede.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)48.393 : I schal ȝow Cownsayllen..b'encheson that ȝe han non Relevyng at this tyme here In Etyng.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)380 : God þe fadir had wrouȝte þis grete miracle bi criste his preste, in releuynge of fyve þousande and mo þat wern in mysese of hunger.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)39/18 : Þat blissid body..is to al deuoute folk a singuler confort, relevyng of þe tedious desire of þis wrecchid exile.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.184 : Þey moun..preyyn þe frendys of þat persone of som elmesse in relyuynge..of þat charche.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)106/165 : Now to goddes laude and reverence, profit of the reders..encresing of worship among Loves servauntes, releving of my herte in-to grace of my jewel..I am stered in this making.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.804 : Now shul ye vnderstonde that the releuynge of Auarice is misericorde and pitee largely taken.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)367/4 : In þo herbis..I myȝte ȝeue myche grace of releeuynge.
d
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)359/15 : The vj c. is of ruptorie of þe siphac, and releuynge aȝen [L relaxatione].
e
- ?c1450 Twici Venery (Mellon)107 : The hare..syttithe noght bletheliche there he fedithe hym but it be in tyme of relevyng [F relever] hym.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 *Nicod.(5) (Wor F.172)6b : Thow hast arraied bifore the face of al peoples, Light to the Relevyng of hethen men and glorie to the people of Israel.
Note: Needed for date for (a) per MP