Middle English Dictionary Entry
renǒuncen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | renǒuncen v. Also renounce, renounse(n, renunce(n, renunsen, renoncen, renons(e. |
| Etymology | OF renoncier, renuncier & L renuntiāre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To give up (sth.); resign (an office), surrender (one's right, dignity, power); ~ to, renounce (a right) in favor of (sb.); (b) to repudiate (an opinion, one's former beliefs, one's desires), reject (paganism); abandon (the world) for the religious life; (c) to disclaim (one's allegiance to sb.); (d) ~ to, to abjure (sth.), surrender (a claim, a right, the crown), give up; also, disclaim (a right to legal action); (e) to renounce the throne and its privileges, abdicate; also, renounce worldliness; ~ unto, give up a claim in favor of (a church).
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(1389) Wycl.25 Art.(Dc 273)475 : Eche of ȝow þat schal not renounce alle þingus þat he has in possessioun may not be my disciple.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2931 : This innocent..His Papacie anon hath weyved, Renounced, and resigned eke.
- (1417) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)9.428 : Ye wolde freely of youre Wil Renons the Right ye have now in the Corone of France to hym that now occupieth hit.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.5.61 : Thei wolden bothe han renounced [L renuntiare voluerunt] hir power.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)21 : He was redy to Renounce and leve off his Dygnyte.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)3312 : Aforn hem all þer renowncyd he All hys hy astate & eke hys dignyte.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13629 : My ryght I renonse to þat rynk sone.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)594/6 : He..the same Abbesse and Couent..fro hens-forthe shall not vexe, enplede, nother trouble, renuncyng expressely all maner of accions..ayenst þe said lady Abbesse and..Couent.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apost.(Dub 245)433 : Crist seiþ þat noo man may be his discipul but ȝif he renunce alle siche þingis.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)20/15 : Thei renounced [L renunciabant] all maner richesse, dignites, worshipes, frendes, & kynne.
b
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Corp-O 4)p.74 : No man to renounse [WB(2): that wole forsake] the world, wel may selle thingis that he hath dispisid for to selle.
- (1446) *Dec.Guilt Coventry (Cleo E.3) : As ferre as I haue suche matiers or opynions affermed, preched, or taught, I, the same ffrere, revoke and renounce theyme.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.136 : Ȝour goddis and your lawe We renunce, for the loue of oure lord Ihesus.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)25/15 : He renounsid for euyr all his elde errouris.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)193 : We wyll mortyfye owr carnall condycyon Ande owr voluntarye dysyres, þat euer be pervercyonatt, To renunce þem and yelde ws wnder Godys provycyon.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)145/28 : He must renounce or forsake [L renunciet] hys owne wylle.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)78/15 : It is not ȝouen to all þat..þei renounce þe worlde and take a Religious lif.
c
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)24 : He had defyed the Kyng and renouncid his legeaunce.
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1326 : Babilla with hire Sones sevene..hath renonced to the hevene.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)20 : The kyng [Richard III]..wold leve off and renounce to the crovne off Inglond and off ffraunce and to his kyngly mageste.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)21 : I Renounce to all Riht, and colour off Riht, alle maner, tytle, possession, and lordship, the which that euer I hadde.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.59/24 : Both parties consentid that þe compromisse..be i-cancellid; and hit is renouncid [L renunciatum est] to þynges i-purchased as to þo contrauersys and þynges above-named.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)461/3 : Bothe parties renunsyng for them-self and ther successours..to all excepcion, cauyllacion, and namelych to kyngis prohibicion and remedy of the law.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)575/39 : They shold stond to theire prouision..renuncyng to the said letters..accion, cauillacion, excepcion, and appelyng.
e
- (1399) RParl.3.424a : Sire ȝe remembre ȝowe wele, that..ȝe renounsed and cessed of the State of Kyng, and of Lordesship and of all the Dignite and Wirsshipp that longed therto.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)21 : He..ther Renouncyd, lefft off, and swore..and wrote his name vnderneth with his owne hande.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)574/16 : The seyd Rychard..hathe renunsyd & quyt-claymyd..vn-to the chyrche of Godstow for euyrmore.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apost.(Dub 245)433 : Hou he shulde renunce, Cristis lijf techiþ.
2.
(a) To proclaim (sth.), announce; (b) in literal or etymological sense: repeat (sth. said to sth.), tell again.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.183 : If he..seie to þis þing þat he wole not love it so myche, for þe love of God, þanne he renounsiþ to it þat here he wole forsake it.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)97/11 : The squier herde of the speche, and how he [?read: it] was renounced that he had leide v eggis.
- a1500 Leg.Cross BC(1) (Wor F.172)213 : I biseche hym that..he do renounce and tel of the oile of mercy that God promysed me whan he put me out of Paradice.
b
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.182 : Þus shulden alle men renounsen her goodis, for..if men tellen to þese goodis þat her love passe resoun, þanne þei tellen aȝen her answere to þes goodis..þis tellinge aȝen is renounsinge of hem.