Middle English Dictionary Entry
respect(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | respect(e n. |
| Etymology | OF respect & L respectus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Relationship, relation; in ~ of, in relation to (sth.), with respect to; haven ~ to, to bear a relation to (sth.), have a connection with; also, correspond to (sth.) [quot.: a1450]; (b) pl. aspects, particular respects; (c) regard, consideration; to ~ of, out of consideration for (sth.); taken ~ unto, to take note of (sth.), pay attention to; (d) a respite; taken ~, to hold off action, give a respite; (e) astron. an aspect of a heavenly body; (f) a divine visitation.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)9b/b : Nounes adiectiue tokeneþ somwhat positif affirmynge, for somme tokeneth..effect in creatures and somme respect [L respectum]..Of nounes þat betokeneth god wiþ respect, somme tokenes respect betwene god..as deus est refugium & oþir suche, and somme tokeneth respect bitwene persones, as..equalis, I-liche, & euene.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)76b/a : Mete & drinke han ordenaunce & respecte to meteschipe & to feestis.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)91a/a : Lete blode of summe veine þat diuerteþ oþer turnes þe forseide humours to þe contrarie partie, as is þe veine of þe lyuer in respecte of a wounde made in þe heuede..And..lete blode of summe veine þat voideþ þe mater þat is coniuncte to þe wounde, as cephalica on þe arme in respecte of a wounde on þe heuede.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)159a/b : Þer ben oþere repercussiues þe whiche be not verreilye stiptik in respecte of þes oþer aforeseid, as arrage, mercurial, malowes, violet, colde water.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.21.80 : Everich of these 12 signes hath respect to a certeyn parcel of the body of a man and hath it in governaunce.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)46/16 : Of nombres..lyneal is that þat is considrede after the processe, havynge no respect to the direccioun of nombre in nombre, As a lyne hathe but one dymensioun, that is to sey, after the lengthe.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)20b/a : Þe soule þat is on is I-nempned by diuers names in diuers respectis [L respectibus], And hatte anima while he is in þe body and ȝeueþ it lif; mens while he haþ mynde; animus while he haþ wille; racio while he demeth riȝtfulliche.
- a1500(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(1))16450 : Trewly, by clere Consyderacion off dyuers Respectys, she techeth both the Ton and the tother.
c
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.86 : I com myself..To teche in this how yow was best to doone, Havyng unto my tresor ne my rente Right no resport, to respect of youre ese.
- (1472) Grant Arms in Antiq.49289 : Takyng respecte and consideracion unto the goodly entent & disposicion of the saide Crafte and felawship, have devysed for them & theire successours thise Armes folowing.
- (1474) Let.Bk.Lond.L (Gldh LetBk L)124 : The which excessive price..groweth by the inordinate covitice and by Covyne made betwene the Bochers of the saide Citee, whiche, havyng no Respecte to the common wele..ingrose the Talugh and bryng it into fewe handes.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.147 : Y lawde and commende thy manhode that thou dredes God moore then me, and the respecte [Trev.: reward; L respectum] of hevyn moore then thy cuntre.
- a1500(a1471) Ashby APP (Cmb Mm.4.42)412 : Be wele ware of falsehode in felawship..And be towardes thair rule circumspecte, And to thaire werkes haueth respecte.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2173 : Take witnes & doctryne Of youre pulsis..wisely consideryng vj thingis not natural the bodi concernynge, Hauyng respecte all-so therwith-alle Unto the sevyn thingis naturalle.
- ?a1500 Job (Hnt HM 140)20 : Holy Job..techeth his sonnes..euer god to magnifie..And to his doughtres..he bad them haue respect How bryght lucyfer for his pryde from heven was derect.
d
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)155/10,13 : Be prayer of bisshopis & oþer worthi men he tuke respecte with hur furst for x..dayes & þan for viij & þan for vii & þan for vi..And be respecte at he had of þe dayes, þai er callid Decimum, Octauum, Septimum, & Sextum yitt vnto þis day.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)221/28 : Sho askid of þe law a respecte & had it grawntid.
e
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)119b/a : Impressioun of worchinge of liȝt is I-knowe in þe see þat ebbiþ and flowiþ by respect [L applicationem] of þe mone to som partye þerof, wheþir þe mone bischine þe ayer oþir no.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.126 : Sum constellacioun or coniunccioun or sum respect in here pasyng fallyȝt vpon oo lond more þan anothir; And..folk be born vnder..dyuers respectys in dyuers sygnys and vnder dyuers planetys.
f
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.21/13 : It be the respecte of the ire of God from aboue that sendith to vs worthy paynys for oure demerites.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.42/2 : I a-vowe yt to be sent to the chirche of..Barthylmewe the Apostle that by his glorious prayers may be turnyd from vs the respect of Goddis yndignacioun.
2.
In phrases: (a) hauen ~ to, to look toward or upon (sb. or sth.), face (sth.); also, consult (a book); taken ~ in-to, look to (sth.); (b) in ~, comparatively, by comparison; in (to) ~ of, in comparison with (sth.); ~ therof, by comparison thereof.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)136b/b : Þe reyne bowe..al-wey..haþ respecte [L respicit] to þe sonne wiþ ful face and þe sonne is euene afore þe bowe & haþ respect þerto.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)136/38 : He [Christ] hathe not forsaken þe erthe but haþ is respecte and lokyn to is seruauntes here on erthe as þat he dud to his disciples and to Petur.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.115 : As for other meruayles of the temple, haue respecte to [Trev.: loke in; L require] the bokes of Kynges.
- 1534(?a1500) Cov.Pl.W.(CovCorp(1))3 : Ye grett astronemars now awake, With youre famus fatheres of felosefy And in-to the oreient reyspecte ye take.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)84 : Þe grauayl..Wern precious perlez of oryente; Þe sunnebemez bot blo & blynde In respecte of þat adubbement.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1818 : Down from thennes faste he gan avyse This litel spot of erthe..and fully gan despise This wrecched world, and held al vanite To respect of the pleyn felicite That is in hevene above.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)79/27 : Þe lesse hote parties ben cleped þe colde parties in respecte [*Ch.(1): reward; L respectu] of þe more hote parties.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.149 : He was tormentede by devells with brennynge flammes..in respecte of the heete of whom this fyre materialle is but as warme warm water unto scaldynge water.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2482 : Metallis had for theire generacion A ml. yeris, wherfore..Respecte þere-of oure werke is but oon day.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)78/39 : Al sugre and hony, al minstralsy and melody ben but soot and galle in comparison..in respect of this blisful joye.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)84/36 : Although I hadde litel in respect among other grete and worthy, yet had I a fair parcel.