Middle English Dictionary Entry
rethoricien n.
Entry Info
| Forms | rethoricien n. Also rethorisien, retorucion, rhetorician, retrician. |
| Etymology | OF retoricien, rethor-, rhetor-. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A writer on the art of rhetoric, a teacher of rhetoric; a professional orator; -- often with ref. to Marcus Tullius Cicero; ?also, an ancient historian [quot.: Lydg.FP, 1st]; (b) a master of literary eloquence; a speaker who uses eloquent language.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.176 : To schewe his stile in my transmutacioun..After þe maner of gramariens, Nor lyke þe stile of rethoricyens I toke nat on me þis story to translate.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.1465 : It is rehercid bi rethoriciens How oon Vixoses, in bookis as thei write, Was maad first kyng off The gipciens.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.2954 : To write of Tullie..his bareyn stile Is insufficient to write..Of so notable a rethoricien.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)243 : Rethoryciens to compyle and endyte Vnkouth mysteryes I was glad hem to se.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Virtue (Hrl 2255)41 : Off rethoricyens men lerne fressh language.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)8/22 : There lerned he rethorik and eloquens oute of Tullius bokes, and oþir rethoricianes whech wer be-fore him.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)9/13 : He happed to fynde a book þat Tullius Cicero mad, þe grete rhetorician of Rome.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)17/24 : It was þe vsage at þoo dayes þa[t] þe rethoricianes schuld pleten in court for euery cause whech was litigious.
- a1456(1429) Lydg.Mum.Mercers (Trin-C R.3.20)p.696 marg. : Tulius, a poete and a rethorisyen of Rome.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.161 : Victorius the rethoricion and Donatus the gramarion were at Rome in this tyme.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.57 : Of thy golde dewe lat the lycour wete My dulled brest, that wyth thyn hony swete Sugrest tongis of rethoricyens.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)381/222 : Send doun..thi licour aureat Which enlumynyth these rethoriciens To write of martirs ther passiouns laureat.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)1564 : Clerk with penne, or tunge off retrycyan..can noght telle halff her felycyte.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)185 : Men plukke stalkes out of my weengis tweyn..somme to noote & write, Whan rethoriciens han doon ther besy peyn Fressh epistolis & lettris to endite.
- a1500 O fresch floure (RwlPoet 36)4 : Me semyth by youre contenaunce ye be wondyr nyce, you for to medyl with any retorucion; To me ye haue sent a lettre of derusion, Endyghted ful freshly with many coryous I-clause.