Middle English Dictionary Entry
rē̆thorī̆k(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | rē̆thorī̆k(e n. Also rethorikke, rethoriq(u)e, retheric, retherique, rethorice, retorik(e, rettorike, retorrike, reterike, retorique, rhetoric & (error) retris; pl. rethorikes, etc. & rethoricus. |
| Etymology | OF retorique, retorike, rethorique, rhetorique & L rhētoricē, rhētorica; for sense 1.(b) cp. L rhētorici teachers of oratory; ult. Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) That one of the seven liberal arts dealing with eloquence and persuasiveness of language, rhetoric; also person.; (b) an expert in the art of rhetoric; a professional orator; (c) works on rhetoric.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)6/53 : Þerinne was paint..alle þe seuen ars; Þe firste was grammarie..Rettorike and ek fisike.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.361 : Aristotle..tauȝte faire and noble spekynge as it is specialliche i-sene..in his Dyalogus of Poetis and in Tretys of Rethorik.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.141 : Cithero..clensed and hiȝte al rethorike [Higd.(2): rethorikke].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.36 : Next of sciences the seconde Is Rethorique, whos faconde Above alle othre is eloquent.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.3117 : Thilke scole of eloquence Belongith nought to my science, Uppon the forme of rethoriqe My wordis forto peinte and pike.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.719 : I lerned neuere rethorik [vr. retris] certeyn..Ne lerned Marcus Tullius Scithero.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)8/15 : A surgian..muste studie..in retorik þat techiþ him to speke semelich.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.98 : Þinge þat al þe worlde wote wherfore shuldestow spare, And reden it in Retoryke to arate dedly synne?
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1402 : Evene lik as rethorik doth teche, He gan his tale so by crafte conveie.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.1.48 : With Rethorice com forth Musice, a damoysele of our hous.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.6.108 : Phisyk maketh phisicyeens, and rethoryke, rethoriens.
- ?a1425 Const.Masonry(1) (Roy 17.A.1)569 : Rethoryk metryth with orne speche amonge, And musyke hyt ys a swete songe.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)242 : Rethoryk hadde eke in hire presence Tulyus, called Mirrour off Eloquence.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)63/31 : He..lerned groundly in þoo scienses whech þei clepe liberal, as gramer, retorik, logik, and swech oþir.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)144.37 (v.2:p.424) : He thaute retheric in Cartage, the whiche he had fyrst tauht in hys own cyte Tagatence.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Horns (LdMisc 683)69 : Was neuer clerk by rethoryk nor scyence Koude alle hir vertues reherse.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)25 : The famous clerke of eloquence Tullius seithe in his booke of retherique, [etc.].
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)100/28 : Fayir eloquence..by hir ordre is callid rethoryke.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)90 : Of Sophestrie she was also witty, Of Rhetoric, and of other clergye.
- a1500(a1471) Ashby APP (Cmb Mm.4.42)849 : Retorique & musyk been two scoles, Right miche commendable in their nature.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.197 : Gowere and Chaucere..on the steppis satt Of rethorike.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Bod 959)6.4 : I holde my pees of gramaryens & rethorykez, philosophers, geometrers, [etc.].
- (a1382) WBible(1) Prols.Job (Bod 959)58 : Þe whiche & þe ebrues sermoun a party wee han lerned, & in latyn fully fro þoo cradelis among gramarienys & retorikis & philosophres wee ben defoulid.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.215 : So seiþ Prosper the rethorik [L rhetor] in his vers.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.211 : Þe rethorike [L rhetoricus] wiþ his faire speche brekeþ out ofte tyme in þat manere.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)166/159 : Þai suld wend hastily To al þe maister[s] of clergy, Both retorikes and gramarione.
- a1450 Spaldyng Katereyn þe curteys (BodR 22)p.540 : Fyfti fyue retorikes in hast þei hem hent, of clargy in kyngdames þe hyest were hythe.
- c1450(?a1402) *?Trev.Reg.Princ.(Dgb 233)2a/a : It is to the rethorik to axe demonstracions.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)102/34 : The solempne clerckis of the vniuersite of Parys, whiche be grete rethoricus [F rethoriciens], whan they wer befor him mervayled gretly.
c
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4360 : Ne rede we neuire na retorik ne rial to speke.
2.
(a) Mastery of literary eloquence, elegance in writing or speech; colour of ~, a stylistic embellishment; flour of ~, a stylistic embellishment; also, the paragon of literary eloquence [quot.: c1450]; (b) the ability to use eloquent language; (c) an elegant expression, a rhetorical figure.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.32 : Fraunceys Petrak..Highte this clerk whos rethoryk swete Enlumyned al Ytaille of poetrie.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.726 : Colours ne knowe I none..But swich colours as growen in the mede..Colours of rethoryk ben to queynte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3680 : I want flouris also of rethorik To sue his florischyng or his gey peynture For to discriue so fayre a creature.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4699 : Noble Galfride..made first to reyne Þe gold dewe-dropis of rethorik so fyne.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)22/29 : Mercury is a planete that yeueth influence of pontificalle behauynge and of faire langage arayed with retorik.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)89 : Galfryd..in hys newe poetrye, Enbelshyd wyth colours of rethoryk.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)255 : Thei vsiden certein colouris of rethorik, that with hem her spechis schulde be the more lusti.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.2 : Chaucer..is floure of rethoryk In Englisshe tong and excellent poete.
- a1456 Shirley TContents(1) (Add 16165)31 : Of eloquencyale retorryke In Englisshe was neuer noon him [Chaucer] lyke.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)178/23 : For endytynge with retoryke þe hyest degre is oure be call.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.33 : I can no Retorik ne floresshed eloquence, But blunder forth to kepe in sentence.
- a1500(1426) Lydg.Hen.VI TP (Hrl 7333)66 : I in my translacioun..Of rethoryk have no maner floure.
b
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)8870 : These lordes are chosyn be myn assent: The fyrst ys the kyng of Affryke, For his grete wytte and his retoryke [vr. reteryke].
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)103/9 : Euery man that herde him did blisse theimselfe for the grete mervayle that they sawe in his retentyfe witte and also of his fayir rethoryke.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.868 : Þer-in stod an aw[n]cien poete, For to reherse by rethorikes swete Þe noble dedis..Of kynges.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3202 : Lok on the book that Iohn Bochas made Whilom of wommen with rethorikes glade.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.2515 : Whil Iohn Bochas abood still in his seete, To hym appeered..Daunte of Florence, the laureat poete, With his ditees and rethoriques sueete.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)19774 : That poete [Chaucer], Wyth al hys rethorykes swete..was the ffyrste in any age.