Middle English Dictionary Entry
rigorǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | rigorǒus adj. Also rigorouse, -oruse, -ourouse, -urouse, -erous, reg- & (error) rigous. |
| Etymology | OF rigoros, rigoureus & ML rigorōsus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Harsh, severe, stern; strict, exacting: (a) of laws, procedures, words, etc.; (b) of persons.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.346 : Þis lawe..ȝif it be to rigous [vrr. rigorous, rigorus]..it shal ceesse on sutil maner.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)401/271 : Of him tenquere they made no delaies, Constreynyng him bi rigerous assaies To discure..Of ther fadir what that was befalle.
- (1434) Proc.Privy C.4.264 : He is now called to accountes in our seid eschequier and rigorous processe maad ayens hym.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.2050 : With rigerous suerd thou shaltno mor manace Them that be lowli.
- (1445) ?Bokenham Claudian CS (Add 11814)263/71 : Thou enformyddist him with such a spirite as plesaunt was & rigorous.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Look TM (Hrl 2255)195 : Lat mercy modefie rigerous correccioun.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.St.Giles (LdMisc 683)94 : Myd sharpe breris thou were Contemplatyf, Thy body peyned with rigerous contynence.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)85/1 : If the[y] kepte rygourouse iustice at that tyme, it is as moche relesed in the tyme that nowe is.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)153/24 : Right rude and rigorus [CQ(2): full of rigour] my woordes may seeme to your liking, but..they be of lesse auctoritee and sharpnesse than the cace that it suffrith requireth.
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)305 : Correcte him sharpely with rigorous rage.
b
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.7057 : Kyng Eolus to rigerous was..And to vengable in his entencioun Ageyn his childre.
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick350a : Also that ye be present in chapitres helpyng the supprioresse in correctyng and punisshyng of defautes..discretely, not rygorouse to some ne to some fauoryng.
- (1442) Doc.Ireland in RS 69276 : He wolde be more rigorous to hem hereafter than he was before, the which þey might not bere.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)10 : Ye shulde..be not rigurowse bi felnesse..But first be softe er thou be other prikkinge or rigurowse.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)86/15 : Be streyte and rygoros [SC(1): austerus] a-boute thyn oune lyfe.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)7680 : Agayns þas þat was rebellouse, he was in right rigoruse.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)23594 : He was in party Regerous..he bett hem out with a flagelle, That noon of hem durst abyde.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Just Measure (Hrl 2251)27 : A rigurous iuge..With hate and rancour doth his vertu dresse.