Middle English Dictionary Entry
roial adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | roial adj. Also roial(l)e, roil, roal; comp. roialer, roialler(e, roiallour; pl. roial(e)s. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. real adj.(1).
1.
(a) Of a monarch, one of the royal family, his power, dignity, etc.: majestic, royal, kingly; also used of God, Christ, Jupiter; also fig.; ~ romaunce, ?a romance with royal protagonists; (b) ~ blod, blod ~; ~ estat, estat ~; ~ mageste, mageste ~; (c) owned, used, etc. by the king; also, constituting part of the trappings of royalty; ~ cite (toun), a capital city (town); ~ ordinaunce, imperial armed forces; court ~, a king's court; (d) highborn, noble; (e) noble in nature, princely, honorable, glorious; (f) of certain beasts, birds, their condition: imagined to have kingly characteristics.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1551 : Of his lynage am I and his ofspryng By verray ligne as of the stok roial.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1829 : To speke of roial lynage and richesse, Thogh that she were a queene or a princesse, Ech of yow bothe is worthy, doutelees, To wedden.
- c1405 Chaucer CT.Th.(Elsm)B.2038 : Do come..my Mynstrales And geestours for to tellen tales..Of Romances that been Roiales [vr. Roials], Of Popes and of Cardinales.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3503 : Priam, þe strong myȝty kyng, His fader was, most royal of renoun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5636 : He [Jupiter] was lord of eyr, of lond, & see, His royal kyngdam deuidyng in-to þre.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)315 : Cadmus þus hath his kyngdam lorn, Sceptre and crowne and his powere Royal.
- (1429) Proc.Privy C.3.337 : Oure said souverain Lord hath..graunted his licence roiale..to his subgittes..for to passe out of þis his said land.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2247 : Marsedage, the roialle kinge, Rode in riche weede.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2697 : Costroye ther was, the Admyrall, With vitaile grete plente And the stondarte of the Sowdon Roial.
- (1451) Pet.Hen.VI in Archaeol.Ael.n.s.3185 : By the assent of all the Lordes spirituelx and temporelx, by your auctorite roiale in this your parlement assembled, [etc.].
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)192/14 : Of all the soveraynes that we sawe ever, he is the royallyst kynge that lyvyth on erthe.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)20263 : I dar affermen her a-noon, Sterrys and planetys, euerychon, Be soget to hys power royal And to hys ryht Imperyal.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)7 : Though the conquest or victorie by violence or by roialle power sownethe worshipfulle in dede of armes, yet ther ought no cristen prince use them.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)56/26 : That is agayn also the lordeshypp royall, for he ought to be mor diligent to incresse the wele of his comons than his owyn.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)304 : The Roial Lambe, of colour purpurat..for mankynde list passioun to endur.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1758 : The principalle agent of the qualitees fowre hath power Royalle, as lord of moste honour, The remenant qualitees to conuerte to his kynde.
b
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3341 : The faireste children of the blood roial Of Israel he leet do gelde anon.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3862 : By wisdom, manhede, and by greet labour From humble bed to roial magestee Vp roos he, Iulius, the conquerour.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.26 : A fair persone he was and fortunat And kepte alwey so wel roial estat That ther was nowher swich another man.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.120 : He hath resygned, his brother for to queme, Estate royal and also diademe.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)487 : Wherto..artow so proude of port..Lik as thow were sone vnto the kyng And descended of His Royal blood.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.MRose (Hrl 2255)76 : Wher is Pirrus that was lord and sire Of Ynde in his estat roial?
- c1450 Royal SSecr.(Roy 18.A.7)12/18 : It is right welle semyng vnto a royalle maieste of a kyng, þat he be..excellent in his array.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)379/17 : I woll nat fyght with no knyght but he be of blood royall, that is to seye, owther kynges son othir quenys son, borne of pryncis other of pryncesses.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)125 : Often tymes he woll..do other suche nobell and grete costes as bi sitith is roiall mageste.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)112/15 : Thancked be our lorde, and laude and glorye be geuyn to him; our prynces of Fraunce that be of the royall bloode be right clene in suche matiers.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)64/27 : Specially they be convenient to the mageste roiall of a prince.
c
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3950 : An hanged was Cresus, the proude kyng; His roial trone myghte hym nat auaille.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1497 : Arcita..in the court roial With Theseus, his squyer principal Is risen.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.961 : This emperour hath sent anon His senatour with roial ordinaunce..On Surryens to taken heigh vengeaunce.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.59 : This Cambyuskan..In roial vestyment sit on his deys.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.766 : It was cause and occasioun Þat þis cite and þis royal town Distroied was.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1934 : Other was þer noon After þi day for to occupie Þi royal septre, nor þi lond to guye.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1148 : His brother sat in his Royal See, Ful richely vpon fortunes wheel.
- a1456 Marmaduke SSecr.(Ashm 59)218/12 : Þe hye polecye of þe prince..is þe first spring and welle..þat alle þe rentes and þe revenuz royalls beon waxen.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)41/23 : It was made in the lykenesse of a fayr and an amyabyll quene sittyng in a royall chaire.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)107/13 : Scipio Affrican..putte in subieccion all Affrike and the royall citee of Cartage.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)173/19 : He onlasit his riche armes and roial array and hym clothed in Pouer array.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)200/22 : Of this Came tythynges to the kynge of the Cite, and he anoone arose fro his roial Siege.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)42 : When thei of the portes saugh the baners roiall of kynge Constance, thei hadden grete merveile.
d
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.267 : This roial markys richely arrayed..Vnto the village..the righte wey han holde.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)332 : All þat royalle rowte to þe qwene rydys.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)190/22 : I woll..syth ryde unto Roome with my royallyst knyghtes.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)238/23 : By that tyme sir Pryamus, the good prynce, in the presence of lordys royall to his penowne he rode.
e
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3162 : Iason..In knyȝtly wise dide hym reuerence Þankyng hyȝly his royal excellence.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7440 : Þis litel Ile Is pertynent and longeth to Secile Wher Hercules, for a memorial, Sette pilers in his conquest royal.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2896 : Þe noble quene of þis kyng Menon..Clad in a mantel ful celestial, And of hir port passingly royal..Made in al haste þe toumbe to enclose.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3323 : Sixty ȝere..he bar his crowne, Þis..Thelagonyus, And his brother Thelamonyus Regned also..Seuenti wynter..And after þat, þei made a royal ende.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Benedictus DDS (LdMisc 683)25 : God gaff Dauyd roiall excellence.
- c1475 Chaucer LGW (Bod 638)1605 : Now was Iason a semly man with-all And like a lorde, & had a grete renoun and of his loke as roiall as a lioun.
f
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.264 : Yet ascendyng was the beest roial, The gentil leon with his Aldiran.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5937 : Þer cam anon doun oute of þe ayre A royal egle, ful percinge of his loke.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.589 : Phebus is passed þe Lyoun, Þe heuenly beste, þe beste moste royal.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)633 : Thanne wolde I Conseyle yow the royal tercel take.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2952 : With roial egles a kite may nat flee.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Cock (Hrl 2255)41 : The royall egle with his ffetherys dunne Of nature so hih takith his flyght No bakke of kynde may looke ageyn the sunne.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.MRose (Hrl 2255)33 : The roial lioun leete calle a parlement.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)19 : Tweyn sitt in ther estat roiall, The hardy Leoun..Themperiall Egle.
- a1500 Parton.(1) (RwlPoet 14)4831 : Yet yeve more he: Clothis of golde and sylke grete plente, Hors, houndes, beris, lyons, Goshaukes, sparehaukes, and royall facons.
2.
(a) Fit for a king, magnificent, opulent, lavish, costly; (b) beautiful, excellent; (c) principal, dominant; sovereign, fully effective.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.402 : Naught trowe I the triumphe of Iulius Of which that Lucan maketh swich a boost Was roialler [vrr. roiallour, royallere, Roialer] ne moore curyus Than was thassemblee of this blisful oost.
- a1400(c1250) Floris (Eg 2862)1082 : Hom he went with royal array And was crownyd within a short day.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1807 : Sche toke hir beste array For to encrese..Natures wirke with royal apparaille.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)593 : They ordeyne with Ryytys ful Royal For the feste called Funeral.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)17 : Þe gay dame Gayenour he ledis..Withe riche rebanes reuerssede..Raylede with rubes one royalle arraye.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)2534 : A royaler fest did neuer man see In Tharse lond than it was thoo.
- a1450 Lydg.ST (Bod 776)1152 : Roial [Arun: Rode hym forth..This Polymyte..on a Ryal Stede].
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)1765 : Take xij knightis of worthy dede And sende hem to Charles on message nowe; A-raye hem welle in roial wede For thy honour and for thy prowe.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)296/8 : So this paste on tyll the feste of Whytsontyde, and at that tyme the kynge hylde hit at Carlyon, in the moste royallyst wyse that myght be.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)2450 : Whan they come to the castell gent, A Roall ffyght, verament, There was.
- a1500 Parton.(1) (Add 35288)8067 : A Royal turnement here þan shall be.
- ?a1500 Job (Hnt HM 140)40 : There hostes of peple from Calda than comyng, His royall Cameles all with theym away ledyng.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)790 : Bolde burnez were þay boþe, wyth berdles chynnez, Royl rollande fax, to raw sylk lyke.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4707 : By similitude, Þe ruby stant, so royal of renoun, With-Inne a ryng of copur of latoun.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)127/43 : A royall sterne..rose or day Before vs on the firmament.
- a1500 Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149)99 : Ther came amonge vs an hasty heete of the sonne, and that royal lyght spredde a-brode amonge vs.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)245 : I haue bargened [read: bargenes] royall and ry[c]h For a marchaunt with to bye and sell.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5484 : O Troye, allas..Whiche hast of newe, to þi confusioun, Loste þi diffence and þi stronge wal, Þi berer vp, þi surete royal.
- a1475 Lydg.Consulo (Cmb Hh.4.12)99 : I found a liknesse depict vpon a wall Armyd in vertues..The hede of thre, full solempne and roiall, Intellectus, memorye, and resoune.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)385 : Of the Sheep is cast a-way no thyng..Of his hed boiled with wolle & all Ther comyth a gelle, anoynemet ful roiall!
3.
In name of an herb: puliol ~, pennyroyal [cp. puliol n.(b) & real adj.(1) 3.(b)].
Associated quotations
- a1500 Sln.Herb List (Sln 1201)75 : Herbys necessary for a gardyn..Puliall royall.
4.
In place name [see Smith PNElem.2.87].
Associated quotations
- (1357) EPNSoc.46 (Ches.)179 : Vauroial.
- (1357) EPNSoc.46 (Ches.)180 : Le Valroyal.
- (1407-13) EPNSoc.46 (Ches.)180 : Vale Roiall.
- (1430) EPNSoc.46 (Ches.)180 : Valle Royal.
- (1446) EPNSoc.46 (Ches.)180 : Vale Roall.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1448) in Mullinger Cambridge 1353 : Hit hath liked vnto oure lord forto suffre and graunte me grace…forto erect, founde, and stablisshe…my two Colleges Roialx.
Note: New spelling
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1865 : Whan a man trusteth most souereynly On þis goddesse [Fortune]…Þan sche to him is most deceyueable, Hym to abate from his rayal stalle, And sodeynly to make hym doun to falle.
Note: New spelling
Note: Could = real adj. - check usage in TB per REL