Middle English Dictionary Entry

rō̆se n.(1)
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Entry Info

Forms rō̆se n.(1) Also ros(se, roise & (early infl.) rosan & (error) þose; pl. roses, etc. & rosus, rosen, roseen, rose.
Etymology OE rōse & OF rose & L rosa.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) A plant of the genus Rosa; the flower of this plant; also, a rosebush; also fig.; (b) med. the flower or bud of the rose as used in various medicinal preparations; also, a medicinal syrup or ointment [quots.: c1440, 2nd; c1484]; (c) rose(s wos, jus of rose(s, a liquid extract obtained by boiling the rose plant; oile of (de) rose(s, oile ~, [see also oil(e n.1b.(e)]; water of rose(s, rose water; (d) ~ of jerico, plauntinge of (a) ~ in jerico, the resurrection plant (Anastatica hierochuntica); also, fig. the Virgin Mary or Jesus Christ.
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2.
(a) Her. A stylized heraldic representation of a rose flower; also, the badge or emblem of the house of York; whit ~; (b) an embroidered rose design; (c) a rose-shaped design; also, a small cake made in the shape of a rose [1st quot.]; (d) a kind of cup or bowl; ~ cuppe.
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3.
(a) A person of great beauty, virtue, or valor; ~ of rone, the Rose of Rouen, Edward IV; ~ of ris, Henry V; the ~, Richard, Duke of York [quot.: c1460, 2nd]; mi hertes ~, Christ; (b) the Virgin Mary.
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4.
(a) The color of the rose, a rosy hue; coloures of the ~, the work of alchemy; (b) red as (a, ani, the) ~, red as ani red ~, so red so ~, redder than ~, rodi as (a, the) ~, rodi like to the ~; (c) ~ colour, ~ red.
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5.
In book titles: ~ of engelond, bok of the ~, the Rosa Anglica of John of Gaddesden; clene ~, romaunce of the ~, the Roman de la Rose.
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6.
In cpds. & combs.: (a) ~ blosme, a rose blossom; also fig.; ~ budde; ~ flour; ~ lef, a rose leaf or rose petal; ~ rote, a root of a rosebush; ~ tre, a rosebush; (b) ~ gerlond, a garland of roses; ~ reflair, the scent of roses; ~ time, rose blossom season; ~ water; ~ yerd, a rose garden; (c) ~ gounde (goute), = gutta rosacea [s.v. gutta n.2.(a); cp. red-gound(e n.(a)]; (d) ~ top, ?a rose-shaped or rose-colored top, the name of a covered silver bowl.
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7.
(a) In proverbs and prov. expressions with juxtaposition of rose and thorn; (b) in comparisons and implied comparisons; (c) in misc. proverbs and prov. expressions, including expressions with ~ flour.
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8.
In surnames, given names, and place name.
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Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. rose.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(c)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. water of rose(s).

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 6.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. rose garland.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 6.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. rose water.

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