Middle English Dictionary Entry
rōte n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | rōte n.(2) |
| Etymology | Origin unknown. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A custom, habit; also, condition, state; (b) bi ~, by heart; according to form; expertly; ?also, in due order, with ceremony [quot.: Gawain]; (c) a proverb, saying; -- ?error for riot(e n.4.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)93/210 : Þe þrydde heste apertelyche Scheweþ wyþ [read: þy] wykked rote, Wanne þou [ne] halst þy masseday As god hyt haþ y-hote.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1312 : Thilke art, which Spatula is hote, And used is of comun rote Among Paiens..He worcheth on and on be rowe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1457 : Uluxes..broght hem into such a rote That upon him thei bothe assote.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)437 : Root, of vse and custome: Habitus, consuetudo, assuetudo.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)5294 : The deuel him hang bi the throte That will suffre this Rote.
b
- a1325(?c1300) Caiphas (Sln 2478)148 : Ich may noȝt synge hym al bi rote Vorto tele eche note.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.327 : Euery statut koude he pleyn by roote.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.332 : Whan I preche..I kan al by rote that I telle.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1712 : He..herkned ay the wordes and the note, Til he the firste vers koude al by rote.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)7408 : Dauid coude of dyuerse note, he couþe mychel of harpe birote.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2207 : Þat gere..Is ryched at þe reuerence me, renk, to mete bi rote.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Cock (Hrl 2255)71 : Suych labourerys synge may be roote, 'Alle goo we stille, the Cok hath lowe shoon.'
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)5925 : Alle maner of Spyces I know by rote, How in phisike they haue her worching.
- c1450(c1400) ?Clanvowe Cuckoo & N.(Frf 16)71 : They coude that seruise alle bye rote.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)2393 : Deduit..kan hem euerychon: Touche be crafte, and nat be rote, Harpe and lute, fythel and Rote.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)555 : An heraude expert by roote, The Centrions other the Centenaryis In ordre forth hem calle.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)249 : I shalle tech þe a gamme; I can hit wel be rote.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)377 : Loke a ribaut of hem þat can nouȝt wel reden His rewle ne his respondes but be pure rote.
c
- a1400 Bevis (Eg 2862)56/1191 : Roote [Auch: Men saiþ..in olde riote, Þat wimmannes bolt is sone schote].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)53 : Clerke of Markette..sercheth also of the good rules and of riotes that bene used in the countrey by the sojournantes of all the houshold and it reportethe to the Stewarde and Thesaurere of householde.
Note: Quot. needed for date in sense 1.(a).
Note: New form: Pl. (?error) riotes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Note that in sense (c), rote is not likely to be "?error for riot(e n., sense 4.," but the reverse:riot(e is likely to be "?error" for rote n.(2), and at least the first quot. (Bevis) in riot(e n., sense 4. belongs here under rote n.(2). (The second quot. (Ayenb.) is problematic, but actually may belong to riot(e n.)--per MLL