Middle English Dictionary Entry
Sā̆tan n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Sā̆tan n. Also sattan, sathan(e, saton(e, sathon(e. |
| Etymology | L, OE Satan & OF Satan, Sathan; ult. Heb. 'adversary'. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The supreme embodiment of evil, the devil, Satan; -- also in oaths; also, the character Satan in a mystery play; prince ~, self (himself) ~; (b) fig. of a person: an opponent, a tempter.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)48/413 : He, þe kingene king, helle bule haueð ouercumen te dei, belial, baldest of helle, & þi sire, sathan [Bod: sathanas], þat tu leuest uppon.
- ?a1300 11 Pains(1) (Dgb 86)403/17 : Vuoltou heren nou, satan, Ou ich am from helle igan?
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 370)1 Par.21.1 : Sathan forsothe rose aȝein Yrael and stired Dauith for to noumbre Yrael.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.634 : He that starf for oure redempcioun And bond Sathan (and yet lyth ther he lay), So be thy stronge champion this day!
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)18b/a : Þese beþ þe angels þat trespassed, and here prince is þe deuel and he hatte Sathan, þat is to menynge, 'contrarie', for by corrupcioun of malys he is alwey contrarye to god þat is best.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)8428 : So was seynt Poule, þe holy man; Hys flesshe was temptyde with Satan.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)12615 : A deuyl þou come; to Satan [F deable] þou go!
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9052 : I haue mis-gan, For i haf honurd self sathan [Trin-C: him self saton].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11940 : O-mang þaa childir was þar an, Als he þat sibb was to sathan [Göt: sathane].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12023 : Þou wreche sede of felunny! Werck o dred, sun o sathan [Trin-C: sathone]!
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)17993 : Þenne vnswerde helle to prince sathon, [etc.].
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)19884 : Forsakestou satone.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.76 : Ne wilneþ neuere to wyte why that god wolde Suffre sathan his sed to bigile.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5860 : Crist..sawe fro hevene Sathan discende lik þe fyre leuene.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1052 : Þe peyne of Yxyoun in helle, Or of Manes þat with Sathan dwelle, Were nat egal..To venge mordre.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)548 : Be Satan, þou art a nobyl knawe To techyn men fyrst fro goode!
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)391/325 : Sattan: Nowe here my hande, I halde me paied.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)137/26 : Sumtyme þe deuele, whech is cleped þe aungel of Sathan, may transfigur him-self lich to aungel of lite.
- ?a1475 LDirige(2) (Dc 322)117 : Warne me when I am mystan, That I may flee fro foule sathan.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)371/449 : Herke belsabub and belyal, sere sathan in the herne, vs fettyn oure servauntis to this preson.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)1127 : Þys ys fend Satan, Þat mankende wyll for-fare.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)301/267 : Sathan. how now? this wold I were told in towne.
b
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)2 Kings 19.22 : Dauid seide..'Whi ben ȝe maad to me to dai in to Sathan' [WB(2) Gloss.: aduersarie; L satan]?
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)57 : Peter, after his blessing..is seid of Crist Sathan.