Middle English Dictionary Entry
sclaundren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | sclaundren v. Also sclaunder(e(n, sclandren, sclander(en, sklaundren, sklaunder(en, sklandren, sklander(en & slaundre(n, slaunder(en, slaunderon, slanderen & skaunderen, skander; ppl. sclaundring, etc. & (?error) claundrynge; p.ppl. i)sclaundred, etc. & sclaundret, scklaundered, sklaunderet, slaundret & (?errors) sklaunder, slaunerd. |
| Etymology | AF esclaund(e)rer, OF esc(l)andrer, esc(l)andrir, vars. of OF escandler, escandlir. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. disclaundren v., ensclaundren v., esclaundren v.
1.
(a) To calumniate (sb.), slander (a woman's name or virtue); accuse (sb.) falsely; ppl. sclaundring as adj.: slanderous; (b) to reveal unfavorable truth about (sb.), embarrass (a guild), reveal (someone's secret); (c) to speak ill of (sb., a city, the state of religion), blame, traduce; ppl. sclaundred, blamed; made a laughingstock; ppl. sclaundring as adj.: gossipy, fault-finding; (d) to speak falsely; spread misinformation about (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- a1350(?c1280) SLeg.Concep.Virg.(Ashm 43)267 : Our lord nolde þat heo iwedded nere, Þat is moder nere isclaundred þat heo vnwedded wiþ childe were.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.864 : Thus hire innocence He sclaundreth..With false wordes whiche he feigneth.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.695 : Thow sclaundrest me heere in this compaignye, And eek discouerest that thow sholdest hyde.
- c1400 Who-so loueth endeles (Sim)98 : For seyng soþ, þou miht not synne, But ȝif þou sclaundre eny wyȝth..For sclaundre stynkeþ in godus syȝth.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)45/29 : A faire mayden was blamed with wrong & sclaundred þat sche hadde don fornycacioun.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)6/150 : Bakbyte no mon nyȝt ne day, Ne say no word to hym sklaunderyng.
- (1426-7) Paston (EETS)1.11 : The seyd Walter be billes in þe too last parlementz..hath noysed and skaundered þe seyd William vngoodly, and othyr wyse þan othyr gentilnesse or trowthe wolde.
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)5 : Þei pursuen trwe men..and seyn..þat þei pursuen hem for errours..þei lien & falsly sclaundren trewe men.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.1036 : But she wolde assent, Hire and a boy he wolde prente ifeer..Thus he hir thratte for to sclaundre hir name.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)458 : Slawnderon..calumpnior.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)101/7 : Ȝiff þou..enviously slaundur anny man, witt þou well, seyþ Criste, þat all variers and backebyters shall neuer haue parte of þe heritate of þe blis of heven.
- (a1461) Paston2.199 : I seid he had don his dever..to noyse me and slaunder me..at þe last he was a-knowe þat..it was vntrewly seid.
- (c1462) Stonor1.57 : The seid Baron and Peperell have sklaunder me that I schuld sende divers men to the hous of the seid Thomas.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.63.43a : If þei sclaundren þe ore speken yuel of þe falsli..þei desese þe vnskilfulli.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)6/185 : Of joseph and mylde mary, how they were sclawndryd with trey and tene, and to here purgacion þei must hem hy.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)234 : Ȝondur is my Qwene Betryce..She was sklawnndered on hyȝe þat she hadde taken howndes.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.171 : Comonly swyche sprytis arn fendys and gon so aboutyn for to sklaundryn hem þat ben dede.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)131/461 : Ayther mak or gyll was at that assent..peasse man..Thou sklanders hym yll, thou aght to repent.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)32/70 : Some men..by false sklaundynge [read: sklaundrynge] wordes other men shendyn their owne trewe sklaunder to make seme the lasse.
b
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)27425 : Þe synne þat saide is to þe prest he halde consail euer in brest..þat na man shrift sklaunderet [Vsp: vn-couer] be.
- (1431) Ordin.Gild St.Clement (Trin-C O.7.15)280 : What brothir..bewreyeth the counsel of this..gylde..so that the companye be sclaundride or hyndrid..he schal payne..xl d.
- a1450 Who þat wole knowe (Dgb 102)190 : Þouȝ summe of thy breþeren don a trespas..Loke not þat þou hym chace, Ne sclaundre hym not to haue shame and wo.
- a1500(c1380) Wycl.Papa (Ryl Eng 86)475 : He seyde þat ȝif he sawe a prest lie bi a womman, he wolde hile hem wiþ his mentile, & not sclaundre hem of þis synne.
c
- (1402) Hoccl.Cupid (Hnt HM 744)134 : To sclaundre wommen thus, what may profyte?
- (1402) Hoccl.Cupid (Hnt HM 744)140 : If þat a man list gentil to be holde..A sclaundryng tonge is ther-to Aduersarie.
- (1402) Hoccl.Cupid (Hnt HM 744)196 : Clerkis..causelees hem yeue a wikkid name, Thus they despysid been..And sclaundred and belowen on ful wyde.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.72 : On þe þridde maner we seyen þat men ben sclaundrid whan þei ben defamyd of ony kyn þing, þat þei have hem amys aboute ony siche þing; and þus many holy men weren sclaundrid of Crist.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.2162 : Prusias, Gretli slaundred & noised..That he was fals & double in werkyng..Because that he betraisshed Hanyball.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)112/3 : Whan þou art asayled, or supposist to be asayled, þan þenke on þi vertuos state of religioun, þat þou..ne cause oþer to sclaundre þat in þe.
- (1464-5) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1318 : That strangerys pretend non ignorance of the statutes of the sayd citte, ne that they have cause to sclaundyr the citte of extorcion othyr mystretyng.
- c1475 A philosophre (Hrl 372)p.43 : If I strogel, slaundred shal I be; To satisfye it is but impossible..What eyled me..maryed for to be?
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)193/33 : So was Municus constrayned to yeue laude and thanke to him whos worship he had slaundred and blasphemyd before.
- a1500 St.Anne(3) (Tan 407)387 : Ȝif sche had be maryed to no man and had be with chyld on þe maner as sche was, she schuld be slaunderyd [vr. slaunerd] with many..and haue had sorwe and schame for no trespas.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)834 : I am ferd..þat hit..þi lyffe tyne, And me..To be sclaundret of þi skathe.
d
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.856 : He was counseld and biddyn noght to sclandyr in na maner, bot say fully ye treuthe.
- (c1468) Paston (EETS)2.356 : W. Barker sclaundred me yn..the some of v c mark, that Reynold Harneys shuld..take me half. Wold Jesu B[a]rker had seyd true.
2.
(a) To bring (sb., an institution, etc.) into disgrace or ill-repute; ~ trouthe, ?make truth seem false; ppl. sclaundred as adj.: disgraced, evil, abandoned; (b) to utter insults or rebukes; treat (sb.) with contempt; insult (a court); ppl. sclaundring as adj.: contemptuous; (c) to blaspheme (God), treat with disrespect.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.23 : Þe prisoners þat were isent aȝe were i-sclaundred [Higd.(2): were hade in derision and contempte; L infames habebantur] for evermore, for þey were i-take..while þey were i-armed.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.993 : Worshipful chanons religious, Ne demeth nat that I sclaundre youre hous, Al thogh my tale of a chanoun be.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26221 : Lagh will þat man opin plight Amended be in mans fight [read: sight]..For bath gain man, man seis him wirk, And þof skander [Frf: sklaundres] hali kyrk.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)p.94 : Daw, thou hast lerned so long to lye, thou wenest thou saist soth whan thou liest most lewde, and sclaunderist the truthe.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.23.10 : Thei vnhilliden the yuel fame of hir..and thei ben maad famous, or sclaundrid, wymmen [L famosæ mulieres].
- a1425 This blessyd boke (LdMisc 286)55 : Copyed has this Sauter ben of yuel men of lollardry..They seyden..it shuld be..A blessyd boke of hur scoles..Thus thei..slaundird foule this holy man.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.1024 : This said Tarquyn..This sclaundrid man, most hatful for his deede, Cam lich a theeff.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.334 : Thou sclaundrid woman, noised in lecherie Thoruh al the world..And reportid for thyn auoutrie!
- a1450 *Aelred Inst.(2) (Bod 423)141 : That she be ouerloked vnder gret Awe, lest thurgh hir wantownes and dissolucyon thyn holy temple be defouled and sclaundred.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)125/20 : Þies synnes er grevus and..þai may gretlie sklander þe.
- c1450 Treat.Perf.(Add 37790)238/16 : Ȝif alle..thees kepe the lawes and the commawndementys of god and of the chyrche..thay doo it..for cause þay may doo none oþer, lesse thay be dyspysed or slawndret.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)7/15 : My modyr haþe besoght me forto lye by hure, but for I wold not, hoo hath accuset me to þe justyce..ȝet I haue leuer take þe deth þen sclaundyr my modyr soo fowle.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)8865 : If þou wite þi wijf mysdo, Þi doghter or neese..þou maist hem not blame But if þou doo þi-self shame, For to slaundre hem þen were synne.
b
- (1397) RParl.3.379a : In that that I sclaundred my Loord..I dede evyll..in that that I spake it unto hym in sclaunderouse wyse in audience of other folk.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)10/15 : Þis enviouse man sclaundriþ, vpbreidiþ, reproueþ.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Pass.(Hrl 4196)115/1114 : Þis fals ihesus..sclanders vs, And sais..opinly Þat he has of vs maistry.
- c1450 Mirror St.Edm.(5) (Cmb Ii.6.40)247 : Þe fals Iewis bere witnesse aȝens Crist þat he had slanderd hem.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)205/16 : Men Shullyn be..couetous, Prowte, heygh, claundrynge [?read: sclaundrynge], inobedyente, and vnkynde wyth-all.
- a1525(?1421) Cov.Leet Bk.35 : No attornay..be not a-bout for to adnule þat is of Record in the court..ne sklaundur not the court in no wise.
c
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)2435 : Scho sklaunders our godes euen, ffor a new god we here hir neuen.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)421 : Wha sklanders god, ȝe wate he mon be staned to ded for syn.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4252 : Thurgh pride he [Antichrist] sal ogayn God ryse And hym sclaunder and his law dispise.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)30/157 : Who so sklaunderd þe god-hede..men suld him lede And stane him to ded hastily.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)265/304 : He sclaunderes þe godhed and greues vs all.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)11414 : Scho bad þat þei suld bere hym on hand þat he had sclaunderd god of heuyn.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)45/6 : In aduersite þei grucche..and so sclaunder þei god in grucching a yenst his domys.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)57 : Howe þe name of God is sclaundrid and blasfemid bi iuel prelatis and techers, it is opun oft in þe scripture.
3.
To cause (sb.) to falter in faith or morals, cause (sb.) to sin; -- also refl.; also, offend (the conscience of sb.); ~ to, injure (oneself) morally; ben sclaundred, be weakened in faith or morals, be led into sin; be offended in conscience; ppl. sclaundring as adj.: constituting a temptation to sin [quot.: c1449].
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.1.37 : Ne be þou an ipocrite in þe siȝte of men & be þou not sclaundrid in þi lippis.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.9.5 : A maiden beholde þou not lest par auenture þou be sclaundrid in þe fairnesse of hir.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mal.2.8 : Ȝe wenten awey fro the weye, and sclaundren [vr. sclaundreden; L scandalizastis] ful many men in the lawe.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.5.29 : Ȝif thi riȝt eiȝe sclaundre thee, pulle it out and cast it fro thee.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.11.6 : He is blessid that shal nat be sclaundrid in me.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mark 4.17 : Whanne thei han herd the word, anoon taken it with ioye..afterward tribulacioun sprongen vp and persecucioun for the word, anoon thei ben sclaundrid.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.19 : I wolde no man sclaundre [Higd.(2): to sclawnder eny man; L scandalizare], but ȝif eny sclaundre were i-rise, I cessed hit what I myȝte.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)4 : He that techith wel and leuith euele..sclanndrith othere men and blasfemith God.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13109 : Þat man sal for-blisced be þe quilk him sclanders [Göt: sklandris] noght for me.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)60/12 : Who so sclaundred a childe..hym were better nouȝth ben yborne.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Prov.6.33 : He that is avouter..gaderith filthe and sclaundrith to hym silf; and his schenschip schal not be don awei.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)226/19 : Þei lyuen euere in pees and quietenes of conscience, for þere is noþing may hirte it ne sclaundre it.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)330/1 : Siche as kunnen nott considere my prouydence ben blyndid in her propre loue þat þei haue to hemsilf, sclaundrynge hemsilf wiþ myche vnpacyence.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)146 : They were gretely sclaundred and stired aȝenst hym; bot he toke none hede thereof for they were blynde in soule thoruȝ malice.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)194 : Men..wiþ grete sorow of herte seyn here matynes, masse, & euensong, whanne þei schulden ellis be betre occupied, last þei sclaundren þe sike conscience of here breþeren.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Priesthood (Corp-C 296)168 : Prestis also sclaundren þe peple bi ensaumple of ydelnesse & wauntounnesse.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)458 : Slaunderyd..scandalizatus.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)534 : The homeli and free cumpenying with the world and with the fleisch grantid bi Goddis comoun lawe was to hem ouer contagiose and in the now seid maner sclaundring.
- ?a1450 Sel.Rosarium Theol.(Cai 354/581)74/20 : He þat sekeþ þe law schal be fulfilled of it, and he þat doþe waytyngly schal be scklaundered in it.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)2/30-31 : They alle oþer apostlis be sclawndrid be enchesyn of þe; y schal neuer so sclaundrid be.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)15/18 : Recreacioun..is nedful..so þat it be do..religiously and þat þe hererist and seeris mow raþer be edified þan sclaundrid.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)322 : To Sclaundere: scandalizare.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)45/34 : Ye preestes..sclaundre the people through the ensaumples [of] your vices.