Middle English Dictionary Entry
Bedlẹ̄̆m, -lẹ̄em n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Bedlẹ̄̆m, -lẹ̄em n. Also bedlehem, bethleem, bethlehem. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The town in Palestine; ~ Jude, Bethlehem of Judea; (b) the Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem in London.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3391,3397 : Ga we nu till þatt illke tun þatt Beþþleæm iss nemmnedd..Till Beþþleæmess chesstre.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)55/600 : Þu..nome blod ant ban..ant were ibeðleem [Roy: in bethlehem] iboren.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1802 : Our lord now vs helpe, he þat was in bedleem born.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 2.4 : A cite of Dauith, that is clepid Bedleem [WB(2): Bethleem].
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)6.18 : Bethleem [vr. bedlem] and Babiloyne, I haue ben in boþe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11234 : Þus sco bar..þat blisful birth in bethleem [Göt: betheleem; Ld: bedlem].
- c1440(?a1400) St.John (Thrn)7 : Þat lorde..in Bedleme was borne.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)16.566 : Of Tasse he was born, The toþer in bedlem.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)283/338 : He was born in bedlem jude.
b
- (1418) EEWills32/1 : I bequethe to þe pore hospitales..Seint Marie spitell withoute Bisshoppesgate, Bedlem, Seint Thomas in Southwerk..to eueryche hospitall..xx s.
- (1428) EEWills78/10 : Also I bequethe to..the Spitell of..Oure lady of Bedlem..vj s.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1200 Wor.Serm.in EGSt.7 (Wor Q.29)99 : Vre helend is iboren ine betleem, dauies burcch.
Note: New spelling. Sense (a).