Middle English Dictionary Entry
secondārī(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | secondārī(e n. |
| Etymology | From secondārī(e adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An ecclesiastical officer of the second rank, a subordinate priest; a military commander of subordinate rank; a government official ranking next to the chief officer; also, the office held by such a person; (b) a concubine; (c) an ornamental boss which is placed lower than another on a staff; (d) a secondary authority for a statement; (e) the second item or topic in a series.
Associated quotations
a
- (1436) EEWills105/16 : To euery secundary & clerc of the chirch iiij d., and to euery quarester ij d.
- (1452) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)345 : Complaynen..unto your sadde Wisdoms the Commens of this..Citee..that there shuld be..no moo Clerkes in aither of the Counters then the Secundarye, the Clerk of the papir, and other two Clerkes to theym.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)766 : Themperour content Is ofte to sende and make secoundaryis; What name is heer for hem? Coordinaryis.
- (1461) RParl.5.474a : Provided alwey that any Acte made..in this present Parlement extend not to any Lettres Patentes made by us unto Maister Thomas Kent, Doctour of both Lawes, of the Office of Secundarie in the Office of oure prive Seall.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)230/18 : First cam in þe abbot of Ramsey, and befor him on of his monkis, he folowyng as a secundary.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)60 : Cofferer of the King's houshold..payeth fees, wages..the whyche..paymentes he..the secondary of countrollement, engrosse in the grete accompt of the hole houshold.
- a1500(a1470) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)128 : My most doubted lord hath, nowe late, granted unto W. the office of Secundarye of the Pipis in thescheger.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Par.11.21 : Roboam louede Maacham, þe doȝter of Absolon, ouer alle his wijues & secundaries [WB(2): secundarie wyues; L concubinas].
c
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)7188 : For thys pomellys bothe tweyne..Thow shalt ffor ech haue a scrypture..The ffyrst toucheth the pomel, Yset a-loffte most cheffly; And the tother..Longeth to the Secoundarye.
d
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)1 : I schal not write but þat I fynde in auctores, & þat is for a principall; or ellis þat I sey with eye, and þat is for a secundari; or ellis þat I suppose is soth lete þat be of best auctorite.
e
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)58/26 : Þat þe leche wytte wheþer þe flowyng be done of anathemasy or of diabrosi or of rixi..flowyng of diabrosi is of hard curying; And þe secundary is rixis which also is cured with corrosyuez in þe bygynnyng.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)80 : Hee taketh…parte of the generall guiftes, like to the secundarye-clerke of countrolment.
Note: Additional quote(s)