Middle English Dictionary Entry
selcǒuth adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | selcǒuth adj. Also selcouthe, -couhth, -kouth(e, -chouth, -cuth(e, -cuht, -kuth(e, -coth(e, -quoth, -kud, -ked, -cough, -kouȝ(e, -kou, (N) -cut, (SWM) -keth(e & (early SWM) selcude, seolcuð(e, -cud, salcuð, sælcuð(e, sulcuð, -kuðe, (early infl.) selcuðne, seolcudne, -cuðre & sēlcouth, silkeueth, sildecouthe. |
| Etymology | OE seld-cūþ, sel-cūþ. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Marvelous, miraculous, preternatural; thinketh ~, it seems miraculous (to sb. that sth. happens); hit) is ~, it is marvelous (how sth. happens); (b) remarkable, admirable, wonderful, outstanding, famous; (c) rare; great, good, etc. to a remarkable degree; (d) individual, unique.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1114 : Ðises geares on æfteward Mai wæs gesewen an selcuð steorra mid langan leoman manege niht scinende.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)19217 : Forr þatt wass wiss sellcuþ mecleȝȝc & sellcuþ ædmodnesse Þatt dide Godd to wurrþenn mann.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1411 : Ne com nauer seoððen nan swa seolcuð þing [Otho: þing selcuþere] þat an muchel ærn spec a þon castle þer he set þet Ruhhudibras þe king him-seolf hit iherde.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1941,1943 : An þan ilke time hær com a selkeð taken sulche hare nere eær ne com..From heouene her com a sulcuð flod, þre dæȝes hit rinde blod.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3207 : Wnder þon hær com tidinde salcuð to londe..þat wes icumen of þare sæ a deor swiðe sellich.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8567 : Þenchest þene stude mid wurðcipe igraten, mid sælcuðe wærcken wurðien þa dæde.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)98 : He bi-gan to telle is tale þoruȝ is owene Mouth And are he hadde al i-told, heo was swyþe selcouth.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1284 : A selkuth drem dremede me nou.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3972 : God vndede ðis asses muð; So soð it is, so it is selcuð.
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)275 : Angeles let him þer se Moni tokninges of priuete..þar he sachȝ manie a selkouȝ þing Als he was in his metinge.
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)892 : Þou hast don moni selkouth [vr. selked] þing: þe blind men makedist to se, þe doume to spek, the deue to hire.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)746 : Þis nedder..in hijs slught was self satan; Selcut was hit [Frf: selcuþ was how] he þider wan Bot wit his suffrance he it lete.
- a1400 Cursor (Phys-E)22157 : Alle selcuþe signis wroȝt wiþ arte, Of soþefastnes sale haue na parte.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5987 : Ȝee habbeþ yherd selcouþ tidynges Of vile folk and of felle Þat ben of þe kynde of helle.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)31/232 : It fel on a friday at night Half slepand saw he selkuth sight.
- c1440 Treat.Prayer (Thrn)295 : Þe Pater noster..the psalmes..and..all oþer prayers..bryng in till vs..selcouthe schynynge fra þe heghenes of heuene.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)74 : Barouns & knyȝtes..of þe syȝt selcouþ þoȝt Þat euer barge oþer bot..Vnpersched passed hadde.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1218 : Ouer þe cyte wer seyn selcouþe þynges; A bryȝt..swerd ouer þe burwe henged..Armed men in þe ayer.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)11012 : God sent hym breyd owt of þe Ayre..so selcoth [vr. selcovth] syȝt was seldome sene.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)146/16 : Ȝit saw I nevyr so selkowth [alt. to: mervelus a] syne.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)143/104 : Whens euer this selcouth light dyscende That thus kyndly has me kende Oute of my land.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2632 : But my hert quakith, my hond is tremeling, when I write of this most selcowth þing.
- a1500 St.Anne(3) (Tan 407)229 : Alle folk wern ameruelyd þat seyn þat selkowth syth, þat sweche a ȝong chyld myght gon swyche a pase.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)44/11 : Amonge al the halwen that almyghty god wroght yn erth, of selcouth myraclys for to showen har holynesse..he alon was y-wyrshypped with al these.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)142 : Þeo wimon was mid ane sune: þat wes a selcuð bearn.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4966-7 : He lette a-ræren anan enne swuðe sælcuð stan; he lette þer-on grauen sælcuðe run-stauen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)9510 : He streonede hire on ænne selcuðne mon, kingen alre kenest þæ æuere com to monnen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12189 : Þer me mihte bihalde..moni seolcudne mon.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)42/4 : Godd al-mihti..& his selcude [Roy: seolcuðe] sune Iesu Crist, þet is soð mon & goð [read: god] noðeletere.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9829 : Of isai i redd beforn, He said, 'a child it es vs born, A sun es gine vs..Selcut es his first nam.'
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9857 : Bot selcuth er [Göt: selcuther] a thusand-fald þis barn þat ysai of for-tald.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)1.5 : Ich wente forth in þe worle wonders to hure And sawe meny cellis and selcouthe þynges.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3043 : Siles doun on aithire side selcuth kniȝtis.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)prol.5 : Sodeynly þer sourdid selcouþe þingis, A grett wondir to wyse men as it well myȝth.
- c1475 St.Patr.Purg.(2) (Brm)p.89 : Yt was made of sylkeweth [vr. selkowth] gyse Lyke an cloyster on all wyse.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4617 : Þe king gædere[de] uerde..& ferden to-ward þære sæ mid selkuðe [Otho: selcuþe] folke.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8392 : Durst ȝe gon wiþ me siker Y wold ȝou schewe a selcouþe biker.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2388 : Many a bold burn..went after þe werwolf..& sewed him sadly wiþ so selkouþ noyse þat alle men vpon molde miȝt be a-wondred.
- a1400(c1340) Rolle Psalter (Hat 12)16/94 : I sal love þe in þe conversacioun of menne and ȝeld til þe werk of heven omange..þe folke Whiles I synge in selkouth soune Þe lust and likynge of þi lovynge.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)75 : Thus on ryall araye he helde his rounde table, With semblant & solace & selcouthe metes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3598 : Of sithid chariotis him sued a selcuth nombre.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)172 : Where quyck sentence shal seme not to be, þere may wise men fynd selcouth priuyte.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)121/1 : Aftyr many Selchouth battalys that he did..at the last he was al abow and clenly hadd ouercome.
d
- a1500 I wot a (Hrl 3362)5 : lii nestys beþe þat vp ymad; In euery nest beþ bryddys vii..And euery bryd wyth selcouth name.
2.
(a) Unusual, strange, peculiar; thinken ~, to seem strange (to sb.); hit) thinketh ~, it seems surprising (to sb. that sth. is so); thinketh (hit is) ~ of, it seems (is) strange about (sth.), (sth.) seems (is) strange; (b) uncanny, weird, monstrous; (c) outrageous, shocking, immoral; (d) unfamiliar, distant; also, unknown; (e) odd, whimsical, outlandish.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3746 : Selkuð hit þuðte moni cnihte þat he durste cumen him næh.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8368 : Þis bi-heold Aurilien..seolcuð him þuhte of þan nakede cnihten.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)4/8 : Ȝif him þuncheð wunder & selkuð of swuch onswere, askeð him hwat beo ordre.
- a1300 Loue is a selkud (Dc 139)1 : Loue is a selkud wodenesse Þat þe idel mon ledeth by wildernesse.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)362 : Þe xii traitours..Þat hadde yslawe Moyne, þe king, Biþouȝt hem of a selcouþe þing: Þai wold go to Fortiger And asken hem her lower.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)3606 : Ginnes þai made on selcouþe wise.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2160 : I sai a selkouþe siȝt mi-self ȝifter-neue..tvo þe bremest white beres þat euer burn on loked.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Knt.PW (Phys-E)p.141 : He..fand thar in, selcouthe to saye, Snakes and nederes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3589 : Eild es þou a selcut thing, þat al it gerns þat er ying.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8077 : Sagh man neuer..Sua fraward scapen creature; O þair blac heu it was selcuth And in þair breistes bar þair moth.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.33 : Þis was þe selcouthest cas þat haf herd neuen.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.358 : How amonge þe grene grasse grewe so many hewes, And somme soure and some swete, selcouthe [C: selcouhþ] me þouȝte.
- a1425(c1300) NHom.(1) Abp.& N.(Ashm 42)p.78 : The Fende..gert him fall in lyccherye Apon a full selcouthe manere.
- a1425 Nicod.(1) (Add 32578)217 : Me thynk selcouthe, Ihesu, whi þou standes so stille.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)153 : It come thus in his thought Off a wondur selcouthe gile, To him by-traye that ilke while.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)14.418 : So was he forbrosed and forbete..that the blood Ran Owt At his Mowth & At his Eren, that was Selcowth.
- c1475(a1400) Amadace (Tay 9)p.30 : A selcothe siȝte ther haue I sene.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)15638 : Ser, for certayn, now thynke me selcowth of þi saw, And þi wordes thynke me wroyȝt in vayn.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)918 : So y slepe þis ender niȝt, Bi me lay a selcouþe wiȝt; Y nist neuer wat it was.
- c1390 KTars (Vrn)51/706 : Her is a child selcouþ discrif, Hit naþ nouþer lyme ne lyf, Ne eȝen for to se.
- c1440(c1350) Octav.(1) (Thrn)151/1394 : My fadir has a nobille stede..In his heuede he hase an horne, Es schapene als ane vnycorne That selcouthe es of syghte.
- a1450 ?Audelay An a byrchyn bonke (Dc 302)220/68 : I se þe selquoþ syȝt Þat euer segge vnder sonne sey and was saȝt.
- a1450 Gowther (Roy 17.B.43)13 : A selcowgh thyng that is to here A fend to nyegh a woman so [nere] To make here [with chyld].
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)245 : Seolcud him þuhte swulcere speche.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)455 : Yhereþ now hou selcouþe [LinI: sunful] lijf Comeþ to shame, sorouȝ, and strijf.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1918 : Darrie þe soudan..Js strongelich anoyed of selcouþ tiþing.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)746 : Who-so hath in-sight of silde-couthe thingz, Of synne or of shame or of shonde outher, And luste not to lette hit, but leteth hit forth passe..He shal be demyd doer of þe same deede.
d
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13892 : Wes þe kaisere of-slæȝen a seolcuðe wisen þat nuste hit nauer seoðen na mon to sugen of nauer nare cuðde wha þene kaisere qualde.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7408 : Þai hem hidden a litel þerbi Forto aspien..Þe route of þe Sarrazins and þe pray Þat miȝten comen of selcouþe cuntray.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Petyt 511)121 : For it ere names full selcouthe þat ere not vsed now in mouthe.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)452 : Selkow [Win: Seelcowth], or seeldam seyne: Rarus.
- a1475 PPl.A(1) (Hrl 875:Skeat)6.2 : Now riden þis folk & walken on fote to seche þat seint in selcouþe londis.
e
- a1350(1307) Execution Fraser (Hrl 2253)179 : He wes to-drowe ffrom þe tour of londone..In a curtel of burel a selkeþe wyse, ant a gerland on ys heued of þe newe guyse, þurh cheepe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14759 : Nu art þou ai a selcut sire; It es bot foli al þi talking.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)16213 : He es þe selcuthest man þat euer yeit we sei, For he will noiþer change his cher for lau man ne for hei, Noþer ansuar for to giue, ne lift vp ans his hei.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)162 : For men seiþ by north and south Wymmen beeþ euere selcouþ -- Mychel she desireþ to shewe hire body, Her faire here, her face rody.
3.
Diverse, various.
Associated quotations
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.Pentec.(Lamb 487)93 : God ec forðon..ȝef ewilcum of þan wurhtan selcuðe speche and heore nan ne icnew oðres speche.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.DD (Lamb 487)41 : Seodðan he him sceaude an ouen; on berninde fure he warp ut of him seofe leies unwilan of seolcuðre heowe þe alle weren eateliche to bihaldene and muchele strengre þen eani þurg to þolien.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2562-3 : In France weore læwen sulkuðe a þan dawen & selcuðe tidende, for þer were feower kinges.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23 : Sanges sere of selcuth [Göt: diuers] rime, Inglis, frankys, and latine, to rede and here Ilkon is prest.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.579 : Knewe þei cryst..For a parfit prophete þat moche peple saued Of selcouth sores.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1518 : Gret outrage we se In pompe and pride and vanite In selcouthe maners and sere degyse.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)490 : Þerinne soþli we sen selcouþe [L uaria] kindus Of þe fletinge fihs þat in þe fom lepen.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)649 : Ȝe sacrifice don to selkouþe fendus [L diuersos deos].
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)925 : So is þe wit & þe wil of wordliche peple In selkouþe sesounus fain for to chaunge.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)28/33 : Aftyr many selcouth & dyuers redes, at the last he bethoght hym.
4.
As adv.: wondrously, marvelously, remarkably; as intensifier: extremely.
Associated quotations
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1060 : Þis abel was a hird for fee, Selcuth hali man was he.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1146 : Openlik i tell þe here þou sal it bi ful selcuht dere.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1872 : Þe sunn bigan þan sumquat kyth; Noe wex þan ful selcut blyth.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2344 : Þar suld yeit of his sede Folk sua selcut mani brede þat naman suld cun sume ne neuen.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6443 : Þis ilk folk..did him selcuth [Frf: selcouþ; Göt: wonder] sore trauail.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)1911 : Þe bestes þoȝt hit selcouþ [Vsp: selcut-li] gode quen þai had raȝt þaire kyndely fode.
- a1400 Men rent me (Hrl 2316)18 : Vnder mi gore ben wndes selcowȝe sore.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5712 : Two heuedes it had wel ferlich, To a cokedrille þat on was liche, Þat oþere þe mone selcouþ liche.