Middle English Dictionary Entry
sẹ̄lden adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | sẹ̄lden adj. Also seldone. |
| Etymology | From sẹ̄lden(e adv. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Infrequent, few in number; ~ time(s, rarely, infrequently; hit) is ~, it is rare (that sth. is so); (b) uncommon, unusual.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(c1250) Floris (Auch)461 : For here boures neȝ were & selden þat þai neren ifere.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.787 : Ful selden is that welthe Can soffre his oghne astat in helthe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4420 : For sielden is whan thei recovere.
- c1415 Chaucer CT.Cl.(Corp-O 198)E.146 : I me reioysed of my liberte That selden [vrr. seelden; selde] tyme is founden mariage.
- (1425) Proc.Privy C.3.171 : Wherof was grete cause þe seldom assemble and metyng togedyr of þe wardeins of þe marches of bothe parties.
- a1450(c1395) WBible(2) Pref.Jer.(NC 66)p.73 : Selden it is that sum man ne waxith blynde in the redyng of hem.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)182/18 : Þai..myght not ryse vp bod seldom tymys.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)98 : Seelden it was that j sih hire.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2289 : Ful seldyn tyme speke he walde With any persone.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)328 : Seldone: jnfrequens, rarus.
- a1500 Ancr.TSenses (Roy 8.C.1)9/23 : Seldom spech haþ gret strengh.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)88/25 : None of hem schal speke bi þe grate of yryn..but be auenture þat it be for cause resonable & necessarie..& algatis þat it be seeldyn.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Bod 959)7.163 : Iamez, Peture, Ioon, Iude seuen epystlez maden, as wele mystyke as redy, & schort to gyþer & long: schort in wordez, long in sentencez, þat he be seldom þat not wexiþ blynd in the reding of hem.
- c1400 Wycl.CGosp.John (Yk-M 14.D.2:Hudson)41/66 : No man wondriþ þis, men wondren þat, not for it is grettir, but for it is seelden [Augustine on John 6 (PL 35:1593): quia rarum est].