Middle English Dictionary Entry
sẹ̄̆ld-sẹ̄n adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | sẹ̄̆ld-sẹ̄n adj. Also seldsene, -scene, -cene, seltsene, -scene. |
| Etymology | OE: cp. A seld-sēne, WS seld-sīene, syld-sȳne. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Rarely encountered, seldom seen; (b) as adv.: seldom, rarely.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)24/389 : Hit is selt scene [Tit: selt sene] on eorðe.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)42/2 : Seltsene [Nero: seldcene; Tit: seldsene] speche haueð muche strengðe.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)43/16 : Hiderto is iseid of ower silence & hu ower speche schal beo seltsene [Nero: seldcene; Tit: seldscene; Cleo: seld sene].
b
- a1250 Ancr.(Tit D.18)159/26 : For swuch ah wummones lare of religiun to beon: luuelich & liðe & seldscene-sturne.