Middle English Dictionary Entry
sē̆lth(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sē̆lth(e n. Also selðhe & (early) sealþe, sælðe, sielþe, selhþe, selchðe, selehðe, seleȝehðe, seluhðe, (Orm.) seollþe; pl. (early) seolþes, seolðen, selðen, selhðen. |
| Etymology | OE: cp. WS sǣlþ, A *sēlþ. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. iselthe n.
1.
(a) Happiness, pleasure; parais ~, the joy of heaven; also, the joy of Eden; parais(es selthes, the joys of Eden; selthes of heven, heavenly bliss; (b) one of the Beatitudes; (c) good fortune, prosperity; success; -- sometimes pl.; also, an instance of prosperity, a piece of good fortune; (d) grace, favor; (e) prudence, discretion; ?moral rectitude.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(OE) Bod.Aelfric OT (Bod 343)18/59 : He englæs isceop..butan ealle synnum on saelðe libbende.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)14304 : Gastlike witt..shollde don hemm all forrsen..All middellærdess sellþe & sel.
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)233 : Al þat we habbeð of þese feder we habbeð, os [read: of] wam we alle and us sielþe habbeð.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)131 : Gif we don ure gode dedes for to hauen þis weorldes selðe oðer mannes hereword to mede, þenne make we godes weies wronge.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)40/686 : Ich chulle halde me hal..þet paraise selhðe underuo me.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)53/578 : Þu makedest mon of lame..he forgulte him anan..& wes iput sone ut of paraise selhðen.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)49/414 : Þe wrenchfule feont..weorp ham ut sone of paraises selhðen [Tit: paraise selhðe] in to þis liflese lif.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)18/15 : Ich wulle wel þet mi flesch forfeare her, þet softe Iesu cruni mi sawle i þe selhðen of heouene.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)40/7 : Þet is ure cunde..Beon sorhful & sari for euch monnes selhðe.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)180/21 : Þis is þe selhðe [Nero: seluhðe; Cleo: selchðe] on eorðe, hwa se mei for godes luue habben scheome & teone.
- a1250 Lofsong Louerde (Nero A.14)213 : Heo beoð me itrukede..for mine selhðe.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1023 : Bi ðan sal sarra selðe timen, Ðat ge sal of a sune trimen.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)756 : Adam ȝede wanderand in þat welth, þat halden was þaim in mekil selth.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5629 : Her icc wile..Þa seoffne seollþess shæwenn.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5636 : Þe firrste seollþe iss þatt tu beo..All wrecche & wædle.
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8794 : Haliȝ Gast..ȝifeþþ her hiss þeoww..witt & mihht to berenn rihht Illc seollþe & illc unnseollþe.
- a1225(?OE) Vsp.A.Hom.(Vsp A.22)243 : Fihteð agen us..In þes middeneardes iscole selðen and uniselðen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8951 : Þenc of þe seoluen, seolðen þe beoð ȝiueþe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12544 : Lauerd king..selehðe þe beoð ȝifðe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12765 : Sæi us þi sweuen, seleȝehðe [Otho: sealþe] us beo ȝeueðe.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)95 : Mildheorted beð þe man þe reouð his nehgebures unselðe and likeð here alre selðe.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1337 : Lith and selthe felawes are.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1341 : Good selðhe sal him cumen on.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2001 : Swilc selðe cam him fro a-buen.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)99/24 : Of Sleght in fygh[t] and of Selth in battayl he Passid al othyr.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)50/8 : Euery selth hath wnselth at þe end.
d
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)2634 : Marȝe..toc..nan modiȝleȝȝc Off hire miccle sellþe.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)55/593 : Godd..þu dudest i þe lutle dauið þe selhðe þet he..of sloh wið a stan..þe stronge Golie.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)15/394 : Þe bisschop þese wordes seþ..of selþe, 'Ich signi þe wiþ signe of croys, And wiþ þe creme of hel[þ]e Confermi.'
e
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)114/388 : Þurch selþe mon is gleu.
- a1300 PMor.(Jes-O 29)16 : Ich myhte habbe bet i-do heuede ich eny selhþe [vr. selþe].