Middle English Dictionary Entry
sens(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sens(e n. Also sence, cense. |
| Etymology | OF sens & L sensus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Sense, meaning, signification; interpretation; (b) ?error for sentence n.3.(b).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Bod 959)6/27 : What euer þei siggen, þey wenen it be þe lawe of god, ne þey dedeynen to knowe what þe prophetes..feeleden, bot to her own sense [vr. cense; WB(2): wit; L sensum] schapen yncouenable wittnesis as þouȝ it were grete & not vycyous maner of seying to depraue sentensez.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.542 : The menyng and the sens [vrr. the sentence, thentent] of this is that the reson of a man ne consente nat to thilke sodeyn ire, and thanne is it venial.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)126/5 : Þe werkis of man ben hise sones or hise douȝtren aftir goostli sens.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)8.164 : That sensis spille, or poynt disioynt be thrynne, Is not my wille, and yit in hit is she Myn ignoraunce.
- a1450(a1397) WBible(2) GProl.(Hrl 1666)p.2 : Of these iiij sensis, either vndirstondingis, may be set ensaumple in this word Jerusalem.
- a1450(a1397) WBible(2) GProl.(Hrl 1666)p.53 : Bi moral sense it singnefieth a feithful soule..bi sense allegorik it singnefieth the chirche..bi sence anagogik it singnefieth the chirche rengninge in blisse.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)19/24 : This boke..I have translated..fro Arabik speche into Latyne..chesyng out omwhile a letter of a letter, omwhile sense of sense [Lambeth: vndirstandynge of vndirstondynge; L sensum ex sensu], that is to sey, wysedome of wisedome.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)84/16 : To knowe also þe spirituall sence of the letter more thanne aftir the flesche.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)91/32 : Vntruely he corrupted the sence of the lettir and disfaced the substaunce of all othir lawes and construed it to a fals entente.
b
- a1500 Walton Boeth.(Trin-O 21)p.236 : Sence [Lin-C: Mercurie..hym saued fro þis parelouse schour].