Middle English Dictionary Entry
sē̆quence n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sē̆quence n. Also sequens. |
| Etymology | OF sequence & ML sequentia. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Eccl. (a) A musical composition built on an often original Latin text and sung or chanted at various points during the liturgy and at certain times in the church year; ~ of seinte osmunde, ?a sequence for the feast of St. Osmund, December 4; (b) a sequencer, book of sequences.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)334a/a : Organum..is y-made of many pipes..and now holy chirche vseþ oonliche þis Instrument of musike in proses, Sequences, and ympnes.
- (c1400) Higd.(1) (Hrl 1900)501 : This is that Robart that made that sequence of the Holy Goost, Sancti spiritus, [etc.].
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)201 : Also in the prose clepid a sequence, which is sungun in the Feeste of the Crossis Hiȝing.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)77/7 : Þai war att þe laste end of þe sequens & had songen þis vers.
- (1454-5) Acc.St.Ewen in BGAS 15148 : Item, one Masse boke..whiche begynneth with a colec..and endith with the sequence Sanctus and Agnus.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)245 : The same witnessith the clergie, bi the profis [read: proses] or sequencis whiche he singith in the masse of dedicacioun feest day.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.158v : [He] studied to honore Oure Lady with songes of sequences or other swete notes whiche songes and swete tenus and amiable enditees sheweth how gret desire and loue he hadde to Oure Lady Goddes Moder.
- (1474-5) Acc.St.Edm.Sarum19 : Item, for the writyng of the sequence of Seint Osmunde, iiij d.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)110b : A Sequens: Sequencia, Tropus.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)106/38 : Item, þey may singe som sequence bi ordinaunce general, as þe ordinal makiþ mencioun.
b
- a1450 Out of þe blosme (Sln 2593)43 : Þer þey offerid here presens wiþ gold & myrre & francincens, & clerkes redyn in here seqwens ephifanye.
- (1466) LRed Bk.Bristol2.235 : Item..a Trappyng for Seynt George ys horsse, and a quayere of a Sequence in Parchement and an old Chesyple of Purpylle.