Middle English Dictionary Entry
sē̆rching(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | sē̆rching(e ger. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The act of searching or investigating; an examination, investigation, inquiry; (b) an inspection for quality; the act of inspecting the materials and practices of guildsmen to maintain the quality of work; (c) hunt. the act of searching for game.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.63.7 : Þei sercheden wickedenessis; þei, serchynge, faileden in serching [WB(2): sekinge; L scrutinio].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)102b/b : Þe office of a good phisician stondiþ in inquisicioun and serchinge of causes and circumstaunces of euel, for he serchiþ and sechiþ þe cause by siȝte, by hondlinge & gropinge, by vreyne, & by powuce.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.4255 : For auarise..Man to be-traisshe..Tauht hym..Thoruh sotil serchyng..First out of erthe to delue precious stonis.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)67 : Ceerchynge [KC: cergyn; Phil: cergynge]: Scrutinium, perscrutacio.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)453 : Seergynge [Win: Serchynge]: Scrutinium, perscrutacio, scrutacio.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)1306 : The treuthe herof that he myht preue, Men thedyr he sent to make serchyng, And they there labouryd in deluyng In the cherche paument fro morwe tyl eue, But they founde nowt.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)366/28 : How þat my body is contyned in þe sacramente..hith longith to þe forto byleue þis soþfastly and to by-warre of presumptuous serchynge in this mater.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.1339 : I haue take leue of esculape and Galiene And of alle her preuy sergyng of nature.
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)508 : In any striff, make neuer iugement Til ye haue herde boothe parties wisely, Leest after ye haue cause to repente For lack of Foresight and serching treuly.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9206 : On what wise in this world wilne shuld I hir, Most exilent of other..Hit semith me vnsertain, all serchyng of wayes; Ys stokyn vp full stithly, shuld streche to my hele.
b
- (1428-9) Rec.St.Mary at Hill70 : For serching of þe bell & for a pyn of iron, v d.
- (a1450) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.12066 : What servand..that wyrkys a penyworth werk for a penny and wyll noght be governd at the serchyng of hys werk be the serchours and the maisters..sall pay xl d.
- (1472) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8523 : Item..yt no man cute hys feche bot yt at be serched be ye debetes yt ar ordane for sersynge.
c
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)6 : Erly in the dawnyng of the day he mvst be vp for to go to his quest, that in Englissh is called serchyng, wele and besyly so as I shal say more opynly whan I shal speke how men shuld quest and serche to harborowe the hert.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)7 : He shal be on his quest, or Serching, and he shal se oþer mete a noon with the hert wiþout grete sekyng, and he shal harboure hym wel and redily wiþ inne a litil compas.