Middle English Dictionary Entry
sē̆riǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | sē̆riǒus adj. Also cerious. |
| Etymology | In ML sē̆riōse adv. two sets of L stems seem to have fallen together: 1) ser- (as in L seriēs, serere, etc.) and 2) sēr- (as in L sērius, sēriōsus, etc.), perh. through a semantic overlapping reflected in ME sē̆riǒuslī adv.(c). In ME sē̆riǒus adj. sense (a) reflects the first set, perh. derived directly from ML seriōse adv.; sense (b) reflects the second set and is derived directly from L sēriōsus & OF serïos. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Arranged in sequence, continuous; (b) serious, earnest, resolute; also, as noun: seriousness, gravity.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.7/3 : By dremys many secretis of Goddis wille hath come to the knowleche of men In the seryous scripture of the olde and newe testamentis, as nat onys but oftyn we haue redde.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)67 : Ceryows: Seriositas.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)453 : Seryows, sad and feythefulle: Seriosus.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)74 : Ceriows: seriosus.