Middle English Dictionary Entry
sē̆rment n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sē̆rment n. Also ser(r)ement, cerement, sorement. |
| Etymology | OF sairement, seirement, ser(r)ement, serment, soirement. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. seurement n.
1.
(a) An oath; a solemn promise or agreement; maken ~; (b) a legal oath; (c) an oath of allegiance to the king; (d) the divine promise of the Incarnation.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1534 : I yow relesse..Quyt euery serement and euery bond That ye han maad to me.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1464 : Þe bischop..soyned him be his sorement þat sare him forthinkis.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)143/31 : Ful trewe Emperoure, kepe thy feyth, thyn vndyrtakynges and thy Serementz In al Poyntes thegh thay nvous be.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)144/9-10 : Whan hit be-felle ham any serement othyr feyth to make, that one Parti begilid that othyr and brake har Serementes and hare cownauntes.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)32/54 : Every othe..muste have..trewe jugement and rightwysenesse..For ofte tymes, a man to saye sothe, but jugement and justice folowe, he is forsworne; ensample of Herodes, for holdinge of his serment was dampned.
b
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.27 : Te lord king aioinez to alle his Iustises in fei and in serment..þat, [etc.].
- (1436) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xlii : John Aklum and John Collum..afore our said Lord the Kyng in his Chauncerie..saith uppon thaire cerement and thair othe that, [etc.].
c
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)130/5 : Þere was neuer allyaunce by homage, serment, seruise, ne by lordeship, bituene Godwyn & Alurede.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)185/6 : Dermot, kynge of Corke..of his owyn propyr wille became liege trybutarie..and on this he makyd his Serement and yawe his hostagis to the kynge.
d
- c1375(?c1280) SLeg.Advent,etc.(Eg 1993)86/446 : Of his holi testament To vnderstonde in his muinde, & in his serrement Riȝt was þat he swor to abraham þus, Oure alre fader, þat ewolde him selue ȝeuen vs.