Middle English Dictionary Entry
bẹ̄ld(e, bēlde n.
Entry Info
| Forms | bẹ̄ld(e, bēlde n. Also beild, bīld(e. |
| Etymology | A bældo, beldo, WS bieldu, byldu. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. bōld adj.
1.
Courage, strength, power.
Associated quotations
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12237 : A barn me has, wit-vten beild [vr. belde], Me ouercummen wit-in mine eild.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)650 : In þe more half of his schelde hir ymage depaynted, þat quen he blusched þerto his belde neuer payred.
- a1425(c1300) NHom.(1) Peter & P.(Ashm 42)142 : He praied god, he suld þaim schelde & hald þaim fro þe deuels belde.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)3674 : Phylysteyns had þen maystry, And Ebrews was with owtyn beld [rime: be held].
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.332 : His brother bastard, with full strong beeld [rime: weeld], Had putte hym out.
2.
(a) Aid, support, help, encouragement; bot and ~, aid and support; (b) comfort, happiness; blis and ~, worldes ~; (c) defense, protection; withouten ~, defenseless, unprotected; (d) ?a reward.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 Whon Men beoþ (Vrn)104 : Onswere I schal, Whi god sent such men boote & belde.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)7 : Mankind in prison he helde, Wiht outen help, wit outen belde.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)32/374 : In whilk place was grete vertu shewd And grete belde, both to lerid and lawd.
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)976 : Ther was noþer bute nere belde.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)5995 : When þe fend was woyd and wyld..þen was þe harpe his boyt and byld [vr. bote and belde].
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)3407 : Off bote they saw no better beld.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)1721 : As a woman..Wyth owten bote or belde, No leuyng lefe wyth me y haue.
b
- c1390 NHom.Abbess (Vrn)50 : Ȝif þou me þer of Melde, I haue lost worldus belde.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)37 : Mirthe and med and werdes belde Gers thaim til falshed helde.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1008 : Toward þe est it standes, land o liue..Wit blis and beild broiden best.
- c1450(?a1400) Siege Milan (Add 31042)324 : To heuen þay lede oure nobill knyghtis And comforthes þam..With mikill blysse & belde.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)866 : Esau veneson hath tone And broyȝt his fader for his beld [rime: chyld, wyld].
c
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)735 : Wyls scho bode vnder hys beld, scho bayr hym sonys seuyn.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)4901 : Þei lete þem be with owtyn beld, none forto lede þem, heygh ne law.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5945 : Þai had some traist of þair belde [rime: knelyd].
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.280 : Sir Charles..By the Soudan was chasid without beld [rime: feld].
d
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)311/139 : Þe kyng bi þouȝte wat maner belde he mihte to Mardocheus ȝelde.
3.
One who aids or protects, a helper, a defender.
Associated quotations
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)20815 : Ogain þat fa scho be vr beild, And namli quen we dun sal heild.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)22/27 : Alweldand God..be his beld.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Barlaam & J.(Hrl 4196)645 : Un to þe first frende first he went..And prayd him for to be his belde, un to þe court a count to ȝelde.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)1412 : Þay solde gare hym byde þat was hir beste belde.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)114/76 : Now, gud God, þu be my bilde [rime: unwelde].
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)198/166 : Of Crist I will som comforte craue, For he may be my bote and belde.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)675 : He wenyd that he [his son] suld haue beyn hys beld when he was old and weke.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)158/581 : We loue this lord..he is oure beyld both nyght and day.