Middle English Dictionary Entry
bẹ̄ld(e, bēld(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | bẹ̄ld(e, bēld(e adj. Also bælde. |
| Etymology | WS bielde, A *bælde, ppl. emboldened; some of the quots. may have S bēld, from WS beald. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. belden, bold.
1.
(a) Of persons: bold, brave, doughty; (b) of actions or words: bold, daring; (c) encouraging, helpful.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)16325 : Þus bælde Hængest, cnihten alre hændest, balde his ferde.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)1190 : Merlin was fif winter elde, He was michel, broun, & beld.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)114/1933 : He haþ of-sent, Of barouns and of kniȝtes beld þe best þat miȝt wepen weld.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)348 : And I [mercy], þi douhter alre eldest, Ouer alle þe oþere beldest.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4995 : Wymmen there ben mychel and belde; Whan hij ben of fiftene wyntres elde, Children hij beren.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)1362 : Beld as wilde bore.
b
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1715 : Monimon..þurh belde worde an myd ilete, Deþ his iuo for arehþe swete.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)1215 : He spac wordes swiþe belde.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)90/1908 : Vnder þe ymage þat þe bal held; Þis was a dede queinte and beld.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5536 : Alisaunder þe wryt bihelde, And sauȝ þere-inne þretyng belde.
c
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1323 : Of bot sche was him beld.