Middle English Dictionary Entry
shā̆plī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | shā̆plī adj. Comp. shā̆pliker, -loker(e, -lokore, -lokur. |
| Etymology | From shā̆p(e n.; for sense (f) cp. OE gesceaplīce. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Well-shaped; beautiful, attractive; also, as noun: a beautiful person; ~ in sight, handsome in appearance; in stature more ~, taller; (b) med. correct or appropriate with regard to shape; (c) suitable, appropriate; ~ to, of clothes: well-fitting on (sb.); (d) likely (to do sth.); (e) conformable (to sth.); inclined (toward sth.); (f) as adv.: fittingly, appropriately.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.1.28 : Þe most multitude ys & in stature more shaplich [vr. shapplych; WB(2): largere; L procerior] þan we.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)SSol.1.4 : Blac I am but shaply, as þe tabernaclis of cedar, as þe skynnes of salamon.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)SSol.2.10 : Rijs, go þou, my leef, my culuer, my shaply.
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)118 : Þis schaply þing ȝede in hire ȝarde Þat was hir hosbondus and hire.
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)194 : Hire scholdres schaply and schire.
- (?1406) Hoccl.MR (Hnt HM 111)139 : Venus femel lusty children deere..so goodly, so shaply were & feir.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.39.6 : Joseph was fair in face and schapli in siȝt [L decorus aspectu].
- c1425 Treat.10 Com.(StJ-O 94)12 : A þousant men & wemen..been fairer, schaplokur, and miȝthior in alle.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)366/20 : Þat schappely body of my lorde..maye be conteyned vndur þat litil forme.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)50/15 : Ther bodyes schul be feyre and schaply.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3070 : Shulders full shaply, shenest of hewe.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)30/7 : Þe firste profiȝt þat is in drawynge & wiþdrawynge of þe corde..þe þridde, þat þe makynge of lymes were þe more schaploker [vr. schaplokore].
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)45/8 : Bi þat senewe þe lyme mai rekeuere his felynge, & so þe restoringe of þe braun may be fastere & schapliker.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)17a/a : Foure vtilitees y fynde whi þat þe heer of þe heer [read: heed] was maad..The secunde is þis, þat it makiþ þe forme of þe heed þe schaplokere ffor if þe heed were not herid boþe þe visage and þe heed schulden be of oon forme.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)17b/a : The vtilites of alle lacertis..The fourþe is þis, þoruȝ hem þe schap of þe membris þat þei seruen to is maad þe fairer & þe more schaploker.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.177 : Þe worchere and þe makere of alle þinges..haþ wiþ him schapliche [Higd.(2): ydealle] resouns of al manere resouns and þinges.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.372 : Euerych for the wisdom that he kan Was shaply for to been an alderman.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.3112 : Envie..is noght schaply forto wyve In Erthe among the wommen hiere.
- a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193)30 : The said playn aray..was more shapply to me and bettur bycomme me then did my stuffid aray.
d
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1452 : Tho sleghtes yet that I have herd yow stere Ful shaply [vr. shapely] ben to faylen alle yfeere.
- c1425 Mirror LM&W (Hrl 45)120/25 : Þou art ȝong, stalworth & myghti, and schapliche to lyue longe.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)53 : Sorowe and Remoors..he ys shaply to make with Inne this Rewme.
e
- ?c1400 Sloane SSecr.(Sln 213)11/1 : I biheld and knewe me schapli to þese thynges filthy and reprouable.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)2.28.98b : Þese..schuld be made schaply to þe ymage of his sone.
f
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2333 : They schouen thes schalkes schappely thereaftyre.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)3 : Þe fadir is schaply eendeles myȝty, þe sone eendeles witti, & þe hooly goost eendeles comfortly & soþly byndyng of al dyuynyte.
- a1475 Gawain & CC (Brog 2.1)453 : He vnarmyde Gawen þer; Schaply he was vndyȝt.