Middle English Dictionary Entry
sī dederō phr.
Entry Info
| Forms | sī dederō phr. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The first words of a Latin proverb, variously expressed, e.g., 'Si dedero, decus accipiam flatumque favoris, ' etc., implying the universal necessity of bribery or improper insistence on remuneration.
Associated quotations
- a1400 Now goot falshed (Roy 17.B.17)65 : Now gos gyle in euer-ilk flok, And treuthe is sperrid vndre a lok; May no mon þat lok vndo But if he syng si dedero: Omnes diligunt munera.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)879 : Of Mankynde getyth no man no good But if he synge si dedero.
- a1450 Summe maner (Wel 1493)107 : I herde a bischop holde his correccyoun..Clerkis..At his comynycacyoun..knelid a downe..Si dedero was ther lessoun.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.560 : But if þou geve, þou shalt be lafte..Thus must þou lerne to synge Si dedero.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)456 : Myscheff..'When owr hedys wer togethere, I spake of si dedero.' Neu Gyse: 'Ȝo, go þi wey! We xall gaþer mony onto.'
- a1500(1381) Knighton Chron.Contin.(Cld E.3)139 : No man may come trewþe to bot he syng si dedero.
- c1500(a1449) Lydg.Aesop (Trin-C R.3.19)327 : When [a] iorrour haþe caught sauour ones To be forsworn, custom makeþ hym strong; Si dedero ys now so mery a song, Haþ founde a practyk by lawe to make a preef To hang a trew man & saue an errant theef.