Middle English Dictionary Entry
singlē̆r(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | singlē̆r(e adj. Also singlure, sengler(e. |
| Etymology | OF sengler, sangler, seingler single, individual & shortened form of ME singulē̆r(e adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Special; having a special purpose; unusual; connen ~ thank, to owe (sb.) special thanks; (b) excellent; unsurpassed; extraordinary.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1431) Stonor1.47 : Y of singler trust in you have before this enfeffed you with other in my Maners.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)245/4 : For she [Virgin Mary] by a synglure priuilege com to vertewe so as non oþur myȝthe þat euer was borne.
- (1459-60) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)402 : We verraily perceive the naturell love..that ye..bere unto us, and can you þerfore right singler thank.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)244 : The fadyr all mighty..Fouchesafe to make a syngler place new, Of the glorious modyr.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)441 : Contemplatyff lyff for to sewe, Yt ys grett drede..Lewe, lewe, suche syngler besynes.
- a1500(1442-5) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)66 : Our singler trust is in you.
b
- (1447) Doc.in Leach Educ.Chart.420 : Ryght noble and our ryght singler lord, we recommend us un to your good lordschip.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)245/38 : Þis comly maide and modur to þe heuenly Kynge was synglere in vertew, choson afore all oþur wymmen.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Christina Mirab.(Dc 114)121/38 : Þis is a merueylous þinge & neuere herde, after þe imcomparabil & singler virgyne Cristes moder.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget (Gar 145)33/33 : Thys man þat thus manfully browght the shipe to þe hauen is to be rewarded with mor singler rewarde then oþer.
- a1500(1442) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)83 : Right noble and my most singler and faithfull trusty Lorde, I recommend me, etc.
2.
(a) Individual, single; any [quot.: c1500]; separate, distinct [quot.: c1475]; specific, particular [quot.: a1500]; of God: one, singular; also, as adv.: separately, one by one [quot.: c1450]; bor ~ [cp. OF porc sengler], a boar four years old or more living apart from the herd [cp. singler n.]; (b) sole, exclusive; also, as adv.: merely [2nd quot.]; (c) conducted between individuals; ~ bataille, single combat; (d) gram. singular.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1400 Chaucer Bo.(Add 10340)2.pr.7.[78].1539 : Singlere [Rob.: May thanne the glorie of a synguler Romeyn strecchen thider as the fame of the name of Rome may nat clymben ne passen].
- ?c1425 Chaucer Bo.(Cmb Ii.3.21)2.pr.7.p.44 : Syngler [Rob.: to the whiche nacyons..nat oonly the names of synguler men ne may nat strecchen but eek the fame of citees ne may nat strecchen].
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3123 : Boyes in þe subarbis bourden full heghe At a bare synglere, that to þe bente rynnys.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 168)4.1990 : Singler [Arun 396: Whom mente he heere in this pluralite But god, whiche ȝe syngulere confesse?].
- c1450 Treat.Perf.(Add 37790)245/4 : The spirrit of god meues..euere man..vnto þoo vertewes..the whiche he is redy..to resayue, and to do so that þou plese god, alle and iche one synglere, aftyr the gretnes of loue.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.DJoos (Trin-C R.3.21(1))37 : In whiche Psalmes..Whoso lyst take hede in syngler lettres fyue, This blessyd name Maria there may he se.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)101/16-18 : Entendible ensaumples..ben comown both to the symple men and to the wise men, and printe them firmely in thi courages for the proporcion and the qualite of singler causes that we haue with princes and othir aventures; Science tretith not of singler thinges but leveth them to experience.
- c1500(1463) Ashby Pris.(Trin-C R.3.19)13 : In to a pryson..I must hyt for a lesson record, Theryn abydyng without help singler, Sauf of god and hys blessyd modyr ther.
- a1525(?1424) Cov.Leet Bk.72 : Hit is to grette a shame þat in straunge contres our souerayne lorde shall wryte his letteres be the advyse of his counsell..& singler personez of the counsell to write þe contrary.
b
- (1474) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.84 : John Parys and his said cofeoffes shall suffre the said Nicholas Boylle..to take and have the singler Rule guydyng and governaunce of the said tenement.
- a1500 Walton Boeth.(StJ-C G.29)p.159 : Synglare [Lin-C: Not in suche poyntes singulerly Þe heuene..is to be had in grete mervaile, Bot it is for to wondren principally As in þe resoun of þe gouernaile].
c
- (1389) Lond.Gild Ret.in Bk.Lond.E.(PRO C 47/var.)57/128 : We wile þat none of her breþeren make no sengler conseill by hem self, þat is to witene, to none of þe maystres, ne þe maystres to non of hem.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.329 : The leste of them was of persone able To haue foughten with any creature Singler batayle in actes marcyable.
d
- c1450 Peniarth Accedence(2) (Pen 356B)10/42 : How know ȝe þe secund clynson of novnys?..When þe nominatyf case singler endithe in -r.
- (c1450-54) Paston1.151 : Il seruit fore þe singlere nowber and ilz for the plure noumbre.
- a1475 Peniarth Informacio(1) (Pen 356B)95/129 : Fo[r] ij nominatyue case syngler wyth an et coniunccion comyng betwene wyll haue a uerbe plurell.
3.
(a) Personal, private; (b) holding no office; (c) ?eccentric, individualistic.
Associated quotations
a
- (1389) Lond.Gild Ret.in Bk.Lond.E.(PRO C 47/var.)57/128 : We wile þat none of her breþeren make no sengler conseill by hem self.
- (1418) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)9.629 : Thes be Twey Matiers diverse, That oon a Matier of cessing of Wer..betwene the twey Reames, And that othir a Matier of a singler Lige and Frendship, out of the Commun Cours of Trewes, concernyng her singler Profitt and Avauntage.
- (1469) Doc.Brewer in Nrf.Archaeol.5324 : Common brewers, for their singler lucre & avayle, have nowe newely bigonne to take money for their seid goddisgood.
- (1469) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1336 : If any of the portoures goo owt with cariage into the contry, for ther sengler avayle..then thei shall have noe parte of that comyth to them by right of ther office.
- c1475 Chaucer HF (Bod 638)310 : Yet ther shal the thride be That shal be take for delyte Loo or for syngler profyte.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)401 : Off old custome knyhthod took no heede Vnto ther owen syngler availe.
b
- c1425 Chaucer CT.Mel.(Petw 7)B.2625 : Senglere [Heng: A singuler persone synneth in takynge vengeance of another man, right so synneth the Iuge if he do no vengeance of hem that it han disserued].
c
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)1023 : Wrong to redresse ther was in hym no slouthe; In his domys stedfast as a wall, Nat syngler founde, nothir parciall.