Middle English Dictionary Entry
sleight n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sleight n. Also sleight(t)e, sleiȝt, sleiȝt(t)e, sleiht(e, sleigte, sleiight, scleight(e, scleiȝt(e, sleighthe, sleiȝth(e, sleigthe, sleit(e, slait, sleith(e, sleght(e, sleȝt, sleghthe, sleȝthe, slegthe, slekthe, sletthe, (early) sleht, slehþe, sleahþe, sleþþe & slight(e, sliȝt(e, sligte, sliht, scliȝt, sliȝth(e, slihthe, slith(e & (errors) sheyȝthe, scheythe; pl. sleightes, etc. & sleighthes, sleittes, slethes & slighthes, slithtes, slites & (error) slegytis. |
| Etymology | ON: cp. OI slœgð. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Wisdom, prudence; cleverness, ingenuity; also, an instance of prudence; (b) skill, expertness; dexterity; (c) strategy, planning, art; (d) a clever device, stratagem, plan; a technique, trick, feat; bi ani ~, for ~ upon erthe, by any means; for (with) no ~, by no means; (e) diligent activity, effort, zeal; also, force, power [quots.: a1225, ?a1475]; difficulty; ?diligent inquiry [quot.: a1450]; (f) subtlety; a subtlety, refinement; sorcery; (g) a fine, excellent thing; beauty.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)11650 : Wane he sicþ þat he his mid strengþe ibunde..mid sleþþe [Clg: liste] he mot slakie loþe his bendes.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)18/25 : Guodes of kende: ase uayrhede..strengþe of bodye an sleȝþe and naturel wyt.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)124/6 : Of þise uour uirtues þe uerste me clepeþ sleȝþe [Vices & V.(2): prudence].
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1948 : Beautee ne sleighte [vrr. scleighte, sleiht, sheyȝthe, scleyȝt], strengthe, hardynesse, Ne may with Venus holde champartie.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.167 : He chastede þe Schytes, þat myȝte nouȝt be overcome toforehonde, by sleyþe [L calliditate] of witte.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)161a/a : Fysshes ben diuerse in sharpnesse of felyng and in sliþe [L sagacitate] of witte.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)271a/b : Þe witte and sleighte [L solertia] of been is wonderful.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10088 : So shal we be..Noȝt yn pryde, ne naȝt yn heghþe For no wysdom ne for no sleghþe.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.94 : Ihesus..gan to wexe In þe manere of a man & þat by moche sleight.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1289 : Devised he þe vesselment..Wyth slyȝt of his ciences.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)121/2 : Foure stronge wallis..ben riȝtfulnes, strengþe, sleiþe, and temperaunce.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)7689 : God..made alle thyng thurgh myght and sleght.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)201/2 : Noman may gete of þat gold but be gret sleighte [F engyn].
- c1425 Mirror LM&W (Hrl 45)73/4 : We aske sleighte aȝen þe yuel þat may be.
- a1450 Fasc.Mor.(Rwl C.670)Tag 36 [40] 1 : Law for wyll bygynnyt to slakyn And falsehed for scheythe [vr. sleyth] is i-takyn.
- ?a1450(?c1400) Wycl.LFCatech.(Lamb 408)85/1273 : The v vertu ys warnesse and sleyȝte.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1022 : Þe sleȝt of hys sapience þai selcuthely prayse.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)75/8 : We shuld also be sory for synnes þat we mow don, And þan is such paciens callid a sleyte of drede.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.218 : Fenyyng in dede is somtyme don be sleyȝte for a good ende.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2540 : The Cuppe..with gret sleihte Of werkmanschipe it was begrave.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.867 : The philosophres stoon..For al oure craft..And al oure sleighte [vr. scleiȝte] he wol nat come vs to.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)5562 : Þer wimman..ar deliuered be þaire awen sliȝt [Göt: sliht].
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1542 : To trwluf expoun..To yow þat..weldez more slyȝt Of þat art..Hit were a fole.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.361 : Þer was noon helpe, ne noon sleyȝt of armys Þat vaille myȝt ageyn þe cursed charmys.
- a1425(?a1400) Dionysius HDivinity (Hrl 674)6/26 : Þe whiche koumbrous clogge..we moten algates craftely pare awey by sleiȝt of grace.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2084 : God..sende yow grace of herte and sleyghte also, Yow to defende, and knyghtly slen youre fo.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)616 : He etyllede withe a slynge hafe slayne hym with sleghte [vr. sliȝte].
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)8860 : Þe Irische couþe nought so wel feight, Ne of armure þey hadde no sleight.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)301 : For to hauke ne hunte have we no leve..Ne to..fonde wiþ slyhþe For to refe þe brod of briddus.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1140/2 : He..put hys honde and hys swerde to that stroke, and so put hit on syde wyth grete slyght.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)263/157 : Let now se who dos the best with any slegthe of hande.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10306 : Achilles..Slough hym full slawthly with sleght of his hond.
c
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)8590-91 : Hit was isaid wile þat betere his sleahþe [Clg: liste] þane vuele strengþe, for mid slehþe me mai holde þat strengþe ne mai awilde.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4336 : Þou passest noȝt thar wyþ no strengþe Bote sleȝþe helpe þar-to.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.177 : Þe Grees..fiteþ wiþ sleiþe and wiþ cauteles [Higd.(2): by arte] and nouȝt wiþ armoure and wepoun.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.317 : Naso..techeþ sliþe of love craft.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1111 : Wher strengthe myhte noght aweie..sleihte scholde helpe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7583 : The Gregois soughte Unto the toun..And wolden nevere parte aweie Til what be sleihte and what be strengthe Thei hadde it wonne.
- c1400 *Aelred Inst.(1) (Vrn)1531 : Bestes and bryddes wit..many..þousand maner slekþe escheweþ deeþ and defendeþ here lyf.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.574 : Many geant, what with myȝt & sleiȝte, He outraide.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4280 : Hercules and..Iason..by her sleyȝt wonen han þe toun.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20333 : Þoru fors he wald and noȝ þoru sleght Of þe montain win to þe heght.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)47/1271 : Enchauntement ner sleyght most ingenyus Can noght bryng hym fro hys den.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)82b : Þou schalt haue þe maystrie by strengþe þat þou mayst not haue be sleiþe.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)13/20 : The Oste..trusten as well to sleght as to streynth.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10831 : Þanne is sleiþe worþi more..Þan any strengþe.
d
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2151 : Þei souȝt alle so serliche..þat no seg for no sleiȝþe no schuld haue schapit.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.93 : Hanibal halp Prusia by a newe sleiþe [L commento] of bataile.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1873 : Guile under the hat With sleyhtes of a tregetour Is hidd.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2123 : He ne mihte with no sleighte Out of his hond gete upon heighte.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.773 : In amalgamyng and calcenyng..For alle oure sleightes [vr. slytis] we kan nat conclude.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6662 : A tabernacle all for to dight, þerof he sceud þam þe slight.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)130 : Þe welder of wyt þat wot alle þynges..at wylle hatz he slyȝtes.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1854 : Quat gome so is gorde with þis grene lace..myȝt not be slayn for slyȝt vpon erþe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2801 : Þei in loue alle þe sleiȝtes knowe.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)7/7 : Of two goostli sleiȝtes þat ben helpli to a goostli beginner in þe werk of þis book.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2972 : I..wolde fayne Haue passed the hay, if I myght Haue geten ynne by ony slight.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)36a/a : When þe aposteme is of huge grossenez, þer is none excusacioun fro acete, bot in þe ministracioun of it be þer a cautele or sleiȝt, for it perseþ strongly.
- a1450(?c1430) Lydg.DM(1) (Hnt EL 26.A.13)516 : Maister Jon Rikelle, some tyme tregetowre..For alle the sleightes and turnyng of thyn honde Thow moste come nere this daunce.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)4610 : Of þer sleigþe lystneþ now; Longe pyles & grete dide þey make; ffaste yn Temese dide þey hem stake.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)101/8 : That se may no man passe, neythir with seylynge ne with rowynge ne be non othir slygte ne queyntyse.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1445 : Sire Alexander with..his awen sleȝtis Þe toune of Tire þus he tuke.
- c1450 PPl.B (RwlPoet 38)13.408 : Wanhope..is sleuthe so slow þat may no slithes helpe it.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.5 : Now slyȝtes of cure wylle I preche, How somme mete schalle seme raw.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)175/33 : Þise stonys..be myche wurthe to þe help of þine host and to slegytis [read: sleygtis] of werre.
- a1500 Methodius(3) (Stw 953)194 : Caymys kyn..fond þe art of astronomy Thorow here sleytys and here gyn.
e
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)107 : Vnus quisque traitur a concupiscencia sua abstractus et illectus; ech man beoð [?read: beoð draȝen] bi sleht os [read: of] his agene lichames luste.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.437 : Ethelfridus his sones..by sleiþe [L industria] of her wardeynes, were i-lad into Scotland.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.1102 : So sadly holdeth she Hir children..That with greet sleighte and greet difficultee The children from hir arm they gonne arace.
- a1425(?a1400) Benj.Minor (Hrl 674)44/18 : Ȝit may a man neuer come to soche a grace by his owne sleiȝt [L industria] for whi it is þe ȝift of God.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)131/21 : A narowe stie..was made thurgh sleight and wirking [Man.(1): strengthe; F force] of men.
- a1450 WBible(2) (Corp-C 147)Num.4.20 : Curiouste or sleiȝt [Roy: Othere men se not bi ony curiouste tho thingis that ben in the seyntuarie].
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)367/327 : This body [Mary's] resseyved the holy gostis slithtis.
- a1500 Hal.Gloss.(Eg 829)8 : Difficultas: sleyght.
f
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.39.2 : In to þe sleiȝtis [WB(2): hard sentensis; L versutias] of parablis togidere he shal entren.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.295 : By sleiþe of straunge naciouns [Higd.(2): after the subtilite of barbre], þis bygan firste to doo myldeliche with Cristene men.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4050 : Yet shal I blere hir eye For al the sleighte in hir philosophye.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.468 : A man be sleyhte..With his carecte him wolde enchaunte.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)916 : Now schal we semlych se sleȝtez of þewez.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1650 : Jason..gat hym a name ryght as a conquerour, Ryght thourgh the sleyghte of hire [Medea's] enchauntement.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)511 : There-inn was..Morgn lafaye, that myche couthe of sleghte.
g
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7071 : Such sleghtes I shal yow neuene, Barelles of wyne, by sixe or seuene, Or gold in sakkis, gret plente.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3063 : The slote of hir slegh brest, sleght for to showe, As any cristall.
2.
(a) Slyness, cunning, craftiness; guile, trickery, deceit; (b) a trick, scheme, plot, wile.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2405 : He cam out ouer dych wiþ wyles..In al þe werld nas þef him lych..Wan he cam to þe castel wal, oppon wend he by sleȝþe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.157 : Cirus..brouȝte þe Liddes, þat were noble men of armes by slithe [vr. sliȝþe; L astute] to wrecchednesse.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.604 : Ther nas baillif..That he ne knew his sleighte and his couyne.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.131 : The feend..taughte hym sodeynly that he by slyghte [vr. scliȝt] The mayden to his purpos wynne myghte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1582 : Thurgh the fendes sleihte him thoghte..That Serapis spak to him.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1431 : I take al that men wol me yeue Algate by sleighte [vr. sleigte] or by violence.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)267b/b : Serpentes..beþ dyuerse in wikked and yuel sleighte and wyles [L maligna sagacitate].
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)26582 : Wiþ na quaint wordis of sliȝt agh þou noȝt to shew þi pliȝt.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.129 : Clerkes..wille vnderfong a fulle gre emprise & susteyn it with wrong, with sleiht & quaintise.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2243 : Scleight or engyne, fors or felonye, Arn to feble to holden Chanpartye Ageyns trouth.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1459 : Youre fader is in sleght [vr. sleyight] as Argus eyed.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)19 : The enemy..conquered man by wicked sleiȝte and false wisdome.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)458 : Sleythe, of falsehed [Win: or falnesse]: Versucia, dolositas, calliditas, meander.
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)125 : Al this nas but sleght and flaterie.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)18078 : In byggyng I wyll ha trwe wayt, but in my salle I do gret slayt.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)111 : Þis þout is sterid to him bi sleyt of þe fend.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)185/23 : Marchauntes..ought not..make fayrer their marchandyse by any maner of sleyght to make it shewe bettir than it is.
- c1475 Of yiftis (Hrl 2251)10 : The Coleryk, froward and of disceyte..worchith ay by sleyght.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.235 : What craft or sletþe euere þu usist in þi n speche..for deseyuyn þin euene cristene, God..knowyth þi þouȝt.
- a1500(?a1425) Chester Pl.Antichr.(Pen 399)516/713 : Witt ne sleightte ageeynste the conspyryd may be no way.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)3991 : What hath this Cite..trespacid ageyns the..Ther innocent peeple..With thi treynes & sleihtis to beguyle?
- a1500 Degrev.(Cmb Ff.1.6)807 : Wymen conn mychel slyȝth.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)118/4 : Lyeue uader, deliure os of þe kueade, þet is to zigge, of þe dyuele and of his sleȝþes.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2421 : Lo whiche sleightes [vrr. sleighthes, slighthis] and subtiltees In wommen ben.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.365 : If my neighbore had any..beste..More profitable..many sleightes I made How I myȝte haue it.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)3.91 : He consenteþ to..vserye and Auerice and oþer false sleithes In bargeyns and in brocages.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)7.107 : Ich..wol..stele vp-on myn enemy; For to slee hym slehliche, slehthes ich by-þenke.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5884 : Þis tortuose serpent..with his gynnyng & sleiȝtes..Cam to oure fadir first in paradys.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1181 : Noght elles we se Bot..vayn sleghtes and qwayntyse.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)149 : How he myȝt brynge that child to nought With sum sleyȝte priuily.
- ?c1430 Wycl.PN(1) (Corp-C 296)199 : He þat bi..ony sleiȝtte getiþ..his neiȝeboris goodis doþ not goddis wille.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)153 : Feynyd sleythe of falshede [Phil: feynyng, sleithe]: Comentum.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)850 : Whanne þou vsyste marchaundyse Loke þat þou be sotel of sleytys, And also swere al be deseytys, Bye and sell be fals weytys.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)5/36 : A couetous man gooth wt many sleyȝtis & sotiltees & gadryth an hoord of erthely catel.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)104/14 : Oure aduersary þe fende..hath so many slethes aȝeyns vs.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.11.7a : Þis is þe sleiȝþ of þe enemy.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)674 : The law ys..coloryde falsly By sleyttys and by perjury.
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cxxiii : Bi sleyȝtes of antecrist & his meynee þe peple is disceyued.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.206 : Be swyche sleyþis..þe false usureris..begylyn & robbyn þe pore peple.
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)224 : The child..made sleightes and wyles, how he myght put his Fadir to dethe.
3.
As term of association; -- ?error for flight n.(2).
Associated quotations
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)603 : A slyth of gose haukys; a slyth of dowes.
4.
As surname.
Associated quotations
- (1297) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 16121 : Hugo Sleghte.
- -?-(1302) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.969 : Willelmus Sleght de Portington, mercer.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1500 *Chauliac(5) (Peterh 118)66b/b : Chyldern shall nott be letten blode…but ȝif it be righte grett nede and þen it shal be done with…grette sligthe.
Note: New spelling: sligthe.
Note: Probably belongs to sense 1.(a)--per MLL.