Middle English Dictionary Entry
benīgne adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | benīgne adj. Also beningn(e, bening(e. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of persons: gracious, gentle, kind, generous, merciful; showing good will (toward sb.); of an inferior: meek, submissive; (b) as noun: a gracious person; (c) of an animal: friendly, gentle, tame.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))2 Esd.9.31 : For God of myseraciouns and benigne [L clemens; WB(2): meke] thou art.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2215 : He roos to wenden on his pilgrymage Vnto the blisful Citherea benygne.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.99 : Ȝif he wolde bere hym more benigne [L benigniorem; Higd.(2): moore favorable] to þaym..þey wolde desire hym.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.467 : Another is to be benygne [vr. buxsome] to hise goode subgetz.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.215 : He wolde noght..be benigne and favorable To love, bot unmerciable.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.1097 : God of his mercy And youre benygne [vr. benyngne] fader tendrely Hath doon yow kept.
- a1400(?a1325) Bonav.Medit.(1) (Hrl 1701)1103 : Ȝe weten weyl how benygne my dere sone was.
- c1400 Prep.Euch.(Ashm 1286)125/3 : Þei ben unworþi for to resceyue þee, lord, So worþi..So benynge.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1655 : They..cam at his bidding In goodly wyse, meke and ful benygne.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.431 : Wherfore, lord..beth to me benigne.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)128 : Vnto the Kyng she [a goddess] shewed hire ffull benyngne.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.67 : Now was she..tretable & benigne.
- (c1450) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35304 : Recommending us with lowly spiryts into the gracyous continuaunce of youre rygth heyh and benigne ladishippe.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)4011 : Isope had a douȝtir..Wise, & eke bountevouse & benyng with-all.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.1276 : Seneca..commendeth A benyngne wyffe and a softe of speche.
- a1500(?c1370) ?Chaucer Comp.A.(Benson-Robinson)53 : She is the fayrest creature..The benignest and beste eek that Nature Hath wrought.
b
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)1040 : Whan þis benygne, of hir entent trwe, Conceyued haþ þe compleint of þis man..Of hir coloure to wexin she bigan.
c
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)375 : Nature held on hire hond A formel egle..The moste benygne and the goodlieste.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.206 : Sum erthen potte..Maad like a man or best, fers or benygne [BodAdd: benynge; rime: vyne].
2.
(a) Of the face, eyes, hands, voice, heart, etc.: showing kindness, friendly, gentle, gracious; (b) of a quality, virtue, purpose: characterized by gentleness, kindness, or good will; of a law: humane, merciful; of action, behavior, life: motivated by kindness, showing good will.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.554 : And thus she seyde in hir benygne [vr. benyngne] voys.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1742 : Mayus that sit with so benygne a cheere.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1355 : Þe kyng..hem receyveth with chere ful benyngne.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)56/8 : Þou will bery me wit thy benynge handes.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)918 : Hir face..was sad, symple, and benygne.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)5 : Humblesse is the signe of goode hertes and of benyngne.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)p.86 : He..put hys hond vnto hur vysage, On mowthe and eyon passyng benyngn.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)1224 : Frewyll..spake, Knelyng on hys kne with a chere benygne [rime: enclyne].
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.13.4 : Charite is pacient, it is benygne or of good will.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.179 : He wolde of his benygne curteisye Make hem good cheere.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.518 : Thow shalt loue hym in word and in benygne amonestynge and chastisynge.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.1025 : She ne stente..hir brother to commende..in ful benygne entente.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)16.7 : Þe blosmes beth boxome speche and benygne lokynge.
- (1422) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.2.196 : Your benigne pitee and grace.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.9.41 : Thei ben convertyd to the by thi benygne lawe.
- (?a1430) Hoccl.MG (Hnt HM 111)15 : Benigne confort of vs wrecches alle, Be at myn endyng.
- (c1447) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35261 : Besechyng ȝowr benyng favoure to oure Universite.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1286 : Our lord Ihesus Of his benynge grace hath sparid vs.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)291 : She was þe best..Of port benygne, & of daliaunce.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)178 : My lady is the verrey sours..of benigne humblesse.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)110 : Mercy..lyth in hys myght..To yive pardon off hys benynge graunt.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)54 : I mak beningne wyl saue sowlis.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)198/20 : And hire lyf benynge and plesynge to God.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)26 : Bolded with þair benyng suffraunce..Thus I bygan.
3.
(a) Of weather: mild, salubrious; (b) of a vine: ?tender; (c) med. of humors: good, beneficial, uncorrupted.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.52 : Ful lusty was the weder and benygne.
b
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)9.18 : The feruent ire of Phebus to declyne With obumbracioun, yf so benygne And loughly be the vyne.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)24b/b : Of blode naturale & benigne [*Ch.(2): natural & goodly; L naturali & benigno] is gendred fflegmon verray.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)99a/a : Gode chyme, metez, & nutrytyuez, of which is wont to be gendred humour noȝt only benyng [*Ch.(2): good; L benignus] bot also viscose.