Middle English Dictionary Entry
benī̆gnitẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | benī̆gnitẹ̄ n. Also benignete, beningnite. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Good will, kindness, mercy, mildness, generosity, meekness; yer of ~, year of goodness; (b) for ~, of ~, thurgh ~, out of (one's) kindness, generosity, mercy, etc.; (c) beneficial quality.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.64.12 : Thou shalt blesse to the croune of the ȝer of thi benyngnete [WB(2): good wille].
- (a1382) WBible(1) Prols.Jer.(Dc 369(1))343 : Thei sheweden..his benygnete and loue that hem hadde sent.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.2.4 : The benygnyte or good wille [L benignitas] of God ledith thee to penaunce.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.455 : Goodes of grace ben science, power to suffre spiritual trauaille, benygnytee [vr. benygnetee], vertuous contemplacioun.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.929 : Hir goost was euere..ful of pacient benygnytee.
- (1413) Hoccl.Rich.II (Hnt HM 111)33 : See eek how our Kynges benignitee And louyng herte his vertu can bywreye.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.18/16 : Nowe come the tyme acceptable, the yere of benygnyte, In the whiche Rayer hadde sette the fowndementys of his holy temple.
- c1430(c1395) Chaucer LGW Prol.(2) (Benson-Robinson)361 : Hym oweth, of verray duetee, Shewen his peple pleyn benygnete.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)302 : We ouȝte toward oure neiȝboris kepe þis benignite or peseabilnes.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.1823 : Doo with thi seruaunt after thi benyngnyte.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)254/14 : Þe secunde fote in brede is benignite, þat is, to suffere & to be mure, & noȝt veniable ne holde wratthe in herte.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)60/24 : Toward oure neiȝboris goostlihode..benyngnite or myldnes, and largenes.
- a1500(a1400) Wycl.FHC (NC 95)353 : It is not ynow to suffre, for so don þefis, but do good in soule aȝenus yuel suffrid; for þat is good loue of þe fire of charite, and is clepid benignite.
b
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.54 : Ofte..of thy benygnytee..Thow goost biforn and art hir lyues leche.
- c1390 Fadur and sone (Vrn)96 : Þou of me ne take veniaunce, Lord, for þi benignite.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.827 : Ye so longe of youre benygnytee Han holden me in honour.
- (1397) RParl.3.379b : I beseche my lyege and souverayn Loord the Kyng, that he wyll of his heygh grace and benyngnytee accepte me to his mercy and his grace.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3163 : Þat of his grace and benignite Vp-on his deth hym list to haue pite.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.532 : Thow be my sheld, for thi benignite.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1859 : O moral Gower, this book I directe To the..to correcte, Of youre benignites and zeles goode.
- (?a1430) Hoccl.MG (Hnt HM 111)35 : Fro temptacioun deliure me..thurgh thy benignitee.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)380/154 : Meuyd in hym-silf of his benignyte, Of ther chapitle a brother forto be.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)2843 : Gramercy, lord, wych of þi benignite Voushyd-safe þi promys to acomplyse.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)1152 : So shulde a kyng of his benignite Shewe hym gracyous to hihe and lowe degre.
- (a1449) Lydg.PPs.102 (Trin-C R.3.20(1))76 : He is not rygorous To do vengeaunce, of his benignyte, Mercy preferring.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11009 : But ye, off your benygnyte, Lyst for to conveye me.
- ?a1475 LDirige(2) (Dc 322)70 : I pray thys ffor thy grete benygnyte, Thy mercy, lorde, late me nat mys!
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)81/18 : Þat þey schulden take bysines, þorw beningnite of apostle, to put to..þe name of meneres.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)473/71 : Ihesu gud lord, for thy benyngnyte, Correk owr syght and owr wrechyd lyvyng.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)2019 : That she vouchesafe, of hyr benygnyte, Of tho gret dowtys me to enlumyne.
c
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.207 : The fruyt wol haue benygnite [BodAdd: benyngnitee] or drede.
2.
A manifestation of good will, a good deed, a kindness.
Associated quotations
- c1415 Chaucer CT.Pars.(Lnsd 851)I.455 : Goodes of grace biene sciences, powere to suffur spyrituele traveyle, benyngnites [vr. benygnitees]..and semblable þinges.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)43/18 : Þou blamez me for þe benygnytes that I schewed þi moder.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)50/4 : Sawe ye not the grete benignite, howe that he wold not tovche the knyght by cause he sawe hym hurte?
3.
As a term of address or title of respect: thi ~, your ~, your graciousness, you.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2428 : I hope that youre benygnytee [vr. benyngnytee] wol taken it in pacience.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)1779 : O sunne off grace that..Descendyst into this world, alle off thi benygnyte Becomyng man.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)666 : Princes, pleseth hit your benignite, This litil Dite to haue in mynde.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)357/72 : Yif it like youre benygnyte nouth to ben displesid..me longith to youre presense.