Middle English Dictionary Entry
solicitūde n.
Entry Info
| Forms | solicitūde n. Also sollicitude. |
| Etymology | OF solicitude, sollicitude & L sollicitūdo, sōlicitūdo. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Diligence, industry, activity; (b) anxiety, care, concern; also, a care, concern; (c) a source of attention or solicitous caring.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)73.63 (v.2:p.48) : Petir of Melan .. dayes .. spent to the profite of mennys soulis, as in busynesse of prechyng and the solicitude of confessions heryng.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)144.202 (v.2:p.428) : Manye thyngis he seyth of gret and hy contemplacions, the which I leue to the reders solicitude to sekyn.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)251/26 : The besynesses of this worlde bene dressed by two thinges: oon by science..and the tother by solicitude [Scrope: besinesse].
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)32/5 : Þey been euer ynpacient of reste, loueris of solicitude & bysynesse.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.5 : To comprehende the knowlege..oure insufficience sufficethe not, withowte the sollicitude [Trev.: besines; L sollicitudo] of writers scholde transfude to vs the memory of thynges of antiquite.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.320 : Thei toke none hede..Of thousandes many..But putte their cause..in their owne handes solicitude.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)35b/a : Be he war of ire, solicitude, i. bisynez [Ch.(2): besynesse; L sollicitudine], of to much exercise & superflwe waking.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)326 : Þe iiije is lijflode and endower in such maner hauyng and occupiyng, bi which þer muste nedis greet solicitude and worldly cark and worldly entirmetyngis by vndirgoing.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)580 : Now vp, now doun, as doth a curraunt goute, So ar we travailed with solicitude.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)73/37 : His good gouernaunce stondiþ in forbering al maner of fleischli and wordli vsis, entirmetyngis, and solicitudis.
c
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)241/12 : The wyseman..is constaunte, abydinge, iuste, solycitude, foryeuer, and humble.