Middle English Dictionary Entry
sorcerī(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sorcerī(e n. Also sorcerẹ̄, soercerie, sorseri(e, sorsseri, sors(o)ri(e & soceri(e, socerri, soserie & (?error) scorcerie, (errors) sortery, sorce; pl. sorceries, etc. & sorcereus. |
| Etymology | OF sorcerie, sorserie & ML sorceria. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Witchcraft, magic, enchantment, sorcery; also person.; also, an act or instance of sorcery; (b) a state of affairs not readily attributable to natural causes; (c) the apparently magical working of an ingenious and hidden contrivance.
Associated quotations
a
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)34/177 : In this commandement is forboden us Alkyns mysbileues, and al mawmetries, Al fals enchaunmentez, and al sorceries, All fals charmes, and all witchecraftes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.755 : The moder was an elf, by auenture Ycomen, by charmes or by sorcerye [vr. socerye], And euerich hateth hir compaignye.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.978 : The same shal the man telle..wheither he hath..broken..his penance enioyned, by whos help and whos conseil, by sorcerie [vrr. sorce; force] or craft.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)8142-3 : Ȝyt ys þer more of lecherye Þat ys do with sorsorye -- Sorsorye, þat ys, wycchecrafte.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)479 : Þat ilk niȝth Neptenabus Made so stronge sorcery, And adressed it by þe sky, Þat it com to þe pauyloun Þere þat lijþ kyng Philippoun.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1576 : Þer comen mony Clerkes out of Caldye þat kennest wer knauen, As þe sage sathrapas þat sorsory couþe.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)18.306 : Tho he lyfte vp lazar þat leyde was in graue..Iuwes seyden þat hit seyn whit sorceris [vrr. soercerye, scorcerie] he wrouhte.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)21.72 : He can of sorcerye -- good is þat we a-saye Wher he be ded oþer nat ded doun er he be take.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3307 : Be hir sorserie He skaped was many iupartie, Many pereil, & many gret distresse.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)454 : For his dedes war suthfast and þaires bot sorcery.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)66/22 : A mysdoer..þe whilk hight Takyna..delt with sorcery [Man.(1): wycchecraft] and thurgh his enchauntementz feyned him ane aungell and begyled ȝung damyselles oft sythes and lay by þam.
- 1425(a1400) Spec.Chr.(1) (Lnsd 344)87/17 : These are þe synnys of dedis: Ydolatrie, Nigromaunsy, Trecherie, Sorcerie [vr. socery; SC(2): sorsrye].
- c1425 Treat.10 Com.(StJ-O 94)14 : Of alle coiurisons þat been euyll..And of turnynge of loues & of keyes & of sorcere in rynges And alle oþer sorcereus & charmus..Alle þese mester men & wemen..been out of þe feith of haly chirche.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)72/7 : Mede was oon of þe connyngist wommen of sorcerye þat euere was.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)258/99 : Ȝe wiste as wele as I What wonders þat þis wight has wrought, And thurgh his maistir sorssery Full derfely schulde his deth be bought.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)38 : Þai..Of þe ordere of þat odde home þat ouer þe aire hingis Knew þe kynd & þe curses of þe clere sternys..As wide as þe werd was went worde of þaire teching, Of sorsery & slike werkis sleȝtis enogh.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)3739 : Phylesteyns makes þem mawmentry and honers þem both euyn and morn..Sayue now þi selfe fro socerry, els may þou lyȝtly be for lorne.
- c1450 Siege Troy(2) (Rwl D.82)274 : Medea..was passing eny other..of konnyng, norture, and knowing of al the sciences, nigromancy, magyk, sortery [read: sorcery], and oþer enchauntementes that nowe ben forbode.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)66/13 : By inchauntement and by sorcery she hath bene the destroyer of many good knyghtes.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)21070 : Touchyng my name, I am callyd..Sortylege or Sorcerye.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)284/381 : Be fals crafte of soserye wrowth opynly to þe pepyll Alle and be sotyl poyntys of nygramancye many thowsandys fro oure lawe be falle.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)18/5 : We forbede you alle maner of sorcerie and wychecraft and false imagynacions of Godis priuetye as fals Cristen peple ofte-sithe draweþ vnto sechyng of entermetynge hem of thynges whiche ben to come.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.400 : She was foriudged for sossery, For enchauntmentees..she was..workyng Agayne the churche, and the kyng cursedly.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.906 : Eche from other..Þis briddes knowe..Grekys and Latyns kyndely assonder Whan þei hem seen..I can nouȝt espie Þe causys hid of swiche sorcerye -- But wel I wot, þouȝ my wit be blent, Þat rote of al was fals enchauntement.
c
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5291 : Þis selere was be sorsry selcuthely foundid, Made for a mervall to meeue with engine; Twenti tamed Olifants turned it a-boute, Quirland all on queles quen þe quene entres.