Middle English Dictionary Entry
sọ̄th-sau(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sọ̄th-sau(e n. Also (dat.) sothesagen. |
| Etymology | OE sōþ-sagu; also cp. ME soth adj. & sau(e n.(2), esp. for later exx. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: For other forms see soth adj. & sau(e n.(2).
1.
(a) A true saying, true statement; an old saying, a proverb, maxim; (b) a prophecy; (c) an accurate translation, a true rendering.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1038 : Hit was iseid in olde laȝe, An ȝet ilast wilke soþsaȝe, Þat man shal erien an sowe Þar he wenþ after sum god mowe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.339 : Soþ sawes beeþ nevere þe wors, þey madde men telle magel tales, and som mad men wil mene þat Arthur schal come aȝe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17427 : O þis sothsau þan er we bald, Als þe angel to þaa wimmen tald.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.16 : Hem were leuere lond & lordsshipe on erþe..Þanne alle þe soþe sawis þat salamon seide euere.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)14/2 : Minot..had menid to make Suth sawes & sad for sum mens sake.
- a1450(c1395) WBible(2) Pref.Jer.(NC 66)p.75 : For it is an old sothsawe, to the auarouse man as wel lackith the good that he hath as that he hath not.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)2946 : Soth sawes ben to lordes lothe.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)676 : Thou shalt here..of Loves folk moo tydynges, Both sothe sawes and lesinges.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.63 : It is a wol sooth sawe þat Crist seyȝt may nought been fals.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)175 : My felowe for his sothe sawe hathe loste his lyf.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8911 : For þe loue o þis soth-sagh, þe Iuus fel wit-vten agh, For sco had neuend crist nam.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.150 : These faytoures..ben cleped sothsaweres and astronomyenes..be on sothsawe or two..they blynden the nyse people.
c
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)14 : Ut of latin ðis song is dragen On engleis speche on soðe-sagen.
2.
(a) Truthfulness, truthtelling; (b) the truth; seien the ~.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.2935 : It nedeth noght to mi sothsawe That I witnesse scholde drawe.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.38 : He helded noht, bot stithe stod, And for sothesawe he sched his blod.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)195/14 : So þes þre haue sleien Ion þe Baptist for his soþ-sawe.
- c1400 Verse in Med.St.33 (Cmb Ii.3.8)p.83 : For soþ sawe slawe is his felawe.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6130 : Thou shalt not be the first that so Hath for sothsawe suffred woo.
- c1400 Interpol.Rolle Cant.(1) (Bod 288)6 : Crist..is maad to me double heelþe, aȝein Adam..and aȝein hem þat in blindenes of malice pursuen me for my sooþsawe.
- a1500 Whan lordes (Dub 516)2 : When lordes wille is londes law, Prestes wylle trechery and gyle hold soth saw..Then schal the lond of Albyon torne in-to confusioun!
b
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)2298 : Doughter, sey me þe soþe sawe, How mykel louestou me wyþ wylle?