Middle English Dictionary Entry
soverainlī adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | soverainlī adv. Also soveranli, -engli, soffrainli, souverreinli & (15th cent.) soverantli, -andli, sofferandli, (N) soferandeli, suffrandli & (errors) sovereigly, severeynly; sup. sovereinlokest. |
| Etymology | From soverain adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To a great extent, very much, highly, extremely; supremely, in the highest degree, above all; very well, excellently; (b) translating L super-: surpassingly, transcendently; (c) fully, completely; entirely; absolutely.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1062 : So wel was william bi-loued wiþ riche & wiþ pore..þat þemperour soþli him-self soueraynli him loued.
- c1390(?a1350) Trental St.Greg.(1) (Vrn(1))120 : Þeose weoren þe cheef festes ten Þat souereynliche [vr. souerenly] socourde synful men.
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)52/29 : Uryn is medcynabyll soveranly to hym þat has seknes of þe splene.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.10.139 : The thinges thanne that ben sovereynly gode ne mowe by no weie be divers.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)34a/a : My maister of Mount pelers souerently [Ch.(2): hyȝeliche; L summe] praised one emplastre made of 12 snaylez cocte with wyne.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)124/5 : Amanges þaim es oile of olyfe of grete valu, for þai say it es soueraynly medecinale [F molt noble medicine].
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)128/5 : Þe whiche þre myȝtis..bryngen wiþ hem two principal comaundementis of þe lawe..souereinly to loue me aboue alle þingis, and þi neiȝbore as þisilf.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)88/26 : Þat þing soueranly mitigateþ oile of rose in hote cause.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)32 : This day was mankynde soueraynliche worschipped in that it was oned and knetted to the godhede.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)177 : Thes ryall gifftes..moste sovereynly [vr. sovereigly] delyte.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.2241 : Bochas comendith..How ech of hem was in his contre Souereynli be vertuous excellence Off old comendid for ther pacience.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)54/24 : Here I resigne vn-to the all thyn empyre, desyrand souerayngly for to hafe þe lyfe of the.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)457 : Al his hert and al his plesaunce To loue hir was sett souereignelie.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)78/6 : Þe wiche knythe þan besouȝthe þis mayuden of noȝthe els but only þat she wolde loue hym sofferandly.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)93/14 : The Romayns..gouerned soveraynly [F souverainement] the comon wele of their cite.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)94/26 : He þat takiþ fewer [gifts] owiþ not to be sory..but raþer take hede to þe & souereinly [L maxime] preise þi godenes.
b
- a1425(?a1400) Dionysius HDivinity (Hrl 674)2/21 : Alle þe pryue þinges of deuinytee ben kouerid and hid vnder þe..derknes of wisest silence, makyng þe souereyn-clerest souereynly for to schine [L supersplendere] priuely in þe derkyst.
- a1425(?a1400) Dionysius HDivinity (Hrl 674)2/23 : Þe whiche [God] is..souereynli fulfillyng [L superimplentem] wiþ ful fayre cleertees alle þoo soules þat ben not hauyng iȝen of mynde.
- a1425(?a1400) Dionysius HDivinity (Hrl 674)3/31 : For þees men kun not come to þe knowing of þe first cause, þe whiche is souereynliche set abouen [L superpositam] alle þinges.
c
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)17.32 : Operis satisfactio..for synnes payeth, And for alle synnes soueraynliche quiteþ.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1862 : Cruel Fortune..Whos maner is..Þat whan a man trusteth most souereynly On þis goddesse..Þan sche to hym is most deceyueable.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.227 : For þis oonheede suffride Crist, and wrouȝte in soule bi his godhede; and þis is þe treuþe of God, for God is sovereynli oon.
- ?a1425 SLeg.Nich.(CmbAdd 3039)73/469 : I traisted in þe soueraynly.
2.
As intensive: especially, particularly, most importantly; sup. sovereinlokest, most of all.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.125 : It is sovereynly [L summe] for to wite þat..þis William often tymes fauȝt wiþ þe kyng of Fraunce.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.45 : In þe worchep of God of heuen and of his modir seynt mari and alle þe holy Company of heuen, and souerengly of þe Noble confessour seynt Antony, [etc.].
- c1390 Vrn.Mir.Virg.(Vrn)145/20 : But grace a-ȝeynes þat is obstacle, Wiþ help of halewen, þorw Miracle Geten bi halewen specially, Bote souereynlokest þorw vre ladi.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4552 : Swich cry..maden alle the hennes in the cloos..But souereynly [vr. souereignely] dame Pertelote shrighte Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales wyf.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.176 : God..comaundeth eche creature to confourme hym to louye And souereynelyche pore poeple and here ennemys after.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)32 : But souereynliche this day is an hiȝe feste and a special solempnytee of al mankynde.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)75/1 : Souereynly [vr. souuerainly; L Sumopere]..fleeþ strives and riottis.
- ?a1450 Sel.Rosarium Theol.(Cai 354/581)60/2 : But passyngly or souerenly Anntecriste is a resonabel creature, pretendyng hymself most holy.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1288 : Soueraynly [Dub: souerandly] for Sampson he sorowis ay elike.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget (Gar 145)30/24 : Bot soffraynly it is to wytt & see þat wher fire is kyndelede in a close vessell and hat no vsshe, the fyr is sone quenchede.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)99/35 : Charles the wyse kyng of Fraunce..was soveraynly [F souverainement] gouerned by connyng.
- c1475 3 Consid.(UC 85)207 : More opinly he shulde discloose him self in tyme of werre than in tyme of peas in rewardys, curthasies..and othir suche princely condicions..both to noble and riche..and souverreynly to men of holy chirche.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)135/9 : Therfor good rennoune is Souerantly to be desyrid.
- a1500(a1450) St.Robt.Knares.(Eg 3143)1191 : Suffrandly I the beseke, Of maners to be myld and meke.
- a1500 Ihesu mercy mercy (Chet 6690)119 : Þou sette myn soule, myn herte, in ese, þe fend to fle his falshede, And souereynly [vr. soferandely] þe forto plese.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2781 : I bid you..Þat ye set you most souerainly my suster to gete.
3.
(a) In the manner of a sovereign, lord, religious superior, etc., in lordly fashion; in the manner of a conqueror [2nd quot.]; also, as befits a ruler; ~ guerdonen, to reward (sb.) richly, reward splendidly; (b) in the manner due a sovereign, God, etc.; reverently, devoutly, with devotion; (c) with reduced force, as rime-word:?rightfully, properly.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2462 : Sirurgiens and phisiciens..be heighly and souereynly [vr. souereingly] gerdoned for hir noble speche.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)122 : God is souereinli fre to worche with what euere creature, hou euere it likith hym.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)21.397 : So leyf hit nat, lucifer, þat ich a-ȝeyns þe lawe Fecche here eny synful soule souereynliche by maistrie.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1064 : Þus Priam..in..newe Troye..lad his lyf..Wher I hym leue in his royal sete Souereynly regnynge in quiete.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.2696 : Hector..alone of hem þat were with-Inne Was chef diffence and protectioun, And souereynly vp-holder of þe toun.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)129/80 : Heraclium Was gouernowre..Souerainly als lord and syre.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1928 : A Priores aw to be prest Forto resaue ilka gude gest And at hir myght þam mere make Soueraynly for godes sake.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)74/4 : Truely it longith to euery good prynce soveraynly to guerdon euery man that hathe don him good and shewed him loue.
- c1475-a1600(a1473) Fortescue Declaration (Clermont)533 : I wrote how that me semyd no woman ought soueranly or suppremely to reynge vpon man.
- 1607 Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)480/407 : Christ..after his ending sickerlie of his deedes of great mercy..shold sit soveraynly in heaven.
b
- c1390 Mirror St.Edm.(1) (Vrn)331 : Þow schuldest him loue souereynli Ouer al þis world, witterli.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)7.92 : Ȝus..and þow be ryght sory For þy synne, soueraynliche by-sechyng god of mercy.
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)20 : Þerfore telliþ crist after to his disciplis þat þei schulden drede god and no þing ellis souereynly.
- (1432) Will York in Sur.Soc.3019 : I, Nicholas Blakburn..besekes Almyghty Godd..to graunt me..grace so to dyspose and ordeyne with the resideu of ye gudes yt he has gyffen me here in yis werlde, yat it may be pleasanns and lovyng to hym soveranly.
- c1400 Wycl.10 Com.(2) (Sim)318 : Þt same þing falsli þei maken heore god, and so hit is to hem a fals god, For þei louen hit souereynli as god.
- c1460 Lydg.Test.(Hrl 2255)p.249 : I am excited and meevyd of nature This name of Jhesu sovereynly to preyse.
- a1475 GLeg.St.Nich.(GiL2)(Hrl 630)64/23 : His fader and all his frendes were in grete yoi and yauen soueraigneli worshipp and þonking to oure Lorde God.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)77/156 : Ȝe muste love god severeynly [read: sovereynly] and ȝour evyn crystyn pleyn.
- a1500 9 PPGod(3) (Hrl 1706)375 : A man þat wylneþ for to profyȝte in þe wey of perfeccyon and souereynly to plese god, he muste bysylye studye to haue þe maters of þise ix poyntys in hys herte.
- 1600(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2013)4/78 : Wee thanke thee, lorde, full soveraignely that us hath formed soe cleane and cleare.
c
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)8777 : Þat land es cald soveraynly Þe kyngdom of God alle-myghty.