Middle English Dictionary Entry
spens(e n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | spens(e n.(2) Also spence. |
| Etymology | AF espense, spence & AL expensa, spensa. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A place where food and beverages are kept, a pantry, buttery, storeroom; also fig.; (b) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1931 : Me thynketh they been lyk Iouynyan, Fat as a whale and walkyng as a swan, Al vynolent as botel in the spence.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)59a/a : Þete [read: þe mete] is I-kept in þat crop, as it were in a propre spence & celar [L promptuario] aȝens hongir þat may come.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)424 : Adam took Gamelyn..And ladde him into spence..And sette him to soper.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)48b/b : Penus: a solere, a spense.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)468 : Spence, botery or celere: Cellarium, promptuarium, dispensatorium.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1365 : Behold þynne hert, þi preue spense, And þynne owyn consyense, Or sertys þou dost amys.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)1441 : He bare þe bordeclath to þe spens.
- (?c1450) R.St.Edmund in Archaeol.42404 : ij new chambers and..spensis, dores, wyndowes, garners, and j privey, iiij li. x s.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)118b : A Spense: Penus..Cellarium.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)83/318a : Despensatorium, penu: spense.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)531 : He sytthyt [read: syttyth] with sum tapstere in þe spence.
- a1605(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(2))23026 : I hadd no maner lyberte..nor in the seller, nor in the spence, ete nor drynke on no syde.
b
- (1319) Pat.R.Edw.II359 : John del Spense.
- (1327) in Kristensson ME Local Surnames18 : Ad. del Spense.
- (1332) Sub.R.Bdf.in Suf.GB 18131 : Willelmus atte Spense.
- (1346) in Kristensson ME Local Surnames18 : Thom. de la Spence.
- (1385) in Kristensson ME Local Surnames18 : Petr. del Spens.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1327) Name in LuSE142 : Thom. atte Spense.
Note: Additional quote(s) Belongs to sense (b).--per MLL