Middle English Dictionary Entry
spīcen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | spīcen v. P.ppl. spīced(e, spīsid, (error) spilid. |
| Etymology | From spīce n.(1).; cp. AF especé spiced. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To prepare or flavor (food) with spices; fig. impart sweetness to (sth.); (b) ppl. spiced, of food, wine, etc.: flavored with spices; of a corpse: prepared with spices, embalmed; wel spiced; (c) fig. swete) spiced conscience, an overly scrupulous or fastidious conscience.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Ancr.(Pep 2498)32/29 : Hope is a swete spyce, for it spyces þe herte inwiþ aȝein al þe bytter þat þe body drynkeþ.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.283 : Shulde no curyous clothe comen on hys rugge, Ne no mete in his mouth þat maister Iohan spiced.
b
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Arun 220)p.157 : E kaunt averas manges de brakole [glossed:] a spiced kake.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3378 : He sente hir pyment, meeth, and spiced ale.
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)13 : Ȝif þei feynen hem to be men of abstynence..and þer wiþ drynkyn dilicious ale and spisid..wynes, and beggen of þe comune peple to holden vp þis realte..þei..ben worse þan comune þeues.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.287 : The body of this holy man spicede with mony spices was sende to his churche.
- a1500 Chaucer CT.Th.(Hrl 7333)B.2043 : Spilid lorye [?read: Spisid lorye; vrr. spiclory, spicolrie; Heng: They fette hym..real Spicerye Of gyngebred that was ful fyn].
- a1500 Hisp.SSecr.(Rwl C.83)8/5 : In..wintir conuenient it is to ete hote metis and dry, as dove birdis, bakemetis well spicid, [etc.].
c
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.526 : He wayted after no pompe and reuerence Ne maked hym a spiced conscience, But Cristes loore..He taughte.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.435 : Ye sholden be al pacient and meke And han a swete spiced conscience Sith ye so preche of Iobes pacience.