Middle English Dictionary Entry
bē̆stiā̆l adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | bē̆stiā̆l adj. Also bestiall(e; rarely pl. |
| Etymology | OF & L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of an animal, pertaining to one of the lower animals; (b) belonging to the animal kingdom, animal (as opposed to vegetable and mineral).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2913 : To take a mannes herte aweie And sette there a bestial [rime: schal].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)286a/a : Þey beþ nought y taught to speke..but þey han bestial [L beluinum] witte..wiþ bestial [L bestialem] appetite.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Look TM (Hrl 2255)37 : The hardy Lioun..natwithstondyng his bestial sturdynesse..Ther comyth a quarteyn.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)3719 : He, in hys swynys lawe, Off hys rudnesse bestyal, Ne kan no ferther se at al Toward the hevene.
b
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)95/21 : Of hem ys maad..all maner of kynde of composisiouns, þat originals, minerals, vegitables, & bestyals.
2.
(a) Pertaining to the 'animal' functions of man (i.e. movement, perception, thought); of soul or spirit: concerned with the animal functions (cp. L anima animalis, spiritus animalis); ~ lau of kind, the law or principle governing the animal nature of man; ~ wit, the mental capacity for movement, etc.; (b) of the body: natural or physical (as opposed to spiritual).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)78a/b : As fleisch þat is subiect to þe spirit is I clepid spiritual, so þe spirit þat folweþ alwey þe fleisch is I clepid fleiscly and bestial [L carnalis & animalis].
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)229 : Þe doom of..inward sensitijf wittis, as ymaginacioun and mynde, is lawe of kynde to beestis, and to folewe þe doomes and þe appetitis of þilke sensitive inward and outward wittis is þe folewing and fulfilling of þe bestial lawe of kinde.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)27/1 : Þe outward and inward wittis..ben powers of þe soul which is bestial, or in þat þat he is bestial, bi cause þat to alle parfite notable beestis alle þese now seid wirchingis ben conuenyent.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)85/99 : Ben these nat mortal thinges agon with ignorance of beestial wit, and hast receyved reson in knowing of vertue?
b
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)26/19 : Þat bodi þat is sowen beestial [L animale; cp. 1 Cor. 15.44] schal rise spiritual.
3.
(a) Brutish, debased, cruel, sensual, wicked; (b) ignorant, stupid.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)182a/b : Some ben cruel and bestial [L bestiales] and wonderliche yshape.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)256b/a : It quenchiþ þe sight of resoun & conforteþ bestial madnesse [L vim brutalem].
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2345 : Ther wer eek other, þat list falsli prouide Fals flesshli lustis..Themsilff delityng for to be bestiall.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.3127 : Wher manys resoun is turned bestiall, Falsli transfourmed onto cruelte.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Miseric.(Hrl 2255)82 : Circes whiloom..With song and drynk made folkys bestial.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Virtue (Hrl 2255)91 : Lat resoun brydle thy sensualite, Geyn froward lustys flesshly and bestial.
- a1456 Affter þe stormy tyme (Trin-C R.3.20)105 : Let not þy flesshly lustes beestyal Vnto þe feonde do make þy soule thral.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.371 : Seynte Patrik..studiede to call ageyne.. the sawles of the bestialle peple [Trev.: wicked men þat leuede as bestes].
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)366 : The bestes, tho ben bestiall men that leuyn bestially, shall bere away his goodes.
b
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6716 : If a man be so bestial [F bestiaus] That he of no craft hath science.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)146/28 : Þei weren but bestyall folk [F besteaux] & diden noþing but kepten bestes & lad hem to pastures.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.673 : Thus bestiall folk made hire a goddesse.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.1828 : Ther hasti deemyng so bestial is & dull, On blynde Baiard thei braiden at a pull.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)3317 : Þat he wold be so bestyal To forsakyn hys glorye pontifical.
- c1450 Royal SSecr.(Roy 18.A.7)10/32 : It is bestialle without discreccioun.
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.13 : Of sympul connyng and bestyal rudenysse, I toke one me to translate the same.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)77 : To embrace and rule among youre pore and simple comyns of bestialle contenaunce.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)47/51 : To people bestial, not lerned.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.106 : Constance..the eldest sonne..That was not wise..He made hym monke, he was so bestiall.
4.
Of fish: huge, monstrous; ?also, resembling a land animal.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)35a/b : Eschwe he..fisshez bestialez [L pisces bestiales; *Ch.(2): huge fisshes] & ostreosis.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)107b/b : Belluale & bestiale fishez [L pisces beluale; *Ch.(2): howge or forwaxen fisshes] & elez ar euermore aduersariez to iuncturez.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.67 : Howe Moruile, kyng of Britaine, was slayne..with a fysshe bestyall of the sea.