Middle English Dictionary Entry
stal-worth adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | stal-worth adj. Also stalworthe, -wourthe, -wurth(e, -wrth(e, -warthe, -wort, -word(e, -ward(e, staleworth(e, -worht, -ward(e & (early) stalewurðe, (SWM or SW) stealewurðe, -wurhðe, -wurde, stelewurðe & (in surnames) stallewrth, stalewurd & (errors) stalwoht, staloworth, scalward; comp. stalworther, etc. & stalwordore, (error) stalworþed; pl. stallewardes. |
| Etymology | OE stǣl-wirðe, -wierðe, -wyrðe, -weorðe; some forms of 2nd element influenced by ME worth adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. stathelworth adj.
1a.
(a) Of a person: physically strong, powerful; hardy, robust; in good health, able-bodied; also, as noun: strong or robust people; biforen ~, very powerful [transl. of L prævalidus]; (b) of the body or a bodily part: strong, powerful; also, robust, hardy [last quot.]; of the stomach: not prone to ailment, healthy; maken ~, to strengthen (sth.); (c) of an animal: strong, powerful; sturdy; (d) mighty in battle, militarily powerful; also, as noun: powerful people, the mighty; (e) of God, a pagan idol: powerful, mighty; (f) of the physical constitution: hardy, robust; of strength: intense, extraordinary; (g) of intelligence: vigorous; of a letter: forceful, moving.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)25 : Ic em hal and fere and strong and stelewurðe, ȝet ic mei longe libben and alle mine sunne timliche ibeten.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1027 : Þe ston was mikel..Grund stalwrthe man he sholde be Þat mouthe liften it to his kne.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)288 : Sstaleworth he was, of swich pouer Þat þer ne wan man in þat lond Þat o breid him miȝt astond.
- c1375(?c1280) SLeg.Advent,etc.(Eg 1993)95/695 : Twelf stalewarde men to wake vche niȝt heo toke.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.31.1 : Wo þat gon doun in to egipt to helpe in hors hopinge, & hauyng trost..vp on horse men, for befor stalworþe [L prævalidi] þei ben ful myche.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.263 : Men of Frisia..kepeþ besiliche here children and suffreth hem nouȝt to wyfe wiþ ynne foure and twenty ȝere; Þerfore þey haueþ stalworþe children and stronge [Higd.(2): myȝhty childer; L robustam sobolem].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24767 : Willam basterd..warraid in jngland ful hard, Sua stalworth [Phys-E: stalword] man he was of hand þat wit his forse he wan þe land.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)7/68 : Iasoun..toke with him sir Ercules, A stalworþ [vrr. stalworþe, stalword] knyȝt and an hardy.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)127/1610 : In þe bataile to-day was a knyȝt berdles, Þries stalworþed [vr. stalworþir] þan euer Ector was.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.96 : Be he bathed in þat blode, baptised as it were, And þanne plastred with penaunce..He shulde stonde and steppe, ac stalworth worth he neure, Tyl he haue eten al þe barn.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)255 : Hit wern þe fayrest of forme..Þe styfest, þe stalworþest þat stod ever on fete.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3770 : Þe tyme þat he was best in elde & stalwordest hym self to welde, A best com out of þe Irysche se & destruyed al þe contre.
- a1450 Where-of is mad (Dgb 102)122 : I likne a kyngdom in good astate To stalworþe man, myȝty in hele.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)108 : Wylful begging of stalworþ men is forfendid to ilk cristun man of þe apostil of Crist and of God himsilf.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.31.17 : She girde to with strengþe hir leendis, & maade stalworþe [WB(2): strong] hir arm.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)846 : Brode, bryȝt watz his berde..Sturne, stif on þe stryþþe on stal-worth schonkez.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)326 : Thenne thei styrte vp on hy with staloworth [?read: staleworth] shankes, Pulledde out her swerdes and smoten togedur.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)68/27 : Whanne a stomake ys hoot, stalworthe [Ashmole: stronge; L fortis], and good, þanne profitys most grete metys.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)69/23 : Forthstrechynge of þe membres makys stalworth [L corroborat] þe body.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)7247 : Why trauailleþ a man so?..For two þinges principally, Þat oone is to sustene þe body, Þat oþer þat it stalworþe be To serue God..As in prayers and almes-dede.
c
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1950 : Þe gomes of grece were..alle on stalworþ stedes stoutliche i-horsed.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1548 : He gert ordain..Armurs and al oþer gere, Stalworth stedes.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)132/21 : Þe griffoun es..gretter and stalworther þan a hundreth egles.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)14/17 : Þouȝ þis beste ouer alle oþer stalworþest be, he durkeþ & dareþ whan he a mous seeþ.
- a1450 Treat.Horses (Sln 2584)105/265 : If þe hors be stalworde, let him wel blod & wasche þe schabbed stedes with þe hot blod.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3937 : Þan floȝe þar by þe firmament of þa foule Backes, Als store & as stalword as þire sedill dowis.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.3.1 : Þe lordshipere lord of hostis shal don awei fro ierusalem..þe stalworþe & þe stronge [WB(2): a myȝti man and strong; L validum et fortem].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.25.3 : Þe cite of stalworþe [vr. stalwrth] folc of kinde shal dreden þee, for þou art maad strengþe to þe pore.
- ?c1400(c1340) *Rolle Psalter (Sid 89)Cant.An.6 : Arcus forcium superatus est..Þe bow of stalworthe is ouer comen.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3017 : His stoure was so stalworthe [Dub: stalwort] & store & strange to a-byde; He had of men out of mynde many mayn hundreth.
e
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6496 : Sua stalworth sal he [Golden Calf] be and strang þat he sal hald vs hale and fere.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18065 : He þat suilkins mightes moght Es god stalworth weldand in will In manhed mighti to ful-fill.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)130 : Knaw kyndly what God es..How wake man es..And how stalworth God es and how myghty.
f
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)38/6 : Ah sei me, seli meiden, hweonne is þe ilenet i þine leoðebeie limen se stealewurðe strengðe.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)153/17 : For þer is no þing vnpossible to stalworþe nature; namely, whanne þat it is holpen wiþ a good leche.
- c1450 Whanne marye was greet (Lamb 853)58 : Þe maistir deuel wondre þouȝte Of ihesus stalworþe complexioun.
g
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.3 : Wise writeres..left vs write meruailles..and dedes of oure forme fadres, of stalworthe wyt.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)2 Cor.10.10 : Þe pystlys certys ben heuye to vndyrstande and stalworþe for to fere.
1b.
(a) Of a tree, spear, bar, etc.: strong, sturdy; of a statue: immovable; of a rope or chain mail: strong; (b) of a prison, city, etc.: secure, solidly built.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.36 : Thai yed sain Ion to se, That stithe stode als stalwoht [read: stalworht] tre.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)884 : Þe ȝonge men..steken þe ȝates ston-harde wyth stalworth barrez.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)983 : Lothes wyf..nas stadde a stiffe ston, a stalworth image Also salt as ani se and so ho ȝet standez.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)9175 : Polydomas..toke a spere stalworth & strong And met him so In that forlong.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)17120 : Thei brast on-sonder many a mayle, The stalworthe lace of hir ventayle.
- c1440 St.Chris.(Thrn)646 : With stalworthe rapes gane þay bynde His handis.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)340/91 : Sties also are ordande þore, With stalworthe steeles as mystir wore.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)4291 : The duke strake Ipamadon Wyth a stallworthe spere.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17342 : Þai ledd ioseph..To prisun in a stalworth [Trin-C: strong] hald.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.121 : Steuen..did reise in þat coste a stalworth donjon.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1292 : Now is þis stalwourþe stede distroied for euere.
- c1460 MOTest.(Lngl 257)13718 : Stalworth [Seld: his cors þei dyȝt in A graue stalworthy of stone].
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)1228 : For þat staleworthe sted so strong was founded, Philip hoped þat holde with his help to wynne.
1c.
Of food, vinegar: strong tasting, having a strong flavor; of wine: potent.
Associated quotations
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)13/33 : Tak stalworthe ayselle in a vessele of bras & jewse of ake appills & do þam all to-gedir.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)38/35 : Tak þe rute of playntayn with þe sede & stampe þam with stalworthe vynagre.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)68/28 : Whanne a stomake ys hoot..þanne profitys most grete metys and stalworthe.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)80/4 : Þe redder wyn and thickere mor heuys þe blood; But whenne it ys stalworth and of a strong tast, þanne ys hit sayd þe firste blood, and þe firste norisshynge.
2.
(a) Brave, courageous, valiant; -- also used of a deed [quot.: a1425 Glo.Chron.B]; also, as noun: a valiant man; ~ to fighten, eager for battle; (b) morally resolute; steadfast; courageous in spiritual conflict; also, keen (to do sth.) [quot.: a1450 PNoster R.Hermit]; (c) of death: endured with bravery.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)85/749 : Cwen icoren of iesu crist, beo nu stalewurðe, for þu schalt stihen biuoren me to drihtin in heouene.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)15456 : He..dealde on þreo flockes his stale-worþe [Clg: duhtie] cnihtes.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)25 : Hauelok..was þe stalworþeste man at nede Þat may riden on ani stede.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3387 : An erl þer was of leicestre..Þat stalwarþe kniȝt was & god.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3960 : Womman ne kepte of no kniȝt as in druerye, Bote he were in armes wel yproued..Þat made lo þe wimmen þe chastore lif lede, & þe kniȝtes þe stalwordore [B: stalwardere] & þe betere in hor dede.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9334 : Nou ȝe stalwarde [vr. stallewardes] kniȝtes..Ȝoure herten hebbeþ vp &..nimeþ þe wreche of ȝoure fon.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11144 : Þe stalwardeste [vr. staleward] men þat me fond to him vaste he drou.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)456 : Ich am a staleworht man, And of min owen ich haue a stede, Swerd, and spere.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)135.18 : Shriueþ to þe Lord of lordes..Þe which smote grete kinges And sloȝe stal-worþ kinges.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.439 : Ȝonge kniȝtes..schulde be þe more stalworþe [vr. stalward; L constantiores] afterward, ȝif þey piȝte here tentes as it were in here owne cradeles.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7324 : Omang þir puple sal þou latt A stalworth man þat saul haitt.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.26 : Edward..was..wis, stalworth, & bolde.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1659 : Such semblaunt to þat segge semly ho made, Wyth stille stollen countenaunce, þat stalworth to plese.
- a1425(?a1400) Penny (Glb E.9)99 : Sir peny ouer all gettes þe gre..with-owten owþer spere or schelde es he þe best in frith..and stalworthest in stowre.
- a1425 Glo.Chron.B (Pep 2014)4337 : Stalworthe dede [A: Þo hii to þe king come & ssewede hor stalwardhede].
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)14/19 : Many men..aren stalworþ & bolde to putten hem to peril on se & on londe.
- a1475(a1450) Tourn.Tott.(Hrl 5396)9 : Of fele feȝtyng-folk ferly we fynde..Of þem þat were dughyt [read: dughty] And stalworth in dede.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10435 : His tunge bigynneþ to wexe loos, And of his ȝouþe he makeþ roos, Hou stalworþe he was..And hou bolde to walke anight.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)76/12 : Rolf..was the other stalwardthest [Rwl: boldyste] that daye yn the felde.
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)114/35 : He gadered to-gyddyr an hoste of ten thousand men, stalwarth to fyght, & besegete staluarthly the Cyte of doun.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9183 : Wo mot I þole, Þat mony stalworth in stoure, & stuerne men haue kyld.
- 1591(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hnt HM 2)293/181 : Such a scalward [vrr. stalwarde; stanold] never before me stood, so stowt and sterne is hee.
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)36/18 : Þeo þe stealewurðe beoð & sterke toȝein me, swa þet ha ham wið me wecchinde werien, se uuel me þuncheð þrof, þet al ich am dreori a-þet ha beon þurh me sumdel ideruet.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)140/26 : Wummon is þe reisun þet is wittes skile hwen hit unstrengeð þe schulde beo monlich, stealewurðe [Cai: stealewurde], & kene in treowe bileaue.
- ?a1300 Loue is sofft (Dgb 86)9 : Loue is stalewarde and strong to striden on stede.
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)64/303 : The bisshop..giffes..the giftes of the haligast To make tham mare stalworth than thai ware before.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9833 : Þat blessyng..makeþ vs stalwurþe yn batayle whan þe fende wyl vs asayle.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)41/528 : Efter solace er þai more abill To stody, more stalwurth & stabill.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)111/112 : Luf es stalworth als þe dede.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)14/24 : Strotiers & leccherous men..are stalworþe..to do yuel.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)11029 : Þen was ely in stallworth state, when he þe bote of god con here.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)17.20 : He lesid me of vices..for there enmys mast noyis vs, and agayns thaim haf we ned of stalworthest standynge.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)103/27 : Þat he be of stalworth and lastyng purpos yn þinges þat he seez to be doon.
- a1500 Apoc.(2) (Magd-C F.4.5)59/5 : [Hrl 171: Whanne þe deuel temptiþ holi men..he is ouercomen] of stalworthe campiouns þat aȝenstonden hym.
c
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)39/324 : Tu schalt sone etsterten al þe strencðe of þis strif þurh a stalewurðe [Bod: stealewurhðe] deð.
3.
In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1227) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames331 : Reiner Stalewurd.
- (1252) Close R.Hen.III257 : Ricardus Stalwurthe.
- (1277) Pat.R.Edw.I248 : William Staleworthe.
- (1297) Nickname in LuSE 55169 : Rob. Stalwrthman.
- (1323) Doc.in Bateson Rec.B.Leic.1379 : Ralph le Staleworthman.
- (1327) Nickname in SAU 63185 : Walt. le Stalworth.
- (1332) Nickname in LuSE 55169 : Alice Stallewrth.
- (1379) Nickname in SAU 63185 : Alex. Stalworth.
- (1428) Nickname in SAU 63185 : Will. Staleworth.