Middle English Dictionary Entry
stille adv.
Entry Info
Forms | stille adv. Also stil(e, stel(e & (error) slyll. |
Etymology | OE stille adv. In phrases such as lien (sitten, stonden) ~ , the word might be construed as either adj. or adv. Since, however, in OE this construction seems to be generally adverbial, such phrases are treated here except when the ME is clearly rendering a L adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Silently, noiselessly, without a sound; without speaking; ~ as ston; beren ~, refl. to bear oneself silently, keep still; (b) lien (setten, sitten, stonden) ~, to lie (sit, stand) silently; setten doun also ~ as a ston, refl. seat oneself silently as a stone; sitten ~ as (the) ston; stonden as ~ as ston; stonden ~ so ston; (c) quietly, softly, not loudly; with little noise, with a low sound; in a low voice; (d) in proverbs.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)369 : Fare we on sele riht al swo stille stelen swa we wolden.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)31/324 : Ha wundrede hire swiðe, &..stille bute steauene on heh in hire heorte cleopede to criste.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)66/464 : Hwi studgi ȝe nu ant steuentið se stille?
- a1300 Nu sittet (Cmb Mm.1.18)12 : If ani his so hardi man þat stille ber him ne can, Þ'amperur hat þat men awonge And so uyt him men anhonge.
- a1350 Horn (Hrl 2253)12/215 : Horn him goþ..stille bi dales & by hulles.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2543 : Meliors..darked stille in hire den for drede.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.2 : Sire clerk of Oxenford..Ye ride as coy and stille as dooth a mayde..This day ne herde I of youre tonge a word.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)8a/a : If I pleyde in felde oþir in medes Ouþir stille ouþir with noyce, I preye help in alle wise Of hym þat deyde vppon þe croyce.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)14279 : Vp roos mary stille as stoon; Towarde hir maistir ran she fast.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.354 : Pandare..Into the derke chambre, as stille as ston, Toward the bed gan softely to gon.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)816 : Thus she sit, and darketh wonder stylle.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)345 : Cum on wyth me stylle as ston.
- a1450 I syng of a myden (Sln 2593)3 : He cam also stylle þer his moder was, as dew in aprylle þat fallyt on þe gras.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)213/1949 : Take..all thin host And ryde still with-out bost.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)47/121 : Fayre fadyr, ȝe go ryght stylle.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1528 : Þus seide þe mæiden Cordoille & seoððen set swþe stille.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)67/583 : Nan ne seide nawiht, ah seten stille as þe stan [Tit: ase stan].
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)282 : Me is lof to habbe reste & sitte stille in mine neste; Vor nere ich neuer no þe betere þifich mid chauling & mid chatere hom schende.
- a1300 Nu sittet (Cmb Mm.1.18)1 : Nu sittet stille and herkint alle.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)928 : Hauelok sette him dun anon Also stille als a ston.
- a1350(1265) BLewes (Hrl 2253)1 : Sitteþ alle stille & herkneþ to me.
- c1330 St.Greg.(Auch)87/401 : Gregorij stod stille so ston..A word spac he þer non.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.415 : Þe þridde stood stille and spak nevere a word.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2163 : Thei seten alle stille and herde, Bot therto was noman ansuerde.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.1034 : This knyght ne stood nat stille as dooth a best, But to his questioun anon answerde.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)20509 : Sittes stell [vrr. stille, still] now mar and lesse, And hers now þis mirines.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.953 : Troilus..seyde, 'Frend, shal I now wepe or synge?' Quod Pandarus, 'Ly stylle and lat me slepe.'
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)18097 : Pryamus stode as stille as ston.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)119/31 : Sche was sumdel heuy & abaschyd þerof &..syttyng stille, answeryd not.
- c1440 Knight & F.(Thrn)75 : Bot he ne wold not hym to no-mane mene, Bot satt ay still als stane.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3495 : Þey seten stylle and sore quook. Þey durste neyþer speke ne look.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)184/31 : He be-thought hym of is penaunce and vild speke no word, but stode still.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)285/414 : Jhesus, why spekyst not to þi kyng? What is the cawse þou stondyst so stylle?
- a1500(?a1425) Chester Pl.Antichr.(Pen 399)505/417 : Oute on the, theffe, that settes so styll! Why wylte thou not one wurde speke theym tyll that comyn me to reprove?
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1520 : Þa answarede Cordoille lude & no-wiht stille.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)19/310 : Aþulf sede on hire ire So stille so hit were: 'Þi tale nu þu lynne.'
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2997 : Ich wolde biseken you..Þat ilke of you..Seye a pater-noster stille.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)1299 : Þer Merlin houed and louȝ stille.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)322 : By twene hem þan þay sede stille, 'ne come he neuere aȝen.'
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2985 : With a sad visage he siked stille.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3721 : She seyde stille, 'Now hust and thou shalt laughen al thy fille.'
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3357 : He drogh hir ner and still spak, 'Yon es mi lauerd ysaac.'
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5140 : Son þar come a messager þat spak al still [Frf: stilly; Goöt: softli] in his er.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)15852 : Brian stirt forþ in hure weye & stille seide þat he wolde seye.
- ?a1425 My dere sone wher (Lamb 491)130 : If ȝour houndis chace not wele..þre motys shul ȝe blow lowd & not still.
d
- a1250(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(*Glb A.19-James)132/617 : Þe biche biteþ ille, þoh he berce stille.
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)116/431 : Wimmon weped for mod ofter þanne for eni god, & ofte lude & stille for to wurchen hire wille.
- c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)177 : Ȝif þou seo men speke stille, A-Meoued beo þou nouȝt: Þe wikked mon weneþ þat alle men Haue him in heore þouht.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.121 : Thogh youre grene youthe floure as yit, In crepeth age alwey as stille as stoon.
2.
(a) Motionlessly, without moving; (b) lien ~, to lie motionlessly, lie still; also, remain in place; lien ~ as (a, ani) ston; sitten ~, sit motionlessly, sit still; also, remain in a place; sitten as ~ as ston; sitten ~ as ani ston; stonden ~, stand motionlessly, stand still; also, halt [quot. a1382, 1st]; also, stay in a place, remain (in a place); stonden ~ as (ani, the) ston; (c) with imperceptible movement, without apparent motion; rennen ~, of water: to flow without visible current or disturbance of the surface; stonden ~, of a stream, body of water, flood water: stand without apparent movement or disturbance of the surface; also, remain in a place without receding; (d) inactively; in peace and quiet, at rest; lien ~, of an object: to lie undisturbed; of virtue: lie dormant.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2254 : Stille he wes iswoȝen on his kine-stole.
- c1230 Ancr.(Corp-C 402)26/14 : Biginnen 'leafdi, swete leafdi,' as ear þe forme tene..cneolinde up & dun, þe oþre cneolinde iriht up stille.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)374 : Ðe spinnere..drepeð & drinkeð here blod..fret hire fille & dareð siðen stille.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)375 : Þis grete fischse..houede ase it were a lond..Louerd crist, þat swch a best scholde houi so stille And soffri men op-on him gon and don al heore wille!
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)44 : Bi þat time was þe barn, for bere of þat hounde, drawe him in to his den and darked þer stille.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1926 : As swyft as thought, This queynte hous aboute wente, That never mo hyt stille stente.
b
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)47/35 : Martha wæs swyðe bisig embe Drihtenes þenunge, & hire suster Maria sæt stille æt Drihtenes foten.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3643 : All þiss middellærdess þing Aȝȝ turrneþþ her & wharrfeþþ, Nu upp, nu dun, swa summ þe wheol, & nohht ne stannt itt stille.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5839 : Leness whellp þær þær itt iss Whellpedd, tær lip itt stille Þre daȝhess alls itt wære dæd.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)106/738 : Þe cwen stot eauer stille on heh ant biheolt al.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8169 : Some stode stille & some lepte her & þer.
- a1350 Dronken (Rwl D.913)9-10 : Stondet alle stille, stille as any ston, trippe a lutel wit þi fot ant let þi body go!
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)398 : Rod he forþ..and ever þat bold barn byhinde him sat stille.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 30.9 : Summe weeri stoodyn stille [L substiterunt].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 30.21 : He hadde comaundid hem to sittyn stille [L residere] beside þe strem of Besor.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.219 : Acius þe poete aroos nouȝt aȝenst Iulius Cesar..and me axed hym why he sat stille in þe comynge of so greet a lorde.
- c1390 KTars (Vrn)543 : Whon þe child was ibore..Hit..lay stille as a ston.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3472 : This Nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1794 : Sche beclipte hire lord And preide..He wolde him torne ayeinward tho..And he lay stille as eny ston.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.797 : And whan he saugh how stille that I lay, He was agast and wolde han fled his way.
- a1400(?c1280) SLeg.Nativ.M&C (Stw 949)553 : Euere wente þe sterre forþ..Fort heo com ouer þe stude þere þe child was ibore..þo heo was þerouer ycome, wel stille gan heo stonde.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2288 : Þan stode þe dede stylle as stone.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)15283 : Ihesus roos of his sete, But his disciples seten stille.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1085 : I stod as stylle as dased quayle..So watz I rauyste wyth glymme pure.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2293 : Gawayn..stode stylle as þe ston oþer a stubbe auþer.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4178 : She sat stille as any oke.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3388 : Stille as ston she lyggeth in a Traunce.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)77 : If þou rase and we sat styll, We ne dyd it for none yll.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)1758 : Stille him stod sire Fortager And bot his lippe wiþ dreory cher.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)88b/a : Þis same staunching of blode aforseide schal be vsed in alle cases excepte one, & þat is when þat a grete quarel oþer sucche anoþer grete þing stondeþ stille in a place, as in þe breste, þat it is in doute ȝif þat it be drawen oute, þe blode schal folowe so faste after þat it may not be staunched.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)118/28 : A soule is euere movinge..Stande stille may it not.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)12266 : Thei sat as stille as any ston.
- c1450 Metham Physiog.(Gar 141)125/11 : The ballys off the eyn..sumtyme..meve inward and sumtyme aboute and sumtyme stonde stylle.
- (1463-5) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1687 : For Cristmas was non a lowyd hym [keeper of the clock], for ye clocke stode stille.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)102/20 : Merlion wente to all the knyghtes of the Round Table and bade hem sitte stylle.
- a1475 Mourn.Hare (Brog 2.1)22 : Anone as þey commyth me be-hynde I loke a-lowe and syt ful style and love.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)103b/a : If it meueþ of malancolye, þe quytture is litil in quantite, drie, viscous..and not rennynge, and þerfore it stondiþ stille and wexiþ drie, hard, and sad.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)147 : They stoden all stylle, for stere þey ne durste.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)1963 : The sterre..lad hom..to þat place And ther stode stille, meuet no more.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)129/35 : He slew huge Pepill..a litil afore the Sone goynge downe, stondynge the Sone mervelosly still till the slaght was done.
c
- c1330(c1250) Floris (Auch)308 : Þe water wille erne stille and cler.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1852 : Þe streme it stud ai still in-an; Abute fiue monetz was þat it stud.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8188 : Þe strem all still began to stand.
- a1400 Cato(3) (Frf 14)239 : Þer þe flode is deppist þe water standis stillist.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)50/15 : It es called þe Deed See, for it rynnes noȝt ne nowþer ebbez ne flowez, bot standez ay still.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)1251 : Þer was a water..Þat neuermore stired to ne fro And was þorgh Goddes wille Ordeyned alway to stonde stille.
- a1500 Mirk Fest.Revis.(Hrl 2247)72/7 : Þe watir shall be higher then any hyll by xl cubites, standing still as it were a wall al þat day.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)5411 : Were it þat þe see stille stood..Þe stenche þerof so greet shulde be Þat alle þe fisshes in the see Shulde deie.
d
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8868 : Þe tre it lai ai still in pees; Mani it wald haf don a-wai, Bot moght þai not.
- c1400(1375) Canticum Creat.(Trin-O 57)1159 : Stille þer lay þis tre of gode, Til god were dampned to deye on rode.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1367 : Bi þat þe daylyȝt watz done, þe douthe watz al wonen In-to þe comly castel, þer þe knyȝt bidez ful stille.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1886 : Mater is apaied With o forme..And not desyreth ferther to procede, But stille abitte and wil it nat excede.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.7.9 : Or he waxe oold, his vertu, that lay now ful stille, ne schulde nat perysshe unexercised in governaunce of comunes.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)146b/a : Let þi corrosiue lie stille on þe vlcus halfe a daie and þen take it aweie.
- a1450 Treat.Horses (Sln 2584)113/367 : Take freische rothorus scherne..& grynde it with sope & bynde it þer-to & let it leye þer-to ij daies stille.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)149/10 : Then let hym [the rod] ly stylle two days aftur tyl hyt be thorow colde.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)65b/b : Lete þo plastris ligge stille þerto til þat þou se tyme þat it schulde be chaungid.
3.
Meekly, submissively; mildly, peaceably; also, humbly.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)258/81 : Þis guode Man and is trewe wijf wel stille forth..i-wende, And leten lond and leode and al þat god heom sende.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3778 : Alle þese priueliche..loged hem in þe forest Stille wiþouten ani chest.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.538 : As a lamb she sitteth meke and stille.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)371 : Þenne þe peple pitosly pleyned ful stylle And for þe drede of dryȝtyn doured in hert.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2385 : I bi-knowe yow, knyȝt, here stylle, Al fawty is my fare.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1491 : Jason answerde mekely and stylle: 'My lady..thanke I Hertely Of hire goodnesse.'
- c1475 Earth(3) (Rwl F.32)23/126 : Lord God that erthe tokist in erthe And suffredist paynes ful stille, Late neuer erthe for the erthe In dedly synne ne spille.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)386 : We Karmes..kepen vs out of synne, Nowt proude as prechours beþ, but prayen full still For all þe soules and þe lyves þat we by lybbeth.
4.
(a) Secretly, covertly; privately, in private; smilen ~, to smile inwardly, smile to oneself; (b) ~ and (or) loude, loude and (or, other) ~, privately and (or) publicly, secretly and (or) openly, publicly and (or) privately, openly and (or) secretly; also, at all times, at any time; under any or all circumstances; loude ne ~ [see also loude adv. 1.(c), (d)].
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)220 : Þeiȝ Iosep were in boure stille bisteke, He nolde in none wise his trouþe tobreke.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)23/373 : Horn..To bure nu þu wende After mete stille Wiþ Rymenhild to duelle.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2015 : His wif wurð wilde and nam in ðogt Vn-rigt-wis luue..One and stille ðogt hire gamen Wið ioseph speken and plaigen samen.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)2537 : Þat ffolk..hare goed..solde stille And to þe apostles ffet hit caste to do þer-wiþ hare wille.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)176 : Stille awai hit [child] sschal be browt; No man schal wite..Whar hit bicomeȝ but þou and iche.
- a1400(?c1280) SLeg.Nativ.M&C (Stw 949)315 : Why þenke ȝe yuel..by me in oure herte wel stille?
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1189 : Þou owyst to do no þyng stylle withoute leue of þy fadrys wylle.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)103/33 : Ȝif þat þou haste borne hym away, where þou haste hym ileide telle þou me; and ich hym schal take wel stille and beren away wel pryuelich.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1337 : So he ȝede..Þat he dude in bed stille By þe lefdy al his wille.
- c1425 Evang.(BodAdd C.38)628 : Cleped herode þe kinges stille and bad hem go & do her wille.
- c1440(c1350) Octav.(1) (Thrn)140/1095 : On hur bedd..To hur sche callyd a may Full preuely and stylle.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)1808 : While þai spake togedre stille And kest oure Lordes lyf to spille, Oure Lord knewe ful wele her þoght.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)2107 : Come we a-morwe or on eve, Be we cried or stille yrouned.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)169/3 : The kyngys iii stelyn awey full styll.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)55 : Þen loogh oure Kyng and smyled stille.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)6945 : If þi neighebore haue a wyf Þat be wikkid and of yuel lyf..Warne him so priuely and stille Þat he take it wiþ none yuel wille.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)988 : Þen leuyt þai the lond and no leue toke, Stale from þe styth kyng stylle by night.
b
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)377 : Ðis wirm bitokneð ðe man ðat oðer biswikeð on stede er on stalle, stille or lude, in mot er in market er oni oðer wise.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)584 : Þu ne shalt þerfore no gruching make, Ac suffre al godes wille Boþe lude and eke stille.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)891 : Þe bonde nele noþer loude ne stille Don noht aȝein his lordes wille.
- c1330 St.Greg.(Auch)61/220 : Þe pouer loued hir loude and stille.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3019 : As ȝe me bereþ, y wol do loude & stille.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)1214 : In trewe bileue euere þou weore, stille and loud.
- c1390 I warne vche (Vrn)51 : Sle no mon wiþ wikked wille, Be war and vengeaunce tak þou non, In word ne dede, loude ne stille.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)9.105 : Oure lorde loueth hem and lent, loude other stille, Grace to go to hem.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)750 : Scho neuer, lowd ne styll, Spake neuer with no man in þere wones.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)29/54 : Philip þe Valas..to haue Calays had..Al at his ledeing loud or still.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3409 : Forto amenden I am come now With all my myght bothe loude and stille To doon right at youre owne wille.
- a1425 Cursor (Glb E.9)27720 : Þou sall luf god bath loud and still, Withall þi thoght and all þi will.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)1154 : Hast þow be wonet to speke ylle By any mon, lowde or stylle?
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1396 : Subpriores sal..no thing wirk a-gayns hir wil Arely ne layte, ne loude ne stil.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)372 : Seven dayes I mot forbere That I ne gyf no answere; And yf I speke, loude or stille, With the forme word I sal deye.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)17783 : Anthiocus..was paynym prowd..goddes law both styll and lowd was his lykyng to lett.
- c1475 Guy(4) (Cai 107/176)8831 : Youre barons have full yll wyll Yow to serue lowd or styll.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)330 : Ȝyf it be goddys wylle, y schall kepe the brygge bothe loude & stylle.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)2524 : We schall the helpe, lowde and stylle.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)4123 : Þerfore men shulde lowde and stille Flee ech wommanes wicked wille.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)7530 : Fayre welcomyng..hath played with you er this The fayrest games that he coude Without fylthe, styl or loude.
5.
Continually, constantly, uninterruptedly; always, ever; yet, still; up to this time; from this time forward; alwei ~, always; abiden (dwellen) ~, to dwell continuously; also, remain, be left; remain (in a state); lien ~, continue; remain; stonden ~, exist, be; also, continue; endure, last.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12866 : Ȝif þu hine miht of-ȝiten..wend adun stille þat [?read: þat þu] cume to þan watere.
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)38/695 : Reymyld wel stille [Cmb: Rymenhild weop ille] And horn let teres spille.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.572 : For godes loue, leue her stil wiþ me, Y pray þe.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1417 : Þemperour erded stille in Rome at þe Ester tide.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.8.10 : Fiftene forsoþe þowsend men abidyn stille [L remanserant] of alle þe companyes of þe est puplis.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Tob.2.14 : Holi Job..vnmouable in þe drede of god abod stille [L permansit], graces doynge to god alle þe daiys of his lijf.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Job 7.21 : Lo now in powdre I slepe, & if erly þou sechest me, I shal not stonden stille.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.5.6 : Ne shul dwellen stille þe vnriȝtwise befor þyn eȝen.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Jer.10.20 : My sones wenten out fro me & stonden not stille [WB(2): ben not].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3420 : This passeth forth al thilke Saterday That Nicholas stille in his chambre lay And eet and sleep or dide what hym leste.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.725 : I ne kan nat fynde A man..That wolde chaunge his youthe for myn age, And therfore moot I han my age stille As longe tyme as it is goddes wille.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.478 : I not how thilke body fat..Whan it hath elles al his wille, With chastite schal stonde stille.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)68a/b : If it happe in any case þat þe skyn abide stille [L manserit] in þe wombe aftir þat þe childe is I-bore, þanne þe womman is in perile.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2125 : Fyue days he hyng þere stylle [F continuez] Aȝens þe sunne by hys wylle.
- c1400(1375) Canticum Creat.(Trin-O 57)346 : Adam stod stille in his penaunce Fourty dayes.
- (1413) Will in Bdf.HRS 218 : Þe whyche torches and tapers schul duelle stille in þe same chirche.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)155 : Ȝe sal dwel togeder still.
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)188/1579 : And bod þis navell be sutelly & craftely drawen out of þe womanes body, or be ony cas ought þareof be left slyll [read: styll] within hyre, it is perilous bod scho have þe better medsyn.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)112a/a : Ȝif..þer scheweþ ane eminence in þe yȝe, þe whiche aumenteþ more & more, oþer elles stondeþ stille in one state..þen leie to þe yȝe þis colirie.
- (1445) Will York in Sur.Soc.30157 : I will that all the ledes in forme within my place stand still, to the use of..myn heir.
- a1450 Lond.Chron.Hrl.3775 (Hrl 3775)293 : And there thei were hanged euerychon, and vij of hem were brent Galows and all, and xxix henge styll on the Galowes.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)43/17 : If þou falle, be in no dispeir ne lye not stille in synne..but quycly aryse & heue vp boþe þin hondis to þi Lord of mercy.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)24/21 : Ȝif sche wil be weddid a ȝen, wel is, but sche, he seyth, schal be worthy moor blisse to dwelle stylle a wodewe.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)169/5059 : Y not kowd but stele to gase hir on To venus saw how sore y was bistad.
- c1453(c1437) Brut-1436 (Hrl 53)543/8 : Kyng Edward..contynuet þe sege still from that day vnto þe iijde day of Aust the next yere folowyng.
- (1460-65) Paston (EETS)2.348 : He hath paied for other costes atte shreves turne..and he kepith stille vj s. viij d. for his gowne.
- (1465) Paston (EETS)1.309 : I wold John Paston..schuld ryde aȝyn to my lady of Norffolk and be wyth hyr stylle tyl we haff other tydyngys.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)267/14 : They foughte stylle two owres and more and never wolde have reste.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)638/16 : Kynge Marke..bade hym abyde stylle in that contrey.
- a1475(a1400) Lystyn man & (Hrl 3954)335 : She tok ye sacrament ryth kouth And kept it stylle hol in her mouth.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)62 : A heron..scald hym and draw hym at the vent and cut away the bone of the nek and let the hed be on stille with the skyne of the nek.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)74a/a : Þilke festre is not deuoidid, but lijþ stille and corrumpiþ forþ, þoruȝ which festre þe boon ys riȝt perilously woundid.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)148a/b : Þe quarel..schal be left stille stikynge in þe wounde vn to þe pacient be schryuen.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.184 : Ȝif priour or abot ȝeue þe buschop monye to kepyn hym stille in his dignete..it is symonye.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)30 : Ther felle suche aqueyntaunce Betwix the Quene and hym, that allway still hire mynde..was sette to his plesaunce.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)60 : The pope confermed that he shulde have still all the benefies that he hathe in Englonde.
- a1500 Add.37075 Formula (Add 37075)147/333 : vi tens be formyd of þe preterperfyt tens of the indicative mode, of the whych iij change 'I' into 'E'..as amaueram, amauerim, amauero; and iij kepe 'I' styll..as vtinam amauissem, cum amauisse[m], and amauisse.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)297 : Þe raven þere abood stille þo..And nolde not come þerfro away.
- 1530(c1450) Mirror Our Lady (Fawkes)98 : Oure lady muste be the mene to brynge vs to our god and to kepe vs stylle there.
- -?-(1435) Doc.in Power Craft Surg.309 : And whoso euere hath been maistir two ȝeer togidere, that he be not compellid aȝens his will to be stille the iij ȝeer aftir.
6.
Tightly, securely, fast; stonden ~, fig. to stand fast, stand firmly.
Associated quotations
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)65/1399 : Þe child bileft stille in prisoun, þe maister went out of þe toun.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.995 : Soffre noght at large His wif to go, bot kepe hire stille.
- a1425 Arth.& M.(LinI 150)605 : When þey weore out of heouene Oure Lord..heouene lowked aȝeyn ful stille.
- a1450(1408) Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)152/22 : Þe Romayns..ordeined calketrappes of yren, þe whiche þey..caste vndir þe wheles of þe charus, and ȝif þe wheles stombled aȝenst eny of hem, or þe schaar schulde ouerþrowe or elles sticke stille.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)206/1679a : Alysaunder..did hem in-to þe temple be nyghte, And helde hem þeren, close, stylle.
- c1475 Visit Hen.VI (Nero A.6)251 : Whan Charyte ys chosen with stats to stonde, Stedfast and styll, with oute distaunce, Then wreth may be exilid out of thys londe.
7.
In surname.
Associated quotations
- (1428) Feudal Aids 5259 : Walterus Stylgoo.