Middle English Dictionary Entry
streng(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | streng(e n. Also strengh(e, strenke, stringh(e, strang, stranghe & ? strenǧ(e & (early) strenȝe, strenȝhe & (errors) stenge, streigh; pl. strenges, etc. & strengges, streinghis. |
| Etymology | OE strengu, streng; for forms in -a- cp. forms in -a- or -æ- in ME strength(e n. & strong adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Physical strength, muscular power, brute might of body; also, the stamina of hounds during the chase [1st quot.]; drauen (taken) awei with ~, to remove (a plaster) roughly; (b) pl. mighty acts, deeds of power; (c) the application of physical force; with gret ~, forceably; (d) sturdiness of construction; (e) prowess in battle, military might; pl. martial deeds; (f) violence; unlawful force; with ~, violently, by force; also, by forceful and illegal occupation of property [last quot.]; don ~ til, to do violence to (sb.), injure; (g) in proverb.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)18 : Bot in Engelonde þei ben not slayn but wiþ houndes, or with shotte or with strengh of rennyng houndes.
- c1415 Chaucer CT.Kn.(Lnsd 851)A.1943 : Nat was for-ȝete..þe foly of kinge salamon Ne ȝitte þe grete strenke [Heng: strengthe] of hercules.
- c1425 Glo.Chron.A (Hrl 201)p.302 : Edmond, vor ys strenge, was ycluped Yrenesyde.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)376 : I sall..Stryke hym styfflye fro his stede with strenghe of myn handys.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)48/14 : Lay lyn on þe sare..& on þe lyn do þe playster..&, when þu vn-dose it, wete it wele with þe seke mans pys for to leese it, for, if þu drawe it away with strenghe, perauentoure it wil blede lyghtly efte souns.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)532 : So miche holdest þou þe, man of miht and of strenke, Þat þou miht ovur Oxian wiþ þin ost saile.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)4244 : Sen þou so mekyll of myghis may, wher in þi strengh is dyȝt to dwell.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)117/19 : Brodnesse of thees and heles bytoknys stryngh [L fortitudinem] of body.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)238/32 : The wisedam of Salamon..the constaunce of Macabeus, the streigh [read: strengh; CQ(1): strenght; F force] of Sampson..and the gret riches of Ostomyen, [etc.].
- a1500 Isumb.(UC 142)16 : He was a man of muchel strang, With schuldres brode and armis alang [Thrn: mekille mane and lange With..armes strange; vr. mycull mon and stronge With..armus longe].
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)21b/12 : When þou chaungist thi playster, take nouȝt away thi playster with strenghe [L vi].
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19364 : Þe stedfast trout, lo, her it..Quatkin strenghes it mai do.
c
- a1450(?1409) Vision Staunton (Roy 17.B.43)71 : Y saw fendes with gret strenghe pullyng and teryng adown the pilers of þe brigge.
d
- c1450 Siege Jerus.(1) (Add 31042)287 : Strenghe [vr. myȝt; Ld: Galees of grete streyngþe with golden fanes Sprad on þe brod se aboute four myle].
e
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13321 : Þa Bruttuttes weoren ut of wude iȝein to þan felde; þa atstoden Rom-leoden mid ræȝe strenȝe [Otho: strengþe].
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)258 : We sall wynn it ag[a]yne be wyghtnesse & strenghe.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3413 : The ferthe was sir Iudas, a justere full nobill, the maysterfull Makabee, the myghttyeste of strenghes.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)13751 : All þat was lost be fore, both Cytes, town and toure, by strengh he con restore.
f
- c1330 St.Greg.(Auch)65/238 : Sche swore sche schuld hir neuer ȝeld, Bot he wiþ strenge hir wonne.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19323 : To þe temple..þai yede, þe apostels to þair curt to lede; Bot strengh [Frf: harme] nan did þai þam till.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)19798 : Haf parte of þar riches so large Þoru strengh to win he wald noȝ targe.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1489 : Þay stekede stedys in stoure with stelen wapyns, And all stewede wyth strenghe þat stode þem agaynes.
- (a1443) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xxxvii : Folk of Rouchester counseylyd her for to sewe for that place, for Pyers Savage heelde hit with strengh & force & unlawfully.
g
- a1500 Benj.Minor (Cmb Kk.6.26)41/4 : Strenghe [Hrl 674: Betyr is list þen liþer strengþe].
2.
(a) A fortified place, stronghold, fortress; also fig.; also, a defensible position; (b) a fighting force; pl. troops.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425 PPl.C (Hnt HM 143)3.344 : Relacoun rect..is a record of treuthe..Folowynge and fyndynge out þe fundement of a strenghe.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1827 : And ther was Lewlyn laughte and Lewlyns brothire With lordez of Lebe and lede to þeire strenghez.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1926 : When they ware stade on a strenghe, þou sulde hafe withstonden.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)11468 : He clossed hym self in samary; was full wele walled hym to warrand; bot benedab sett not þer by; þer myȝt no strengh agayns hym stand.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 168)4.188 : Strenghis [Arun 396: He fledde to perse, and there..many strengthes wan].
b
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1260 : He ayers by ȝone hilles ȝone heghe holtez vndyr, Hufes thare with hale strenghe of haythen kyngez.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2242 : Thane þe conquerour tuke kepe and come with his strenghes To reschewe the ryche mene of þe rounde table.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3691 : They fall to þe fyghte..And ilkon frechely fraystez theire strenghes.
3.
(a) Divine or infernal power; also, divine aid [last quot.]; (b) dethes ~, the power of death; (c) worldly power, pre-eminence; the power of a nation.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (Hrl 2277)p.44 marg : Strenȝe [Ld: Strencþe ne worth me neuereft non bote ani man wolle with wille Serui me to paye is flesch, is soule for-to spille].
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3728 : Doð nogt god almigten wrong, Is milce is mikil, is strenge is strong.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)129a/a : Crist..brak þe strenge of helle [L tartara] & brouȝte out holy seyntis & roos þe þridde day.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)2391 : A fool is he..that dooth for strenghe calle To hym that hath no power nor no myht.
b
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)714 : Deades strenge warp him dun.
c
- c1450 Siege Troy(1) (ArmsAr 22)46/576 : Þerfor þat fayre ball þow ȝeue me, An huge stranghe [Suth: strengþ] y shal ȝeue þe.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)156/13 : Thei have ben and been the rebatyng of your strengh and the confusion of your power.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)194/6 : The diuision..among vs, Frenschmen..encresith the strenghe [CQ(1): power; F force] of the aduersaryes.
4.
Moral or spiritual strength, fortitude, the power to withstand adversity.
Associated quotations
- a1425(?a1400) Benj.Minor (Hrl 674)27/5 : It nediþ þat we be attemperid in oure self wiþ discrete abstynence, and after þat to bere outward disese in streng [vr. strenght] of pacyence.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)116/4 : Seven gyftes of þe Hali Gaste er..wysdome, understandyng, cownsayle, strengh, connyng, pyte, and þe drede of God.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.125 : I haue i-nogh of stenge [read: strenge] and suffisaunce As peregal to alle aduersitee.
- ?c1450 Nicod.(1) (Sion Arc.L.40.2/E.25)467 : His strenghe be þin allegate, And his pees mote þe yheme.
5.
(a) The force of moving water, strength of a current; (b) ~ of fir, the power of fire.
Associated quotations
a
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn)20/7 : Þou may see by a mane þat es fallene in a watter & thurgh strenghe it beris hym forthe & reues hym þe grounde.
- ?a1500(?1458) Off alle Werkys (Inscr)p.42 : Then the strenghe of the streme astoned hem stronge.
b
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn)2/22 : For als þou may se þat water es mad hate thurgh strenghe of ffyre, & withdrawe þe fyre þare-fraa, it..by-commes calde.
6.
(a) A faculty; (b) with min hole strenges, with all my might.
Associated quotations
a
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)96/10 : Vche sawle..hauys two stryngthes..oon..is a tokenynge, þe oþer ys wirkand, þat glorious god hauys inlightyd of vij strenghes [L viribus].
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)96/25 : Þanne comes to him a strengh shewable, or Philosophable, þat byholdys shappys vndirstandable.
b
- a1500 Form Conf.(2) (Nero A.3)301 : Specyally I haske God mercy that I haue..nott lowyd hym, dred hym, and wirshippd hym as I awght to do with my hole hart, mynde and wyll, and strengges.
7.
(a) Physical vigor, energy; -- also pl.; also, a state of physical well-being; taken ~, to flourish; (b) ?a source of well-being.
Associated quotations
a
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)122/494 : Ne þu ne moȝe mid strenȝhe þe selwen steren.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)709 : All thinges..War o gretter strengh and pith Ar adam had fordon þe grith.
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn)22/2,4 : Efter he waxes to mane..he floresche in fairenes & strenghe & wytt..Þane sone after als he drawes till elde, þe floures falles & fayles, þat ere his vertus, fairehede, strenghe, wytte, syghte, felynge, & herynge.
- c1450 Siege Jerus.(1) (Add 31042)877 : Strenghe [Ld: For þer as fayleþ þe fode, þer is feynt strengþe].
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)155/12 : In þat tyme [winter]..þe vertuis and streynghys [L virtutes] of bodyis be febyllid.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)60/6 : God..sendys out moystures to make cornes to waxe..and Esperitez taken hir strynghe.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)67/5 : If he vse hem [food and drink] attemperally and mesurly, he shal fynde helpe of lyf, stryngh of body, and hele of al his substance.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)73/6 : Bestes engendres, Pastours waxen, alle þynges taken strynghe [Abbrev.Trip.: might and vertu; Ashmole: strength; L vires].
- a1500 PPl.A(1) (Eaton)8.82 : Strengh [Trin-C: Ac olde men & hore þat helpeles ben of strengþe..Han as pleyn pardoun as þe plouȝman hymselue].
b
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)59/30 : Men redys þat kynges ar yn kyngdomes as rayn yn erthe, þat ys þe grace of god, þe benysoun of heuene, strengh [Ashmole: the lyf; L vita] of þe erþe, and helpe to alle þat leuyn.
8.
(a) The power to produce some physical effect, potency; a curative or harmful property; virulence of venom; (b) planetary influence or dominance.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)67/3 : Ið attres strenȝe ȝenim þa wyrt þe man aristoliam & oþru nama smeriewyrt nemneð.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)183/6 : Swaþeah ne mæȝ man afre for his strenȝe hine sylne ȝeþicȝean asundrum.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)76 : Neiþer þe rose colour ne þe lylie may ouer-passe þe violet, neiþer in beaute, neiþer in strenghe or vertue.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)187 : Þer ben ii maneres of aloe: þe ton is somdel red..and..is clepid epatice, and þis hauyþ grete vertues and strenghes in medecyns.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)111 : Circes..made ordeyne for theyme a potage full delicious to drynke, but the potage hade sich a strengh that sodenly the knyghttes were chaunged into swyne.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)84/39 : Alle þes þinges shal be vpon þe fyr all a nyght and a day, vnto all þayre stryngh be out passyd.
b
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)76/15 : A man is disposed after þe natures of the planetes þat had gouernaunce and strengh at his generacion and burth.
9.
Meaning, signification; the important part [2nd quot.].
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.41.26 : Seuen oxen faire & seuen eeres full seuen ȝeres of plentiþ ben & þe same streynghe of sweuen holden.
- c1460 Chaucer TC (Hrl 1239)2.260 : Sithen tho end is euery tales strenghe [Corp-C: strengthe]..What schulde I peynte or draw it on lenghe?
10.
Law Legal force, validity; in-to the ~ of, in confirmation of; abiden (stonden) in ~, to remain in force.
Associated quotations
- c1450 Gt.Chron.(Gldh 3313)60 : In his parliament diverse statutes and ordenaunces weren made the which shuld stande in strengh and effecte tyl they were specially revoked by auctorite of a nothir parliament.
- (1460) Doc.Bridg.Corp.in Som.RS 5746 : Then the saide bounde of v c li. stond voide and be had for noght otherwise to abide in his strengh and vertu.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.106/8 : Ande that þese above-write þynges opteyne strenghe, to this present charter my seele I have i-put to.
- (1464) RParl.5.561b : Provided alwey..that the same Graunte or Grauntes..be in as grete strengh, vigore, force, and vertue as though the said Acte had not be made.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Probably delete the strenǧe- forms (from the form section) unless rimes actually verify them. (But leave them in streng n.)--per REL