Middle English Dictionary Entry
bī cause, because phr. & adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | bī cause, because phr. & adv. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) By reason (of), on account (of), because (of); (b) for the sake (of); in order to prevent [quot. Malory].
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.321 : By cause of [L propter] goodnesse of þe lond.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1597 : I wende..That he hadde yeue it me by cause of yow.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1433 : Sche is ded be cause of me.
- c1400 Wycl.LAChurch [OD col.] (Dub 244)31 : Þe synnes bi cause of whiche suche persecucioun schal be in Goddis Chirche.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1341 : Lest..that folkes me despise Because of hym.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)109/8 : The Ademand..draweth the Iren to him, And so wolde it drawe to him the schipp be cause of the Iren.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)96b : Bycause of þe, þe children of oure kynde were e-slawe.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)278/6 : Bothe by her dowry and by-cause of her mariage.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)28/385 : My husbond is lost be-cause of me.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)22a : By cause: causa pretextu, contemplacione, gratia, intuitu, obtentu, occasione.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)76/82 : Bycause of unknowing and other obstacles.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)330a/a : Of þe kinde of angles..litil is here y-seide by cause of ensample, þat we may knowe [etc.].
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1519 : Bi cause of þat merthe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)18a/b : Þe neruez which bi cause of delectacion descenden fro þe brayn to þe testiclez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)52a/b : Many þingez which be lefte of, bi cause [L ratione] of shortnez..shal be said in her placez byneþeforþ.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)167b/a : Distilling of watres bi cause [L causa] of fairenesse.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1257/31 : Bycause of brekyng of myn avowe, I praye you al, lede me thyder.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(1438) GLeg.Apost.Peter (GiL83) (Eg 876) 425/71 : Simon seygh that he might not..caste alle his bokes into the see that were of art magike by cause that Seint Petre shulde not preue by his bokes to the peple that he was an enchauntour.
Note: Editor: "by cause: only GiL; the sense must be 'in order to prevent', for which MED s.v. bi cause, because, has only one citation, from Malory."
Note: Additional quote, ?make new sense (c), with Malory quot.