Middle English Dictionary Entry
subdēken n.
Entry Info
| Forms | subdēken n. Also subdekene, -dekon, -dekne, -decane, -decon, -deakin, -deacon(e, -diaken, -diacon(e. |
| Etymology | OE subdiācon, subdeācon (from L) & L subdiā -conus; also cp. OF subdiacne, AF subdeken, subdiakene, vars. of OF sosdïacre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. soudeken n.
1.
Eccl. (a) A member of the lowest clerical order, ranking immediately below the diaconate, a subdeacon; (b) the set of vestments worn by a subdeacon; (c) = soudeken n. (b).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.359 : Arator, a subdecon [Higd.(2): subdiacon] of Rome..made þe book Actus Apostolorum al in vers of sixe feet.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.891 : Ben ther mo speces of this cursed synne as whan that oon of hem is..of folk that ben entred in to ordre as subdekne [vr. subdecane], dekne, or preest.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1051 : Ȝyf þou be 'infra sacros' And art a clerk & hast þe los Of subdekene or dekene by name, So moche art þou þe more to blame.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.190r : William kyng, and Lanfranc archebisshop of Caunterbury, and Thomas erchebisshop of York, and Hubert subdekon and legat of Rome and other bisshoppes and abbotes... 'Ich Hubert of the Holy Churche of Rome listre and of Ser Alisaundre Pope legat haue wryte vnder. .. Ich William bysshop of London haue vnderwrite. Ich Herman of Shirbone bisshop haue vnderwrit.'
- (1448) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1213 : ij copes wt all the aparell for Prest, Dekyn, and Sub-Dekyn.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)324/2 : Þe subdekyn sulde go rede þe pistell.
- (1454) EEWills132/17 : Y bequeth..a vestement of blak for prest, deacon, and subdeacon, of the prys of x li. or within.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)41.287 (v.1:p.275) : She saugh commen oute of the presbitarie two ceroferaries, a subdekon and a dekon, and a preste redy to goon to messe.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)59/13 : Gayus..ordeyned þat..he þat schuld be mad a bischop schuld first be a benet..and þan a colet, and þan subdiacone, diacone, and prest.
- a1475 Form Excom.(2) (Rwl B.408)3/6 : Ȝif a bisshop..vse..dyseplayng..he is dampned; ȝif a deken or a subdeken or any clerke vse hit, he shal be put out of comenyng of cristen men.
- a1500(a1450) St.Robt.Knares.(Eg 3143)92 : Robertt..Purpost hym to be a prest..And was subdiakenn wyth phannenne.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)73/311a : Subdiaconus: subdekon.
- a1500 Hrl.1002 Gloss.(Hrl 1002)629 : Subdeacone [glossing:] subdiaconus.
- 1618(1440) Invent.Cumberworth in Peacock EChurch Furniture181 : One whole vestment for Priest, Deacon, and Subdeacon..and all that needes to them to sing and minister in, of read velvet vpon satyn.
b
- (1423) Will York in Sur.Soc.4575 : De vj l. receptis pro uno vestimento de nigro panno de baudekyn, viz. j casula, deakyn, et subdeakyn, cum una capa ejusdem sectæ..pro uno vestimento..continente j casulam, deakyn, et subdeakyn.
c
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)462 : Sodekene, or subdekene..nathineus.