Middle English Dictionary Entry
Sunamīte n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Sunamīte n. Also sulamite, (Latinate) sunamitem. |
| Etymology | L Sunamītis, from Heb.; the ultimate origin of the form sulamīte (see quot. a1382 SSol.) is uncertain, but in both L & ME, forms with -l- and -n- were thought to be vars. of the same word. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
An inhabitant of Shunem, a town in the land of Canaan; also as epithet for the Virgin Mary.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 1.3 : Þei souȝten a fair ȝong womman in alle þe coostis of israel, & þei founden Abisaag Sunamytem [WB(2): of Sunam; L Sunamitidem] & brouȝten hir to þe kyng.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 2.17 : I preie þat þou seie to Salamon..þat he ȝife to me Abysaag sunamyte wijf.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)4 Kings 4.12 : Helisee passede þurgh Suna cite..þer was þere a gret womman þat heeld hym þat he eete bred..& he seide to giaȝi his child, 'clep þis sunamyte [WB(2) vr. womman of Sunam].'
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)SSol.6.12,7.1 : 'Turne aȝeen, turne aȝeen, sunamytis [WB(2): thou Sunamyte; Gloss.: ether Sulamyte, bi Ebreu lettre, that signefieth hool ether perfit; L Sulamitis, vr. sunamitis]; turne aȝeen..þat wee beholden þee'..'What shalt þou seen in sunamyte [L Sulamite, vr. sunamite] but querys of tentis?'
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.Ballade ROL (Sln 1212)118 : O glorious, viole, O vitre inviolate..O Isaye seed, O swete Sunamyte.