Middle English Dictionary Entry
superflū(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | superflū(e adj. Also superfleu, (error) superfue. |
| Etymology | L superfluus & OF superflu, superflüe. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Exceeding what is necessary or normal; (b) useless, worthless, vain; also, immoderate, excessive; ?foolish [quot. a1450 St.Kath.(3)]; (c) of a person: extravagant; also, of a house: ?extravagantly built or supplied, of excessive cost; (d) remaining; the ~ men, the rest; (e) math. ~ nombre, a number the sum of whose aliquot parts is greater than the number itself [cp. superfluous adj. (c)]; (f) med. & surg. ~ flesh, flesh ~, flesh puffed up by excessive granulation, proud flesh; (g) as adv.: excessively.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 11.41 : Netheles that thing that is ouer, ether superflu, ȝyue ȝe almes, and lo! alle thingis ben clene to ȝou.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)39b/a : Ne þe middel [read: mylde] modir is nouȝt superflue [L Nec superfluit pia mater] noþir to moche, for he herberweþ and holdeþ togedres þe veynes of þe brayn withinne.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)282/2 : Þe dropesie is a sijknes compound in which superflue [L superflua] mater þat is coold swelliþ þe body.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.228 : God haþ ordeyned al þes þree [priests, lords, and commons] to helpe ech oþir to gendre love, and noon of hem to be superflu.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)35b/a : Be he war of ire, solicitude, i. bisynez, of to mich exercise, & superflwe waking.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)171b/a : Kinde is so merueillous þat ȝif it be holpen wiþ medicynes þat ben moste conuenient & acordinge, it fulfilleþ þat is to litel and doeþ aweie þat is superflue oþere to moche.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)8.118 : Alle leuys superflu Ikest away, and they that paled greu.
- a1450 Chauliac(4) (Cai 336/725)30/5 : How membris þat ben superflue schulde be had off.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)222/33 : Wyth-holde thou to the nedful thynges, and ȝeue tho thynges that ben superflue or to mych.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)68/19-20 : Bi lawe of kinde, of resoun, and of charite..ech man which haþ superflue goodis more þan is nede to occupie ouȝte frely ȝeue of þilk superflue godis to his neiȝbore suffring nede.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)53/3 : Esy labour as in goyng or rydyng..veseth a-way and breketh all ventositees..and breketh the superflue humours.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.12.44 : It was seen superflue [L superfluum] and veyne for to preye for dead men.
- ?c1400 Wycl.CGosp.Mark (Add 41175:Hudson)59/4 : Þei crownen hym wiþ þornes whiche euer maken superflue araies of cloþis and multitude of metis and messis to his onour.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)125/32 : Brise doun not oonli suche vnleful coueitise but also alle superflu & vnstable þouȝtis.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Wisd.11.16 : For summen errynge worschipiden doumbe serpentis and superflu beestis, thou sentist in to hem a multitude of doumbe beestis in to veniaunce.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.68 : Feyned lettris of fraternite wolen þei ȝyve to symple men..Siche lettris maken no riȝt..and so þes lettris ben superflue, as ben þes ordris þat maken hem.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3825 : Who so wilneth to be contynent, Many a lust superflu mot he lete And lykerous.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)27 : Bot þe secte of ȝoure fayth is so superflu and vnresonable þat his semeþ to be receyued of noon þat hath his ryght mynde.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)371/42 : For medelynge and settynge my-selfe in worldely besynesses and oþere superflue vanites, I toke litil fors of the.
- c1450 Earth(3) (Lamb 853)15/33 : Wondir me þink..whi þat erþe for superflue erþe to sore sweete wole or swynk.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)15/37 : Who caste from hym þe vanyte of the worlde and all superflew thynges..he hath sowle of wysdome.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Nwb f.36 Ry.20)94/23 : Superflue delyte [F superflu delit; Rwl: Nothing ellis but a bandon alltogedre and ouir natur to provoke the worlde to a superfluite and to a comon lechery].
c
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.200 : Freris and preestis..gadren hem tresure..and algatis fynden a peple superflue and charginge.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)147/31 : Ȝee superflue wymmen, ful of pompe and pryde.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)155/33 : For she hadde be superfue [read: superflue] in cloþes, she suffred ful grete sorowe for nakyd.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)49 : Men bigging þus biggings semen to turne bred in to stones; þat is to sey, þe bred of þe pore, þat is almis beggid, in to hepis of stonis, þat is in to stonen howsis costlew and superflew.
d
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Jer.39.9 : Nabusardan..translatide in to Babiloyne the residues of the puple that dwelliden in the citee, and the fleeris awei that hadden fled ouer to hym, and the superflue men of the comyn puple that weren left.
e
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)327a/b : Superflue nombres and diminutyfe be vnordynatliche disposed and compouned of no certeyn ende of nombres.
f
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)61b/b : Of a wond in which is superflwe [Ch.(2): ded] flesh: Of which seiþ G..þat þe magnitude of it out of nature demeþ ablacioun, i. taking away of ouer habundance.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)93a/a : Also þer ben oþire woundes wiþ deperdicioun of substaunce in þe whiche þer is superflue fleische schewynge wiþ oute and excedinge.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)44/1-3 : If þer growe..any superflue flesshe in þe hole, as it falleþ oft tymes, þat þou shalt know þus: þe superflue flesshe bygynne for to growe fro þe bone in middes of þe hole, and noȝt fro þe sides of þe flessh.
- a1450 Chauliac(4) (Cai 336/725)27/20 : Of vlceris wiþ proud fleisch or fleisch superflue.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)155a/b : Þe fleisch þat is yuele & superflue & growinge wiþoute þe lippis muste be corrodid by contynuel apposicioun of vnguentum viride.
g
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)58a/b : If forsoþ þai be brissed superflue [Ch.(2): be alto-broken; L superflue conterantur], þer is no hope þat it be heled.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)50 : It semiþ good, spedi, and meritori þat þe kirk be honorid, neuerþeles not to mikil nor superflue, ne curiously, nor proudly, for glory of þe world.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1450 3 KCol.(3) (Lamb 491)49/5 : Þan seyd Ioseph, 'Syt still, Marie, on thi best, and will not to speke such supperflue wordis.'
Note: New form.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense (f)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. superflue flesh.