Middle English Dictionary Entry
surfē̆tǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | surfē̆tǒus adj. Also surfetouse, surfaitus, (16th cent.) surf(f)etus. |
| Etymology | AF surfet(o)us, -feitous, -faitus, vars. of OF sorfaitos. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Excessive, intemperate, extravagant; also, overindulgent [quot. c1450]; (b) wicked; (c) as adv.: excessively; overabundantly.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 Þe wyse mon in (Vrn)382 : Large table and plentyuouse Makeþ men of Ianglyng surfetouse [F sourfetouse].
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)40/34 : Yef man may persaue..þat sho es surfaitus & il maner, Man sal noght felaȝscap with hir, bott..latte hir ga.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.156 : What schal I seyn of bodily delice..suche wrecchis þat ben surfetouse, Into what siknesse and disese it ledeþ.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)242/39 : To kepe covstoume is moche wourth to mayntene hele, so that hit be not surfetouse.
b
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.141 : I haue right grete disdeyn Þat suche wicked men and surfetous [vrr. forfettoris, surfetours] Schulde any tyme in dignite be seyn [Chaucer Bo.: that dignytes ben yyven ofte to wikkide men].
c
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4219 : Hyt semys not surfetus harde, No vnpossibill, thys pupull perfourme in dede That fyuetymes fewer before home has done.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9351 : Hit is not light for vs lite þis lond to dystroy, Þat haue..Surffetus mony Bothe of kynges & knightes.