Middle English Dictionary Entry
Tē Deum n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Tē Deum n. |
| Etymology | From Tē Deum laudāmus, the opening words of the L hymn; also present in OE. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The Te Deum, a hymn of praise sung during the night offices, esp. matins, and on special occasions of thanksgiving; ~ laudamus.
Associated quotations
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1131 : Cusen þa muneces abbot of hem self and brohten him into cyrce mid processionem, sungen Te Deum Laudamus..diden him ealle hersumnesse swa swa hi scolden don here abbot.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)47/12 : Æfter þam ferþa repsa beȝinn þeo abbedesse þane lofsang: Te deum laudamus.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)15/27 : Ed tis word, 'Nascendo formam sumpseris,' cusseð þe eorðe, ant alswa i þe Te deum laudamus.
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(LdMisc 108)469 : Huy..nomen him up with ioye..And Te deum laudamus songuen swyþe murie and heiȝe.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1866 : Te deum was oure song and no thyng elles, Saue that to Crist I seyde an orisoun.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.37/26 : The chanons of the chirche of seynt Bartholomewes..began to synge Te deum laudamus.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)p.647 : Full devoutly Te Deum ther was songe.
- 1440 Doc.in Kingsford EHist.Lit.(CotR 2.23)169 fn. : Where eny syngers weren in eny chirch, þe Maier of London commaunded hem to sing Te Deum Laudamus.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)7044-5 : In they wenten anon to Masse hit owt to heren..More-ouer to ȝelden god here thankynge, and te deum laudamus thei gonne to synge; And whanne that te devm was j-doon, From the awter he torned anon.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3809 : When þuse ladyes herden hym speke..þis ladyes song þo Te deum an heyȝe, And þe sextens rong þo þe belle.