Middle English Dictionary Entry
biginning(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | biginning(e ger. Also -ung(e; bikinning. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The process of coming into existence; the Creation (of the world, etc.); the first ~; (b) the process of being born, birth; (c) origin; source; taken ~, originate, arise; -- with of phrase denoting the source.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)18564-6 : Forr Godd wass æfre swa þatt He Ne toc nan biginninnge, Acc all þe werelld toc att Himm Biginninng þanne het wrohhte.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)127 : He þe is and eure wes, butan biginnunge, soð god.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)32 : Ðis werdes biginninge.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)190 : Fram þe biginning of þe world to þe time þat now is, Seuene ages þer habbeþ ibe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.259 : From þe bygynnynge [Higd.(2): begynnenge] of þe world..anon to þe incarnacioun of Crist, were fyve þowsand ȝere and two hondred.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)278 : Þof he began al oþer thing, Him self had neuer bigining.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)10 : Before ar any thyng was wroght, And ar any bygynnyng was of oght.
- c1475 Earth(3) (Rwl F.32)102 : The erthe was made of erthe at the first begynnynge.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)247 : Be-gynnyng with-owt be-gynnyng.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)65/8 : God haues..ordeyned alle þynges at þe ferste bygynynge.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)1/7 : I am without begynnyng.
b
- (1429) Will Braybroke in Ess.AST 5297 : All that I have trespassed..from my begynnyng in to this tyme.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)1/1 : God, maker of all þyng, be at our begynnyng.
c
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)73 : Þe shame þe þe man haueð of his sinne..is þe biginnigge of fremfulle sinbote.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)287 : Euch þing hefde beginnunge [vr. biginninge] of his godlec.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)14a : Biginnunge [L Inicium] & rote of al þis ilke reowðe.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)72 : Þane dyaþ, þet is to þe guoden beginnynge of liue.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.3007 : Nature hath nat taken his bigynnyng Of no..cantel of a thyng, But of a thyng that parfit is.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.596 : Is non so litel welle spring, Which ther ne takth his beginnyng..it geth Out of the See and in ayein.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.4.231 : Ymaginacioun, albeit so that it takith of wit the bygynnynges to seen and to formen the figures [etc.].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)28 : Begynnynge, or rote of a thynge: Origo, Ortus.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)87 : Þe worschiping of cursid idols is þe bikynning, cause, and end of all iuel.
- a1500 For the begynnyng (Hrl 3810)262/25 : The begynnyng of wysdom is for to drede goddys ryȝtwysnes.
2.
(a) The initiation or first stage of an act, event, process, or condition; onset, start; at the ~, at the outset, in the beginning, first; ~ and ende, everything; ende ne ~, nothing; from ~ to ende, from start to finish; (b) the initial part (of a book, a story, etc.); the front (of a book); the nearest part (of an area, etc.); (c) the first or earliest part (of a period of time, one's lifetime, etc.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)23/216 : Þis is a biginnunge of þe sar.
- c1300 SLeg.Kenelm (Hrl 2277)198 : And tolde hire al þe liþere cas fram bigynninge to þan ende.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3589 : Þe king atte biginninge let hangy echon.
- a1350 Prov.Hend.(Hrl 2253)13 : God beginning makeþ god endyng.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)78/994 : Oþurwhyle in his prechinge He wolde turne from his furst biginnynge.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2229 : Werre at his bigynnyng hath so greet an entryng..that euery wight may entre whan hym liketh.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.717 : At my bigynnyng first I yow biseche, Haue me excused of my rude speche.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)8b/a : Begynnynge & ende of al goode þinges.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)164b/b : Oure lorde ordeynede þe bygynnynge of þe kyngdome of dauid.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12240 : A barn me has..ouercommen..he hardens suilkin thing þat i ne wat end ne beginning.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)1895 : Antwere spake at þe begynnyng.
- (1413) Will in Bdf.HRS 216 : Atte beggynyng, I most onworthy..recom'ande me..to þe grace..of þe blyssfull Trinite.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.791 : Ful sharp bygynnyng breketh ofte at ende.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)495 : Þus es here þe bygynnyng Of our lyfe sorow and gretyng.
- a1425 Siege Troy(1) (LinI 150)101 : Lordyngis..herkeniþ bygynnyng & eynde.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)22b/a : Apostemez haþ 4 tymez: Bigynnyng [L principium], Augmentyng, State, & declinacioun.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)37/13 : Þis sikenes [bubo] lurkeþ wiþin þe lure in þe bikynnyng, but after [etc.].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)42b/a : Apostemes..be cured in þe bygynnynge [L principio] wiþ some esy repercussyues.
- c1450 Dc.Prov.(Dc 52)p.55 : Of a gode begynnyng comyth a gode endyng.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)172/12 : And there he tolde hir the begynnyng and endyng.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)326/16 : He tolde all the batayles from the begynnyng to the endynge.
- c1475 Rwl.Prov.(Rwl D.328)p.117 : A good be-gynnyng makyth a god ende: Bonum principium facit bonum finem.
- c1475 Rwl.Prov.(Rwl D.328)p.126 : Euery begynnyng hys harde: Principia sunt grauia.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)2/19 : At the begynnyng of oure dede make we heuen & erth.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)5b : Ed te biginnunge of þe Venite.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)13 : At the biginning of vre tale.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)67a/a : In þe bigynnynge of þe sixte book.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)108a/b : Þat on [cercle]..turneþ a ȝen to his owne bygynnynge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)109b/a : A planete þat is in þe biginnynge of aries haþ aspecte to him þat is in leone tofore him.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)184a/a : Libia is in þe bigynnyng of Affrica.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4524 : Ȝe han herde it..rehersyd..In the bygynnyng of the knyghtys tale.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)p.1 : At the bygynnynge the proheme of the book.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.36.3 : Than wol the begynnyng of the 2 hous sitte upon the lyne of mydnight.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.36.21 : The begynnyng of the 7 hous is nader of the ascendent.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)11 : Thys boke ryȝt to aray, Begynnyng, myddes, and end.
- (1453) Will York in Sur.Soc.30189 : j..Messe Boke with Scrope armes in the begynnyng.
c
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)119 : Ah drihten ne demeð nenne Mon efter his biginnigge.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8221 : In þe bigininge of Iul þis bataile was ido.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)149b/a : Þer is a maner kyte þat takeþ briddes in þe bigynnynge and aftirward he etiþ guttis of beestis.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)15/31 : Þe morning in þe begining of þe lyth.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)29/15 : Fra þe beginning of lentyn til þe paskis sal ye ete eftir euensang.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)384 : Like as þe apostles..diden in þe begynnynge of cristis chirche.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)92 : Þe tokunnis of miraclis, in þe beginning of þe kirk, were only necessary þat sche schuld growe to þe feiþ.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)15/9 : At the begynynge, as thay come into the contrey..thay fondyn the men of the contrey bolde forto defende har londe.
3.
at the ~, before everything else, first and foremost.
Associated quotations
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2175 : Vilanye, at the bigynnyng, I wole..over alle thyng [etc.].
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)265/15 : At the fyrste begynnynge, I promyse you by the leve of God for to rescowe that knyght.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)336 : Otuel..by-souȝt hym..That he hym lente armur, Spere and schyld atte by-gynnyng.
4.
Phil. & theol. A basic principle or entity; foundation, basis.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)130a/a : Matiere is principal and bigynnynge of distinccioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)325b/a : Oon is þe bigynnyng and welle of alle nombres, and þerof alle nombres comeþ and springeþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)329b/a : Þe triangle is bygynnynge & element of oþere figures and schappes.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)106 : He made þe boke of Catoun clere, Þat es biginnyng of Gramere.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.11.180 : In the beestis the love of hire lyvynges..ne cometh not of the wilnynges of the soule, but of the bygynnynges of nature.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.172 : The whiche destynal causes, whan thei passen out fro the bygynnynges of the unmoevable purveaunce, it moot nedes be that thei ne be nat mutable.
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)2 : Whi is he cleped fadir?..he is welle & bigynnyng, out of whom alle thynges proceden.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)50/26 : Þe hiȝest..treuþis..bi whom alle oþire louȝer and lasse knowen treuþis ben prouyd..ben clepid principlis or bigynnyngis.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)11b : Begynninge: caput, elementum, exordium, origo nature, originalio, inicium rei, primordium, principium operis, incepcio, inchoacio.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)147/14 : Man..sholde ham [bestis] surmounte in vertues, and namely in two, that byth two begynnyngis and hedis of al maner mankynde workis.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. beginning.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (a1382) WBible(1) Prol.Kings (Bod 959)29 : Two & twenti elementis [i.e. letters] ben bi þe whiche wee wriityn Ebruely al þat wee spekyn & mannys voice wiþ þe bigynnyngys of hem is takyn.
Note: L eorum initiis vox humana conprehenditur
Note: Sense not covered in MED--per JR