Middle English Dictionary Entry
textuē̆l adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | textuē̆l adj. Also textuele, textewel, tixtuel. |
| Etymology | ?AL textuālis; also cp. OF (15th cent.) textuele. Perh. a coinage by Chaucer from L textus & ME -el suf.(2). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Learned in texts, bookish.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.235 : But for I am a man noght textuel [vrr. textuele, textueel], I wol noght telle of textes neuer a del; I wol go to my tale, as I bigan.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.316 : Daun Salomon, as wise clerkes seyn, Techeth a man to kepen his tonge wel. But as I seyde, I am nat textuel [vrr. textewell, tixtuel]. But nathelees, thus taughte me my dame: 'My sone, thenk on the crowe a goddes name..keep wel thy tonge and kepe thy freend.'
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.57 : But nathelees this meditacioun I putte it ay vnder correccioun Of clerkes, for I am nat textuel; I take but the sentence, trusteth wel.