Middle English Dictionary Entry
thē̆ā̆tre n.
Entry Info
| Forms | thē̆ā̆tre n. Also theatere, theatir, theatrum, teatre, (?error) theatree. |
| Etymology | L theātrum & OF teatre, theatre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A great open-air structure or amphitheater built in a Greek or Roman style and used for dramatic presentations or spectacles; (b) a generalized term for a place where dramatic entertainments were held; ?also, coll. dramatic performances [1st quot.]; also, fig. a place where some action takes place [last quot.]; ~ pleies; (c) a brothel; (d) a large, open, circular area suggesting an amphitheater, specif., the site of Troy.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 19.29 : Thei maden a sawt with oon ynwit, or wille, in to the teatre, or comune biholdyng place, Gayus rauyschid and Aristark..felowis of Poul.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1885 : The dispence Of Theseus..gooth so bisily To maken vp the listes roially That swich a noble theatre [vrr. entre, sercle] as it was..in this world ther nas, The circuit a myle was aboute.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2091 : Now been thise listes maad and Theseus..The temples and the theatre [vrr. auters, gates] euery del Whan it was doon hym liked wonder wel.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.99 : Scipio Nasica..fforbeed þe rerynge of þe theatre in þe citee of Rome..Auctors telleþ þat theatrum was a place i-schape as half a cercle, and in þe myddel þerof was a litel hous þat was i-cleped scena, [etc.].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.863 : In þe theatre þer was a smal auter..Vp-on þe whiche..stod an awcien poete For to reherse..Þe noble dedis, þat wer historial.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.900 : Þe poete..in þe pulpit stood, With dedly face al devoide of blood, Singinge his dites..Amydde þe theatre schrowdid in a tent.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.923 : Þe pleies in Troye wer begonne, And in theatre halowed and y-holde.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)90/9 : An olde auncient man went to the theatree of Athenes for to see the playis; This theatre was a place in whiche all the yong men assembled in to prove their myght on agayn anothir, as in armes, or iustes, or wrestelyngis.
- c1475 Capgr.St.Kath.(RwlPoet 118)1.759 : Iustys wer þer, & þoo wyth þe best..þe grete theatyr þer had ful lytyll rest: Euyr was þer fytyng, but þer was no werre.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.243 : Tofore þe iuges he rehersed ..þe fable..of Edippus..þat he schulde torne þe cruelte of iuges into fauour of þe teatre [vr. theatere].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5442 : It syt hem [muses] nouȝt for to help..with maters þat be with mournynge shent, As tragedies..In compleynynge pitously in rage In þe theatre, with a ded visage.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.1.50 : She saughe thise poetical muses..'Who,' quat sche, 'hath suffred aprochen to this sike man thise comune strompettis of swich a place that men clepen the theatre?'
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.239 : Comodus doth aftir hym succeede, Which was al youe be flesshli appetit..Theatre pleyes of custum he did vse.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)4347 : Celestial dewe of grace & al foison, And specially bi revelacion..on thi Theatre of newe doth rebounde, Now blissid Albon is in thi boundis founde.
c
- [ a1500 *Medulla (Cnt D.2)130b/a : Theatrum, id est spectaculum et prostibulum. ]
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)4452 : Anneys in þe bordelhous was..whan þe prefect þese tydyngys herd..to þe theatre he ran wyth heuy chere.
d
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.943 : And who þat wold þe content of þe grounde Trewly acounten of þis place rounde, In þe theatre first he moste entre, Takyng þe lyne þat kerueþ þoruȝ þe centre, By gemetrie, as longeth to þat art, And treblid it, with þe sevenþe part.