Middle English Dictionary Entry
bihọ̄velī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | bihọ̄velī adj. Also beheflic, bihulik. |
| Etymology | OE behōflīc & behēflīc (cp. also behēfe). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Useful, profitable, beneficial, good (for sth. or sb.); (b) suitable, fit; proper, appropriate; (c) requisite, necessary; ~ at nede.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)4108 : Louerd..Let ðu ðin folc hogt helpe-les, And good let oc ðu hem bi-se, Alswilc als hem bi-hulik bee.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1757 : Thilke rancoun which he [Christ] payde..Al was behovely to the man.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1975 : Trouthe, which to mannes nede Is most behoveliche overal.
- (c1400) Gower PP (Eg 2862)304 : Thilke chaunce of pes Is so behoveli to the creature.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)29 : Behouely: Oportunus.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)166/5 : Thei askid him, 'whate þing is moste behouely to seke for a discrete man?'
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.107 : Now shaltow vnderstande what is bihouely and necessarie to verray parfit penitence.
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)270 : I holde þis medled lyf best & most bihoueli to hem.
- (c1391) Gower CA Suppl.(Bod 294)7.3159* : It is bihovely..To resoun and to lawe of kynde.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.261 : Sithen..this matere is so bihovely, What sholde I peynte or drawen it on lengthe?
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)22a/b : Dolatilis: be houeli to howe.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)38b/a : Ludibilis: behoueli to gammen.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)24a/b : For her malice, þai ben nouȝt behouely [L apti] to norisshe of ham self.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)38b/a : Þei ben byhouely [L apta] to þis werk.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)8 : Becavse that wysedome is þe most noble off all othir thynges, it schulde be shevyd by the best resone and the most behouely maner.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)2495 : To teche his brothir what þing is to do, And what be-houely is to refuse.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)150/29 : Bi-cause þat wisedome is moost behouely of alle other thingis, it shulde be shewid bi the best and bi the most bihouely maner.
- (1459) Doc.Reg.St.Bees in Sur.Soc.126578 : I..herd thair..compleyntes..as it was behovely & expedient.
c
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)37/200 : Innen hire wæs se rihte spryng þære lifes welle..for an þing is beheflic.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.387 : Now is it bihouely thyng to telle whiche ben deedly synnes.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)8763 : Syre kyng..To opene my mouþe y ne dar ne may, Bot hit [be] a byhouely þyng at nede.
- c1450 3 KCol.(2) (Add 31042)133 : Tresoure ynoghe and othere purvyaunce For þaire expense, as theym by-hofely thoghte.