Middle English Dictionary Entry
thǒusandfōld adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | thǒusandfōld adj. Also thousand(e)folde, thousandfoulde, thousendfolde, -foulde, thousondefolde, (early) þusendfalde, -falt, þusentfoalt. |
| Etymology | OE þūsendfeald; also cp. ME thǒusand num. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Thousandfold, having a thousand aspects; innumerable, myriad; (b) as noun: an amount one thousand times as great; bi twenti ~, by twenty thousand times; (c) as adv.: a thousand times, in a thousand ways;—freq. with comp. adj. or adv.; a ~.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)155 : Mid þusend falde wrenche he to-drefeð þe þonk þet erre weren to-gedere and wundeþ þe saule.
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)191 : Mid þusendfeld wrenches he þe herte to-wendeð.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3023 : The chambre is strowed up and doun With swevenes many thousendfold.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)116/26 : Monie temptatiuns ich habbe ow inempnet under þe seoue sunnen, nawt þah þe þusent fald [Cleo: þusent foalt] þet me is wið itemptet.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.169 : Al though his cage of gold be neuer so gay, Yet hath this bryd, by twenty thousand fold, Leuere in a forest that is wilde and cold Goon ete wormes.
c
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)120/839 : Nis nawt grislich sihðe to seon falle þet þing þe schal arise, þurh þet fal, a þusentfalt [Tit: þusend fald] te fehere.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)53/12 : Þu wult..habben him to leofmon þet is þusent fald schenre þen þe sunne.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.1120 : In ioye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle A thousand fold [vr. thousent fold] wel moore than I kan telle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.5410 : Of that ye have unto me told I thonke you a thousendfold.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9857 : Ferliful he war, Bot selcuth er a thusand-fald [Göt: thousand fald; Trin-C: þousonde folde] þis barn þat ysai of for-tald.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2401 : Ȝoure wordis ..Ȝour owne man listeth recomforte, Þe whiche in soth..A þousand folde be þe more plesaunt.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.546 : Whan that he bythought on that folie, A thousand fold [vr. thowsande fowlde] his wo gan multiplie.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)2224 : Both body & soul makyn to rest Here..Wher neuer is nyht but euyr day, A thousend-fowld bryhter þan ony is here.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)2174 : Thou shalt han oon, a thousande folde Fairer than she, to thy plesaunce.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)157/9 : Þis man þat we mett was in dedely synne and þat stynkeþ a þousaund-fold more a-fore God and is angels þan dothe þis fowle careyn a-fore þe.
- c1450 ?Suffolk O lord god (Frf 16)11 : Yf I couth wele endyte, I wold saye bettyr, many a thousand-fold.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)8 : O Saviour, Welcome a thousand fold to thi Citee.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)4/88 : I am a thowsand fold brighter then is the son.
- a1500 Methodius(3) (Stw 953)831 : Hys syre, hys damme, a thowsend-folde xall be wers þan we devyse cunne.
- 1600(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2013)7/165 : The brightnes of your bodie cleare is brighter then God a thousandfoulde.