Middle English Dictionary Entry
bī̆lding(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | bī̆lding(e ger. Also biling, billeding, billing; bu(i)lding, bolding; belding, bielding. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The action or process of constructing (houses, etc.), construction; pl. works; ben in ~, be under construction; (b) founding (of a city).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 370)2 Para.16.6 : The stones..and the trees..maad redy to bildyng [vr. the bilding; L ædificationi].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1979 : Of buyldyng [vrr. bildyng, buldyng, beeldinge] vp of chirches.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)197b/b : Lyme is nedefulle to buldynge.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.322 : Þis pore freres!..þat þei beggen abouten, in buildynge þei spene, And on hem-self sum.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.13/8 : Stonys and othir thyngis profitable to the bylynge.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.653 : A paleis..Which in beeldyng coste gret tresour.
- a1450(?a1390) Mirk Fest.Win.(Cld A.2)316 : Whyl þe chyrche was in byldyng.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)35a : Men of craft, as carpunteres, tyleres, ferours..to beeldynge of hir wynter housyng.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)94b : Til buyldyng [L constitutio] of citees & townes was vp-founden.
- (c1454) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35324 : We have yn the Unyversyte of Oxonford a scole of divinite in bildyng.
- (a1472) Acc.Bodmin in Camd.n.s.141 : For the byllynge of the Parish Church.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.80vb : The kynge of Egipt greuyd them [viz., the people of Israel] in his bildingis beryng clay tyles.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)293 : Wode servith..to belding and to fyre.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.81 : He bygan to regne þe ȝere after þe buldynge [L condita] of Rome.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4624 : Four hundred ȝeer..To-foor the beelding [vrr. belding, bildyng] and fundacioun Of gret Rome.
2.
(a) A structure or building, such as a house, mansion, palace; (b) an establishment consisting of a group of buildings, such as a residence, castle, fortress, monastery, or school.
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5496 : Nywe abbeys he made..& þer nas of olde house..non Þat he ne amendede wiþ som lond oþer mid buldinge [vr. byldynge; B: beldynge].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 370)2 Par.34.11 : Trees to the iunctours of the bildynge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)179b/a : To rere beldyngges and houses.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)200b/a : Wel neih non..buldyng [is] y bulded wiþouten Iren.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)1774 : Þe bildyngis [Göt: bigginnes] fel, boþe heȝe & lawe.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)2 Cor.5.1 : We hafe a byldyng stablyd of god, þ[e] hous euerlastande in heuen.
- (1447-8) Shillingford86 : The bak side of the costlewe billyng.
- (1450) RParl.5.198b : A mesuage withynne the saide Park called the Logge, with all maner Billynges and Gardynes.
- (1473) RParl.in OHS 5872 : An Inne, mansion place, or beledyng..liyng in the Warde of Baynardes Castell.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)125 : Þat the kyng haue such tresour, as he mey make new bildynges..ffor his pleasure and magnificence.
b
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)297 : Cadmvs..this Cite first began And the ground of the bieldyng sette.
- (c1449) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35277 : We have hade of long tyme a grete beldynge..withinne our Universite off Oxenford, named þe scoles off devinite.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13450 : Fro the cite..Was a buyldyng..Betwene the biggyng..& þe burgh riche Was a wildernes wide..In þis logge..lurkit Pelleus.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)548 : Al her brod beldyng ben belded withe synne, And in worchipe of þe werlde her wynnynge þei holden.
3.
Architectural design or style, architecture.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.181 : Men telleþ þat þe werk passeþ al þe buldynge [L ædificiis] of þe worlde.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.71 : Suche buldynge was nowhere [i-seie] on þis half Alpes.
- c1400 *Trev.Higd.(Tbr D.7)4.3.132b : He echede þe cyte of rome Wiþ fayr boldyng [StJ-C H.1: buldes].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.532 : A cite most royal in byldyng.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.641 : Euery mancioun..Of crafty bildyng & werkyng.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4772 : Ylyoun in Troye..Whiche of billedyng had swiche a fame.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)231 : This tabernacle..Was off his byldyng verrey imperyall.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)976 : At Oxne, a place of smal beldyng, They ful deuoutly maade a sepulture.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)4814 : The gardyn and the cloos..Is remembred..For the faire, fresh beldyng.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)44 : Septisolium..was a famous place..a meruelous place of bildyng.
- c1475 Why Nun (Vsp D.9)179 : Sche brouȝt me to a place..Of ryalle byldyng.
4.
(a) A creation or creature; (b) edification; an act of edification or spiritual improvement.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Cor.3.9 : Ȝee been of godis tylyng and ȝee ben goddys byldyng [L edificacio].
b
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Eph.4.12 : Þe werk of mynystracyoun in to þe bildyng [L ædificationem] of þe body of crist.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)84/12 : He is fulle symple that knowith wele to depart froo this worlde and enforceth him to make grete bieldingis..who-so settith his thought in this worlde lesithe his soule.
5.
A flock (of rooks).
Associated quotations
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)603 : A byldynge of rokes.