Middle English Dictionary Entry
tracte n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | tracte n.(2) Also traicte, trakke; pl. tractis, -us. |
| Etymology | ML tractus chant, antiphon; for form traicte also cp. OF traict, var. of trait musical interlude. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
An anthem sung during the mass from Septuagesima Sunday until Easter.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.145 : When..it [mass] was comen toward þe tracte in whiche it is songen, 'Scitote quoniam Dominus ipse est Deus'..þe preost..seide, 'Ipse fecit nos.'
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)544/34 : In þe gospel of þe messe is mensioun and mynde of þe victorie of Crist. And in þe tracte beþ ischewid foure manerys of impugnaciounis.
- c1450(1438) GLeg.Septuagesima (GiL30) (Eg 876)148/40 : The Saterday tofore Ester we sing one Alleluya .. and after this Alleluya men synggen the Tracte, bi the whiche is signified the trauaile that we shulde haue in fullfellyng the comaundementes of God.
- ?c1450 in Aungier Syon Mon.327 : From septuagesym in to ester thys tracte 'Gaude Maria' schal be songe at lectren.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)37.46 (v.1:p.260) : In the satirday biforn Estern we syngen oon Alleluya .., but yit to this oonly Alleluya is immediately ioyned a tracte.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)37.66 (v.1:p.260) : We aftir the alleluya of ioye and gladnesse syngen the tract of laborious trauaile.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.IVMass (Trin-C R.3.21)255 : Alleluya, in ordyr next folowyng, Tokeneth prayer for our saluacion..The tracte [vr. traycte], the sequence, for short conclusion, Sung in his lawde that for vs shed his bloode.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)3793 : But one alleluya bout mo we syngen þen..A tracte þen is after suyng.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)63/30 : Holy chyrche..þys day [Septuagesima Sunday]..layth downe Alleluia and oþer songys of melody and takeþe forþe tractus, þat ben songys of mowrnyng, and sykyng, and longyng.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)68/32-35 : Holy chyrche..sengyth on Alleluia wyth a tracte, for encheson þat scho ys not ȝet yn full murth tyll Settyrday aftyr þat ys callyd Settyrday in Albis; Þen scho leyþ don tractys and grayles, and syngyþe dowbull Alleluia.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)63/299b : Gradus: grece; tractus: trakke; sequencia: sequens; offertorium, offerenda: offertory.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)110/4 : Ȝif þe tracte be longe, hit may [be] songen of iiii or of vi, þe one after oþer.