Middle English Dictionary Entry
transcenden v.
Entry Info
| Forms | transcenden v. Also transcende, trascende; p.ppl. transcendid, trancendid. |
| Etymology | L transcendere & OF transcendre, transcender, (late 15th cent.) trascender; the form trascende may show the influence of ME ascenden v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To be preeminent, be surpassing; (b) to be superior to (sb. or sth.), excel above, surpass; (c) to rise, ascend [quot. a1449]; also, be or rise above (a place), surmount, move beyond; also fig.; (d) to transcend (time, the created universe, etc.), escape inclusion in; lie beyond the scope of (human reason); (e) to exceed (one's limits, natural bounds).
Associated quotations
a
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.1882 : France..transcendith, in pes be prouidence, And in werre be knihtli excellence.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)1268 : This Cyrces..who so euer drowe to hir emonge, With feyre wordys and bewte transcendynge Tysede them in-to concupiscence.
b
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)160 : Stoode sevyn maydenys verrey celestyall..Off porte and chere semyng inmortall, In siht transcendyng alle erthely creatures.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)397/47 : There regneth now a kyng Whos..prowesse doth transcende Al your emprises as hih as doth the moone A cloudy skie that shal vanysshe soone.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.2382 : Kynges..sholde be the merour and the liht, Transcende al othir be vertuous excellence, As exaumplaires of equite and riht.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)4885 : Pes ys the parfyt Iowel That al Rychesse doth transcende.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.117 : This Nabugodonosor transcendede in magnitude and fortitude Hercules in his actes.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Expos.PNoster (LdMisc 683)28 : Pater noster..transcendith other prayerys all.
c
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2650 : Out of forgis bi fire þat smethis make..thes infernal ougli smokes blake Transcende the coppe of many gret mounteyn.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Mum.Bishopswood (Ashm 59)10 : Haþe Veere dovne sent hir owen doughter dere, Making þe vertue þat dured in þe roote..For to trascende, moste holsome..In-to þe crope.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)277 : Ye inmortal goddyis alle incorporat [stars]..be pasyng off nature haue trancendyd this mysery, Be fortunat fate eternally deyfyid and gloryfycat.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.216 : That mynde also þe spere of fuyre transcendeþ..And to þe sterred places he ascendeþ Thurgh-out þe speres.
- a1500(?a1430) ?Hoccl.7 Joys Virg.(Cmb Kk.1.6)3 : Modyr of god! to whome he doth honoure So hie, þat ȝe þe bryght place transcende Be flouryng of maydenhede so sure.
d
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2910 : I can not deme in swiche heuenly þing, Nor þer-in holde noon oppinioun, For it transcendeth, shortly, my resoun.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.39/9 : Whoes [God's] dyuyne will eternally precedith; euery creature his dignyte transcendith and his power disposith.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)60.6 : Thai ere aday that contenys and transcendis the warldis of all generaciouns: this day is lastandnes.
e
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.973 : Whan tirauntis..Of surquedie cachche an oppynyoun That ther estatis & domynaciouns Sholde euere endure..at Fortune thei disdeyne..Falsli transcendyng the boundis of mesure.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)3337 : She [Grace Dieu] hath..off pryde only, & surquedye..off nature the passage Transcendyd pleynly & the boundys.