Middle English Dictionary Entry
treble adj.
Entry Info
Forms | treble adj. Also trebil, trebul, trebble, trible. |
Etymology | OF treble, AF trebill, trebble adj.; also cp. ME treble n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Threefold; composed of three like elements or parts; also, having three aspects, tripartite; (b) multiplied or increased thrice; of actions: performed three times; (c) ~ in philosophie, 'knowledgeable in three branches of philosophy, ' the sobriquet of Hermes 'Trismegistus'; also, in misinterpretation of the sobriquet: ?knowledgeable about triune nature; (d) mus. pertaining to the highest voice or line in three-part contrapuntal music; (e) as adv.: in three rows, triply.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.41 : Wherfore in þis book..I schal hiȝte þe margyns by þe hedes of the stories, som wiþ double and som wiþ treble rewes ȝeres.
- (?1387) Wimbledon Serm.(Corp-C 357)108/746 : Ydel þouȝt, vnhonest speche, and wickid dede..make a treble corde to bynde þe olde man in custom of synne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2202 : Thei worchen treble sinne, That ben flatours aboute a king.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)944/5 : Dragantum..is a maner gomme of a certein tre of þe which tree þe kynde humour is hardid by norisshyng of hete..And þerof is treble kynde for som is white, pure, and cleere..and som is somdel reed and cytrine.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)977/32 : Þe cercle was distyngued in treble odour [L triplici ordine] and vpon þe cercle stood golden floures liche to planteyne fro temple to temple.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)981/14 : Þe lilye is next to þe rose in worþinesse..þe colour þerof is treble: white, reed, and purpure.
- c1400(?c1280) SLeg.OTHist.(LdMisc 622)59* : He arered treble wal..Aboute þe burghȝ of Ierusalem.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.9.25 : Thow knyttest togidere the mene soule of treble kynde moevynge alle thingis.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.7.37 : He drowh Cerberus, the hound of helle, by his treble cheyne.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)253/2 : In stede of stupates, dowble cloth or treble be ylaide þerto.
- c1429 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)1543 : The feend thoght Crist to tempt be treble vice: Gluterie and pride ware two, the thred was auarice.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)53/14 : Firste ȝe schall vndirstonde þat Triumphus bi descripcion is as mochell to seyne in pleyne englisch, as a treble gladnesse.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)15a/b : The vtilite of þe fleisch in comoun is trebil: The firste..defendiþ þe bodi fro cold, [etc.].
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)1.24.21a : If he had..kept his fyve wittes, closyng hem and byndyng with dowbil and trebyl bondes..he myght ful weel have avoyded alle this gret myschief.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2377 : For like as bi meen of a treble spirytt The sowle of man is to his bodie knytt.
b
- a1400 Ancr.(Pep 2498)62/36 : And ȝe ȝiue oþer Men goode ensaumple to do wel, þere ryst dubble mede and treble.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7074 : Of pelys and baudekyn, And riche cloþes of sylk fyn, He shal fynde worþ trebble prise For his owen marchaundise.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3864 : For vn-to age experience and witte, To ȝouthe force and hardines[se] sitte; And whan þat bothe ben of on assent, Fully acorded to werke to oon entent, With [a] quarel grounded vppon ryȝte, Thoruȝ help of grace þat hath treble myȝte.
- (1423) RParl.4.257b : Yif it be wars..rebate truly the disavaill therof, after the feblenesse of the alay; uppon peine de inprisonement, fyn and raunson, and trible dammages to the partie greved.
- (1444) RParl.5.115b : If any of the seid Achatours..be duely convicte of such unlawefull takyng..that than thei shall yelde to the partie that soo sueth, the treble value of the Vitailles or other thinges so taken.
- (1450) RParl.5.202b : He or they that so fyndeth hym greved in such action recovere treble damages.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.IVMass (Trin-C R.3.21)177 : Begynnyng the Offyce, by trebyll rehersayle..Tokeneth the fuyre brennyng in the entrayle Of olde prophetes.
c
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)65/28 : Oure fader Hermo genes..is cleped 'treble in philosophie'.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)66/8 : For this prophetisyng of the trynyte of God, Hermogenes it [read: is] called Triplex, trebill [Lambeth: full feyr] in philosophie, as Aristotle seith.
d
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)501 : Treblesonge [Win: Trebyl songe]: Precentus.
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)242 : [In descant] 9 acordis 3 syghtis be conteynyd: the mene syght, the trebil sight, the qvatrebil syght.
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)259 : The treble descante shal be-gynne his descant with þe plain-song in sighte & a 8te a-boue in voise.
e
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6596 : Jn her mouþ ben teeþ trebble sshet.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)165 b/b : Operacions of cirurgiacal þingez bene distingued after þe vertuez þat bene in þam, And þai haue for to done þam in mannez bodie þe which bene noumbred trible [Ch.(2): þrefolde; L. triplices] or .3. manerez of G.
Note: ?As adv.--per REL