Middle English Dictionary Entry
trinitẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | trinitẹ̄ n. Also trinitie, trinete, trinte, trenite, trente, trenti, (early gen.) trinetðes & (?errors) trynute, ternyte, (error) trety. |
| Etymology | OF trinité, trenité, AF trinitie, trineté, ternité. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The state of having three parts, threefoldness, threeness; also, a threesome, triad, trio.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)50/23 : Somme [nouns] beþ iseid of þre persones and of none by hitsilf, as trinitas..Ysodorus seith þat trinitas is iclepid as it were al one ymage of þre, as it were vnite of þre..þe fadir and sone and holy goost beþ trinite and vnite, þat is to menynge, in natura on, in essencia þre persones, on for þe comyn mageste and þre for þe propirtees of persones.
- c1450(?a1449) ?Lydg.Marriage (Dgb 181)38 : Amonge thise aungelis, that were in nombre thre, There appered oon oute of the South, Which that spake ffirst of all that trinite..And he was called 'Iohn with the gildyn mouth.'
- c1450(?c1400) Wycl.Elucid.(StJ-C G.25)6 : 'Whi nyne of angels?'..'For þe trynyte þat is in hem in þe noumbre of nyne, þat is, þries pre [read: þre].'
- a1500 St.Brendan Conf.(Lamb 541)15/257 : Lord Ihesu Crist, me lakide a Trynyte of þi lawe: discrecioun, pite, and charite.
2.
Eccl. & theol.(a) In Christian doctrine: the existence of one God in three persons, the state of being triune; god in ~; (b) the three persons of the Godhead; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as constituting one God, the triune God, the Holy Trinity; (c) in oaths and asseverations: bi the ~; bi the vertu (in vertu) of the ~; etc.; (d) Trinity Sunday; the feast of the Holy Trinity, celebrated on the Sunday following Pentecost; also, the season of this feast; ~ son-dai (tide, time); ~ light, a lamp or set of candles burned in church for the feast of the Holy Trinity; also, in adv. constructions: that dai (the even, feste) of the ~, on that day (the eve, feast) of the Holy Trinity; (e) as the name of a specific altar, church, religious guild, etc. dedicated to the honor or worship of the Holy Trinity;—usu. in combs.; pl. ?Trinity Hospital in Fossgate, York; ?the members of the guild of Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin, who maintained the hospital; ~ auter (chirche, gilde, etc.); ~ ele, a wing of the transept in a church, prob. one containing an altar or oratory dedicated to the Holy Trinity; (f) a symbolic pictorial or figural representation of the Trinity; banere of the ~, a banner bearing a device of the Trinity.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)207/4430 : Ich ȝelde me to god, þat sit in trinite.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)105/24 : Al þe holynesse of man þat is ymad to þe ymage of þe trinite þet is be þri þinges þet byeþ ine þe zaule.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)p.194 : Þe faiþe..of holy chirche is þis, þat we honuren o God in trinite.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.29 : In ye name of ye fader and sone and holy gost, thre persones o god in trinite.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)44/31 : Also þis holy trinite..may not be departid..in propirtees of persones.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9400 : Of erth right þar him maked he Efter his aun trinite.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)975 : Þe gastly world, þat na man may se, Es heven, whar God syttes in trinite.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)39/20 : Sumtyme alle thre Personys in Trinyte & o substawns in Godhede dalyid to hir sowle.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)7838 : Ternyte [?read: trenyte] in personys, in substaunce vnyte.
- a1450(a1400) Athelston (Cai 175/96)420 : God, þat syt in Trynyte, A bone þat þou graunte me.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)163/21 : A, gode god in trinite Whow longe xal I abyde the tyl þat þou þi son þou doth sende.
- a1500(?a1425) Chester Pl.Antichr.(Pen 399)508/484 : Yes, Crist, God in Trenyte..that send his Son from hevon-see..that shall full sone make the to flee.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)7248 : Why trauailleþ a man so..Þat oone is to sustene þe body, Þat oþer þat it stalworþe be To serue God in trinite, As in prayers and almes-dede, For þo wole þe soule fede.
b
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)11/18 : Tu ȝette me ham, holi þrumnesse, trinite [Pep: Trinete], iþe wurðschipe of þe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14739 : Anan he gon to wurche ane swiðe feire chirche a seinte Trinetðes nome.
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)233 : Lo here..gret bi-tokningue of þe holie trinite, Of fader and sone and holie gost bi þeose ȝeorde þreo.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)1627 : For þe loue of þe trinite, Ich þe bidde, par charite, Þat þou þis bodi vnder-fo, & feir biry þou it do.
- c1350 Ayenb.App.(Arun 57)266/19 : Ich yzeȝ þe ilke onspekynde an on-todelinde mageste of þe holy trinyte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.77 : Men knowe redely The hihe almyhti Trinite, Which is o god in unite.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)1.107 : Ouer his meyne [Christ] made hem archaungelis, Tauȝte hem þoruȝ þe trinite þe trouþe to knowe.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.203 : To a torche or a tapre þe trinitee is lykned, As wex and a weke were twyned togideres.
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)2056 : Þa be-taken þe Trinite: In þe Cyder, þe fader..And in Cypres, þe son..And in þe Pyne, þe haly gast.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)69/23 : At his [Jesus'] baptizynge was all the hool trynytee.
- (1428) Reg.Langley in Sur.Soc.169104 : The glorious blessed Trynute [?read: Trynite] kepe your holy faderhod evermore in joy and prosperitee to his plesire.
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)9 : Þei worschipen gretly here singuler patroun and dispisen god, þe trynite, and ihu crist.
- (c1442) Paston2.6 : The Holy Blesyd Trinite haue ȝow in his kepyng body and soule.
- a1450(?c1400) Wycl.LFCatech.PN (Add 17013)337 : Þe holi trinite is fadere of vs alle, & holy churche is oure modre.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1634 : Þat curteys qwene..Kepte hyre clene and stedfastly, And in here was trussyd þe trinte.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)105 : Ȝo conceyued at ere; A touche of þe trinyte touched hir hadde, Þre persones in o place.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)456/19 : I vsid euere day to say iij pater noster..in wurshup of þe holie trynytie.
- (1474) Let.Hexham in Sur.Soc.44p.cvi : The haly Trinite have you ever in His most gracieux proteccion.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)105/240 : Ȝe xal conceyve in your wombe..A childe, þe sone of þe trynyte.
- a1500 God of hewine (Tit A.26)46 : Whan thoue haste asked that longithe to þe, Wershipe Ewyr the Ternyte [?read: Trenyte].
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)127 : Seynt Fraunces him-self schall folden the in his cope, And presente the to the trynitie.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1836 : O deere child, I halsen thee, In vertu of the holy Trinitee, Tel me what is thy cause for to synge.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.682 : I haue a sone, and, by the Trinitee, I hadde leuere than twenty pound worth lond..He were a man of swich discrecioun As that ye ben.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1824 : 'Now by youre leeue, o deere sire,' quod she, 'Chideth hym wel, for seinte Trinitee!'
- ?a1425 GGuy(2) (Qu-O 383)21/74 : I coniure þee, goddis creature, by þe vertu of þe holy trinite and by alle þe vertues of heuen, þat þow speke to me ȝif þat þou may.
- a1500 Bevis (Cmb Ff.2.38)p.61 : Be the trynyte, I schall hym seke yn many a cuntre.
d
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)301 : Þat dai of þe Trinite bischop i-sacret he was And onder-feng þis dignete.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)229 : Þo com atte trinite þis gode man to hem þer.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10983 : Gode kniȝtes of engelond of wan was gret pite, Aslawe were þer, alas, þe eue of þe trinite.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)705 : It was at þe holy trinite, [vr. at the fest of the holy Trinyte] Þerl dubbed sir Gij þe fre.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)27/702 : Whilom was in þis cite, In a dai of the trinete, A swiþe noble strong burdis.
- (c1384) WBible(1) TL (F&M)697 : The Commemoracioun fro Pask to the Trinite.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.25 : On ye monday next after ye Trinite sonday, alle ye forsayde bretheren and sisteren shul comen togeder.
- (1427-8) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)166/23 : Item, for the groceris Feste I maad on Trinite Sunday.
- (1432) Let.Christ Ch.in RS 85.3162 : So as be our rekenyng they owe us at the date of the wrytyng of this lettyr xliiij li. xiij s. besyde and above the acquitaunce of xviij lb. vj s. viij d. wyche we sende yow at Trynite tyme.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)104/23 : On þe Trinite Sunday next folwyng sche was howselyd al in white.
- (1442) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 7115 : Will' Skynner and Will Couper are Wardens of ye trinite lyght and have i chest locked in theyrr store.
- (1442) RParl.5.38a : That is to say..the morowe after the Fest of Trynyte next comyng.
- (1443) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 827 : Halleso a vale y made be ye maydenys at the trentytyde that yelde xxiii s.
- a1450(a1400) SLeg.Corp.Chr.(Bod 779)25 : Þis feste honouriþ..þe nexte þorsday þat comyþ after þe trinyte.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)23 : The countyng-house..payeth..on..Trinitie-sonday.
- a1500 ?Scrope Rule St.Linus (Lamb 192)264 : He schall ete no fflesche, but Cristmesday..the fest of the trinyte, [etc.].
- a1525(?1435) Cov.Leet Bk.173 : The whiche summe we prey you to be delyuered..atte oeptaues of the Trynite next comeng atte ferrest.
e
- (1419) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8513 : That tenement and the gardyn lyse..betwix the grounde of..the maistre of the Trinites' at Fossbryg hende on the a syde, and the grounde of Nicholas Northfolk on the other syde.
- (1428) EEWills80/13 : I be-quethe..to the keuering of the trinite schapell of Haringey vj s. viij d.
- (1433) Will York in Sur.Soc.3041 : I wite my body to be beryed..before ye Trinitee altar.
- (1442) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 7116 : Ex spensys..as tothe tretyele [?read: trentyele]: Rychard lavend'r for a lode of stone..xiiii d..ffor ye ests wy'dow yn ye same ele, for ye takyng downe & settyn up aghayne, vi s. viii d.
- (1463-5) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 10107 : We payde for a pype locke to ye trente ele dore in ye loft x d.
- (1466) in Cox Churches Derb.4.86 : To the trinite alter..a stened cloth with flowers opon yt, and another paynted clothe for worke dayes.
- (1469) Will Pembroke in Antiq.439 : Item, too prestes to be found to sing afore the Trinite at Lanteliewe for my soule and for all there soules slayne in this feld for ij yere.
- a1525(?1423) Cov.Leet Bk.47 : Except a Grove þat Tho. Wildgryse holdithe of the brethren and systren of the Trinyte guylde of Couentre.
- a1525(?1423) Cov.Leet Bk.52 : Allso þe say þat Bell-orchard & Hullmyll-medow..& þe housez and gardyns longyng to Saynt Mary awtur in the Trinite churche..ar comyn at Lammas vnto þe Purificacion of our Lady, except a house..& a barn with a Gardyn..and a Crofte..þe wich ar seuerall.
f
- a1422 Gild St.Geo.Nrw.(Rwl D.913)444 : There was begonne a fraternite the ȝer of oure lord a Ml. iijc iiijxx and v..in the Cathedral chirche at the heie autere, aforn the Trinite on the south side, in Norwich.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)206/35 : Sche saw in þe boke þe Trinite & al in gold.
- (1447) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 11117 : A baner of the Trynyte.
- (1448) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1349 : Vestment of blew damaske wt orfray of Cloth of gold wt the trinite on the bak.
- 1618(1440) Invent.Cumberworth in Peacock EChurch Furniture184 : Thre baners of red silk for 3 Crosses beaten with gold, one with the trinitie, another with the parete of our ladie, the therd with a crucifix.
3.
(a) In ships' names; (b) in street name.
Associated quotations
a
- (1382) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)4.106 : [Certain ships of Bristol, including the] Grace Dieux, Trinitee, [and] Gabriel.
- (1400) Comp.R.in Frost Hullapp.1 : Navis..voc Trinite de Hull.
- (1432-7) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 3174 : Nauis Trinite Riall.
- (1462) Paston2.287 : My lordys of Warwykys shyp, the Mary Grace and the Trenyte, hadde the grettest hurt, fore they were formest.
b
- (1332) in Ekwall Street-Names Lond.164 : Trinite lane.