Middle English Dictionary Entry
bisīlī adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | bisīlī adv. Also bisiliche, besili(che, busily. Comp. bisilier(e, bisiloker. |
| Etymology | From bisī . |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Diligently, busily; carefully.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4473 : His cniþtes..laien bi þan brimme and bisilichen [Otho: busiliche] hit wisten.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)39/412 : Ȝef we seoð ham ȝeornliche sechen to chirche..þer we [the devils] beoð ȝetten bisiliche ham abuten.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)54/1508 : Þet inewyt..schel loky wel bysylyche, Þat no lykynge in dryue Þat stencheþ.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)79 : Þe yealde filozofes þet zuo byzylyche desputede.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2175 : Eche burn schuld bisily two white beres seke.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.219 : While oþer men ete besiliche, he fel in a þouȝt.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1492 : Now goth this marchant faste and bisily Aboute his nede.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3763 : He sharpeth shaar and cultour bisily.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1235 : Thei mote..don al ydelschipe aweie, To serve wel and besiliche.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2185 : Ne hadde he..don his miht so besily.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)8269 : Bisily [Vsp: Ferr and depe] he him biþouȝt how þis temple shulde be wrouȝt.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1446 : And wyth besten blod busily anoynted.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.683 : Pandarus..bisily did al his fulle myght, Hym to conforte.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2030 : Thanne must he..ful bisily Caste hym, gentyll for to bee.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)45/11 : Þer don gret worschipe þereto & kepen it full besyly.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)189b/b : Medle ham besily and make þerof an oynement.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)37 : Bysyly: Assidue, jugiter.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)212 : Beholde..how trewly & besily, how deuoutly..they trauelle in theire lordes servyse.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.14.1 : Sek besily with thy rule the highest of the sonne in mydde of the day.
- a1450 PPl.B (Cmb Dd.1.17)13.343 : Bisiloker [Ld: I wayted wisloker].
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)16 : I..never thinke To besily, my wyt to swinke.
- (c1450) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35294 : Your own..kynnesmen shall be..tenderly and bysyly norysshed.
- c1460 Cursor (LdMisc 416)11406 : Bysely to wayte that sterne.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)79/194 : They xal tende upon ȝow besyly.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)365/277 : Bisyli let vs wachyn.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)5 : To preche bisili þe word of God to þe peple.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)30 : Besyly: assidue, curiose, vigilanter, magnopere, summopere.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)65/35 : The comyns schuld labour bysyly forto gete lyflode to homselfe.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)88/37 : Þat þe gratis be of mani & thicke roddis of yrin bisili forgid.
- a1500 3rd Fran.Rule (Seton)54/22 : Brethern & susters..must exchewe stryves..and if eny hap, they must besili amend it.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)89/111 : As ox that gnawes biselie the grasse right to the roote.
2.
Attentively, scrupulously; intently, zealously, eagerly; earnestly, devoutly.
Associated quotations
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)650 : Alisandrine..bi-þouȝt hire ful busily, howe best were to werche.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2183 : & seiȝe blod-houndes bold so busili seche.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.342 : Tho gan she hym ful bisily to preche Of Cristes come.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)1 Pet.1.22 : Loue ȝe to gydere bisiloker [WB(2): more bisili; L attentius].
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.301 : He..bisily gan for the soules preye.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2768 : He that hasteth hym to bisily to wexe riche.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.88 : Ne was ther spoke a word..Ful bisily they wayten, yonge and olde.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)68 : De-bated busyly aboute þo giftes.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1824 : Ho beðe hit hym ful bysily.
- ?c1400 Wycl.CGosp.Mark (Add 41175:Hudson)50/22 : Whoeuer techiþeþer heriþ lawe ciuile in Paris..schal be cursid, and þis is þe cause þat men studie bisilier in holi writ.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Josh.22.4 : That ȝe kepe bisili [WB(1): attentifly]..the comaundement.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)143 : The ymages..Gan I biholde bysyly.
- a1450(a1387) PPl.A(2) (RwlPoet 137)12.101 : When he saw þes sawes busyly a-legged By Iames and Ierom.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)49 : Beholde moor bysyly, how schort ys þe lyf of man.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer Pity (Benson-Robinson)33 : I have sought hir ever ful besely, Sith first I hadde wit.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)5236 : Ful besely to don her peyn.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)11054 : Euer she bad god besyly, That she myȝt dye after hym hastyly.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)166/25 : He began more besilli the Philosofre to blame.
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)14 : Than he goth to his fadir, and besely praieth that we may be delyvered out.
3.
Anxiously, uneasily.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.57 : Min herte..axeth besiliche grace, The which I mai noght yit embrace.
- a1400 Allas in gret sinne (Hrl 7322)3 : Here we liue bisiliche, wit strong serwe & care.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.452 : Evere in oon his herte pietous Ful bisyly Criseyde..soughte.
- ?c1425 Hoccl.RP (Roy 17.D.6)p.1 : Besily in my mynde I gan revolve The welthe unsure of every creature.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)76 : Marie and Joseph souȝten..hym besily among her frendes.
4.
Constantly, incessantly.
Associated quotations
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)39b : Godes engel þe is i swuch time bisiliche [L solicitus] abuten to eggin us to gode.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.20.26 : In the mouth of the vndisciplyned it shal be besily [WB(2): customabli; L adsidue].
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)30/240 : Fare well..Pray for me besele To eft I com vnto the.
5.
Readily; rapidly, quickly, hastily.
Associated quotations
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2181 : Busily were thei a bowe schote out of þe burnes siȝt.
- c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)627 : Let not o Bok, bisiliche Beo lernynge euer-more.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)142.7 : Mi gaste waned ful bisili.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Judg.20.39 : Thei sueden bisiliere [L instantius] whanne thretti men..weren slayn.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)44.468 : Every man..hym to Armen went besile.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1944 : Sone wer bidden þaim þe bake, & besely echapyn..mony of owr athelles.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1475(c1450) ?Scrope Mirror World (Bod 283) 6023 : Whan I swere bisily [F: apensement] be theym [creatures] I doo one of the worshipes too theyme that I sholde doo proprely to God.
Note: Ed.: "'bisily' translates 'apensement' ('with forethought').
Note: New sense.