Middle English Dictionary Entry
vacat n.
Entry Info
| Forms | vacat n. Pl. vacatz, wakathes. |
| Etymology | From L vacat, pr.sg.3 of vacāre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. venerunt n., venit n.
1.
(a) An absence noted in an official register; maken ~, ?to make a notation in an official register of someone’s absence for the purpose of calculating wages, compensation, etc.; maken ~ and venit;
(b) as adj., in phrase: vacatz and crossed, deleted from a list because of absence; also, used as noun: absentees deleted from a list.
Associated quotations
a
- (1417) Proc.Privy C.2.238 : A prevy sele be directe to the auditurs to take a playn acount of alle the wakathes of alle the captens, cunstables, and soudiours of Northwales.
- (1469) Ordin.Househ.Clarence in PSAL (1790)97 : The maister of the horse shall…see…that no man leave his horse behinde but that vacat be made, as well of his horse-mete as his wages, and daily certified in the counting-house.
- (1469) Ordin.Househ.Clarence in PSAL (1790)97 : That the yeoman of the horses take for his bourde-wages by the weeke xii d. and every groome by the weeke x d., so that every [?read: for every] of them be made vacat and venit, as it shalle require.
b
- (1443) Proc.Privy C.5.410 : The saide Erle and…commissioners toke þe moustres of my saide Lord of Somerset and of his retenue, and at þat tyme failed of his saide retenue a certain nombre both of men armes & of archers vacatz and crossed, Wherupon my saide Lorde of Somerset sent unto þe King beseching him of a newe commission for þe taking of þe moustres of suche as were vacatz [alt. from: absent] & crossed.
- (1443) Proc.Privy C.5.411 : Paiement shal be maad & allowed to þoo þat shal so be moustred in stede of þe vacatz & crossed.