Middle English Dictionary Entry
vail(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | vail(e n. Also vaille, vale. |
| Etymology | Prob. from OF vaille or shortened form of ME avail(e n.; also cp. vailen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Benefit, advantage, good; also [quot. a1450], ?a state or condition beneficial to someone, one’s best position;—used in fig. context; stonden in no ~, to profit (sb.) nothing, do no good for;
(b) positive value, worth; also, ?power, efficacy [1st quot.];
(c) in phrase: at ~, ?healed, helped.
Associated quotations
a
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)183 : God sende also vnto thy moste vaylle [vr. availe] The to preserve ffrom alle hevynesse, A spyrit off strenth and off goode counsaylle.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.2095 : This noble Pompeie, for vail of the cite, Vpon the se wolde suffre no pirat.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)86 : Þe Badde Aungyl to þe Werld tollyth hym down, Þe Castel of Perseueraunce to fle fro þe vayle And blysse.
- (1462) Paston (EETS)1.393 : It schall be to youre wyrshyp and to myn & vayll.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)76/14 : For, what maner vertu þat a man haue, but yf he be yn charyte, hit stondys hym in no vayle.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)243/19 : Then to the fals parte I turne me agayn, ffor I se more Vayll will to me be risyng.
b
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)153 : The seching aftir evydencis…abateth the vaile and the merite of feith.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)262/9 : Þeras he [Luke] was wont before þat he come to þe apostles to speke mony an ydull worde and of no vayle, aftyr he turnet al his speche ynto profyt to hym and to all oþer cristyn pepull.
c
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)253/286 : Of thy hurtis be þou hole…Thurgh vertewe þi vaynes be at vayle.
2.
(a) Monetary benefit, profit; also, a fee collected, a payment, an offering, etc.;
(b) of hed ~, of greatest value or cost [cp. wal(e n.(1)].
Associated quotations
a
- (1449) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 871 : Item, at Kandylmas we reseyvede of my fadyr & ryscharde lave’der as for the vayle of the grete belle vi d.
- a1450(1424) Ordin.Whittington110 : Thoffice and charge of the same Tutor shall be…tho goodes which thorowh his labour be so gadred to gidre to kepe truly to ye vaile & use of ye seid Almeshous.
- (1454) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2 p.51 : Hit shall be lawfull to the seid Chamburleynes…to Ferme to such persone or persones as them thynkyth most nessessarie…for a certayne summe of Money to the vaile and profite of the seid Chambour.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.113/8 : A conuenient chapeleyne…shall take all þe obuencions (or vayles) of þe Auter of þe same chapell.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)648/19,23 : The perpetual vicar of wycombe shall haue…the half of all offerynges & vayles of the auter…except and out-take the offrynges & the vaylys of fowre days by the yere.
- (1482) Ordin.Syon Lib.in EHR 25122 : For euery quayer by syde ye waages and vayles rehersed…he shall have iiij d.
b
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)2135 : In the havyn of Portyngale There stode shippes of hede vale.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)2621 : In the Castell of Portyngale A-Rose trumpes [of] hede vale.