Middle English Dictionary Entry
versicle n.
Entry Info
| Forms | versicle n. Also versikil; pl. versicles, etc. & versiculis, versikles. |
| Etymology | L versiculus & OF versicule (FEW 14.316b). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Liturg.
(a) A short Biblical verse, usu. taken from the Psalms, said or sung antiphonally as part of divine service;
(b) sibilines versicles, the Sibylline Oracles, a collection of second-century Judeo-Christian oracular prophecies.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)7/191 : Þeos versicles heo seide and bad: Domine dilexi decorem domus tue.
- ?a1425 GGuy(1) (RwlPoet 175)1124 : Þe neghen antems next folowand And thre versikles [vr. versykils]…bring ful chere To him.
- (1455) Acc.St.Ewen in BGAS 15145 : Item, a Grayel noted, whiche begynneth with the Kalender, with this versicle, Prima dies mensis…and endeth with this Evangelye, Factum est autem cum baptizaretur.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)63/299a : Psalmodizacio: versikyll.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)115/33 : Ȝif a fest of whom þey makiþ onli a memori come on a sonday, of þe same feste schal be made memorie in þe masse & at þe firste euynsonge & at matyns in versicle & anteme & orisoun.
- 1530(c1450) Mirror Our Lady (Fawkes)100 : Betwene bothe ye saye a versicle, that is to say, a lytel torning, for ye turne you from psalmody to redyng & heryng.
b
- c1450 Glad & blithe (SeldArch B.26)31 : Yf they leue not here profetys, þen lete hem leue ethen metrys, In Sibylinys versiculys, [etc.].