Middle English Dictionary Entry
blasfemīe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | blasfemīe n. Also blasfamie, blasfēm(e. |
| Etymology | OF blasphemie, -pheme & L blasphēmia (ult. Gr.). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Uttered insult or irreverence to God, blasphemy (against God or anything holy; also, against heathen gods); a kind or example of blasphemy; (b) theol. any action, belief, or utterance offering insult to God [see quots.].
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)52b : Þe seoueðe [whelp of pride] is blasphemie. Þis hwelpes nurrice is þe swereð greate aþes oðer bitterliche curseð, oðer misseið bi godd oðer bi his halhen.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)69/28 : Speciallyche we clepieþ hyer blasfemye, huanne me missayþ of god and of his halȝen, oþer of the sacremens of holy cherche.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 6.11 : Wordis of blasphemye into [WB(2): blasfemye aȝens] Moyses and God.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1712 : Ay hatz hofen þy hert agaynes þe hyȝe Dryȝtn, Wyth bobaunce and wyth blasfamye bost at hym kest.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5914 : As he [the fiend] doth in hem þat be travailled With wicked spirites..To meve her tongis falsly oute to breke In-to blasfemye.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Cor.12.3 : No man spekande in þe spyrite of god seys cursyng or blaspheme [L anathema] to iesu.
- c1450(c1393) Chaucer Scog.(Benson-Robinson)15 : In blaspheme of the goddes [Venus].
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)260/16 : Spekyng blasfemye, þat is, woordys aȝens þe reuerens of god, aȝens his myȝt, aȝens his mercy, aȝens his goodnes, or aȝens his ryȝtwysnesse.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)8.65 (v.1:p.88) : Tweyn fals witnessis accusid hym openly of fourefolde blasphemyes, as ageyns God, ageyns Moyses, ageyns the lawe, and ageyns the temple.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)381 : Than seide the mayster deuyll to the soule..'Speke now blaseflemys!'
- a1500(?a1450) St.Dor.(1) (Hrl 5272)195/232 : For blasphem of oure goddis thou schalt be dede.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.41 : Thov shalle no blaspheme nor othe in his name vnduely make.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)69/25 : Blasfemyes [Vices & V.(2): blasphemye] is..oþer huanne me ylefþ and zayþ of god þing þet me ne ssel yleue ne healde, oþer me ne lefþ naȝt þet me ssolde yleue.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.593 : Hasard is..Blaspheme of Crist.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)39 : Thei don double blasfemie..oon, for thei swere..bi creatures agens Goddis techinge, another for thei chargen more to swere bi such a creature than bi God almighti.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)191 : Here feyned deuocion, þat is blasphemye to god.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)95 : Blaspheme is undirstand her, whan men sey of crist oþirwise þan treuth, as summe heretikes seid þat he took ne uery flesch ne blood of mary but þe body whech he took was formed of þe eyir, whech body he myth transmute as he wold. Blaspheme is eke cleped, whan we sey of crist oþir wise þan is to his worchip, as þat he schuld do ony forfete or ony synne or giue meyntenauns to ony swech þingis.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)126/16 : A confessur..aw not be þe law to layn such a blasfeme [an unordained monk has been celebrating mass], whar-þurgh grete perell myght fall vnto all holie kurk.
- ?1536(1402) Jack Upland (Gough)202/403 : To putte ony defaute or failinge in god is blasphemy.
2.
Abusive speech, defamation, vilification, slander.
Associated quotations
- a1400 12 PTrib.(1) (Roy 17.B.17)48 : Ezech[ias] forbed þo peple to answere to þo blasphemes of Rapsace, prince of þo kingis hoost of Assiris.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4663 : Ȝe brixsill our benignite..And beris a-pon vs blasfeme, þat neuire bale thoȝt.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)161/1 : How mekull desayte & blasfeme of bakbyters displesis hym [God].
- (1455) RParl.5.281a : The grete defaime and blaspheme thrawen ayenst us by oure seid Ennemies.