Middle English Dictionary Entry
victōriǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | victōriǒus adj. Also victoriouse, victorius, victories, victorus, vittoriouse. |
| Etymology | OF victorïos, victorious, AF victorius & L victōriōsus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Achieving or demonstrating military supremacy, triumphing in feats of arms or strength, victorious; also, consistently superior in combat, contests, etc., invincible; of deeds or battles: culminating in victory; of a cause: prevailing, winning;
(b) ~ of (over), triumphant over (foes);
(c) reflecting or acknowledging military victories, triumphal.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.566 : Hercules…in his tyme was so merveillous, So excellent, and so victoryous.
- (1421) Hoccl.Hen.V Vict.(Hnt HM 744)1 : Victorious cristen Prince, our lord souereyn…Henri the vthe, welcome be yee!
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.232 : The victorious [vr. victories] cause likide to the goddes, and the cause overcomen likide to Catoun.
- a1450(1408) Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)154/21 : In batailles many wiþoute noumbre & euermore þei haue ben holde victorus and on þe heyer side þat lest haue drad hem of perelles.
- (1450) Doc.Chester in Archaeol.5776 : The most vittoriouse kinge William conqueror youre noble progenitour gave the same comitee to Hugh Loup.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)4 : The seyde booke…was made acordyng to hys seyde victorious dedis and actis of worchip exercysyng.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)81/5 : Hanyball…had many victorious batailles agayn the Romayns.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)126/8 : Fabius Rustilanus gaue his victorious body and full of prowes to be torne with roddes by the hang man.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)257/24 : Saynt Mychaell…ys mervelous yn myracles worchyng and victoryus yn his feghtyng.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1101 : Ye were clene victorius, And happet the herre hond to haue.
b
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)22/34 : Þe Saxouns, victorius of boþe peeplis, diuidid þe londe yn to vii kyngdamys.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)79/28 : Kyng Pirrus was a gret werriour and a victorious man ouer many othir prynces and kyngis.
c
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)54/1 : Þis victorius chare…was drawe with fowre white stedis þorowe the moste riall stretis of þe Cite to þe chapitoile.
2.
Successful in a nonmilitary struggle, an enterprise or endeavor, etc., favored.
Associated quotations
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3742 : Iason…a-sterte Þe auentures of Colchos perillous And is retourned…victorious.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.2539 : No wyȝt may ben euer victorious In pes nor werre, nor ylyche eurous.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5122 : Thouh the poore ha be victorious, Off auenture to do ful weel sum day, Other ha pynchid to take his thank away.
3.
(a) Achieving or demonstrating spiritual victory, morally or spiritually triumphant; of a prayer: superior in spiritual power, efficacious against spiritual enemies;
(b) of an object: emblematic of Christ’s triumph over death and sin; of eternal life or heavenly bliss: perfused with the triumph of Christ, reflective of spiritual victory.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)18/8 : Sydrak, Mysak, and Abdenago…er þus mykil to say, Godd glorious, Godd victoriouse, Godd ouer all kyngdomes.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)4.253 : Martirs…were victoryouse, In her torment pacience to haue.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Expos.PNoster (LdMisc 683)299 : Pater noster…Of alle prayerys is moost victoryous, Geyn our thre enmys to stondyn at dyffence.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)2941 : Lat vs with song vpreise & magnyfye The laude of Albon notable & glorious This day with martires maad victorious.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.456 : Victorious tree, proteccion of trewe, That oonly worthy were for to bere The kyng of heuene…yeue me myght my lyf tamenden.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)14/6 : It is necessarie to the chyualerous spirit that wil come to the victorious blisse [Othea: euerlastyng joye] for to haue this vertu.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)104/11 : Þis present lijf is callid a werre in difference of þat above, þe which is callid victorious [Othea: triumphaunt, þat is to sey, victorius or ouercomyng], for it hath euere þe victorye of enemyes.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Kissing (Trin-C R.3.21)21 : Beholde the baner, vyctoryous and royall, Crystes crosse as standard of most pryse.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)1945 : Albon…Stood…The Cros afforn, baner most glorious, Most agreable and most victorious.
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)3128 : Thei wern markid with a cros…that victorious tryumphal signacle.