Middle English Dictionary Entry
viduitẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | viduitẹ̄ n. |
| Etymology | OF viduité; also cp. L viduitas, -tātis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Widowhood.
Associated quotations
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)1654 : Mausolus…she luffid so muche on-life That after hym she wold no more be wyfe…abydynge in pure viduyte [rime: souereynte].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Editor's note [see Add 10304:Cowen, p. 90]: "Although MED viduite n. cites only this example, OED viduity n. and pure adj. 2 c provide two further Middle English examples of the noun, dated 1420 and 1427 respectively, both in legal contexts." However, both quotes are found in DOST (under Viduit(i)e, Widowitie, n.)