Middle English Dictionary Entry
vōcā̆t n.
Entry Info
| Forms | vōcā̆t n. Also vocate, vocket, voket(e, voked, vokite; pl. vocates, etc. & vokates, vokettes, vokettus. |
| Etymology | Shortened form of advōcāt n.; also cp. ML vocātus advocate. The forms avo- and a vo- are ambiguous; the former have been treated under ME advōcāt n., while the latter are treated here. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A professional pleader in civil or ecclesiastical courts of law, an advocate; also fig. [last quot.]; one skilled in law, a lawyer; also, a legal representative of the crown;
(b) one who pleads and intercedes for another before the divine judge, an intercessor in divine judgment; also fig. [quot. a1475(?a1430)]; ~ to, an intercessor with (Christ, God);
(c) a proponent, champion, supporter.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5402 : Ȝyf þou…consente to a fals Iuggyng, Or hyredyst a voket [F aduocat ou assessur] to swyche þyng…Moche shal God challenge þe.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)2.60 : Forgoeres and vitaillers and vokates [C: vokettus; vrr. voketts, vocates, voketes] of þe arches, I can nouȝt rekene þe route þat ran aboute mede.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)13a/a : Causidicus: a voket [Pep: a Man of lawe].
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.2678 : Gouernours And magnates…Gaff ther assent…That Gaulter sholde haue al the gouernaunce…Them to restore onto ther fraunchise…And to pronounce the convencioun, With euery parcel entitle be resoun, Lik ther accord declaryng anon riht, Stood up a vocat in the peeplis siht.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)134a : A Vokett, vbi a plettere.
- (1483-85) Worcester Prol.Codicil in RS 22.2 (Lamb 506:Stevenson)525 : Here…ys declared the astate of officers royalle, as Chauncelere, Tresorere…Procutours, Vocatis, and alle such othir officers royalle and mynystroures belongyng aftir the custome of Fraunce.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)372 : Bi the foxe are vndirstondyn vokettes, prelates of causes temporall, courteers, Iurrours, and wily men.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)367/9 : Ther may no man of lagh help with no quantyce; vokettys ten or twelfe may none help at this nede.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)680/31 : Causidicus: a vokyte.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)4135 : Þe herte is lord of þe body…þe eeren messageris smerte; Þe tunge a vokett is she And þe sighte his sonde be.
b
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)315/113 : We han euer a good voket Toforen his holi fader set.
- c1390 Mayden Modur (Vrn)390 : Bi-fore þe kyng þat demes riht Þou [Mary] pledest for men day and niht—Blessed beo þat voket [rime: hoket]!
- a1425 MChristi (Arun 286)58/1290 : Ȝif any have synned, þenke þat he haþ at þe fader of heven Jhesu Crist hys derworþe sone a riȝtwisse voked þat is ever redy preyinge to his fader to wynne us forȝefenes of our synnes.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)1852 : O qwene off mercy…Be now my voket…To thi blyssyd sone.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)115/13 : We haue a vokett [L advocatum] to þe Fadur, Ihesus Crist.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)153/19 : Iudith…be whom I vndirstond Oure Ladie Seynt Mari…she is oure vockett.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)4847 : My wondys I geue hem alle fyve…To plete for hem whan they ha nede, I make ther vocat of my blood.
- ?a1475 In a tabernacle (Dc 322)10 : I [Mary] longe for loue of man my brother, I am hys vokete [Lamb: avoket] to voyde hys vyce.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)9414 : A gode vocate han we to the fader of heuen vp-gon, Ihesu Crist that deghet on tre.
c
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)20927 : Paule þat saule had first to name…first of iewes he was vocate [Vsp: auocate], & siþen he come to apostles state.