Middle English Dictionary Entry
void(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | void(e n.(1) Also vide. |
| Etymology | From void(e adj.; also cp. AF voide, OF wide, vars. of OF vuide n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Nothingness, the void;
(b) no contents, nothing; also, emptiness; also, an empty place;
(c) abstinence from food, hunger.
Associated quotations
a
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)167/27 : Thei…dysputyd of þo thyngis þat be abouyn natur, of fulle and of voyde [L de vacuo], of fynyte and infynyte.
b
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)125/12 : In þe fifþe maner he [pulse] is iknowe by ful and vide [vr. lere; L vacuum] and mene.
- (1408) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)7.201 : [In another] roum [a bale of] felt, [a bale of] canvas, [10 pipes of] void [and a bale of] mader.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)9/8 : Somtyme she [fortune] takith the litill goodis away from the poore people to encrese the riche mannys treasour, and sodenly she departith that treasour so that ther restith nothyng but a bare place or a voyde.
c
- a1456 Marmaduke SSecr.(Ashm 59)223/7 : He þat passeþe þe duwe maner of Aristotle in þe fulle or in þe voyde [Lambeth: yn ful or voyd; Ashmole: full or fastyng; L in pleno et vacuo], in slepinges or wakinges…he may not escape seeknesse.
2.
(a) The absence of a desire;
(b) in ~, in vain.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)238/18 : Þis [vision] may oftentymes come of þe feend, For þouȝ it come with gladnes, ȝit it eendiþ with peyne and prickynge of conscience and voyde fro þe desier of vertu.
b
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Phil.2.16 : Non in uacuum cucurri, neque in uacuum laboram…I hafe not ronnen in voyde [WBible(1): veyn], nor trauelyd in voyde.
3.
An avoidance or a prevention of sickness;— ?error for avoiding ger.
Associated quotations
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)345 : Chastite and continence at alle tymes mowe be take wiþout hurt of oure bodies…and so…þe party askyng…for staunching of his owne lust or for a void of sikenes þe fleischly deede to be doon…is worþi to be wijtid of blame and of synne.