Middle English Dictionary Entry
wel-bilǒved ppl.
Entry Info
| Forms | wel-bilǒved ppl. Also welbeloved, welebelovet, welebeluf(f)ed, whellbelovid, (in surname) welbilove & (errors) welbeloed, welbelevyd. |
| Etymology | From wel adv. and bilǒved ppl. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Generally loved or esteemed, popular; also, respected, admired;
(b) dearly loved, cherished, precious; also, benign [last quot.];
(c) in salutations: dear; also used as conventional epithet, with weakened semantic content, in charters, indentures, etc.;
(d) as noun: a dear friend; loved ones; also in salutations;
(e) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1429 : Half so wel biloued a man as he Ne was ther neuere in court.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.934 : He was…wel biloued and holden in gret prys.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.131 : She was…both of yonge and olde Ful wel biloved, and wel men of hir tolde.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)87/25 : Ye be fair and welebeloued of all people.
- c1453(c1437) Brut-1436 (Hrl 53)577/7 : His cosyn William Bullyon was so beknowe and welebelouet with þe Pikardes þat thay gave hym his raunson.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)153/9 : Herri erl of Lancastir and William Lord Souch…had londis þere, and were weel beloued.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)138/33 : Therein sir Outlake dwellyth worshypfully and is well beloved with all peple, And this sir Damas…is…evyll beloved.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306:Everett)6 : After hym regnid his sonne Coyle, a gode man and welbelovyd a monge all the people of Bretayne.
- a1500 Bod.EMisc.Lapid.(BodEMisc e.558)33/293 : He þat berith here shall haue moche grace & shal be welbelovid of all folke.
b
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.144 : O swete and wel biloued spouse deere, Ther is a conseil.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1272 : The knyght was…welbiloued of his lemman.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)318/4 : Þou sente to it þi leche, þat is, þin oonly welbiloued swete sone, Ihesu.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)218 : Forgett nott Mari Mawdeleyne, þat wele-beluffed discypulas of Ihesu.
- a1450 Aelred Inst.(2) (Bod 423)22/872 : My welbeloued Iesu is to me a boundel of myrre.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)277/23 : O! ye rightwus folk, in God wele-beluffid!
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.465 : Fare welle, my sustyr wellebyloved [Trev.: my leve suster].
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)45/81 : Thy welbelouyd childe þou must now kylle.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)247/38 : Hit vaillyth moche…wyth lefe and welbelowid Pepill lagh and Play.
- a1500 Orch.Syon (Mrg M 162)312/5 : Bicause dispaire displesiþ me myche…I haue made hem vse þat welbiloued deceite, þat is, for to largely hope in my mercy.
c
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)218/30 : O riȝt dere, o riȝt swete, o riȝt welbiloued douȝtir and spouse, lifte up þisilf aboue þisilf.
- (1442) Visit.Alnwick230a : Wyllyam, by the grace of God bysshop of Lincolne, to our wele belufed doghters in God the prioresse and the couent of the priorye of Seynt Trynytee.
- (1443) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.3.179 : We sent our right trusty and right welbelouyd Cousin Therl of Suffolk…to our Reaume of Fraunce.
- (1449) Will York in Sur.Soc.30156 : I…charge my…feffes that…noon of theym…distroble the title…of my welbeloved servannt Richard Tikhill…of the annuite of xl s.
- (1450) Paston (Gairdner)2.194 : Ryght trusty and welbelevyd [read: welbelovyd] servaunt, I grete you well.
- (1450) RParl.5.189a : The seide Petition…shall not extende to the prejudice of oure right welbelovyd servaunt William Rous, oon of oure Clerkis.
- (1458) Let.Sou.in Sou.RS 22 (Sou SC.2/9/2)17 : My right trusti and hertli welbelouyd ffrendes, I co[m]maund me vnto you.
- (?a1460) Paston2.96 : Trusty and weelbelovyd cosyn, I comaunde me to yow.
- (1474) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)11.819 : This Indenture Made between the King…and his Trusty and Welbeloed [read: Welbeloved] Richard Garnet Squyer, Serjant of his Tents.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)281/16 : Richard, Erle of Cornewaile, graunted that his welbeloved and trew Petir of Esrugge myght yeve to a hous of religeon…all the lond that he bought of William Bagot.
- (1476) Let.Cely (PRO S.C.1 59/17)p.4 (4/1) : Ryght whellbelovyd brothyr, I recomeavnde me vnto [yow] as lowyngly as I con or may.
- a1500 Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149)89 : They made a lettyr…yn the maner þat foloweth: Worschypful and welbelouyd Joseph of Aramathye, [etc.].
- a1500 3rd Fran.Rule (Seton)47/7 : Nicholas Busshoppe seruaunt of the seruauntes of god To oure welbelouid sonnes the bretherne, and to oure welbelouid doughters in criste the susters of the order of the brethren of penaunce.
d
- (1423) RParl.4.248b : Ryght worshipfull and worshipfull Faders in God, oure ryght trusty and welebeloved.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)1873 : God…whan he þe wombe of his welbelouyde sothly Schettyth, he it opnyth þe more meruelusly.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)6987 : Was neuere tunge cowd telle…The ioyis wych god hath to hys dere And welebelouyd ordeynyd aboue.
- (c1449) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35277 : To þe worshypfull and our ryght wellebeloved in God þe executours of Jhon Gedeney
- (c1467) Paston1.209 : By þe Kyng, Tursti and welbelouyde, we grete yow wele.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.79 : Benedictus Biscop…the norischer of Beda…wente…techynge Beda his welbelovyde [Trev.: his noble norrey] while that he lyvede.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.319 : This kynge sende to seynte Modwenne to Yrlonde Alurede his welbelovyde [Trev.: þat he loved moche; L prædilectum]…that he myȝhte be helpede by here.
- a1500(1449) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)100 : Welbeloved, we wol and expressly charge you that…our game…ye do…to be cheresshed.
e
- (1259) *in Pilkington Surn.() : William Welbilove.
- (1327) Sub.R.Wor.in Wor.HS (1895)71 : De Ricardo Wellbyloved, ij s.