Middle English Dictionary Entry
blis(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | blis(se n. Also blice, blisce, blise, blesse. Pl. blisses, blissen. |
| Etymology | OE blis, infl. blisse. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. blithe adj.
1.
(a) A happy condition of existence; well-being, prosperity, good fortune; ?happiness caused by well-being or prosperity; ~ and bale, good fortune and misfortune, happiness and misery; sone of ~, legitimate son; (b) worldes (worldli) ~, worldly prosperity; ?also, worldly pleasure.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1066 : On his dæg wæs ealle blisse & ealle gode on Burh.
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)19/21 : Þurh þa teþ seo blissa sceal uppspringan.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)242 : He heold þat lond & þa leoden mid blissen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4510 : Þah þu habben blisse [Otho: wele] and grið.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)13/24 : Mani oðer..hafde misdon and non unȝelimp ne cam ac hadde alle blisse and reste inowh.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)314 : Þou ssalt habbe raþer seue ȝer blisse of alle gode.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2068 : Good is..to dremen of win, heilnesse an blisse is ðer-in.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1817 : Of hardnesse hadestow neuer but were brouȝt forþ in blisse..wiþ alle maner gode metes.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.589 : Fortune..Now full of blisse and now of bale.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4072 : Quat wennis þou [Joseph] For to be lauerd out ouer vs all? Þat blis sal þe neuer fall.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.324 : Blisse and bale bothe I seigh at ones.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)27/19 : A bare sal now abate ȝowre blis And wirk ȝow bale.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1827 : Than suld we..your blysse vnto þe berne shewe.
- a1500 Methodius(3) (Stw 953)480 : Abraham-ys sone he [Ishmael] was..of baste born..Isaake was hys sone of blysse, gotyn in wedlock.
b
- a1300 Worldes blis ne last (Rwl G.18)1 : Worldes blis ne last no þrowe.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)32 : Þe worldes blisse him þouhte noht.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8756 : Neuer nan þat had..Sua mikel wel o werlds [Trin-C: worldly] bliss.
- c1450 Whanne marye was greet (Lamb 853)86 : He schewide him upon þat pleyn, Iewels, ritchesse, and worldli blisse.
2a.
(a) Joy, happiness, pleasure; haven ~ of, to be pleased with, take pleasure in; (b) eagerness, desire.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1140 : Scæ hedde litel blisse mid him.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)16/15 : Dauid..mid mucele blisse ant glædnesse ham wende.
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)140 : Wa wurð sorȝe seueȝer for souenihte blisse [vr. blisce].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)17585 : Heo nomen hauene mid heȝere blisse.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)19/203 : Him þuhte..þet ne bede he..nanes cunnes blisse bute hire bodi ane.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)96b : Aȝein þeos twa ow beoð twafald blissen [Nero: bliscen] iȝarket: aȝein scheome, menske; aȝein pine, delit & reste buten ende.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)275 : Naþ he none blisse of harpe ne of songe Of olde ne of ȝunge.
- a1350 Lenten ys come (Hrl 2253)3 : Lenten ys come wiþ loue..ant wiþ briddes roune þat al þis blisse bryngeþ.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)71/18 : Oure blisse [Vices & V.(2): ioye] is ywent into wop.
- c1350 Ayenb.App.(Arun 57)268/29 : Ase moche blisse heþ ech of oþres guode ase of his oȝene.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1384 : In hert sche hade swiche blisse.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.544 : Thus hath sche lost the nyhtes blisse.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23459 : All oþerkin blisses [Göt: blisces] þat mai be..in þe sal be plente.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.885 : Is ther swych blisse among Thise loveres as they konne faire endite?
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.234 : Two blessis ben -- blesse of þe soule and blisse of þe bodi.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)969 : Now is me bodeword of blys [Clg A.2: Ioyfull worde] broȝt froward Rome.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)1/13 : Þe for[m]e comyng of Cryst..broght ioy and blysse.
b
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)599 : Þanne had y muchel blysse To haue þe loue of al [ArmsAr 22: I had of blys ffor to gete me loue of ladeys].
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2871 : A breme blasand blis [Dub: blysse] in his brist rysys [Dub: kyndels].
2b.
The expression of joyful feeling, rejoicing, merrymaking, festivity; also, pomp, ceremony; maken ~, make merry; ~ of the briddes, the gay singing of the birds.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10437 : Þær we hit [Severus's body] sculleð bi-burien mid muchelere blisse.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)24194 : In Arðures hallen þer wes harepinge and song þe weoren blissen imong.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)24454 : Þa biscopes..þene kine-helme..setten uppen his hafde mid heȝere blisse.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)1234 : Hi makede suiþe Muchel blis.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)14286 : Hii eoten, hii drongken; blisse [Clg: dræm] was a-mang heom.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2477 : Wiþ blisse þei busked hem homward, wiþ al þe murþe vpon molde þat men miȝt diuise.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.3097 : With alle blisse and melodye Hath Palamon ywedded Emelye.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)9.55 : Blisse of þe Briddes made me to Abyde.
- a1450 Bi a wode (Gar 143)3 : A blisse [Vrn: boske] of briddes bad me abidde.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1834 : Make we blis.
- a1500 Eglam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)757 : Wyth blysse home can [they] hym brynge.
2c.
A source of joy, a cause of happiness; sexual gratification [quot.: a1500]; blisse-wench; angeles ~, joy of angels, i.e. Virgin Mary.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3847 : Þatt enngell..wass..cumenn forr to kiþenn..An swiþe mikell blisse.
- a1250(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Mdst A.13)96/224 : Wis child is fader Blisse.
- (1279) Hundred R.Tower 2847a : Alic[e] Blissewenche.
- a1300 Edi beo þu (Corp-O 59)2 : Heuene quene..engles blis.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4356 : Womman is mannes ioye and al his blis.
- c1390 Mayden Modur (Vrn)55 : Al Angeles Ioye and blis.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)796 : My Lorde..My ioy, my blys.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.607 : Fro hennes rood my blisse and my solas.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)209 : Farewel, swete, my worldes blysse.
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)522 : That oon of vs twoo Preuely to hyr goo And pray hur of hur blys.
3.
Theol. (a) Spiritual exultation or ecstasy; five blisses of our ladi, the five joys of the Virgin; gastlic ~; (b) heavenly bliss; the state of those in bliss, beatitude; pl. the joys of heaven; the (fourteen) blisses of heaven; contre (hil) of ~, heaven; so (as) have I ~, may I have eternal joy!, by heaven!; (c) eche ~, endeles ~, eterne ~, eternal bliss; heven(riche) ~, ~ of heven (paradis), godes ~, heavenly bliss; (d) the place of perfect bliss, heaven, paradise.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.VA (Vsp D.14)18/17 : Spiritalis leticia, þæt is seo gastlice blisse þæt man on Gode blissige betwux unrotnysse þysser reðen wurlde.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)113 : Wordles song is þe herte michele blisse þe heo haueð of heuenliche ðinge.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)9a : Leafdi seinte Marie, for þe ilke muchele blisse þet tu hefdest.
- a1300 Leuedy for þare (Jes-O 29)head. : Þe vif Blyssen of vre leuedi seynte Marie.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)26/704 : Strengþe longeþ þe body, And blice þe saule vedeþ.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)104/211 : Here body xal be so ful-fylt with blys Þat she xal sone thynke þis sownde credyble.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)110/22 : Ure murhþe, & ure wuldor, & ure blisse is on heofene.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1755 : To liue..aa in blisse buten euch bale.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)382 : Paradis ðat erd al ful of swete blis.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)310 : Hij [those in heaven] sholen haue..Fulle ioye and fulle blisse.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)243/20 : He comþ..to þe helle of blisse eurelestinde [Vices & V.(2): hil of endeles ioie].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.830 : So haue I ioye or blis, This is a long preamble.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)14a/a : Þey [angels] schewiþ..þe way to þe cuntre of blisse [L patriam].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23613 : Þe blisses [Trin-C: ioyes]..Godd gis to þaim [þat] wit him duelles.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)7892 : Omang alle þe ioyes of heven Salle be sene specialle blysses seven Þat þe bodyse salle have þat salle be save, And other seven þat þe saules salle have In þe kyngdome of heven.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)3775 : Sum tokne..Wheythir his maister wer in blesse or nowt.
- a1450 Desert Relig.(Add 37049)857 : Seuen blyses þe body þere [in heaven] sall haue, And seuen þe saule þat sall be saue.
- (c1461) Let.Oxf.in OHS 36370 : She..shalle nevyr cese cryyng..to Christe for your good estate..duryng thys present lyff, and afterward for a perpetuall and a joyfull blysse with owte ende.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.38 : Take..ȝolkes of eyren, so have þou blys.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.2.88b : Thu were deceyved, þat thrugh thi foli had lost so muche blisse.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)35/402 : Bot I, As haue I blys, shall chastyse this.
c
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)39/220 : Heo [Mary]..wuneð on ecere blisse [L gaudet in aeternum] mid him.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3867 : He wollde ȝifenn uss Wiþþ enngless eche blisse.
- a1200(?c1175) PMor.(Trin-C B.14.52)397 : Hwu muchele murihðe habbeð þo þe beð in godes blisse.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1620 : Wið swucche þu schalt buggen..þe endelese blissen.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)33b : Ha haueð itimbret me þe blissen [Nero: bliscen] of heouene.
- a1300(?a1250) Serm.Atte wrastlinge (Trin-C B.1.45)107 : Þe mirþe and te Ioie of heueriche blisse þat godis chosene frend scullen hauen.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)372 : To gadery ffaste Þe goede in-to heuene blisse.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)14/14 : Þet lif wyþ-oute ende þet is þe blisse [Vices & V.(2): ioye] of paradis.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.792 : Therfore shul they [unworthy priests] neuere han part of the pasture of lambes, that is, the blisse of heuene.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.27 : In hope forto haue heueneriche blisse.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.20/30 : By hym [St. Bartholomew] thow shalt optene the blysse of God.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1258 : Þe weye þat..ledeth streyte to eterne blys.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)126 : In endles blis to beld hym by.
- c1485 Assump.Virg.(1) (Hrl 2382)392 : With ioye y woll the lede..in heuene blisse that shal lest.
- ?a1500(?1458) Off alle Werkys (Inscr)p.44 : God geve us grace..That we may have a place in the blysse of Heven.
d
- a1275 Louerd crist þou (Trin-C B.14.39)11 : Yef us alle god endeng..þat we moten to þi blisse alle come.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)425 : In-to my blisse ȝe sholen wende.
- c1390 Psalt.Mariae(2) (Vrn)47 : To þe blisse þat þou art Inne [L Ad celestis patrie], So mote we atteyne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.33 : Angles..Whan thei out fro the blisse felle.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6331 : Ȝyf hys soule yn blys [F en ciel] be.
- c1400(1375) Canticum Creat.(Trin-O 57)794 : He shel..leden þy fader to blesse briȝt.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.105 : Whi wolde owre saueoure suffre suche a worme in his blisse?
- a1450 Spaldyng Katereyn þe curteys (BodR 22)p.547 : To þat bilsse he bryng vs, Qwere aungeles schul syng vs.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.1.86b : How the soule was..led up throw the heuenly speer toward the blisse.
4.
(a) Theol. The splendor or majesty of God, divine glory; the splendor of heaven; king of ~, God, Christ; barn of ~, the Christ Child; moder of ~, the Virgin Mary; land of ~, fig. the Virgin Mary; for godes ~, by the glory of God; (b) glory, renown; idel ~, vainglory; (c) astrol. the position of a planet in the zodiac at which it exerts its greatest influence, exaltation; also fig.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)120/18 : He is soð God..anes blisses, & anre mihte.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)115 : Hwat is þis blissene king [L rex glorie]?
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)26/13 : Ich habbe sehen blisse.
- ?c1335 Earth(1) (Hrl 913)4/77 : He is king of blis.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)417 : God..In his godhede and in his blisse.
- c1390 Psalt.Mariae(1) (Vrn)1172 : Corouned..Wiþ þe palm of blis [L glorie].
- c1390 Psalt.Mariae(2) (Vrn)177 : Heil, of blisse þe riche lond [L Ave terra glorie].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)14a/b : Þis lawe is..kept in þe ordur of aungels in participacioun of grace and of blisse [L glorie].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17493 : Der yee suer, for godds blis [Göt: blise] þat yee herd and sagh al þis?
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)546 : In his comlych corte þat Kyng is of blysse.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)867 : Þou schalt se..The blissed Trynyte rith euene in his blis.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)59/54 : So xal a maydyn be modyr of blyss.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)150/135 : Farewel, babe and barne of blys.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)23/15 : Þe uifte boȝ of prede is ydele blisse [F uaine gloire; Vices & V.(2): veyn glorie].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.363 : Hercules is i-seide of eros, þat is a man and of cleos, þat is blisse; as þey Hercules were to menynge a blisful man and glorious.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)108b/b : Þe sonne hath his & exaltatioun in eiȝtenþe grees of aries and his fallinge in þe same gree of libra; Venus haþ his blisse [L gloriam] in pissibus in þe xxviij.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)43 : Who regneth now in blysse but Venus, That hath thys worthy knyght in governaunce?
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1330 Body & S.(5) (Auch)p.55 : Þat god ne wolde his blisse [Auch: grace] us sent.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)25633 : Sant gabriel..said: 'Leuedi! ful of blis, ai worth þe wel!'
Note: New sense: 'grace'--per JR
Note: Also quot. Shoreham Poems 26/704 under sense 3.(a) prob. should be moved under new sense 'grace'