Middle English Dictionary Entry
Whit-Sǒn adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | Whit-Sǒn adj. Also whitsond, whitesen, whissone, whissen, witson, witteson, weson, qhithson. |
| Etymology | Shortened form of Whit-Sǒn-dai n.; cp. OI hvīta-sunna Whitsunday. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: For other forms see whit adj. & Son-dai n.
1.
(a) Of or concerned with Whitsunday: ~ even, the day before Whitsunday, the eve of Whitsunday; ~ mone-dai, the Monday following Whitsunday, Whitmonday; ~ weke, the week that begins with Whitsunday; in adv. phrase: the thures-dai the ~ weke, on the Thursday of Whitsunday week, on the Thursday after Whitsunday;
(b) ~ tide, the day of Pentecost, Whitsunday; the feast of Pentecost; also, the season of Whitsuntide, Whitsunday and the week following; also, used adverbially: at Whitsuntide; feste of ~ tide.
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10542 : Þe sone was aȝe þe fader, þe fader aȝen þe sone, Þe þorsdai þe witesonewouke to london lowis com.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11855 : A witsonen eue hii come þer in þe felde.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)520/9 : In þese foure tymes ben foure fastinge tymes…Þe seconde is in þe somer in þe witsonwoke.
- ?a1425(a1400) Brut-1377 (Corp-C 174)296/30 : King Edward…bygan þe Rounde Table & ordeyned…þe day of þe forsaide Rounde Table to be holde þer at Wyndissore in Whitesen-wike.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)147/26 : Þis emperour and a Cristen knyght with him come into a kirke in Egipte apon a Seterday in Whisson woke.
- (c1425) MSS Middleton in HMC107 : On Qwysson even everilke man breke his severyll gresse os hym lykes.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)92/24 : Ȝe schal come to me in Brystowe in þe Whitsunwoke, & þer xal I pay ȝow ryth wel.
- a1450 Aelred Inst.(2) (Bod 423)9/324 : From Estern to Whitsontyde, outake rogacion days and Withsone Eue, thou shalt ete at mydday and sithen at euen.
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)382/5 : Þe King…charged alle men to be redye at Hampton yn þe Whitson woke þanne next folowyng.
- (1462) Doc.in HBS 2558 : The sayd dekyn schall worden a barrell on schere thursday and on ester evyn and on wyttson evyn.
- (1466-7) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.523 : In exspences of the pleyers of Romene shewyng here pleay here on Whitsond Monday, 3 s.
- (1474-5) Stonor1.152 : On Wyttson yeve for egges, ij d.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)155/26 : Setyrday þat next comyþe…ys Whytson-euen.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15736 : Hit ilomp an ane time: to þan White-sune tide þat þe king hehte of londen comen al to Lunden.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)297 : Þis was riȝt at wit-sonentid [Corp-C: Witesontid] þat þis dede cam to ende.
- a1325 SLeg.Brendan (Corp-C 145)149 : Þere ȝe ssolleþ þis Ester beo & þis Witesone tid also.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3111 : To þe doune of ambresbury þes stones ybroȝt were, Aȝen þe feste of witesontid.
- c1330 Roland & V.(Auch)440 : On his heued he bere Þe holy croun of thorn, At ester, at wissontide, & at seyn iames day wiþ pride.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Cor.16.8 : I schal dwelle at Effecy, til to Witsuntide [L ad Pentecosten].
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)80/28 : After, atte Whitsontide next sewyng, by consell of his barons, he [Arthur] wolde bene cronede King of Glomergon.
- ?c1430(c1400) Rule & T.St.Francis(1) (Corp-C 296)43 : Whanne he dieþ, þe chesynge of his successour be maad of mynistris prouincial & custodis in þe chapitre of witsontide.
- (1448) Paston (EETS)1.223 : Herry Goneld hath browth to me xl s…and he seyth I xal have more or Qhythson tyd.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)143 : Alle þe chyldren þat ben I-bore Byfore aster and whyssone-tyde, Eghte dayes they schullen a-byde, That at the font halowynge They mowe take here folowynge.
- c1450(c1430) Brut-1430 (Glb E.8)423/3 : At Wittesontyde the Kynge lay at Maunt with alle his lordis; and there he hild his rialte and feste at that tyme amonge alle his pepull.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)76/26 : Þe grete Emperour Henrie at a grete cetie held his whisson-tyde, a little befor mes…þer began a grete fray.
- (1457-8) Acc.St.Michael Oxf.in OAST 7850 : Item, rec’ at Wesontyde for the chirche alle xi s. iii d.
- (1470) Paston (EETS)1.421 : Before the feste of Witsontide next comyng John, Duke of Norfolk, and all other personez…shal make laufull and sufficient dymysse of theire estat.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)58 : For the festes of Crystmasse and Whytsontyde, by the warderobe of houshold, whiche is the countyng-house, viii marcs.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)39/8 : Bytwen Astyr and Whyssentyde Thomas made reparayle hyt aȝeyne.
- a1500 3rd Fran.Rule (Seton)50/34 : Euery brother and suster iij tymes in the yere, that is Cristemasse, Ester, and Whitsontide, must be shreven and houseled.