Middle English Dictionary Entry
winlī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | winlī adj. Also winnelich, (early SWM) wunlic, wun(e)liche & (?errors) wundliche, wonliche, vunlye. |
| Etymology | OE wynlīc; also cp. ME win n.(2). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Delightful, agreeable, pleasing; excellent, fine; also, gracious;—freq. with diminished force as a mere positive epithet.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4034 : Wæs at-foren þan wæfde imaked an wunlic fur.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4987 : Stod þe wund-liche [Otho: wonliche] wude amidden ane wælde.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10152 : Arður…hæhte anan wepnien al his wunliche uolc.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)11319 : He…seide þat he wolde…iseon Wenhaiuer, þe wuneliche quene.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)4375 : Þat his mochel onriht, ȝif euere eni god cniht wole his wonliche [Clg: god-liche] cun wiþ-houte gult a-cwelle.
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)99 : Fele flourus and fruit…With wardons winlich and walshe notes newe Þey waled.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1411 : Some of þo wynly wones were peynted with precyus stones.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1807 : Þat wynnelych Lorde…wonyes in heven.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)980 : Chefly þay asken Spycez…& þe wynne-lych wyne þer-with vche tyme.
- a1425 HBk.GDei (Hnt HM 148)92/4 : Als he sall be wrathfull to þe wreches, so to his awene childere, þat here has wroght his will, lufly he sall be & wynly to þaire loke.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)181 : Therto wylde to wale and wynlyche bryddes.
- c1650(a1450) Death & L.(Pcy)46 : Methought walking þat I was in a wood stronge…Þat I might see on euerye side 17 miles…Parkes and pallaces & pastures ffull many, All the world full of welth, vunlye [read: winlye] to behold.