Middle English Dictionary Entry
wlonk adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | wlonk adj. Also wlonke, wlank(e, (N) wlanck, vlanck & (chiefly early) wlonc, wlanc, (early) wlong & (in name) wlonch- & (?errors) wolnk, blonk, (error) wanke. |
| Etymology | OE wlanc, wlonc, wlong adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of a person: distinguished by birth or character, noble; also, physically beautiful, fair or handsome; also, as noun: a person of noble character;
(b) of an animal: graceful, fine;
(c) of a season, a meadow, etc.: exhibiting natural beauty, lovely, splendid; of a root or plant: flourishing, lush; of clay: rich in moisture;
(d) of clothing, workmanship, etc.: splendid, rich, fine; of a town or structure: stately, magnificent, majestic;
(e) of wit or mirth: of exceptional quality, excellent;
(f) as adv.: finely.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1250 Somer is comen & (Eg 613)11 : Þat child, þat is so milde & wlong…isout me hauȝ a-stunde.
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)186 : Let senden aftur Susan…Þat þou hast weddet to wif, wlankest [vr. wlonkest] in wedes.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)606 : Þenne watz he war on þe waye of wlonk wyȝez þrynne.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1977 : At þo ladyez wlonk, Þe knyȝt hatz tan his leue.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1988 : Vche segge as sore to seuer with hym þere As þay hade wonde worþyly with þat wlonk.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)9 : To þe wode are thay wente, the wlonkeste in wedys, Bothe the kynge and the qwene.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3338 : I went to þat wlonke, and wynly hire gretis.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5089 : A lady it kepid, A worthi wedow & a wlonk…Þat qwene Candace þe clere was callid.
b
- c1390 Bi west (Vrn)3 : Vnder a wylde wode-syde…Wlanke deor on grounde gunne glyde.
c
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)489 : Sumeres tide is alto wlonc.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)80 : Þis werwolf was come to his wolnk [?read: wlonk] denne.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)138/11 : Rootis drawiþ to hem þe humour þat is so iput of and beþ inorischid þerwiþ and imaade moiste and wlonk.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)589/5 : Snow…norischiþ and fediþ goode herbis and makeþ hem wlonke.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)486 : I keuered me a cumfort þat now is caȝt fro me, My wod-bynde so wlonk þat wered my heued.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)122 : The dubbement dere of doun and dalez, Of wod and water and wlonk playnez, Bylde in me blys.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.449 : The potters cley, the wlonk [L vliginosa], or sondy lene…nys nought…Hit wil not cheue.
d
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)28/448 : Beo hit nu þet te beo richedom riue & tine wide wahes wlonke & weolefule & habbe monie vnder þe hirdmen in halle.
- a1350 Ne mai no lewed (Hrl 2253)27 : Heo…sayen y am breued ant y-broht yn of al my weole wlonke.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) John Bapt.(Phys-E)p.41 : A man robed in wlank wede…hauid camel har apon.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)793 : Wlonk whit watz her wede.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2432 : Þat wyl I welde wyth guod wylle, not for þe wynne golde…ne for worchyp, ne for þe wlonk werkkez.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)294 : Ful mychel wo men be wroȝte in þy blonk [vr. wlonk] tounes.
e
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1634 : A while wol I stinte of þis wlonke murþe.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)903 : I schulde not tempte þy wyt so wlonc, To Krystez chambre þat art jchose.
f
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2022 : He hade vpon vche pece Wypped ful wel & wlonk.
2.
Of a person or one’s will: haughty, arrogant; also, of a person: high-spirited, bold, proud; of words: proud, pompous.
Associated quotations
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)35 : He wes prud and wlonc, swa þu ert nu.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)47/389 : Ȝe beoð mit to-swollen nawt wið wit ah wið wind of ane wlonke wordes þet þuncheð so greate ant beoð godlese.
- a1300(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Jes-O 29)111/343 : So is mony gedelyng godlyche on horse and is þeyh lutel wurþ, wlonk [Trin-C: wlanc] bi þe glede.
- ?a1300 Maximian (Dgb 86)77 : Ich wes of speche bold…Proud in euchan pres, And wlonk in euchan res.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6397 : Iuus þat o will war wlanck [Göt: wlanc; Trin-C: wlank], þai cund him ai ful litell thanck.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)16046 : Þai…broght him forth as thef; þair will him was ful vlanck.
- c1440(a1350) Isumb.(Thrn)203 : Felle werdes es layde us by-forne, That are were wele and wanke [read: wlanke]!
3.
As surname and in personal name.
Associated quotations
- ?c1335 Þe grace of godde (Hrl 913)112 : Þeiȝ freris prech of heuen and helle…Al þat him þenchit bot dwelle, As men telliþ of Wlonchargan.
- (1327) Name in LuSE 7810 : Le Wlonke.