Middle English Dictionary Entry
wǒmmanhēd(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wǒmmanhēd(e n. Also womanhode, whomanhode, whommanhede & wimmenhode. |
| Etymology | From wǒmman n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The fact or state of being a woman, womanhood;
(b) the qualities belonging to or characteristic of a woman, womanliness, femininity; ?also, effeminacy [quot. ?c1400];
(c) the female sex, womankind;
(d) with poss. pron., as honorific title: to (unto) your ~, etc., to your ladyship, unto your grace, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)14.259/41 : Frere Maryn heo was cald…heo was good…And in Religiun ful stable; hire wommonhed so wel heo hud þat to no mon hit was kud.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.6182 : That lusti tresor…cleped is the maidenhede, Which is the flour of wommanhede.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)1485 : Entende, lady, of thy womanhede To my prayer and me soccour.
- (1464) Let.Ormond in Fortescue Works26 : A wronge done to a man of the Chirche…aughte be takyne as a thynge harmefulle to alle the Chirche, and in like wyse done knyghtes whanne any thynge is done to the dishonoure of knyghtehode, and wymmen, whanne any thynge is done to the dishonoure of wymmenhode.
- a1500(c1370) Chaucer Comp.L.(Benson-Robinson)24 : Hir name is Bountee, set in womanhede…And Plesaunce, under governaunce and drede.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1748 : The queene anoon for verray wommanhede Gan for to wepe.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.239 : He wolde hym ofte auyse, Commendynge in his herte hir wommanhede And eek hir vertu.
- ?c1400 Sloane SSecr.(Sln 213)13/1 : To smalle voyce tokenes foly and wommanhede.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.283 : Alle hire lymes so wel answerynge Weren to wommanhod that creature Was nevere lasse mannyssh in semynge.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3446 : Whi was þis womman so vengeable? Certes in þat sche lakked wommanhede.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)7803 : A womman in hys bedde lyggynge…gaff hym gret occasioun, Wyth toknys off temptacioun, Thorgh hyr port off whommanhede.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Guy (LdMisc 683)180 : In hir tyme was holde noon so ffayr, Callid the example of trouthe and womanhede.
- c1475 Exemple sendynge (Vsp D.9)33 : Bounte, beaute, and perfyte whomanhode, Ensampull of worchype, & Rote of lustynes.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)90 : The moste worthely man & wyse Shuld kepe this lady, mekyll of pryse, And teche hur womanhoode.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.851 : Thow glorie of wommanhod [vr. wommanhode], thow faire may.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.1719 : Thogh sche be the fouleste of alle, Yet to thonour of wommanhiede Him thoghte he scholde taken hiede.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1843 : Þe vnwar chaunge þat is in wommonhed…euery man ouȝt for to drede.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2753 : Consyderen euery circumstaunce Who fairest wer vn-to my plesaunce, And goodliest, to speke of womonhede.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Lover's NYG (Add 16165)29 : I gane me to compleyne Þat she was so fer away, myn hertes soueraine, Which to spek of wommanhed haþe in þis world no peer.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.332 : Fayre wordes…drawe womanhede And maketh hem often other thyng to tast Thanne thei shulde doo if thei wolde be chast.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.52a : The said gentilwomen then with hir accordyng to the lawes of God and womanhede…were in grete dispare of their lyves.
- a1500 Lydg.LOL (Adv 19.3.1)p.113 : Thowgh sche of womonhede [Dur-U: wemen] be hyest in degre Take hede and se how lowly in a stabull How that sche sat, this lady worschypabull.
d
- (a1415) Hoccl.York (Hnt HM 111)30 : I haue a messageer To recommande me…To hir benigne & humble wommanhede.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2397 : Ȝe liste ȝour silfe of my conseil be, Þat neuer aforn to ȝow in no degre Ne dide seruise to ȝoure wommanhed.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4023 : So it nat displese Nor offende vn-to ȝour womanhede…I purpose…To wedde ȝou.
- a1500(?c1370) ?Chaucer Comp.A.(Benson-Robinson)65 : Yet wolde I, as I dar, with sorwful herte Biseche unto your meke womanhede, [etc.].
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)241 : Bothe feyth and trouth y ye[ue] your womanhede, And my seruise.