Middle English Dictionary Entry
world-man n.
Entry Info
| Forms | world-man n. Also (early) woreldman, weorldmonne. |
| Etymology | OE weorold-mann, woruld-mann. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A man;—used in emphatic negation; for non ~, not for any man on earth, not for anyone;
(b) a man caught up in secular pursuits, one who is concerned with worldly matters.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14040 : Wenhauer mi quene…nulleð hit biginne for nane weorld-monne.
b
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)57/14 : Ðe woreld-mann lihtliche leicheð of ydelnesse ðe he isieð oðer iherð…ðe gastliche mann…wepð oðer sobbeð.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)57/18 : Of alle ða þinges ðe ðe woreld-mann hafð frieurenesses and blisses, nafð ðes gastliche mann bute reunesses and sarinesses.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)26/178 : ‘Ich chulle fordo þe wisdom of þeos wise worldmen,’ he seið.