Middle English Dictionary Entry
ā̆becẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ā̆becẹ̄ n. Also abice, abse, abcy, apece, apsy, abc. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
An alphabet, esp. the Latin alphabet of 22 letters (lacking k and w, and distinct characters for j and v) arranged in fixed sequence; ~ of Grew, ~ of Hebru, ~ of Latine men.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)1 : Tuaye lettres of þe abece.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)194b/b : It is first to speyke, in ordre of þe A. b. c, of þinges that ben ygendrede in þe erþe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)330b/a : Two and twenty lettres of a. b. c, by þe whiche al þe lore of goddes lawe is y write.
- c1400 WBible(2) Gloss.Ezek.(Lamb 25)9.4 : Tau is the laste lettre in abse of Hebru.
- c1400 Wycl.LAChurch [OD col.] (Dub 244)p.xxviii : Euery lettre in þe abece may be sowned wiþ opyn mouþ save m.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) Prol.Kings (Corp-O 4)p.2 : The Salmys..ben weuyd [WB(2): writen and wouen to gideris] with the abece of the same noumbre..the Prouerbis of Salomon..with the same abicees or markyngis [WB(2): abeces of merkyngis] ben noumbrid.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)13/11 : Ȝif ȝee wil wite of here A. B. C. [of greu] what lettres þei ben.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)92/11 : Wee in Englond haue in oure langage & speche ii lettres mo þan þei haue in hire A. B. C. & þat is: þ & ȝ, the whiche ben clept þorn & ȝogh.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)176b/b : Þat þe degreez of medicinez may more liȝtly be founden, be þai ordeyned vnder þe cathologo i. ordre or noumbre of þe a. b. c of latine menne.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2451 : Latyn lettres off our A. B. C.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)12 : A-pece [Win: Apsy]: Alphabetum, abecedarium.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)291/11 : He fowndid..als many abbays as þer was lettres in þe Abce.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.66 : Eche man to kenne hymsilf and his better..As the A. B. C. is made by ordre in hem: A yoman a squyer, and a squyer a knyght, And so to the highest and grettest of might.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)1 : Abcy: Alphabetum, Abcedarium.
2.
(a) lernen, techen the ~, learn, teach the alphabet, i. e. reading and writing; ~ lerner, one who is learning to read and write; (b) a spelling book or primer.
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5393 : Clerc he was god ynou, & ȝut..He was more þan ten ȝer old ar he couþe is abece.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)8.119 : Abstinence þe Abbesse myn A-b-ce me tauȝte.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)12 : A-pece [vrr. apecy, Apsy] lerner, or he þat lernythe þe abece: Alphabeticus, abecedarius.
- a1500 Tan.Mir.Virg.(Tan 407)374/8 : He was set to þe boke for to spel and rede His a b se and pater noster.
- 1558(?a1440) Burgh Praise Lydg.(Add 29729)31 : This blisfull booke..ther I wyll begyne and lerne myne a.b.c.
b
- a1475 In place (Hrl 3954)5 : Quan a chyld to scole xal set be, A bok hym is browt, Naylyd on a brede of tre, Þat men callyt an abece.
3.
(a) The rudiments or fundamentals (of a subject); (b) lore.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.158 : Algorismes Abece, Be which multiplicacioun Is mad and diminucioun Of sommes, be thexperience Of this Art and of this science.
- c1450 Marion ABC (Arun 168)3 : Criste god me spede now in my lityll tretyse, And gyfe me grace so for to lerne Myne Abse, that y may haue a relese Of my synnes.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)49/113 : Bycause that in conninge I am yong..this leude A.b.c. have I set in-to lerning.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.193 : I have..i-lerned Latyn and Grewe, but ȝit couþe I nevere the a.b.c. [L alphabetum] of þis cherle.
4.
(a) A poem whose successive lines or stanzas begin with the letters of the alphabet in order; (b) used in cryptic reference to a person; (c) a text or section of a text arranged alphabetically.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) Prols.Jer.(Dc 369(1))342 : Of his cite the fallingus with fourefold abece he weilede, the whiche wee han ȝolden to the mesure of metre and vers.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer ABC (Benson-Robinson)head. : An ABC.
- c1450 ABCArist.(Lamb 853)3 : Who-so wilneþ to be wijs..Lerne he oo lettir, & looke on anothir Of þe a.b.c. of aristotil: argue not aȝen þat.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)47 : The ruine of the cite he morned with woful songis, foure distincte, be the A.B.C.
- a1475 Cross of ihesu (Rwl B.408)head. : Here begynneth þe A.B.C. of deuocion.
b
- (1454) Paston (Gairdner)3.9 : Youre feithefull labour in fulfellyng the patent for the warrd of A.B.C.
c
- (?a1390) Daniel *Herbal (Add 27329)f.171ra : Se inward after þe abc.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1475 In place (Hrl 3954)31 : About þis apece I wyl spede, Þat I myth þis lettrys rede.