Middle English Dictionary Entry
bǒuntevǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | bǒuntevǒus adj. Also bounty-, bonte-, bonti-. |
| Etymology | Cp. OF bontieus & bontive. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Good, virtuous, worthy; (b) knightly, valiant; (c) of things: excellent.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.110 : She was so prudent and so bounteuous.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)3160 : I am noȝt worthy me [read: ne] so bonetyuose, þat þu suld entyr within my house.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.883 : Ne I nevere saugh a more bountevous Of hire estat.
- a1456(1429) Lydg.Hen.VI Coron.Ballade (Trin-C R.3.20)139 : Be bounteuouse and kyngly honnourable.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)4555 : Ryght bontevous and ynly fre..She excelleth.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)4011 : This Isope had a douȝtir..Wise & eke bountevouse, & benyng with-all.
b
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)327 : Knyghtis of þe Erlis house..in batelle bownteuous [Cmb: bountyveus], þay dyede in þat stownde.
c
- (?1407) Hoccl.Somer(1) (Hnt HM 111)8 : That sesoun bounteuous we wole assaill, Glad cheerid Somer.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)26505 : Here swerdis so bowntevous they were, that non bettere ne weren Nowhere.
2.
Generous, beneficent, liberal, kind: (a) of persons; (b) of actions and qualities.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2726 : Lat hym ensample take Of Adrastus..So liberal and so bountevous Vnto his puple.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)46 : Bontyvese: Munificus, liberalis, largus.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.559 : Nowe that bountevous Lorde graunt vs suche grace.
b
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2418 : He wil hom to Arge..lowly thonkyng vnto her goodnesse, Of her fredam and bountevous largesse.
- (1438) Proc.Privy C.5.105 : Your seide moste noble fader..of his owne roiale largesse and bounteuous grace..graunted to hym xl li. a yere.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)57/24 : I..beseche you..benygngly of your bownteuous goodnesse to fauowren and fortune þe hiȝe Emprise.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.19.100a : We..thank the here, and in alle places, Of this ful bountevous benevolence.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1472) Paston ()5.144 : The most corteys, gentylest, wysest..largeest, most bowntesous knyght.
Note: New spelling (error)