Middle English Dictionary Entry
bright adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | bright adj. Also brigh, brist. |
| Etymology | A breht, bryht; WS beorht. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of the sun, moon, stars, fire: giving off much light, shining brightly, bright; of light: intense, brilliant; also fig. [quot. 1421]; (b) of God, angels, saints, heaven: characterized by intense brightness, effulgent; resplendent, glorious; as noun: glorious one; (c) full of light, sunny, fair; of a house: brightly lighted; also fig. enlightened; cheerful; (d) luminous, shining, gleaming, brilliant, lustrous, sparkling; also, resplendent, splendid, beautiful.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1106 : Se steorra ætywde..ac se leoma þe him fram stod wæs swiðe beorht.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)132/9 : & cymð þenne fæȝer wæder & brihte sunnæ.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3431 : A steorrne..Full brad & brihht & shene.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)17882 : Þe leome..wes briht vnifoh.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)589 : A lith ful shir, Also brith so it were day.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)951 : A michel fier he sag and an brigt.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1062 : Bright was the sonne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.734 : The monelyht..is noght of himselve bright, Bot as he takth it of the Sonne.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1767 : It [Truth] wol clerly shyne..shew his briȝte bemes.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)6359 : Þe son sal be..Seven sythe brighter þan it now semes.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)52 : Bryghte: Clarus, splendidus, rutilans.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2756 : The mone ariseth glad & bright.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)146/18 : I saw a grett lyght..bryghtere þan þe sunne bem.
- c1475 Exemple sendynge (Vsp D.9)47 : O ye fayre son, wythe all youre bryghte bemys.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)118/11 : Þa ðe he Cristes ansyne swa briht & swa wlitiȝe iseah.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)139 : Þis dei [Sunday] is..seouensiþe brictere þene þe sunne.
- a1225 Lamb.Hom.Pater N.(Lamb 487)61/112 : Crist us ȝife..to..wunen mid him..in heouene, þe is swa briht.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)61/664 : An engel..se briht as þah he bearnde.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)107b : Þu [Virgin Mary] schalt te seolf beo seoueuald brihtre þen þe sunne.
- a1275 Of on þat is so fayr (Trin-C B.14.39)3 : On þat is so feir ant brist uelud maris stella, bristore þen þe dai-is list.
- a1275 Louerd asse þu ard (Trin-C B.14.39)10 : Lucifer..hedde muchel list, Engel in hewene wonderliche brist.
- c1300 SLeg.Chris.(LdMisc 108)171 : Heom þouȝte is face wel briȝtore schine þane þe sonne oþur þe Mone.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)406 : Ȝif þu wolt sen in þi siht God of heuene, þat is so briht.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)70/511 : Jhesu Crist..Brihtor [L clarior] to me þen eny liht.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.1060 : God..and his halwes brighte.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23394 : Þou sal be bright als sun es þan.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)2/29 : Wha sal wne wid þe in þe muntain þat es sua briht [L in monte sancto tuo]?
- a1425 This blessyd boke (LdMisc 286)60 : To buske vs to the blysse ful brigth.
- a1425 Blissed be thow Baptist (Wht)64 : Þi aungel..broght worde of þat bright.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)584 : Lich an aungell he schoon, so britȝ he was.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)53.22 : The holy gost that was so bryht.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2452 : He come..Bryȝtore þenne þe sonne in May.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)120.86 (v.2:p.309) : Nero sau the face of Nazarie shynyng and brygh as the sunne.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)327/60 : He stud as still, that bright, As stone in wall.
- a1500 St.Kath.(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)18 : Owre lorde bryȝt.
- c1500 As Reson Rywlyde (Rwl C.86)105 : All blody was the brighte of his blee.
c
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)51/14 : Do hyne on wearme huse and on beorht.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)16914 : Gastliȝ lifess brihhte daȝȝ.
- ?a1300(c1250) Prov.Hend.(Dgb 86)st.33 : Ofte, morewen grei bigrowen, Seþ man þe day faire dowen And ful briȝt on hende.
- c1300 Iesu cristes milde moder (Arun 248)10 : Þe brithe day went in-to nith.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2219 : Bright was the day and blew the firmament.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)13541 : Wirk he moste be-for þe niȝt ay quen þe day lastis brit.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.769 : A cloudy thought..overspradde hire brighte thoughtes alle.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)164/6 : Þat þe eyr beyng brygth & cler xulde be so sone chongyd in-to clowdys & derkys.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)81 : Clere, as wedur ys, bryghte: Clarus, serenus.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)16/17 : Þat our Lord schuld..make brith þe þirknesse of Augustines soule.
d
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)38/645 : Betere a briht iacinct þen a charbucle won.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)55 : Mid brihte ȝimstones hore krune is al biset.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)14 : He was briȝt so þe glas.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)20536 : Hire brihte [Clg: white] healmes.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2610 : Þe brinies brihte.
- a1350 Ichot a burde in a (Hrl 2253)1 : Ichot a burde in a bour ase beryl so bryht.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1088 : Boun to batayle in ful briȝt armes.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1958 : Wawes grene and brighte as any glas.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.839 : Thise floryns newe and brighte.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21783 : Was na cristal was als bright.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.168 : A belle..of briȝte syluer.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1456 : Þer wer bassynes ful bryȝt of brende golde clere.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1638 : Þe byȝe of bryȝt golde abowte þyn nekke.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)110 : Bonkez..of beryl bryȝt.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1051 : A fewe brighte teris newe.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)189 : Smale fishes..With..skales sylver bryghte.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)446 : Schynyn or glyderyn, as bryghte thyngys: Niteo, rutilo.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1652 : The bases & bourdurs all of bright perle.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)194/2 : Take wȝyte wyn and put it in-to a bryȝth basyn.
- c1450 7 Sages(1) (Arun 140)150/2088 : Þe lady..was als bryȝt als any glas.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)65 : Armyd in bright plate & mayle.
2.
(a) Of color: vivid, brilliant, intense; ~ grene; (b) of objects: vivid in color, gay, bright, unfaded; beautiful; ~ of ble; (c) of persons: having a fresh or rosy complexion, fair; ~ of face; ladi ~, fair lady; as noun: the fair or beautiful one; (d) ~ of (on, in) ble (heue), of fair or fresh complexion; beautiful; of the body: healthy (not pallid) in coloring; brightest of ble, fairest one.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)152 : Of briȝter howe [Jes-O: brihtur hewe], of uairur blo.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3572 : Þat kud kniȝt..bereth in his blasoun of a brit hewe a..werwolf wonderli depeinted.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)12.220 : Where-of þei [flowers] cacche her coloures so clere and briȝte.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2517 : A bende..of a bryȝt grene.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)12 : Caste þer-to Saffroun to make þe coloure bryth.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)52/19 : A grene busch as fyre doth flame and kepyth his colowre fayr and bryghte, Ffresch and grene.
b
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)623 : Min hus stont briȝt & grene.
- a1300(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Jes-O 29)109/334 : Mony appel is bryht wiþ-vte and bitter wiþ-inne.
- c1325 Byrd one brere (KC Muniments 2.W.32)5 : Hic am so bliþe, so bryhit, brid on brere, quan I se þat hende in halle.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)470 : A þing, be hit briȝtter oþer broun, beter oþer worse.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.104 : A sheef of pecok arwes bright and kene.
- a1400 Of thes frer mynours (Cleo B.2)st.2 : A grene tre..with blossemes þat bright are of ble.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1400 : His clere concubynes in cloþes ful bryȝt.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)117 : Mony baner ful bryȝt.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)305 : Þe kniȝt..In armes briȝt of ble.
- a1475 In place (Hrl 3954)123 : Out ran hus blod þat was so bryth.
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)87 : His wedes..als bryȝt of hor blee in blysnande hewes As þai hade ȝepely..bene ȝisturday shapen.
c
- a1275 Louerd asse þu ard (Trin-C B.14.39)71 : Feir he was on bodie & brit he [Abel] was on leore.
- a1275 Louerd asse þu ard (Trin-C B.14.39)117 : Hic þenche on adam..& of saira, þe briste.
- a1300 On hire is al (Roy 2.F.8)28 : Leuedy brytd.
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)466 : Horn..Þou art so fayr and briycte.
- a1350 In may hit murgeþ (Hrl 2253)8 : Non so freoli flour ase ledies þat beþ bryht in bour.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1962 : Þe briȝt burde meliors.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1427 : Emelye the brighte.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7365 : In visage es he [young David] bright and clere..o laghand chere.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)755 : Breue me, bryȝt!
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)310 : Sorowe..Made hir ful yelow and nothyng bright.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1262 : Clere broun she was and therto bright Of face.
- a1450(a1400) Athelston (Cai 175/96)72 : Red as rose off here colour, As bryȝt as blosme on brere.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)52.766 : Ȝoure dowhter so bryhte.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)198 : Þou in Bethleem was born of a bryȝt mayde.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)100 : Isope..wole make briȝt and cler alle wannesses.
- c1450(?a1400) Quatref.Love (Add 31042)147 : In þe burghe of bedlem beldede þat bryghte.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)148/64 : Myght we se onys þat bryght on bed.
- c1475 Babies' Bk.(Hrl 5086)73 : In chamber among ladyes bryȝth.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)134 : Trystram and Isowde so bryȝt, That semely wer to se.
d
- a1300 Edi beo þu (Corp-O 59)14 : Nis non maide of þine heowe swo fair, so sschene, so rudi, swo bricht.
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)66 : Huer is paris & heleyne þat weren so bryht & feyre on bleo?
- a1350 Horn (Hrl 2253)98 : Horn þu art..bryht of hewe & shene.
- a1350 Nou skrynkeþ (Hrl 2253)55 : Þah þou be whyt ant bryth on ble, falewen shule þy floures.
- c1390 Ihesu þi swetnes (Vrn)66 : His sydes blo and blodi were, Þat sumtyme were ful briht of ble.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.377 : This mayde bright of hewe.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)855 : Bothe were they faire and bright of hewe.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)3946 : Bryht of ble He was, & of colour neþir pale ne wan.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2573 : Hurre body was..as bryȝt in ble As hit was alyue.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7888 : A damsell faire, Þat bright was of ble.
- c1450 As Reson Rywlyde (Lamb 853)105 : Þou madist ful blac þat was briȝt of blee.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)366/303 : Now com..brithtest of ble!
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)198 : Ther ys none so bryght of blee; Whyte as snowe ys hur coloure, Hur rudde ys radder þen þe rosefloure.
3.
(a) Of liquids: clear; sparkling; (b) white; shiny; (c) of a mirror: clear, untarnished.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)129 : Good ber & bryȝt wyn.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.6 : In water bryȝt.
b
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)155 : A mere mantile..mensked withinne..With blyþe blaunner ful bryȝt.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)21b : Þey beþ faire grene above and under þe leuys þay seme as bryght as silver.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.m.5.11 : The bryghte [L lucida] fleeses of the contre of Seryens.
c
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)237/14 : [Clerks and prelates] byeþ þe sseawere of holy cherche..huanne þe sseawere is briȝt, me ziȝþ wel þane spot..ine þe ssewere.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)18.277 : A forbusne to alle busshopes and a bryȝthe myrour.
4.
(a) Of eyes: keen-sighted; of eyesight: clear, keen; (b) of the voice: clear, resonant; of a bell: clear in sound.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)75 : Houene & horþe he ouer sich [vr. ouer-sihð] his eȝen boð swa brichte [vrr. brihte, briȝte, britte].
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)104a : Þet godd..makeð þe heorte..of briht sihðe.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)55 : Ðe sunne..makeð his egen brigt.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)4147 : Moyses is faren..sex score winter old..ðog him lestede hise sigte brigt.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)174a/a : Medecynes..þat maken þe siȝt briȝt.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)88 : Þis oynement shall put a-wey al þe dayssenes of hem [the eyes] and make hem briȝt.
b
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1681 : Þe þe hableþ steuene briȝte.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2780 : Vt of ðat busk..God sente an steuene brigt and heg.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)214 : With theire bellys so brighte, blethely thay ryngen.
5.
Various fig. uses: (a) morally pure, free of sin; ~ in soule; (b) enlightened (faith); of an utterance: clear, unambiguous; (c) of virtue, a good deed: splendid, glorious.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)205 : Two þing ben in þe manne: on his þat clene and brehte and faire kinde..þat oðer is..lichamliche lustes.
- a1300 Leuedy for þare (Jes-O 29)23 : He make vs clene and bryhte for his wundes fyue.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)73 : Hi byeþ briȝte and clene ase hi weren ate..cristninge.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1371 : Mi bretheryn..schuld be clene in soule and brytȝ.
b
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)119 : Þe holi gost..com uppen hem on fires hewe..and alihte hem of brihtere and of festere bileue.
- c1450 Wast bryngyth (Add 31042)p.194 : Many mane spekes in double entendement..The mysty wordes oute es wente, The brighte worde in þe breste habydes.
c
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)228 : Saynt Ierome zayþ þet mochel is uayr and briȝt, to-uore þe oþre uirtues, maydenhod.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.112 : Men goostly in this mayden..Sayen..sondry werkes brighte of excellence.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)361/168 : That berde that in vertu is moste brith.
6.
As a surname.
Associated quotations
- (1252) Cart.Ramsey in RS 79.1373 : Johannes Briht.
- (1278) Close R.Edw.I449 : Roger le Bricht.
- (1428) Feudal Aids 5256 : Willelmus Bright.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1200 Wor.Serm.in EGSt.7 (Wor Q.29)28 : O mang heom ves on engel þet vas brithere and feire þene ani of þen oþre.
- c1200 Wor.Serm.in EGSt.7 (Wor Q.29)35 : He feol fran heuene rof into helle flor, and bricch engle iverþ ateliche deofel.
Note: New forms: Also bricch; comp. brighter, etc. & brithere, brihtor.
Note: These quots. belong to sense 1.(b).
Note: These quots. have been taken back to books.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section is incomplete and needs revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.111va (3.19) : Anoþer maner of whitehede þere is in ypostasy and in vryn: þat is brigh mylk white.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.116vb (3.20) : Vryn brigh & wel cocte: gode splene.
Note: New spelling: brigh.