Middle English Dictionary Entry
calende(s n.
Entry Info
| Forms | calende(s n. Also kalandes, kalendes. |
| Etymology | L kalendae |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The first day of a month; (b) the Heb. festival of the new moon; (c) a certain day reckoned back from (and including) the first of the following month; fourtenthe ~ of March, February 16, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.209 : An astronomer..seide þat Iulius schulde deie in þe kalendas..To day beeþ þe kalendas [Higd.(2): kalendes of Ianuar]..but þey beeþ nouȝt apassed.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.Euphr.(Vrn)608 : Heo ȝaf þe spirit to god..At þe kalendes of Janiuere.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)125b/b : Þe firste day of a monþe haþ þe name of kalendis & is I-clepid kalende of calo, þat is, to clepe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3915 : May kalendis entre in for-sothe.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.706 : Fro Marche kalendis, gees to sette obrood..is ful good.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2371 : In the kalendez of Maye this caas es befallen.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1122 : Fro þe kalandes of Nouember Vn-to þe pase, es risyng right At þe aght our.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1836 : Þe kalandes of october.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1 : Alhail Kalende of Marche!
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2630 : Fro Juyl Kalendis vnto the Kalende Of Janyveer.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)93 : A waytiþ not..kalendis of Janiuer.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.1.14 : Ȝoure kalendis [WB(2): calendis; L Calendas] and ȝoure solempnetees hatede my soule.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Ezek.45.17 : Vpon the prince shuln be brend sacrifices..in kalendus.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Ezek.46.6 : In the day of kalendis, a calf vnspottid.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)1 Kings 20.5 : Loo! kalendis [WB(2): calendis] ben to morwe, and I..am wont to sitte biside the kyng to eete.
c
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)71/770 : I þe Sixtenðe dei of feouerreres moneð, þe fowrtuðe kalende of mearch þet is seoððen.
- c1390 GGuy(2) (Vrn)293 : Þe twelfþe Kalende of Decembre, a Citeseyn..dyed.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)122a/b : Þe sixte kalendis ben twies acounted.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)4 : Towarde the ende off wyndy Februarie..Newe kalendes wern entred and begonne Off Marchis komyng.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)11.2 : Iust sowyng of hem is fro x Kalende Of Nouember vntil vj Idus blowe Of December.
- c1450(?a1400) SLChrist (Add 38666)45 : The viij kalende of Auerille..Conceyued Crist was.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)174 : He was crowned at Westminster the sext kalend of March.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)422 : The eȝt kalende of Ianuer..our Lord wold be born.
2.
Beginning, start, prelude, harbinger; ~ of as)chaunge, the beginning of a change or exchange, a harbinger of change.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1138 : His propre Monthe is..Octobre, which bringth the kalende Of wynter, that comth next suiende.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.735 : Trompettis and of clariouns, Þat be kalendys of schedyng oute of blood.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3601 : With þis [vr. these] kalendis..Grekys gan the thebans to Salwe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.7 : But now of hope the kalendes bygynne.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1634 : This Troilus this lettre thoughte al straunge..Him thoughte it lik a kalendes of chaunge.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.262 : In tokene of calendis of þis, Poul telliþ [etc.].
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)370 : I trowe that ye haue trodyn the trace Off louys daunce, for of the kalendys ye muse the prime.
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)52/9 : For a lamentable kalendes of more infortune þat aftir schulde folowe, Iulia þe noble wife of Pompeye..deied of a childe berynge.
- a1456(a1407) Scogan MB (Ashm 59)146 : Whane youþe passeþe his saysoun, Comþe croked and vnweldy palled age; Soone affter þat komþe kalendes of dotage.
- a1500(?1382) Wycl.Wks.Mercy (NC 95)179 : O, if oure prelates lettid trewe prestis to preche Cristis gospel..how opun kalendis it were of lordschipe of Anticrist!
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.177 : The chere in hir birdis aport Gave me in hert kalendis of confort.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.41 : So was the name of this ilke Albyon All sette on side in kalandes of achaunge, And putte awaye with greate confusion.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.118 : It chaunged all his corage and manhede; In kalendes of eschaunge he was impressed.
3.
= calender: (a) a table or chart of the year; (b) a map or description (of a route).
Associated quotations
a
- a1456 Lydg.MRose (Ashm 59)43 : Kalende [Hrl 2251: kalendis; Hrl 2255: The aureat noumbre in kalenderys set for prime].
b
- c1475(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Hrl 661)p.414 : And as in case whan pleaseth your highnes To Scotlonde passe, I make you a kalende Of all the waie to Edenbourgth.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)176/9 : The feste of Seynt Jame is in the viii. kalendas of Auguste noȝt for þat he dyede þen..but þat viii. day was þe chirche halowyd in Campostella.
Note: Additional quot. for sense 1.(c).
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)224/5 : They worschipid the feste of Alle Halowes in the kalende of Nouembre.
Note: Needed for date in sense 1.(a).
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section seems to be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. Provisional revised form section: Also kalendes, kalendez, calendis, kalendis, calendas, kalendas, kalendus, kalandes & kalend(e.
Note: Additions to etymology to explain "singular" forms of this word in ME. (In CL, it is always plural.): (from DMLBS) [ML kalenda n.]; (from DOE) [OE cālend.]--notes per MLL