Middle English Dictionary Entry
canticle n.
Entry Info
| Forms | canticle n. Also cantikil. |
| Etymology | L canticulum |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One of the Biblical songs; esp., one of these as used in the liturgy, a canticle; (b) the canticles, the Song of Songs, Song of Solomon; (c) a sacred song; (d) a secular song in the style of a canticle.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)47/6 : Þri canticles beon ȝæssed of þare witeȝen bocan.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)49/21,30 : Se canticle deutronomio, þat is, 'Audite celi'..se canticle of þam godspelle, þæt is, 'Benedictus'.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)4124 : Ðo moyses was on abarim..Erðe and heuene he wittnesse tooc, And wrot an canticle on ðat booc.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)16/31 : Þat ye syng..þre cantikils of þe prophetis.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)18/22 : Euensong sal be saide wid foure salmes And te Antefens..A lescun..þe respun, and siþin þe ymne and te verset, þe cantikyl of þe gospel and te letanie, And..Pater noster.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Miseric.(Hrl 2255)98 : In Iudicum, the woman Delbora Sang a Canticle..Thankyng the lord by-cause Sisara Distroyed was.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Miseric.(Hrl 2255)123 : Amyd the ffires the Innocentys thre..Sang the Canticle, Benedicite.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)38 : Whan sche had a child, sche mad that canticle, 'Exultavit cor meum in Domino.'
b
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)22/36 : In þe cantikyls it is sayd: 'lufe als dede is strange, And lufe is hard as hell.'
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.73va : Kynge Salamon .. made .. the booke of the canticles, the book of ecclesiastes conteynyng xii chapytres, and the booke of sapience conteynyng xix chapytres.
c
- c1475 Ioy blissid lady (Hrl 372)41 : Þe seyntis of heuyne þe worschip euerychone With ympnes & canticles & organs emang.
d
- a1500(1445) ?Lydg.Marg.Entry (Hrl 3869)109 : This ioious Canticle dothe signifie, A pees shall be where as now trouble is.