Middle English Dictionary Entry

cā̆s n.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms cā̆s n. Also case, cace, caas, caice, cais & casse. Pl. cā̆s, cāses.
Etymology OF cas, from L cāsus.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) State of affairs, circumstances, situation; predicament; hard ~; the fortunes (of a person), lot, destiny; (b) senden ~, yeven ~, to grant fortune, rule destiny; grant (a certain kind of) fortune (to sb.).
Show 24 Quotations
2.
(a) An event, incident, occurrence; biforen the ~, before the event or occurrence; in the ~, during the event; ~ for to comen (fallen), a future event; (b) ~ fel that, it happened that; if ~ falle that, if it happens that; (c) misfortune; ben in the ~, to be unfortunate, be in a bad way; bringen on a ~, bring (sb.) into misfortune; counten ~, take account of possible ill luck, consider the danger or risk; die in ~, die through misfortune or an accident, die miserably.
Show 33 Quotations
3.
(a) Chance, Fate; (b) a throw of the dice; (c) a ~, bi ~, upon ~, by chance, by accident [see also per ~]; (d) bi ~, in ~, on ~, upon ~, it may be, perhaps [see also per ~]; (e) ~ that, if ~, in ~, in ~ if, in ~ that, if it chance that, in the event that, if.
Show 58 Quotations
4.
An action, a deed; don ~.
Show 10 Quotations
5.
(a) Cause, reason, purpose; (b) for the ~, because; in ~ to, with the purpose of, in order to.
Show 12 Quotations
6.
(a) Matter, affair, concern, problem; (b) question, proposition, account; (c) device, scheme, snare.
Show 15 Quotations
7.
(a) A type of situation, a case; (b) an instance of something, example, illustration; (c) an exemplum; (d) a sort or variety, category; a kind (of simony); (e) way, manner; (f) in a ~, for example; putten ~, setten ~, to take (sth.) as an example, assume for the sake of argument (that sth. happens or is true), suppose.
Show 34 Quotations
8.
Law (a) Any civil or criminal question contested before a court of law, a suit, a cause; also fig.; (b) the side of one party in a trial, (someone's) case or cause; (c) an accusation, a charge; (d) ben in the ~ of, to be subject to (a law); ben in the ~ to, ?be in a legal position to (demand sth.); comen in ~, ?be brought into court.
Show 16 Quotations
9.
Med. An instance of disease; also, the situation or condition of the patient.
Show 3 Quotations
10.
Gram. Case.
Show 11 Quotations
11.
In misc. phrases: (a) as in this (that) ~, in this (that) ~, in this (that) situation, under these (those) circumstances, in this (that) instance, etc.; (b) at (in) that ~, in that situation, at that juncture, then; (c) bi no (non) ~, for no (ani) ~, in no ~, in no maner ~, under no circumstances, not at all; (d) for ~, for al ~, by all means, at all costs; in ani ~, in any way, at all.
Show 35 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)100b/b : Y schal putte vnto þe here a schort cure in general to þis caas..þe which þat y haue proued ofte tyme in my practik in recouere of manye a sijk man.
    • Note: Quot. postdates sense 9..--per MJW
  • a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)101/22 : Ȝif þe Abbesse take vppon here ageynes oure comaundement for to goo owte of þe forseyde closure or geue licence to any of þe Sustris..The same Abbesse schal be remewid of here gouernaunce, & þe Sustris bi þe maner goynge owte of þe closure, but in case sufferablis, schullyn be made onables to alle offices of þe ordre.
    • Note: New form: Pl. case.--per REL
    Note: Quot. belongs to sense 7.(a).--per MLL
  • a1500 Add.37075 Accedence (Add 37075)46/59 : How know ye þe vocatyff case?.
  • a1500 Add.37075 Accedence (Add 37075)50/248 : In how many shall þe nominatyff case and þe uerbe acorde?
  • c1414 Lin-C.Informacio (Lin-C 88)105/35-7, 40 : If þer come noe nominatif case betwene þo relatif an þo verbe þe þo relatif shal be nominatif case to þo verbe but if hit be a verbe inpersonil, þen þo relatif shal be sech case as þo verbe inpersonil wil haue aftur him..but if he haue his causel word aftur hym..for þen þo relatif shal be seche case as þo infinitif mode wil haue aftur hym.
  • c1414 Lin-C.Informacio (Lin-C 88)105/44 : For 'sum,' 'es,' 'fui' is a verbe copulatif an wil coupell like case.
  • c1414 Lin-C.Informacio (Lin-C 88)106/53 : Qwat maner verbes, out-taken verbes substantiues an verbes vocatiues, haue strength to coupul like case?
  • c1450 Peniarth Accedence(1) (Pen 356B)1/7-8 : How mony byn declynyt wt case and how mony wtout case?
  • c1450 Peniarth Accedence(1) (Pen 356B)2/57 : How mony casus byn þer?
  • a1475 Peniarth Informacio(1) (Pen 356B)94/78 : For 'sum,' 'es,' 'fui' is a verbe copulatyue and wyl copul [lyke] case.
  • a1475 Peniarth Informacio(1) (Pen 356B)100/326-8, 330-1 : Wyth what case may all the uerbis imperson[e]llis of the actyue voyce construe? Wt the datyue case, out-takyn x[v]iij of the wheche v may construe wt the accusatyue case..and iij wt the genitiue case.
  • 1416 PRO Accedence (PRO)55/54 : Þe gentif casce singuler endyt yn [-e].
    • Note: Additional quots. for sense 10.--notes per MLL

©2025 Regents of the University of Michigan. For details about this collection's copyright see the MEC copyright statement and the U-M Library Copyright Policy. Data last refreshed Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 12:18:00.