Middle English Dictionary Entry
cautelǒus adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | cautelǒus adj. |
| Etymology | OF cauteleux. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Prudent, wise; (b) crafty, artful; wily, deceitful.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Job 5.13 : God..takith cautelouse [WB(1): wise; L sapientes] men in the felnesse of hem, and distrieth the counsel of schrewis.
b
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)33 : Þei be so cawtelous þat, whan þei assaien a man, þei haue an holdyng vpon hem or þe men se hem.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)3098 : Ane of þa clerkes..was ful quaynt and cautelus.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.223 : Ypocritis ben cautellous for to take men in wordis.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4185 : Þe kynge sulde noghte knawe þe cawtelous wriche!
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)8510 : Wyth veyn cours of wordys slye And cautelous me for to ludyfye.
- (1459) Paston (Gairdner)3.157 : That none of myn executorys..in ony maner or condecion cautelous..shall sell..my londes and tenementes.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)1.268 (v.1:p.10) : Antecriste..shal exercisen his cautelous and deceivable falsnes in foure sundry wises, first by suasion and fals exposicion of holy scripture.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)144.232 (v.1:p.429) : Fortunat, a prest of the Manichees .., with his cautelous dotrine deceyuyd meche peple.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)6/6 : The devel by his cautelose serpent eggede the womman Eue for to taste the olde apple.