Middle English Dictionary Entry
chapele n.
Entry Info
| Forms | chapele n. Also chapelle, chapil, -ol, -ul. |
| Etymology | OF; cp. also ML cappella. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A place of Christian worship other than a parish church or cathedral; an oratory; (b) a chapel subordinate to a mother-church; (c) fre ~, a chapel founded by the king or by his authority, not subject to the jurisdiction of the ordinary (such as a bishop); children of the chapel, choristers of the king's chapel.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)46/32 : Hwa se on mi nome makeð chapele oðer chirche..þe leome ȝef ham, lauerd!
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)1380 : Horn let wurche Chapeles and chirche.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)26140 : He lette þar arere ane chapel [Clg: chireche] mære in seinte Marie name.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)56 : Þe tauerne ys þe scole of þe dyeule..and his oȝene chapele þer huer me deþ his seruese.
- c1390 NHom.Virg.to Devil (Vrn)69 : I rede we make In þis chapel vre preyere.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7110 : Whan I am ther mi ladi is..And sche to cherche or to chapele Wol go to matins or to messe.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.22 : Þer þei fond þe hede is now a faire chapelle.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1062 : Kyrk þerinne watz non ȝete, Chapel ne temple þat euer watz set.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)41/24 : Where seynt Kateryne was buryed is nouther chirche ne chapell.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)15.301 : A wondir Clerte toform me was leyd Sodeynly there In that Chapel.
- a1450 Form Excom.(1) (Cld A.2)64 : We denownce a-cursed..alle lewed men þat enturmetuth hym off offeringus in chirche or in schapell.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)6900 : A litil chapell of wandes þai made, Þar in þe saynt body þai sett Whils þai better kirke moght gett.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Prayer RBury (LdMisc 683)34 : Haue vpon Bury þi gracious remembraunce, That hast among hem a chapel & a shryne.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)10950 : Now ys ther that lady trewe In that chappell: her sorrow ys new. She sowned on her lordys bere.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)1116 : Y ne schal suffre in fraunce, no bellys ryng, In chyrch ne in chapel.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)30/2 : A senatour of Rome..byld a fayre chapell yn worschyp of Seynt Steuen..he ordeynet hymselfe to be buryed þeryn.
- c1450 Stations Rome(1) (Clg A.2)19 : In Rome..Chapelles þer ben..Tenne þowsand & fyfe.
b
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)58/30 : It happyd in a worshepful town wher was o parysch cherch & tweyn chapelys annexid, þe chapellys hauyng & mynystryng alle sacramentys, except only cristenyng & purificacyons.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)406 : In the oold tyme the bischop and hise preestis with hise othere clerkis helden residence in the modir chirche, and alle othere chirchis of the diocise weren chapellis oonli therto.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.112/14 : Þey saide the church of Saunforde to be þe modur church, And oþer seyde hit to be a chapell to þe church of Barton perteynyng.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)633 : Þe abbot of Cicetur & his couent..grauntid to þe chapell of Eton, þe whiche is a chapell of þe churche of Eisi, þat hit sholde haue bi þe modur churche of Eisi all seruices [etc.].
- (1475) Paston (Gairdner)5.221 : That I may have the sacrement her in the chapell, because yt ys far to the chyrche.
c
- (1423) Proc.Privy C.3.104 : Thys ben ye nessessary þynges..nedful for ye schyldern of the schapel.
- (1464) RParl.5.510b : Nor..prejudiciall to the Dean for tyme beyng of the Kynges free Chapell of Seint Martyn Graunt of London, or to the Dean and Chapitre for tyme beyng of the same Chapell.
- (1473) RParl.6.78a : To the..Dean and College of oure free Chapell of Seynt Stephen within oure Paloyce [!] of Westmynstre.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)27 : These lordes rewarde theire..chapeleyns..with..deaneries, prebendes, freechapels, parsonages, pensions, or suche other.
2.
(a) A sanctuary for private worship or prayers attached to a palace, convent, college, residence, etc.; (b) an oratory situated within the confines of or inside a large church.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)599 : In is [the king's] chapele, þere homage he scholde don to him are he j-confermed were.
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)2354 : Sir Amis..in to his chapel he went anon..& preyd wiþ rewely chere.
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)78 : Thus theih serven the chapele and laten the churche stonde.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)930 : Claplaynez [read: Chaplaynez] to þe chapeles chosen þe gate..To þe hersum euensong of þe hyȝe tyde.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)8/11 : Many oþer relikes ben in Fraunce in the kynges Chapell.
- (1429) RParl.4.346b : John Arundell, Dean or Wardein of the Chapelle Roial of Seint George in the Castell of Wyndesore..the saide Chapelle was founded be..Edward the Thridde.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)194 : Lord, hou schulden riche men ben excused þat costen so moche in grete schapellis & costy bokis..for fame & nobleie of þe world?
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)445 : With inne was a chapelle, a chambir and ane haulle.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Eliz.Spalb.(Dc 114)114/44 : Þe abbot..made be bigged þere an honest chaumbyr and a competent & deuoute chapylle..þe chapel is departyd fro þe chaumbyr wiþ a smalle latys-closynge, and in þe myddes of þat closynge þere is a dore þat opens in to þe chapelle.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)11/27 : [Þis abbatis] had a privay chapell with-in hur chawmer, þer sho was wunt daylie..to say our ladie matyns.
- (1466) in Cox Churches Derb.85 : George Styholme to be clerke In the saide collegiate chapelle of All Saints.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)93/9 : [The maister and brethern of the hospitall of seynt Iohn Baptist] had a chapell I-made in their house.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)3026 : A worthi woman..bult..beside hir place A chapel of ful grete renoun, And vche day a masse ho has.
- a1500(1446) Let.Curteys in RS 96.3 (Add 7096)246 : Within oure universite of Cambrigge, we have ordeyned þe firste stoon of oure chapel [i.e. King's College chapel] ther to be layed..on Michielmesse day.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27198 : In kyrcgarth, chapell or kyrk.
- (1413) Will in Bdf.HRS 216 : My wreched stynkyng careyne to be beried wyþoute þe Chapell newe made wyþinne þe chirche ȝerd.
- (1423) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)266 : I be whethe my best chalys..to serve þe auter in þe chapell of Seynt Petir þe apostell in þe..church of Haversham.
- (1426) Will in Bdf.HRS 245 : My body to be beryed in the chapel of Seynt Jame in the chirche of Todyngton.
- (1444) Will York in Sur.Soc.30112 : I wil ther be a prest singing iij yere in the forsaid chapel.. for ye soule of William Daubeney, whoos bones restith in ye same chapel.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)73 : In þe uttir ende of þe cherch ferþest fro þis auter is a chapell in whech be many relikis.
- (1464) Will Drayles in Antiq.8243 : I wyll haue a messe..in the Churche of the Fryers Carmys in Yippiswych afornseid, in the chapelle of Seynt Johan Baptyst.
3.
(a) A body of ecclesiastics serving in a chapel; (b) any assembly of ecclesiastics, chapter [cp. chapitle, chapitre].
Associated quotations
a
- c1450 Page SRouen (Glb E.8)422/14 : To the mynstur did he fare..his chapell mette hym at the dore there..and songe a responde full glorious.
- a1525(?1457) Cov.Leet Bk.299 : At which tyme ther went of the spiritualte a procession..The Priour of Couentre with his Covent, The Dene of the kynges Chapell with alle the hole Chapell.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)597 : And þanne scholde þilke prelat of is chapele i-chose beo, Of is clerkus ȝwuch þat he wolde þat benefiz to bi-seo.
4.
Combs. (a) chapel belle; ~ cofre; ~ croft; ~ dore, ~ dur; ~ ȝerd; ~ man; ~ place; ~ tour; (b) ~ chaumbre, a room adjoining the chapel; ~ fir, a fireplace in a chapel; ~ hous = chapitle hous, chapitre ~; ~ hende, one end of the chapel ( ? = ~ chaumbre).
Associated quotations
a
- (1263) Close R.Hen.III260 : Rogerus le Chapelman.
- (1347-8) Acc.Chester in LCRS 59124 : [For roofing the] Chapeltour.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.171 : Men myghte his brydel heere Gynglen..as loude as dooth the chapel belle.
- (1410) Deed Yks.in YASRS 65122 : Le Chapel croft.
- (1423) Will York in Sur.Soc.4576 : Pro ij cistis parvis vocatis chapell cofferes.
- a1425 Celestine (LdMisc 463)596 : Þe chapel dore he sette wyde open.
- (1428) Feudal Aids 1449 : Johannes Chapilman.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)152/9 : Þe good frere prechyd in Seynt Iamys Chapel-ȝerd at Lenne.
- c1475(a1400) Amadace (Tay 9)p.31 : Sir Amadace..rode vn-to the chapelle dur.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)14/24 : Chercheȝerd or chapelȝerd, or ony oþer place halwyd.
- (1473-4) Acc.St.Edm.Sarum15 : For the chapul dore of our Lady.
- a1600(1472) Rec.Bluemantle (Jul C.6)385 : Lorde Grutehuse went by water from thence to Westm., to ye Dene of St. Stevens chappell place in Chanon Roo.
b
- (1327) Sub.R.Lei.in AASRP 20.1133 : Rogerus de la Chapelhous.
- (1377) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.92 : [The chamber called] Chapel chaumbre [with the chapel annexed].
- (1430) Will York in Sur.Soc.3012 : In le chapell chaumbre.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)121/28 : Þan he sett hir a day, comawndyng hir for to aperyn beforn hym in þe Chapelhows..Þer was meche pepil þat day in þe Chapetilhows.
- (1445) Will York in Sur.Soc.30156 : The bed in the chapell chambr.
- (1447-8) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99275 : In quadam camera vocata Chapelhende.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)2519 : Ate the chappel fyer he sawe lyght..And into the chappel ȝede..And by the fyre he hym sete.
- (1450-1) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99276 : Pro factura et le kyrvynge j rerdose..in le chapelhende.
5.
Miscell. uses: (a) a pagan sanctuary; (b) a shrine; (c) a haunted place, a fairy mound [see J. R. Hulbert in MP 13.703-6].
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3811 : The manly Troyans..entre þe seintuarie, In-to þe chapel callid Cytheroun, With-oute reuerence or deuocioun Don to Venus in hir oratorie.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9149 : As Achilles this choise [maidon] in chapell beheld, A fell arow in his frunt, festnet of loue.
b
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)84 : Every [Roman] officer shulde have noo more silver vesselle but for a chapelle and a cupbourde.
c
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2107 : Be hit chorle oþer chaplayn þat bi þe chapel rydes..Hym þynk as queme hym to quelle.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2186 : He seȝ..A balȝ berȝ..Hit hade a hole on þe ende..nobot an olde caue..quoþ þe gentyle knyȝt, Wheþer þis be þe grene chapelle?
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2195 : Þis oritore is vgly..Þis is a chapel of meschaunce..Hit is þe corsedest kyrk þat euer I com inne.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)203 : He schall do batailes þre..At þe point perilous, Be þe chapell auntrous, Schall be his beginning.