Middle English Dictionary Entry
chapelein n.
Entry Info
| Forms | chapelein n. Also chapelain, -en, chaplein, (early) capelein. |
| Etymology | OF chapelain, chapelaine (fem.); cp. ML cappellānus, -āna. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A priest officiating in a chapel (whether public or private); kinges ~, ~ of houshold, chaplain of the royal household; ~ confessor.
Associated quotations
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1114 : Turstein..wæs æror þæs cynges capelein.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)1.164 : Moni Chapeleyns ben chast, but Charite is aweye; Beo no men hardore þen þei, whon heo beoþ avaunset.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)7.20 : Ȝe, loueli Ladies..souweþ..Chesybles for Chapeleyns.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.617 : Flatereres ben the deueles chapelleyns that syngen euere 'Placebo'.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)930 : Caplaynez to þe chapeles chosen þe gate, Rungen ful rychely..To þe hersum euensong of þe hyȝe tyde.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2107 : Be hir chorle oþer chaplayn þat bi þe chapel rydes.
- ?c1430(?1382) Wycl.Pet.Parl.(Corp-C 296)511 : Of ech sich privat secte, by licence of þe pope, ben maad some chapeleyns of houshold, summe chapeleyns of honour, summe bisshopis.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.222 : Appointementes made and stablisshed for ye Kinges honeurable houshold..j Bisshop, j chapelein.
- (1454) Proc.Privy C.6.223 : The chapell: j dene, j chapelain confessor for þe Housholde..xx chapeleins..vij childryn.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.113/8 : To þe perpetuell vicariage of þe chapell of Saunforde be presentid..a conuenient chapeleyne, þe which shall take all þe obuencions..of þe Auter of þe same chapell.
- (c1466) Paston (Gairdner)4.248 : They shewed divers deeds and grants..how that their ancetors had licence to have a chaplen and have divine service within them.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)93/11 : Alsomoch as they had a chapell I-made in their house [the hospitall of seynt Iohn Baptist], I wolde fouchesauf to yeve them licence to haue ther owne Chapelayne in the same.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)487/2 : Sir Odo, I-called Chapeleyn of Godestowe.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)27/25 : This womman dyde make beside hure a fayre chapel, and there sche wold iche day of hure chapeleyne heere a masse of oure lady.
- -?-(1474) Ordin.Househ.Pr.Edw.*29 : We will that our sayde sonne have the chaplins, one of them to be his almoner..and that the said almoner be confessor to the houshoulde; and the other twoe chapleynes to saye masse and devyne servyce before our sayde sonne.
2.
(a) Any clergyman who assists a cleric of higher rank in performing his administrative and religious duties; (b) a nun who serves as private secretary and assistant to the abbess or prioress of a convent; also fig.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)963 : Þe bischop..of hereford..seide [to Beket]..þi chapeleyn ich mote beo, bifore þe lat me bere þe croiz.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.117 : Þe bisshopp [of Rochester] haþ non persche chirche, but he is þe archebisshoppes chapeleyn [Higd.(2): chapelayn; L capellanus] of Canterbury.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.409 : Þe kyng ȝaf þe bisshopriche to oon Walter, þat hadde i-be þat oþer William his preost and his chapeleyn [vr. chapelen].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.306 : Þe bisshop shal be blamed..þat crouneth suche goddes kniȝtes þat conneth nouȝt..psalmes rede ne segge a messe of þe day. Ac neuer neyther is blamelees, þe bishop ne þe chapleyne [C: chapeleyn].
- (1439) *Proc.Chanc.PRO ser.C 1 file 9no.378 : To the worchipfull fader in god, Bisshop of Bathe..Besechen mekely your..chapelleyne, the Abbot and couent of the Abbey of Burton vppon Trent.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)3280 : On-to þe chauncell mad he [þis bisschop] many a gate With his chapeleynis in ful prestly aray.
b
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.164 : Another Nonne with hire hadde she [the Prioress], That was hir chapeleyne.
- c1390 Chart.Abbey HG (Vrn)362 : Þat Merci and Truþe scholde be Charite Chapeleyns, and wenden a-boute wiþ hire whoder þat heo wente..He ordeynde þat þeose þreo Ladyes scholde haue heor Chapeleyns, for þei weore most of worschupe.
- (1397) Doc.in Dugdale Monasticon 1437 : When a pryoresse shall bee made, thabbes shall commaunde hyr the Rule..And she shall set hyr in hyr sete. And than shal come the chaplaine with encens against hyr.
- (1441) Visit.Alnwick125 : That no mo of your susters entende vp on yowe, save onely your chapeleyn.
- (1442) Visit.Alnwick230 : Also we enioyne yowe, prioresse, vndere peyne of contempte, that euery yere ye chaunge your chapeleyn.
3.
~ of the Pope, an auditor or judge at the Papal court.
Associated quotations
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)4b/a : I, Guydo de Cauliaco, Cirurgien..leche & commensale chapeleyne of oure lorde þe pope.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)244 : A Frere Carmelite..had powere for to receyve men that thei schuld be chapuleynis of the Pope..Many men boute these graces and mysused hem.
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cxxv : But take we heede to þe popes & cardinals..& to þe popes chapileyns, to procuratours & pledres.