Middle English Dictionary Entry
chapī̆tle n.
Entry Info
| Forms | chapī̆tle n. Also chapitel(e, -ul, chapetil. |
| Etymology | OF; cp. also L capitulum. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. capitle, chapitre.
1.
(a) A division or section of a book; chapter, paragraph; (b) a short Scriptural or patriotic passage read during a service; a lesson.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)136 : Ase we habbeþ be-uore y-ssewed ine þe chapitele of prede.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)1/5 : Þe firste techinge of þe firste tretis haþ þre chapitlis.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Mat.1.1 : Matheu seiþ in þe firste chapytyl on þis wyse in þe book of þe kynrede of Iesu Crist, [etc.].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)22b/b : The firste doctrine haþ fyue chapitles.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)p.53 head. : The xij chapitule.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)94b : Þe prologe or the forspekynge chapite.
- c1460 Chaucer CT.Pars.(SeldArch B.14)I.592 : As seith seint Ierome in iiijthe chapitle.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.1 : The fyrst two Chaptiles spekes of oure dampnacione.
- a1500 PParv.(KC 8)69 : Chapyttyl [vr. chapytle]: Capitulum.
- 1558(a1456) Shirley TContents(2) (Add 29729)196/7 : Ther is titled compendyously all ye storyes..eche after other in ther chapytles, as yt sheweth pleyne by ther tytles.
b
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)7228 : Þys folted king, he gyueþ vs lytel, ffor a monk can nought bot his chapitel.
2.
Eccl. (a) An assembly of dignitaries of the Church, as of a religious order, a cathedral, etc., acting as an administrative, legislative, or judicial body; ~ plenere, a general assembly; chapter; (b) such a body in session; also fig.; (c) a place where such meetings are held; chapter house; (d) chapitle belle; ~ hous, chapter house.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1501 : Þo þe chapitle plenere was, þudere þe king sende to þe Abbotus alle plenereliche þat to þulke chapitle wende.
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(LdMisc 108)417 : Þe Erchebischop of caunterburi was ded, Seint Eadmund þar-to was chose..Þo þe Eleccioun was i-maud in þe chapitle at Caunterburi [etc.].
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(LdMisc 108)445 : Þe chapitle at salesburi i-holde was plener; Alle þe chanouns of þe ordre þudere come, fer and ner, To conseili heom of þis þing.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9704 : Ȝuf eni play to chaptile were idrawe, & eni man made is apel ȝuf me dude him vnlawe, þat to þe bissop fram ercedekne is apel ssolde make, & fram bissop to erchebissop.
- c1330 Len puet (Auch)254 : Hundred, chapitle, court, and shire, Al hit goth a devel way.
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)193 : Officials and denes that chapitles sholden holde.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26230 : Suilk sinnes..þat chapitil [Frf: chapitels] giues on dome, Als spous-brecking and als hordom.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)3.318 : Kynges courte and comune courte, consistorie and chapitele, Al shal be but one courte and one baroun be iustice.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)165/27 : Sone aftyr þer was at Lynne holdyn þe Chapetyl of þe Frer Prechowrys.
- (1441) Proc.Privy C.5.151 : The abbotes of Furnes [etc.]..the whiche hath late received be commission from the primate of their seid ordre of Cisteux, be auctorite of thair generall chapitill, comaundement and power to reforme..alle the persones of the seid religion in Ingland.
- (?1456) Paston (Gairdner)3.95 : Many gentylmen..to compleyn upon me at the next chapitle.
b
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3571 : Whan þys munke come before þe chapytyl, As ordyr askyþ, he louted a lytyl.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)7836 : He slept ful lytyl, whan he herde þat grete chapytyl..For Satan asked..'Who lyþ here and what ys þat?'
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)256/13 : Apele fro þe chapetle of ryȝtwysnesse, fro þe court of truthe, fro þe chapitle of pees, for in þo thre courtys þou schuldyst be conuicte in þi cause.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27242 : Þe abusiones tuelf..mete at will..Dine in chapitil, wandring in quere, Vn-boandnes a-bote þe autere.
d
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.174 : I..am chalanged in þe chapitelhous as I a childe were.
- c1400 GGuy(1) (Tbr E.7)112 : Þan gert he ring þe chapetil [Rwl: chapiter] bell to geder þe couent al togeder.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)121/36 : Þer was meche pepil þat day in þe Chapetilhows of þe Mynstyr to her & se what xulde ben seyd er do to þe forseyd creatur.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)22192 : I sawe A cloystre and A dortour, A chapytlehous and A ffreytour.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)286/290 : Of þe dortore, he axede him..of þe freitore..'ȝwat In þe parlore?'..'And ȝwat þe chapitle?'
Note: Supplementary material for sense 2.(c).--per SMK
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--per MLL