Middle English Dictionary Entry
chapī̆tre n.
Entry Info
| Forms | chapī̆tre n. Also chapiter, -ir, -or, -ur, chapetre, chaptre, -ter & capitre, -ter. |
| Etymology | OF chapitre (from chapitle). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. capitle.
1.
(a) A division in a piece of writing; specif., a section of a book in the Bible; (b) a passage from the Scriptures read at a service; (c) a summary or capitulation; (d) a subject treated in a separate section of a book; also, a category or class.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)4a : Chapitres fiue, as fif stuchen efter fif wittes þe witeð þe heorte as wakemen.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.245 : Loke more þerof in þe firste book, in þe chapitre [L capitulo] of Rome.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)91/22 : In þe book of Neemyas, þe last chapitr.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6532 : Salamon..wrot..In his thrittethe chapitre [etc.].
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.16 head. : This chapitre [Brussels: chapitle] is a maner declaracioun to conclusiouns that folewen.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)2 : These be þe chapeteres of þe first part.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)110 : In the viijth chapiter of the first boke of kynges.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)135/31 : In this nexte Capytre.
b
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)277/13 : Whon Chapihtre was don aftur prime, As Monkes don in somer tyme.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)105/19 : The absolucions schullin be seyde in þe tune of chapitres, þe benisons in þe tune of lessons.
- 1530(c1450) Mirror Our Lady (Fawkes)126 : A chapyter ys as moche to say as a lytel hed..yt ys alway taken of holy scripture and often of the pystel that is redde in the masse the same day..the chapters ar redde at other howres in stede of lessons.
c
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Heb.8.1 : A chapitre [L capitulum] forsoþe vp on þoo thyngus þat ar seid I make conteynande more worþili þe preysyng of crist þan þe forseyd.
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1959 : So that largesce is Avarice, In whos chapitre now we trete.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.617 : Of this chapitre [gluttony] in which we trete There is yit on of such diete To which no povere mai atteigne.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)51 : Symon Magus..was reprouid of Petre for he demid to possede þe ȝeft of God bi money..It semiþ þat prestis are nowe in þe same chapiter, takyng goostly graces or ordres þat þei geyt þer of superfleu riches.
2a.
Eccl. (a) An assembly of dignitaries of the Church, as of a religious order, a cathedral, etc., acting as an administrative or legislative body; also, an assembly of all members of a religious house; ful ~, general ~; (b) such an assembly constituting an ecclesiastical court; holden, kepen ~, to hold an ecclesiastical court.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1498 : Greye Monekes of Cistevs fram ȝere to ȝere A Chapitre makeden generale of Abbodes þat þere were; For euerech Abbod of greie Monekes to þulke chapitle cam.
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(Hrl 2277)435 : Þe chapitre of salesbury amorwe was plener; Alle þe Canouns of þe queor þer come, fur & ner, To consailli him of þisse þinge.
- c1400 Rule & T.St.Francis(1) (Dub 244)43 : Mynistris prouincial & custodis in þe chapitre of witsontide.
- a1425 Ordin.Nuns(1) (Lnsd 378)141/12 : When chaipitur is done, sho..sall say to þe priores [etc.].
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick351 : We enioyne yow, prioresse..that..ye showe to your susters in pleyne chapitree a fulle and playne accompte of alle the reuenues that longe to your place and how thai are dispendede.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)150 : In that same ȝere the Blake Munkys had her first Chaptre at Oxeforth for reformacion of the Ordyr.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)23974 : Grevous contribuciouns graunted..in Chipytres [vr. chapters] general.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)131/13 : In þe full chapitur of þe clerkes of cicetur [Cirencester].
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)646/5 : The Abbas of the place may set her chapleyns so that..they shulle not go to seynys or to chapeturs, nother answere but..to the archedecun.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)429 : A generalle chapitre of blake monkes was hade at Northampton.
- c1525 Rule & T.St.Francis(2) (Fst D.4)574 : The generalle Statutis made in the generall Chapitre callid Bercynonde.
- c1525 Rule & T.St.Francis(2) (Fst D.4)577 : Yt ys ordeynd that iii tymes every weke shalbe kepte chapiter in euery couent.
b
- ?a1300 Sirith (Dgb 86)244 : For al þe world ne woldi nout Þat ich were to chapitre I-brout For none selke werkes. Mi iugement were sone I-giuen To ben wiþ shome somer driuen Wiþ prestes and with clarkes.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.29 : If eny play to chapitre [Ld: chapitle] were idrawe.
- a1350 Ne mai no lewed (Hrl 2253)73 : Such chaffare y chepe at þe chapitre.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1361 : And he wolde fecche a feyned mandement And somne hem to chapitre bothe two [etc.].
- (a1400) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.306a : Alle tha that lettes prelates or ordiners of halykirk for to hald consistori, cession, or chapetir, or to enquere of synne [etc.].
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)4.476 : Kynges court and comune court, constorie and chapitre.
- (1422) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.2381 : We ordeyne and charge you that dayly your chapetre be kepyd, makynge dew correccions after the forme of your rewle.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1520 : The secund [þing profitable to euery congregacioun] is, in þe chapeter very confessioun Of all her defautes þat euery brothir hatz doo.
- (1450) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 491 : In the day of the capyter for sewte of certyn personis.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)272/12 : Oppynlie in þe chapitr he putt furth all þies trispas of þis yong man.
- ?c1450 in Aungier Syon Mon.251 : In the chaptyr none schal defende hys own cause, nor the cause of another, nor noon schal speke there but the president, the chauntour, the serches, and they that confesse her owen defautes.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)73.249 (v.2:p.52) : Freris come to her chapitre at Melan .., willyng .. lyften vp his body and transferren it to an hyer .. place.
2b.
(a) The body of the canons of a cathedral or collegiate church, members of a religious order, etc.; (b) the building in which an ecclesiastical assembly or court is held; chapter house.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.161 : She had childe in chirityme; al owre chapitere it wiste.
- (1433) RParl.4.424b : If any Cathedrall Chirche voide in yis Reaume..yat before that any letters bee writen from my Lord unto our Holy Fader, ner to Chapitre of Cathedral Chirche [etc.].
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)2906 : The chapitre of a chirche Cathedral, When þei haue chosen hir heed & pastour..Writeþ vnto þe pope in hir fauour.
- (1450) RParl.5.189b : That the seide Dean and Chapitre [of Lichfield] have the kepyng of the peas within the same Procynct.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.112/8 : The assent of the deen and chapiter of lincoln.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)30/14 : Thys wrytyn..was confermid by the hole chaptyr of the churche of lincolne.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1945 : In oure chapitre praye we day and nyght..that he thee sende heele and myght.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)29/26 : When colaciun ringis, þan salle alle asembil in þe chapitir an sal rede þe lescun.
- a1425 Ordin.Nuns(1) (Lnsd 378)141/10 : When þai likis to bringe hir [þe nouice] to þe chaypitur for to be examend.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1919 : Whan all þe breþerin in chapetre gadered were.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1806 : Scho sal wait þe tyme of þe day When þe couent in þe schapiter pray.
2c.
(a) ~ belle, the bell of a chapter house; (b) general ~ dai, the day of the plenary meeting of a chapter; (c) ~ hous, the building or chamber where an ecclesiastical assembly or court is held; (d) ~ laue, law administered by a religious chapter.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1450 in Aungier Syon Mon.262 : The chapter belle schal be ronge, or els some other wyse the couent schal be callyd togyder to the chapter.
- a1500 St.Jerome (Lamb 432)356/30 : On the morowe she rang the chapitre bell, and whan thay were all gaderid, [etc.].
b
- (1463-5) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1689 : It[em] we spende at Hulets ale a general chapt'r day 1 d.
c
- a1400 PPl.B (Trin-C B.15.17)2819 [5.174] : Priour and suppriour..doon me fast frydayes..And am chalanged in the chapitre hous.
- (1435) Let.Christ Ch.in RS 85.3167 : Yeve at Cawntyrbury in the chapetre hows of the sayd Pryour and Chapetre the fyrste day of Januarie.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)201 : Cayphas and oþer prynces & prestes of þe lawe..lede hym in to þeire chapetere-hous & examende hym straytly.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)12/11-12 : Þis bisshop come & went into þe chapitr howse, & callid all þe nonnys aforn hym.
- ?c1450 Brut-1447 (Trin-C O.9.1)476/22 : Roger Norman..was..brought before the Bisshop of London and tofore the clergie in the Chapitre hous of Seint Paules, and there..conuicte in heresye.
- (1470) Will York in Sur.Soc.45179 : Thei [the parsons and vicars at Beverlay] will be bounde and sworne thar to in the chapitor house.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)6.94 (v.1:p.83) : Though .. I may not commen into the chirch where thi laude .. is solempnely exercised, yit shal I goon into the chapitre hous, into the dortour, and into the freytoure.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)6.95 (v.1:p.83) : Whan he came to the chapitre hous, the dore was to streyte..that is to seyn with the charite of hem that servedden.
- a1475(1456) ?Bokenham Lineage Clare (ArmsV Clare Roll)475 : In housis thre, Dortur, Chapiter-hous, and fraitour.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)199 : Þanne was þe chaptire-hous wrouȝt as a greet chirche, Coruen and couered and queyntliche entayled.
d
- a1425 Wycl.MCh.(Bod 788)400 : Men of þe chapitre lawe chargen more traveile on þe Sondaie þan þei done a deedli synne.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.76 : Þis falliþ in chapitre law, and ech punishing of monei.
3.
An assembly of an order of knights; ~ hous.
Associated quotations
- a1600(1472) Rec.Bluemantle (Jul C.6)380 : On the morne after the feast come to the chapter of the order of the garter; into the chapter howse come the Kinge, the Duke of Glocester, therle of Essex..In the which chapter were chosen to be bretherne of the said order: My lord the Prynce [etc.].
4.
The capital of a pillar.
Associated quotations
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)670/4 : Nomina pertinencia domorum..Hoc capitulum: chapytur.