Middle English Dictionary Entry

charǧe n.
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Entry Info

Forms charǧe n. Also chaarge, chaerge, schardge, charch(e, cherce.
Etymology OF

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
(a) The cargo or freight (of a ship, a wagon, a pack animal); a load; also, a pack; taken ~, to load up; (b) the action of loading or stocking up; (c) as a measure: the normal load (of a pack animal); camel ~; hors ~.
Show 16 Quotations
1b.
(a) Anything that is carried, a burden; (b) fruit borne or brought forth; produce, offspring; (c) weight, heaviness; ~ of glorie; (d) bulk, mass.
Show 15 Quotations
2.
Whatever encumbers or burdens (a person, the soul, an institution); a burden, encumbrance; hardship; detriment, harm, trouble; ~ of fortune; ~ of poverte; ~ of sinne; ~ of penaunce.
Show 24 Quotations
3a.
(a) A duty, responsibility, or obligation; an official duty; beren ~; ben under ~; don (one's) ~; serven (one's) ~; leien ~ upon, impose responsibility upon (sb.), charge with a duty; (b) taken ~, assume responsibility or an obligation; vouch (for sth.); haven in ~, to exercise governance over (a city).
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3b.
The act of formally charging an officer with his duties; an oath of office; yeven ~; taken ~; ~ taking, assumption (of an official duty).
Show 5 Quotations
4.
(a) The state of being concerned about, or taking an interest in something; a feeling of concern, solicitude; ben of ~, be a matter of concern; maken, setten, taken, yeven ~, be concerned or solicitous, take an interest, pay attention; (b) solicitous care, effort.
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5.
(a) The action of taking care of something or of offering protection; haven, taken ~ (of); (b) treatment (of an illness).
Show 10 Quotations
6.
(a) Importance; significance, purport; thing of ~, important matter; the ~ of a pese, the worth of a pea; beren ~, be of importance; (b) (it is) no charge, it doesn't matter, never mind!, etc.
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7.
(a) An order, mandate; a precept, recommendation; also, a stipulation, a provision (of a will); (b) yeven ~, leien (setten) ~ upon, to order or request (sb. to do sth.); haven in ~, be under orders; (c) yeven in ~, instruct, request; (d) the administration or execution of the provisions (of a will).
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8.
(a) An accusation, a charge; (b) blame; (c) punishment.
Show 5 Quotations
9.
(a) A financial burden or obligation; expense; beren the ~; (b) an item of expense; pl. expenses.
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10.
(a) An impost, levy, rent, tax; ben under ~, be subject to taxation; (b) rente ~.
Show 10 Quotations
11.
Miscell. uses: (a) ben in charge, be in (one's) power; (b) beren ~, perform a function; (c) as term of association: a ~ of curates, a group of curates.
Show 3 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)160/5 : Chast virginite is pees of þe flessh, Silens of charges.
    • Note: Supplementary material for sense 8.(a).
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.--notes per MLL
Note: In sense 3a.(b), the gloss provided for taken ~ does not cover quot. (a1438), where the phrase is not taken ~, but rather 'taken hit on ~ of soule' nor does it work for the c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF quot. 'Taken hit on ~ of soule' probably means 'to swear it on one's soul.' (In taken v., there is as well the phrase 'taken hit upon peril of soule' and there these phrases are put in the 'swear' sense--39.(b)--'to swear (sth. by one's soul)'.)--per MJW

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