Middle English Dictionary Entry
chois adj., n., & adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | chois adj., n., & adv. |
| Etymology | A blend of chīs adj. & chois n.; quots. in (b) may belong to chois n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Distinguished, excellent, noble, handsome (person); fine (features); elegant (room, etc.); pure (gold); (b) as noun: the chois (of god men), the best; (c) as adv.: extremely (glad).
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)400 : William þat choys child in-to his chaumber ledde.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3195 : Þe quene brouȝt hem to a choys chaumber vnder þe chef toure.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.125 : Ionathas sente þe kyng þre þowsand of choyse men þat chasede þe traytours.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)6.110 : Charite and Chastite beoþ tweyne ful Choyse maidenes.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)82/35 : A choys vesell..fillyd with þe nobilest lycur of swetnes.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)3196 : Ten of þe choysest maydyns..feyrest & wurthyest of þere cuntre.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)727 : A chalis ful chois.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)358/18 : Þe whiche schalle profite þe moor þanne choyse golde.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13851 : Vlixes with a lady in a lond dwellit..He hade a child with þat choise, was a chere sone.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)183 : Bothe cheekes & chinne choice too beholde.
b
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)893 : Of al his londe he brouȝt þe choyse..Of god men and hardy.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2137 : Al the worthy Chooce [vr. chois] of his housholde, which as he knewe most manful and most bolde.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)85/8 : ccc bowmen, the coyse [vr. choyse] of al Walis.
c
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9303 : Achilles was choise fayne.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)370 : He..led hom..into a chamber full chese..Þat proudly was painted with pure gold ouer.
Note: New form: Also chese.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense (a).
Note: Editor suggests reading could be "chefe," although there are no instances of chẹ̄f adj. preceded by ful adv., whereas chois (adj., n. adv.) does have two.
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